At WWDC 2023, Apple announced the new iOS 17 update which features an improved CarPlay experience with new SharePlay support in the Music app, real-time electric vehicle charging station availability, a new design for sending and playing back messages, and more along with several other exciting features.
CarPlay in iOS 17 makes playing music together easier and much more
Apple introduces iOS 17 with a brand-new Journal app and a slew of new features like StandBy view, redesigned Messages, and a new NameDrop feature with AirDrop as well as improvements for Siri, keyboard, stickers, and more. In addition, the software update includes the following new changes in CarPlay:
SharePlay support in the Music app and more
This allows all passengers in a car to control what music is playing from their own devices, even if they do not have an Apple Music subscription. The primary user can initiate a SharePlay session from CarPlay.
Real-time electric vehicle charging station availability
This shows the availability of public charging stations in real-time, so you can plan your route accordingly.
New design for sending and playing back messages
The Messages app has been redesigned for CarPlay, with a new layout that makes it easier to send and play back messages. As seen in this screenshot shared by Will Sigmon:
Interacting with Siri
Thanks to iOS 17, interacting with Siri also gets a refresh. Users running iOS 17 on a supported iPhone can now prompt the voice assistant by just saying “Siri” instead of “Hey Siri” while using CarPlay.
New wallpaper option with light and dark modes
With iOS 17 comes a new wallpaper option with both light (left) and dark (right) modes.
Other bug fixes and performance improvements
In addition to these new features, iOS 17 also includes a number of bug fixes and performance improvements for CarPlay.
Previously, it was reported that Apple will release the next-generation CarPlay with advanced features like support for widgets, multiple screens, and integration with vehicle functions to control radio, temperature, and more, support for Apple Card Savings account, and “iMessage Contact Key Verification” later this year.
To use these new features, users will need to update their iPhone to iOS 17 and their car’s infotainment system to the latest version of CarPlay.
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