Bringing the iPhone Experience to Your Car

On March 3rd, Apple announced "CarPlay," a new in-car infotainment system that connects cars and iPhones. This system, which enables drivers to operate their iPhones within the car while driving, is the official release version of "iOS in the Car," announced at last summer's "WWDC2013" conference in San Francisco.

The interface provided is, true to Apple's style, extremely simple and straightforward. First, connect your iPhone to a CarPlay-compatible car using a Lightning cable. Once synchronization is successful, you can immediately operate the LCD touchscreen on the dashboard. By pressing and holding the voice control button on the steering wheel, Apple's voice assistant, "Siri," is activated. This allows the driver to operate CarPlay without diverting their attention from the road.



For example, Siri enables eyes-free operations such as accessing contacts, making calls, calling back missed callers, and checking voicemails, as well as reading incoming messages and replying to them, all without needing to look at the screen.

CarPlay also integrates with Maps (iOS's built-in mapping application), allowing destinations to be set from contacts, emails, or text messages. It also serves as a GPS navigation system, providing route guidance, traffic conditions, and estimated arrival times. Furthermore, by asking Siri directly, you can receive voice guidance along with map displays on the car's LCD screen.

Beyond the Digital Hub Concept

Naturally, CarPlay allows you to access and play all your music, podcasts, audiobooks, and iTunes Radio SM through the car's built-in controllers or via Siri.

It also supports specific third-party audio applications like Spotify and iHeartRadio, so you can enjoy your favorite radio services and sports broadcast applications while driving.

CarPlay makes it possible to seamlessly use many of the iPhone's functions even while driving. Greg Joswiak, Apple's Vice President of iPhone and iOS Product Marketing, commented on CarPlay: "This was designed from the ground up to provide a wonderful experience of using your iPhone in the car. iPhone users want to access their content at their fingertips at all times, and drivers can use it with minimal interaction without being distracted from driving."



At the Geneva Motor Show opening this week, Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz, and Volvo will be the first to announce CarPlay-compatible models. Following them, Honda, Mitsubishi Motors, Nissan, Fuji Heavy Industries, Suzuki, Toyota, BMW Group, Ford, General Motors, Hyundai, Jaguar Land Rover, Kia Motors, and PSA Peugeot Citroën are scheduled to offer support.

CarPlay will be provided as an update to iOS 7 and is expected to be available for iPhones that support a Lightning cable, including the iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c, and iPhone 5.

The "Digital Hub" concept, proposed by the late Steve Jobs in 2001, envisioned a new digital lifestyle centered around the Mac. This concept, which encompassed music, photos, videos, and mobile phones, has now expanded into the automotive sector. How do they intend to transform the future of in-car infotainment systems? We will continue to watch their developments with interest.