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November 2, 2020
Apple CarPlay was introduced in 2014 and it is nowadays included in countless modern vehicles. CarPlay is very useful since it helps you to connect your iPhone to the vehicle and it is fully Siri-compatible. You can even use your smartphone to control the vehicle’s buttons and knobs. The problem is that most car owners do not know that much about Apple CarPlay. With this in mind, here are some things that you should be aware of.
Not All Cars Support Apple CarPlay
There are not many cars that support Apple CarPlay right now. However, most of those that were launched in the past few years do offer such compatibility. The same cannot be said about older cars.
When the system was first introduced, there were only 500 compatible vehicles. Nowadays, modern cars give you access to the technology. Sometimes the technology is even covered by your insurance provider. As an example, olive’s Nissan extended coverage can cover such technology and protect you if it goes bad.
Apple CarPlay Gives You Access To Numerous Features
CarPlay is taking advantage of the same engine for Maps in the iPhone. However, it is displayed on the infotainment screen of the car. Even if crisp graphics are in place, it is easy to be distracted by the system if you are not used to it. Fortunately though, the system is very good and it does help get all the directions that you need as a driver.
The system’s Maps app also lets you record where the car was parked and you can set up your own voice message to use to activate Waze. Also, a screenshot can easily be taken and you just need to sync the smartphone and use it. When you do this, you take 2 captures, one of your smartphone and one of the screen used by CarPlay. Even so, most people will just use Siri to play songs and make phone calls.
Just think about driving around the city during rush hour. This automatically means that you have to be extremely careful to all the people around you. Instead of having to change your music by pressing a button, you could tell Siri to do it for you. This lets you keep your hands on the steering wheel and your eyes on the road.
Whenever you drive a car that has Apple CarPlay, spend some time to get used to the available features. Learn all that you can about them and you will quickly notice the huge advantages possible.
There Are Extra Apple CarPlay Apps You Can Use
Apple CarPlay comes with iOS-provided apps as standard but you can utilise third-party applications. Select the ones that appear on the screen of the car through the settings menu of the iPhone. The main categories of apps you can use with your infotainment system are navigation, podcasts, audiobooks, and music. You can run iHeart Radio, Tidal, Pandora, Audible, Spotify, and more.
Another thing you should be aware of is that you are not restricted to using Apple Maps. You can use Waze and Google Maps, as an example. The only big app you will not be able to use is WhatsApp but this might not be a problem for many users. Simply put, the number of compatible features is much higher than what is not. Almost everything on the Android App Store will work, especially those that rely to a connection to the internet.
Apple CarPlay Is Available Through Aftermarket Systems
One of the great things of using Apple CarPlay is that you can get it through aftermarket systems. Many brands developed such systems, including Sony, Kenwood, and KVC. However, before you assume something is compatible, it is better to double check.
On the whole, Apple CarPlay is a very useful system that has some very clear advantages. It can easily make driving your car a whole lot more pleasant better but this does not mean that you need to blindly trust it as the best option.
Final Thoughts
To sum up, Apple CarPlay is a wonderful addition that you will benefit from when you drive a car. Also, it is possible to install it in cars that have an infotainment system and that support the addition of new firmware. It is not that difficult to do this. You just need to go to an auto repair shop and a mechanic there will get it done for you.
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