“Announced earlier this year, CarPlay allows you to connect your iPhone to a compatible touchscreen-enabled head unit. That’s not unusual, but once the two are paired, all kinds of magic ensues,” Antony Leather writes for Forbes. “Firstly, the head unit will display its own version of iOS, which has been designed by Apple itself, complete with icons and even Siri support. The key thing here is that the iPhone is in control. So the head unit is simply there to provide a larger touch interface as well as charging your iPhone at the same time via an included USB cable.”
“This means that there’s no need to have to update your head unit to get the latest CarPlay-compatible apps. Just install them on your iPhone and they’ll automatically appear on your head unit the next time you connect the two,” Leather writes. “I visited audio manufacturer Pioneer’s head office in the UK, who is the first manufacturer to offer third party CarPlay-compatible had units to take a closer look.”
Leather writes, “I’m hugely impressed by CarPlay, even in its current form with a limited selection of apps.”
Much more, including tons of screenshots, in the full review here.
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72 hours with Apple’s CarPlay – November 5, 2014
Alpine Electronics in-dash receiver with Apple CarPlay now shipping – October 27, 2014
Pioneer releases Apple CarPlay for vehicle systems in US and Europe – October 2, 2014
First vehicle with Apple’s CarPlay hits the road in Ferrari FF – September 8, 2014
More articles about Apple’s CarPlay here.