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CarPlay

439 'CarPlay' stories June 2013 - August 2016
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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.

As promised, CarPlay compatibility now available on all 2017 Fords; Hyundai Elantra too

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Jul 25 2016 - 5:04 am PT
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Ford announced back in January that all 2017 models would offer CarPlay compatibility through its Sync 3 infotainment system, and the company has today confirmed that this applies across its full range of vehicles: cars, SUVs, light trucks and electrified vehicles. You will, of course, have to purchase Sync 3 as an option if it is not included as standard in your chosen vehicle.

The first 2017 models are already on sale at dealerships, including the Escape, Fusion, Mustang and Explorer, with others due later this year. In addition, the company has promised to bring CarPlay to 2016 models equipped with Sync 3, though the wording – ‘opportunity to upgrade’ – sounds like you’ll have to pay for the privilege …


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Apple’s CarPlay set to return in Honda’s 2017 Accord next week

Avatar for Zac Hall Jun 24 2016 - 8:27 am PT
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Honda was noticeably slow to the CarPlay scene despite being committed from day one to support Apple’s infotainment feature in 2014. The automaker eventually delivered with CarPlay in the 2016 Accord and Civic, and 2017 Ridgeline, and today Honda announced CarPlay will be returning in the 2017 Accord, one of the most popular cars on the road. Honda’s new Accord is hitting showroom floors on Monday and will start at $22,355.

The 2017 Accord carries over the expanded LED exterior lighting and premium features and technologies of the 2016 model, including the available 7-inch Display Audio touchscreen offered with Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™, HD Radio®, heated rear seats, and front and rear parking sensors.


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CarPlay in iOS 10: Improved Apple Music, removing & rearranging apps, more

Avatar for Zac Hall Jun 14 2016 - 10:12 am PT
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CarPlay is something I’ve been following (and using) since it launched it late 2014. It was better than the status quo in many ways when it launched but had obvious room for improvements. iOS 9.3 made significant improvements to CarPlay by including the full Apple Music experience and upgraded Maps features. When iOS 10 debuts later this fall, CarPlay will get even better thanks to a variety of small improvements that add up to simpler experience.


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BMW will finally launch support for Apple’s CarPlay later this year

Avatar for Jordan Kahn May 20 2016 - 7:01 am PT
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While recent reports have detailed talks between Apple and BMW related to Apple’s behind-the-scenes electric car project, BMW has long been one of the last major holdouts to bring Apple’s current in-dash CarPlay platform to its vehicles. That looks like it will change later this year when at least two models will get support for CarPlay.
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Alpine ships its giant 9-inch CarPlay display for Jeeps as Kia details its rollout plans

Avatar for Zac Hall May 13 2016 - 9:46 am PT
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Alpine unveiled its 9-inch aftermarket display with CarPlay support back in January, and starting this week the giant screen is now available for purchase. Alpine’s i109-WRA Restyle dash system isn’t cheap, however, as the 9-inch CarPlay screen retails for $2500 and only works with 2011 and newer Jeep Wranglers. Kia is also making news in the CarPlay space this week as the auto company detailed upcoming availability on three of its 2016 and 2017 model cars.


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Volvo announces launch of new V90 Estate, its latest with Apple’s CarPlay

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Feb 18 2016 - 8:20 am PT
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Volvo is today announcing the launch of its latest vehicle, the V90 Estate, which also happens to be the company’s latest with support for Apple’s in-dash iPhone CarPlay feature.

The car is Volvo’s third for its premium 90 series and for that reason is being referred to as a sibling of the S90 sedan and XC90 SUV models that the company previously unveiled (and which also include support for CarPlay). In its press release, the company notes that means the new V90 Estate, like the XC90 and S90 before it, is “built on the company’s specially-designed and fully modular Scalable Product Architecture (SPA).”

“The modern premium estate is all about the intriguing combination of a luxurious experience with the functional origins of the estates silhouette. The sophisticated ambience of our new Volvo Interiors is combined with a great cargo space, providing the right kind of functionality – whether through connectivity or cargo and storage solutions,” said Thomas Ingenlath senior vice president for design at Volvo Cars.

The new V90 delivers cutting-edge Pilot Assist semi-autonomous drive technology, the most advanced standard safety package on the market, with large animal detection and run-off road mitigation, and class-leading connectivity including smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay.

