The CarPlay Easter Egg Hidden in iOS 18

CarPlay and the new home button

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Picture: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution

CarPlay has acquired solely delicate enhancements in iOS 18, so regardless of customers anticipating greater information, particularly after Google promised a large app revolution on Android Auto, Apple centered totally on the iPhone and the Apple Watch at its September occasion.

The polished CarPlay expertise comes all the way down to delicate adjustments that many customers won’t even discover, such because the contact icons within the Messages app or if you obtain a brand new notification.

The shortage of upgrades in CarPlay is considerably disappointing for long-time customers, particularly as a result of Android Auto retains getting greater enhancements. Earlier this yr, Google announced a beta program that may convey extra app classes to Android Auto, together with browsers, video games, and video streaming providers.

This program paves the best way for YouTube on Android Auto, and whereas watching movies is already doable within the automobile because of third-party hacks, customers will quickly be capable of do that with out turning to unofficial strategies. YouTube might be out there when the automobile is parked and might be blocked routinely if you begin driving.

Leaving apart all of the adjustments that make Android Auto higher than CarPlay, Apple appears to be like much less dedicated to bettering the expertise within the automobile – the gradual debut of the second-generation CarPlay is the second affirmation that the corporate is dropping traction within the automotive house.

The new-generation CarPlay

Picture: Apple by way of MacRumors

Along with the front-facing enhancements that you would be able to barely see in CarPlay after the debut of iOS 18, the corporate has additionally hidden a small change that was first noticed when it launched the primary beta builds.

It is a new residence button that seems if you load the app drawer (the listing of apps put in in your iPhone). As you’ll be able to see in the principle screenshot on this article, CarPlay has a brand new residence button within the decrease left nook.

If its design would not ring any bells to you, you could be both an Android consumer or joined the Apple ecosystem lately.

The new-generation CarPlay

Picture: Apple by way of MacRumors

The brand new residence button is a reference to the unique residence button on the iPhone, which you would press to depart any app and return to the house display screen.

The design was dropped as soon as Apple deserted bodily buttons and moved to Face ID for unlocking units, starting with the iPhone X. Nevertheless, it reminds all people of the unique iPhone, and long-time Apple customers appear to take pleasure in this design.

In fact, a brand new residence button design doesn’t suggest a lot for somebody who hoped to see a large CarPlay overhaul, so fingers crossed that the iPhone maker is planning greater adjustments within the quick time period, probably when it publicizes the second-generation expertise.

CarPlay 2.0

If you happen to’ve been maintaining a tally of the information within the final couple of years, you in all probability know that Apple has been engaged on a significant CarPlay overhaul generally known as “the new-generation CarPlay.”

The brand new model nonetheless makes use of an iPhone to energy a part of its options, however in comparison with the prevailing iteration, it gives deeper car integration and, subsequently, extra superior capabilities. For instance, CarPlay 2.0 may be in contrast with Android Automotive (regardless of not working with out a connecting iPhone), because it will get entry to extra car features, together with air con.

Like Android Automotive, CarPlay will permit automobile producers to customise the appear and feel of the infotainment system so every model can retain its identification regardless of operating the identical software program. Moreover, CarPlay will show info within the instrument cluster, and carmakers can tweak every pores and skin for a singular design.

The new-generation CarPlay

Picture: Apple by way of MacRumors

Regardless of all these promising options, the brand new CarPlay expertise is making gradual progress. It did not obtain any love on the latest iPhone occasion, and Apple behaves like CarPlay would not even exist, hardly ever talking concerning the enhancements that it is engaged on.

The brand new-generation expertise was introduced at WWDC in 2022, and Apple promised to make the primary car bulletins in 2023. The corporate did not miss its goal, however the first carmakers confirmed to make use of CarPlay 2.0 made these bulletins within the final days of the yr. Aston Martin and Porsche revealed they’d use the brand new CarPlay of their 2024 fashions in late December 2023.

The primary vehicles had been alleged to launch this yr, however it’s already the autumn, and none is right here. Moreover, Apple has remained tight-lipped on every part associated to CarPlay, and if the corporate would not maintain one other fall occasion, the brand new expertise may launch with out a large social gathering.

In the meantime, Apple focuses on delicate adjustments, akin to profile icons and Easter eggs like the house button in iOS 18. It is laborious to inform if this silent method and the dearth of upgrades would have an effect on CarPlay adoption in the long run, however contemplating Google’s dedication to bettering Android Auto with an app revolution, Apple would higher get up and give you one thing actually revolutionary.

What’s your opinion on Apple’s silent technique over CarPlay? Is Android Auto getting higher, or are you happy with the prevailing CarPlay characteristic lineup? Let me know what you assume within the field after the leap.

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