√What iOS 17 means for Apple CarPlay

Collaborative playlists and offline maps are just some of the upgrades coming to your car, courtesy of Apple’s latest iOS update.

Apple’s iOS 17 release landed in Australia on September 18, 2023, offering all sorts of upgrades for your iPhone’s key functions – and, in turn, your car.

From enhancing CarPlay to empowering back-seat DJs, Apple’s latest iOS update makes the iPhone an even more capable co-pilot when you hit the road.

Here are all the car-related updates and features coming your way with the iOS 17 release.

SharePlay support

The addition of SharePlay support to Apple Music means that anyone in the car can control what’s playing, even if they don’t have their own Apple Music subscription.

Tapping on the SharePlay icon brings up a QR code that passengers can scan with their iPhones in order to play road trip DJ.

Passengers can control what’s playing and add songs to the queue, although the driver retains veto power if they get Rickrolled.

Offline Apple Maps

With iOS 17, Apple Maps lets you download sections of the map, so you can view them when you aren’t connected to the internet – which is handy if you’re driving through an area with poor coverage. With the maps downloaded, it’s possible to get rerouted information or create new routes even when you have no mobile signal.

You can search for a location in the Maps app, or set a pin, and then select ‘Download’ to save an offline map. It brings up a drag-and-drop interface that lets you select how much of the map you want to download.

While offline, you can access turn-by-turn navigation for driving, walking, public transport and cycling, as well as see your estimated time of arrival.

Electric car charger availability

Overseas, electric vehicle drivers can now see real-time EV charging availability in Apple Maps. This includes the ability to filter by charging network, plug type and more, as well as designate a preferred charging network.

Unfortunately, this feature is not available in Australia at this point, but it could arrive down the track.

Replying to Messages

When dealing with an incoming message, the new larger buttons are easier to tap while driving, such as accessing the Reply, Read Again and Call functions.

It’s also possible to enable or disable the Announce Messages feature on a per-conversation basis.

Siri access

You can now call upon Siri when you’re behind the wheel without needing to say “Hey” first.

This makes it easier to talk to Siri while you’re driving, plus you can make follow-up requests without having to re-invoke Siri every time.

Tighter car integration

Depending on your car’s support for Apple’s driving features, CarPlay can now extend to all other displays in your car.

It has also revamped the dashboard to offer greater access to the car’s features within CarPlay, from visualising the petrol gauge to controlling the air con.

You can also add extra widgets to the CarPlay dashboard, such as the weather forecast and in-depth trip info, and select from new CarPlay wallpapers to further liven up your car’s display.

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