Tech giant Apple has announced a major upgrade for its CarPlay smartphone software.
CarPlay allows users of Apple’s iPhone to control functions such as music and maps directly through their car’s multimedia system.
However, updates announced as part of Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2022 will expand even further on what CarPlay can currently do.
The new CarPlay functions will form part of the company’s latest iOS 16 operating system for its smart devices.
Customise your digital dashboard
Apple promises the next-generation of CarPlay will ‘deeply integrate’ with a car’s existing hardware.
This means systems such as climate control and radio will be able to be operated directly through the CarPlay app. At present, drivers would have to return to the normal multimedia screens to be able to change these.
More significantly, CarPlay will be capable of controlling more than just one single multimedia display. Instead, Apple wants drivers to have the ability to customise all screens, including even digital dashboards.
Drivers will be able to customise the layout of their dashboard, along with adding ‘widgets’ for weather and music. CarPlay will still render required information such as vehicle speed and fuel level.
Car buyers demand Apple CarPlay
Driving Apple’s upgrade of CarPlay software is demand from consumers. Almost 80 percent of new-car buyers in the United States will only consider models that offer CarPlay.
Some 98 percent of all new cars are compatible with CarPlay.
For manufacturers, this means a need to integrate with Apple’s technology, or risk losing sales to those who do. Apple has said it will offer more information on the updated CarPlay software later this year, along with confirmation as to which vehicles it will be available in.
Apple notes that Audi, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Nissan, Porsche, and more are committed to integrating their vehicles with new CarPlay software.
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