The below is a guest post.
After a long and torturous year of waiting, Apple fans can now finally get their hands on a car that offers the full Apple technology experience.
CarPlay is Apple’s latest and most coordinated thrust into the automobile tech world as it allows the integration of music, podcast, iTunes radio, iPhone functions and navigation apps into the dashboard display of a car, with many functions that can also be controlled via voice command.
The Worldwide Developers Conference played host to the showcasing of CarPlay last year so it was only natural that the WWDC be the site of its triumphant launch as well. Find out here how Apple teamed up with 16 auto manufacturers in order to coordinate this 2014 rollout.
CarPlay works on iOS7 equipped iPhones with the Lightning connector (iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c and iPhone 5) and by all accounts is a far more reliable system than the makeshift hybrid versions provided by some auto manufacturers in order to hastily fill the gap during its development. Most notable among the improvements of the newly released CarPlay is full Siri integration which allows the driver to make calls, return missed calls, access their contacts or listen to voicemails. All of these functions can be made through a series of voice-prompted commands which keeps the experience ‘eyes-free’ and lets the driver focus safely on the road ahead.
Don’t worry about sound quality either, as a small microphone installed into the rear view mirror really helps pick up the driver’s voice. This makes phone calls much clearer and helps Siri avoid mishearing.
Unfortunately, CarPlay compatibility is currently only available with the new models from a select number of manufacturers; namely Mercedes, Volvo and Ferrari whose new models debut in the US as early as next month. However, Apple has confirmed that availability will improve rapidly as competing car makers strive to catch up. The BMW Group, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar, Land Rover, Kia, Mitsubishi, Nissan, PSA Peugeot Citroën, Subaru, Suzuki and Toyota are just some of the names mentioned that have CarPlay in their sights for integration.
If you’re not in the market for a brand new car but are desperate to get the full CarPlay experience then don’t despair. Help is at hand as a variety of aftermarket infotainment providers (most notably Pioneer) are looking at making a series of CarPlay compatible devices that can be installed into older cars for seamless integration with your iPhone.
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