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CarPlay is a smarter, safer way to use your iPhone in the car. CarPlay takes the things you want to do with your iPhone while driving and puts them right on your car’s built-in display.

Apple CarPlay Guide 9to5Mac

CarPlay is a smarter, safer way to use your iPhone in the car. CarPlay takes the things you want to do with your iPhone while driving and puts them right on your car’s built-in display.

“It’s a car, it’s a phone, it’s an Internet communicator…It’s a car, it’s a phone… are you getting it!”

Apple first announced CarPlay in 2013 at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) under the name “iOS in the Car.” The initial release supported basic functions like calls, messages, maps, and music. The $120k+ Ferrari FF was the first car to feature the new technology. It wasn’t until March 2014, with the release of iOS 7.1, that Apple rebranded the product to CarPlay. And the rest is history.

Feature Request: How HomeKit could improve with CarPlay

CarPlay isn’t expected to gain any major features this year according to recent reporting, but that doesn’t mean we can’t dream. One simple change I would love to see in some future update is support for HomeKit alerts through CarPlay. Going a step further, a dedicated Home app for CarPlay with a few key features could be very beneficial.


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WhatsApp adds CarPlay app for messaging whilst driving

With its latest update, WhatsApp users are finding a new icon app appear when they connect to CarPlay. A WhatsApp icon and basic on-screen app interface are now part of the CarPlay experience, beyond what was already offered by WhatsApp’s SiriKit integration.

You can’t browse a list of conversations, but you can tap on the icon to start sending a new message using dictation. Notifications from WhatsApp also appear in the CarPlay UI and users can tap to listen and respond.


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Starting with 2019 Avalon, Toyota finally bringing CarPlay to select vehicles

After initially planning to support CarPlay, and then later backtracking on those plans, Toyota has had an interesting relationship with Apple’s in-car interface.

Today, however, marks a notable change in the Japanese automaker’s stance. During the 2018 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Toyota officially announced that CarPlay will appear in its upcoming 2019 Avalon sedans.
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Alpine unveils first 9-inch CarPlay head unit with floating design fit for most cars

Alpine introduced a Jeep-specific CarPlay in-dash system with a 9-inch display back in 2016, and now at CES 2018 the company has unveiled a new version that fits most cars. Aftermarket CarPlay displays are typically limited to 6.1-inches or 7-inches to fit standard dashes, but Alpine’s 9-inch unit called iLX-F309, or HALO9 for short, uses a floating design to bring the bigger screen to more cars.


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Review: Alpine iLX-107 delivers the future of driving with Wireless CarPlay for under $1000

Apple introduced Wireless CarPlay support two years ago with iOS 9, and this year the untethered version of Apple’s infotainment feature is starting to hit the market. Just as wired CarPlay is becoming standard in nearly all new cars, BMW has become the only auto maker to support Wireless CarPlay standard in new models.

But what if you’re not shopping for a new BMW? That’s where Alpine can help with the new iLX-107 receiver (from $695, reg. $900) that adds Wireless CarPlay to the car you already drive for under $1000.


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