Apple has been gradually adding new capabilities to the current CarPlay as well, even while CarPlay 2 development continues to progress. Apple Intelligence was included in CarPlay last fall, while NACS routing was recently made available to Ford EV owners. Three additional new CarPlay features have recently been added to iOS 18.4.
#1: Third row of app icons
The fact that CarPlay must work with a variety of car infotainment systems is one of its more challenging aspects.
Thankfully, iOS 18.4 offers a pleasant improvement for cars with particularly large screens.
During the beta, users discovered that CarPlay added a third row of app icons to screen sizes where it previously only supported two.
This new CarPlay feature goes well with the more screen space for apps.
#2: Sports apps
App developers now have access to a new API from Apple that will enable CarPlay for sports apps.
CarPlay integration is available for apps that display sports scores as of iOS 18.4. In this manner, you can monitor the performance of your preferred team while you’re driving.
Third-party sports applications may take some time to formally support CarPlay, but maybe the Apple Sports app will soon receive a CarPlay upgrade.
#3: Default navigation in EU
The ability to designate an inability navigation app was a long-awaited addition to iOS 18.4 for users in the EU.
Yes, customers in the EU can make Google Maps or other options their default map instead of Apple Maps.
The CarPlay experience should be significantly impacted by this modification.
Why? Because it will allow you to say, “Siri, take me to X,” and the assistant will utilize the navigation app of your choice to guide you. Voice computing in cars should be quick, smooth, and hassle-free.
Overall, Apple’s Commitment to Safety
The most recent CarPlay upgrades may not be applicable for everyone—if your car has a small screen and you’re not in the EU, this list soon gets smaller—but they’re still welcome.
Whatever Apple can do to keep making the current CarPlay better while we wait for CarPlay 2 is a win in my opinion. When viewed in that context, iOS 18.4 represents a significant advancement.
How do you feel about the new CarPlay features in iOS 18.4? Tell us in the comments section.
