But Apples auto experience isnt perfect, yet.
Heres how CarPlay could be better for everyone.
Not everyone can afford to go that route.
Its a lot cheaper tobuy an iPhone mountthan it is to overhaul the entertainment system.
So why doesnt Apple introduce CarPlay Mode for older vehicles?
Youd probably have to trigger the mode manually from Control Center.
Hadrian/Shutterstock.com
Id love to see a simple, at-a-glance app that summarizes this information on a single screen.
While driving around, you might ask Siri Where am I?
and the assistant will give you an answer.
Jason Montoya / How-To Geek
Id rather just glance at the screen instead.
Your iPhone has a compass app that includes your elevation and bearing.
Maps knows exactly where you are.
Corbin Davenport / How-To Geek
I cant flick them away since touching them opens the relevant app.
The irony is that theres very little happening at the top of the screen.
The issue could be resolved with a toggle to move these elsewhere.
Tim Brookes / How-To Geek
The rest of us have to remember to switch modes physically.
Siris route suggestions are genuinely useful since Im a creature of habit.
But Maps could do with some improvements.
But arguably the biggest change Apple should make is more detailed upcoming driving instructions.
Sometimes, Maps will put the next instruction directly beneath the current one when it thinks its necessary.
Id love an option toalwaysdisplay whats coming up next since Ive been caught out too many times.
I cant add a song to my most recent playlist from the Now Playing screen, for example.
This could be a two-tap operation or a Siri command, but Apple said no.
Its a bizarre choice that makes picking another album more difficult than it should be.
The Now Playing screen could also use some work.
Unfortunately, access to these stations within Apple Music is shockingly bad.
This means that I can tap on it when Im in the car to bring it up.
Theres no other way to quickly recall a station.
Anything would be better than the current situation.
Unfortunately,Siri is still pretty bad in iOS 17.
The bad news is thatnot all iPhone owners will get access to Apple Intelligence.
Youll need an iPhone 15 Pro at least to get access to the new assistant.
I wouldnt buy a car without CarPlay again.
The good news is that most cars that support CarPlayalso support Android Auto.
This is ideal if you happen to share a car with someone who doesnt have an iPhone.
Like CarPlay, Googles in-car experience is solid butAndroid Auto could use some work too.
