Apple’s latest iOS 18 update introduces a wealth of exciting new features and enhancements to CarPlay, transforming the driving experience. While Apple highlighted several key upgrades during their announcement, there are numerous hidden gems and improvements, particularly in the realm of safety. In this detailed analysis, we’ll dive into over 10 new features and changes in CarPlay with iOS 18 that will make your drive safer, more comfortable, and more connected than ever before.
One of the standout features in CarPlay with iOS 18 is the introduction of sound recognition. By navigating to Settings and then Accessibility, you’ll find the Sound Recognition option at the bottom. This feature utilizes advanced AI to detect critical sounds like car horns and sirens, enhancing your awareness on the road.
Imagine driving and an emergency vehicle approaches. CarPlay will alert you to the siren, even if you have music playing loudly. Similarly, if another driver honks at you, CarPlay will notify you, ensuring you don’t miss important auditory cues. Though this feature is still in its early stages, with current capabilities limited to car horns and sirens, it’s a promising step towards a more intelligent driving assistant.
Notifications have received a subtle but significant makeover in CarPlay with iOS 18. Whenever you receive a notification, you’ll notice a new floating design with the sender’s profile photo. This design applies across different apps, not just on the home screen. For example, if you’re listening to music, the notification will still appear with the same floating design, making it less intrusive yet easily accessible.
Another notable change is how low battery alerts are displayed. Previously, these notifications were more disruptive, but now they appear in the same floating style, allowing you to quickly acknowledge them and continue with your drive.
Siri has also seen improvements in CarPlay with iOS 18. Now, when you send a message through Siri, the recipient will see a “Sent through Siri” tag. This transparency can be especially useful in conveying the context of your message, such as when you’re driving and using voice commands to stay hands-free.
The home screen icon has been slightly redesigned to include two buttons in a squarish design, reminiscent of the iconic home button on older iPhones. Holding this icon activates Siri, making it easier to interact with CarPlay using voice commands.
CarPlay now offers more control over silent mode. Within Settings, under Sounds, you’ll find three options for silent mode: automatic activation upon connecting to CarPlay, manual activation, or mirroring your iPhone’s current silent mode status. This flexibility allows you to tailor your CarPlay experience to your preference, whether you prefer complete silence or selective alerts while driving.
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iOS 18 introduces several new accessibility features within CarPlay. One of the highlights is the color filter options under Accessibility settings. Designed for color-blind users, these filters can also enhance the display for those without accessibility needs. Options like grayscale, green/red filter, and blue/yellow filter allow you to adjust the color intensity, making the display more vibrant and easier to read.
Additionally, CarPlay now supports bold text, enhancing readability for all users. This feature can be activated within the Accessibility settings, making on-screen content bolder and more prominent.
A game-changing addition to CarPlay in iOS 18 is the new voice control feature. This allows you to perform basic tasks without invoking Siri. By simply speaking commands like “Open Music” or “Go to the home screen,” you can navigate CarPlay effortlessly. This seamless integration of voice control makes interaction with your car’s infotainment system more intuitive and less distracting.
While still in its early stages, Apple Insights is set to revolutionize CarPlay. Currently, you can use Siri to get updates on sports scores, such as asking about the latest NBA or MLB results. This integration extends to other Siri capabilities, making your driving experience more interactive and informed.
Though full-fledged AI capabilities like generating images or complex visual tasks are not yet available, the voice-related functionalities of Apple Insights ensure a more connected and intelligent driving experience. As this technology evolves, we can expect even more innovative features to enhance CarPlay.
CarPlay’s appearance settings now include an “Always Dark” mode, which tints icons similar to the dark mode on iPhones. This feature reduces screen brightness during night drives, making it less distracting. While the current beta doesn’t fully support dark-tinted icons, Apple’s developer previews suggest that this feature will be available in the public release of iOS 18.
An interesting new feature in iOS 18, not exclusive to CarPlay but relevant to driving, is vehicle motion prompts. For those prone to car sickness, iOS 18 introduces small dots on the screen that mirror the car’s movement. This visual trick helps align your brain’s perception of motion, reducing the likelihood of motion sickness while using your iPhone in a moving vehicle.
iOS 18 brings a wealth of new features and changes to CarPlay, making it safer, more intuitive, and more customizable. From advanced sound recognition and redesigned notifications to enhanced Siri functionalities and accessibility options, these upgrades promise a more connected and comfortable driving experience.
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