[NewsPoster]

Apple has announced CarPlay, its automotive interface for iPhones running iOS 7 or later. "CarPlay" is the new official product name for its previously-announced 'iOS in the Car' initiative. Apple is touting CarPlay as a "smarter, safer and more fun way to use iPhone in the car." CarPlay will make its debut at the Geneva Auto Show this week, with debuts from Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo.

"CarPlay has been designed from the ground up to provide drivers with an incredible experience using their iPhone in the car," said Greg Joswiak, Apple's vice president of iPhone and iOS Product Marketing. "iPhone users always want their content at their fingertips, and CarPlay lets drivers use their iPhone in the car with minimized distraction. We have an amazing lineup of auto partners rolling out CarPlay, and we're thrilled it will make its debut this week in Geneva," he added.

A vehicle with CarPlay integrated into its entertainment system will let drivers control Siri to search for contacts, make calls, return missed calls or listen to voicemails. When incoming messages or notifications arrive, Siri responds to driver requests through voice commands, by reading messages and letting drivers dictate responses or simply make a call.

CarPlay adds Google Now-like context awareness to deliver driving directions more intuitively by working with Maps to anticipate destinations based on recent trips via contacts, emails or texts, and provides routing instructions, traffic conditions and ETA. Drivers can also tell Siri a desitination and receive spoken turn-by-turn directions, along with Maps, which will appear on the car's built-in display.

Apple CarPlay functionality will be available as an update to iOS 7 and works with Lightning-enabled iPhones, including iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c and iPhone 5, while the CarPlay interface will be available in select cars later in 2014. Manufacturers supporting CarPlay include BMW, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar, Land Rover, Kia, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Peugeot, Citroën, Subaru, Suzuki and Toyota.

[Jeff75]

"...and works with Lightning-enabled iPhones..."

So that means I plug my iPhone into the dashboard and my iPhone does all the heavy lifting for the car? The car just displays what the iPhone gives it?
Sweet! That means my car's brains will get updated as often and as easily as my iPhone.
And the list of participating auto manufacturers is impressive for the initial release.
It looks like Apple beat the Android consortium to market with a product that's likely to be far better than what they will offer - if and when they ever do.
Well done, Apple!

[climacs]

why the hell did Ford go with QNX to replace Microsoft's failed implementation of Sync? The only reason I can think of is that Ford wanted continuity with Sync rather than going to an entirely new system.

[coffeetime]

I bet Microsoft's new term is if to have SYNC working with iPhone, it will cost more. If to have SYNC working with WinPhone, it will cost nothing. Ford said sc**w you and they will use the other guy instead. Don't understand where QNX stands when CarPlay is available for Ford also.

[coffeetime]

Is CarPlay an add-on or a whole system?

[Grendelmon]

Umm, guys: http://techland.time.com/2014/03/04/gasp-apple-carplay-software-runs-on-blackberrys-qnx-platform/