Here’s what you need to know about Apple’s latest iOS update and what it means for motorists
There are an estimated 1.46 billion active iPhone users across the globe and an awful lot of them like to be able to link up their devices to their cars. Much of this ability is centralised around Apple CarPlay, which allows you to essentially ‘mirror’ the phones display onto a car’s in-house infotainment system.
However, up until this point, CarPlay has been largely limited to a number of vehicle-friendly entertainment apps such as Spotify, as well other programmes such as Google Maps and Siri. But things look set to change with the introduction of iOS 18 operating system which brings with it a number of updates for CarPlay. Let’s see what they are.
A smarter version of Siri
Siri is Apple’s in-house voice control software. It’s important for CarPlay, too, because it allows drivers to access a number of functions without having to take their eyes off the road, too. As part of its latest update, iOS 18 will bring an even smarter version of Siri, which will now be able to access ChatGPT’s cloud-based technology to answer any type of question the driver may have. Apple says that it’ll also be able to better understand different accents and languages while offering more information relating to a given question - such as a weather update when you programme in a destination.
However, there is one small snag for this feature as it’ll only be available on iPhone 15 Pro, Pro Max and iPad models using an Apple M1 chip or later.
Apple’s response to car sickness
Naturally, drivers are less prone to travel sickness because they’re keeping their eyes on the road. However, a new feature from Apple could help those car journey illnesses at bay of other occupants in the vehicle. Called Vehicle Motion Cues, the system is designed to aid the sensory conflict between what a person sees and what they’re feeling. It uses animated dots at the edge of the phone’s screen to represent changes in vehicle motion in order to help reduce this sensory conflict.
The feature looks set to be activated via the control centre on iPhones running iOS 18 when it comes out later this year.
CarPlay is radically changed
Though Apple has yet to announce when its new updates to CarPlay will actually arrive, it has revealed the extent of the changes to the handy in-car systems. One of the biggest changes is that CarPlay will be able to be tailored to match the branding of each car maker. For example, the CarPlay screen that you get in a Renault may be quite different to the one you’ll find in a BMW.
These updates will also mean that drivers will be able to control more aspects of the vehicle’s setup without having to leave the CarPlay screen. This is done through better integration of Apple’s software and the in-car system, with new apps giving drivers access to vehicle settings - such as drive modes and assistance systems - via the Apple interface rather than having to switch to the car’s native system. Apple also previewed air conditioning and other comfort-focused features that will display on the main CarPlay screen.
Both Aston Martin and Porsche have said that they will reveal the latest version of Apple CarPlay soon, which will allow Apple’s system to integrate into their car’s binnacle systems seamlessly. At present, few cars are actually able to display CarPlay - or even the navigation directions - in the screen ahead of the driver.
