Apple Previews Three New CarPlay Features Coming With iOS 18 - MacRumors
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Apple Previews Three New CarPlay Features Coming With iOS 18

Apple today previewed new accessibility features coming with iOS 18 later this year, and this includes some new options for CarPlay.

CarPlay Sound Recognition
Apple highlighted three new features coming to CarPlay:

  • Voice Control: This feature will allow users to navigate CarPlay and control apps with just their voice.
  • Color Filters: This feature will make the CarPlay interface visually easier to use for individuals with color blindness.
  • Sound Recognition: This feature will enable drivers or passengers who are deaf or hard of hearing to receive notifications on CarPlay for driving-related sounds, such as car horns and sirens.

All three of these features are already available on the iPhone and iPad.

iOS 18 is expected to be unveiled at Apple's developers conference WWDC on June 10, and the update should be widely released in September.

Related Roundup: CarPlay

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Top Rated Comments

clayj Avatar
27 months ago
Really wish they'd add weather integration, so that the car can warn you when you are about to enter rain.
Score: 34 Votes (Like | Disagree)
27 months ago

Really wish they'd add weather integration, so that the car can warn you when you are about to enter rain.
Yeah, because you can never tell when you’re about to enter rain. It’s like dry, not a cloud in the sky and then boom instantaneously rain.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Victor Mortimer Avatar
27 months ago

You can’t tell just by looking? I can easily see where it’s raining from a slight distance.
You sound like you live in flatland.

Meanwhile, for those of us who live where there's terrain would find it helpful.

And weather along your route would be helpful, it would be nice to know that even though it's sunny and warm where you are, 100 miles down the road it's snowing.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CalMin Avatar
27 months ago
Too bad so many manufacturers see CarPlay as a threat. They try to use technology as a differentiator, but most of them suck at it and we end up with confusing vehicle UI that are different in every car. They also want to use upgraded tech as a reason to buy a new car which is why this year's radio would never fit into last year's car...

CarPlay / Android Auto solves the UI mess and most of us have phones now and want to bring over OUR info., media and apps into the driving experience. I haven't bought a new car for a while now, but I certainly won't be buying one without CarPlay.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
spazzcat Avatar
27 months ago


* Sound Recognition: This feature will enable drivers or passengers who are deaf or hard of hearing to receive notifications on CarPlay for driving-related sounds, such as car horns and sirens.

I hope this popup on their phone also, so they see it while texting and driving...
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
27 months ago
How about large buttons that allow you to easily navigate the interface? How about you let me click an album cover and see the songs on the album to select one or just play the album?
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)