Apple seeded the first beta of iOS 8.3 updates with a slew of new features; CarPlay is the most notable of them. So, what is Apple CarPlay?
Apple CarPlay is designed to make your iPhone the best buddy of your car! CarPlay is the latest, safest and smartest feature way to use your iPhone while driving your car. This latest feature brings you the freedom and convenience to view applications on the built-in display screen of your car.
This feature lets you make the best use of your iPhone while making it easy for you to keep your focus on the road. Thus, you can continue using iPhone to get directions, make calls, send and receive messages, listen to and create playlist on your iPhone and do many more things you need. The CarPlay setting on iOS can be found under ‘General’ section of the ‘Settings’ app below Spotlight Search, Siri, Suggested Apps and Handoff. Recently, you can connect iPhone to CarPlay using Lightning port.
Here is a detail view of CarPlay setting –
Control – As you like it!
 Apple has always come up with something simple to use, effective and unique. With CarPlay feature, it gives you the liberty to stay in full control of iPhone. CarPlay is specifically designed for driving with controls such as touch control, Siri voice control, and knobs control to lets you stay focused on the road.
- Voice Control – To use and activate voice control, all you will need to do is press the voice control key on your steering.
- Touch Control – If your car is equipped with a touchscreen, then you can simply use it for controlling CarPlay.
- Knobs Control – If you have knobs, dials or buttons in your car that controls your car screen; then the same can be used for controlling CarPlay.
Apple Maps – Guiding your ways
This incredible feature included in CarPlay will allow you to enjoy Apple Maps on your dashboard screen. Now, you can easily benefit from simple yet effective Apple Maps turn-by-turn directions, traffic conditions and estimated travel time to reach the desired destination.
Another interesting feature of CarPlay is that it automatically predicts your likeliest destinations using addresses from your contact list, text messages, e-mail etc.
Call Convenience
Whether you want to make a call, return a call or listen to a voicemail, Siri is there to do all of these on your voice command. Now, you can continue your phone conversations and voice mails without distracting your focus while driving.
Message while you drive
There was a time when reading or responding to a text message was a very risky task while driving. Not anymore, reading and writing is now listening and dictating.
Now, Siri can read, write and send all your text messages. All you will need to do is to give voice command to Siri, by using voice command you won’t require to look at your iPhone screen.
Rejoicing iPhone Music
Now you can access iPhone playlist, songs and iTunes Radio by simply using your car’s built-in controls. If you don’t want to use the car controls for playing music, then just tell Siri what you would like to listen and it will instantly play that music for you.
Additionally, CarPlay also supports other audio apps installed on your iPhone to listen to podcasts, music and radio.