The vehicle has full support for Apple’s CarPlay on the V90 Estate’s in-dash system using a connected iPhone. Volvo says the in-dash system on the V90 Estate is the same as in the S90, which includes a 9-inch touchscreen display as pictured above. And here’s a look at the exterior on the V90 Estate:

Volvo first announced support for CarPlay on its 2016 XC90 SUV last year that it later delivered to owners of the vehicle through a software update back in December. Here’s a look at the feature in action in the vehicle:

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVNuYMpuI0A]

Earlier this year Apple for the first time offered up an official list of CarPlay partners by year and model via a new webpage, but it has yet to update it to note the new Volvo V90 Estate launching today.

JBL’s Legend CP100 head unit with CarPlay support to be available February 14 for $399

Avatar for Chance Miller Feb 11 2016 - 8:24 pm PT
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Back at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, JBL took the wraps off of its first CarPlay-capable aftermarket head unit, the Legend CP100. At the time, the company teased only that it would be “coming soon,” but now we have an official release date. The Legend CP100 head unit will be available starting February 14 for $399 via JBL’s website.
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Feature Request: How Apple Stores could demo CarPlay to customers

Avatar for Zac Hall Feb 10 2016 - 10:08 am PT
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One of the best parts about Apple Stores is the ability to try out Apple products out of the box in an environment superior to big box retail stores. While that’s mostly true of almost all Apple products including Apple Watches, there’s one really compelling Apple product that I haven’t seen on demo at any Apple Stores: CarPlay.

If you want to try out CarPlay for yourself right now before spending some serious money, the easiest way is to find a car dealer with a CarPlay model available and go for a test drive. But there are a few ways Apple could bring most of the experience to customers in its retail stores …


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Porsche CEO says ‘iPhone belongs in your pocket, not on the road’, dismissing autonomous car future

Avatar for Zac Hall Feb 1 2016 - 8:08 am PT
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As our sister-site Electrek covers so well, the automobile landscape is clearly changing with electric vehicles replacing gas-powered cars, autonomous features potentially replacing drivers, and Apple even developing an EV of its own. But Porsche wants no part in that future, says CEO Oliver Blume. Reuters reports that Blume told German media this week essentially that a Porsche is meant to be driven, and that an iPhone is meant for your pocket, not the road:

“One wants to drive a Porsche by oneself,” Blume said in an interview with regional newspaper Westfalen-Blatt published on Monday.

“An iPhone belongs in your pocket, not on the road,” Blume added, saying that Porsche did not need to team up with any big technology companies.

While Blume was using the iPhone line largely to explain away the need for computerized vehicles and embrace the nature of high-performance cars like Porsches, it’s a curious one as the new 911 features Apple’s CarPlay …


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Downcast for iPhone adds CarPlay integration for enhanced podcast playback

Avatar for Zac Hall Jan 29 2016 - 3:15 pm PT
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There’s a new podcast app option for CarPlay fans out today: Downcast. The popular iOS and Mac podcast player updated today to add CarPlay integration, enhanced VoiceOver features, scrubber improvements, and lots of battery life and bug fix improvements.

Downcast wrote a bit on the app blog to talk about what to expect from the CarPlay integration:


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Tesla is moving away from an SDK and instead planning to allow app mirroring from iPhones to center consoles

Avatar for Fred Lambert Jan 28 2016 - 12:14 pm PT
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Since Tesla launched the Model S in 2012, the automaker has been talking about releasing a software development kit (SDK) to create a full third-party app ecosystem for its 17-inch touchscreen, which acts as a center console for the Model S and X, but despite several inquiries from eager app developers, there has been little communication about the project until now.
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2017 Hyundai Elantra latest vehicle with support for Apple’s CarPlay

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Jan 15 2016 - 8:36 am PT
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Hyundai today officially announced that its 2017 Elantra will be available this month and the next vehicle to receive support for Apple’s CarPlay platform:

Both smartphone integrations will be available on the 2017 Elantra’s seven-inch Display Audio touchscreen system with rearview camera and Hyundai’s eight-inch touchscreen navigation system with voice texting, access to music stored on the phone and third-party audio apps.

Apple earlier this week published a master list for the first time of car makers and the vehicles confirmed to support CarPlay, its in-dash entertainment platform that provides an iPhone-like experience in vehicles. Some of the vehicles on the list, however, have yet to actually update with full support, Hyundai’s Sonata included.

Hyundai’s press release notes that Elantra “provides an available second USB port for charging because of this wired connection.”

And as for owners of other Hyundai vehicles, the company confirms that it will provide more information on how vehicles using its Fourth-generation navigation system or Display Audio system can upgrade.

Check out Apple’s’ master list of CarPlay partners here. For more information on CarPlay, check out our coverage of what’s coming soon with the latest iOS 9.3 software update.