Latest news with #AppleCarPlayUltra
USA Today
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- USA Today
The coolest, most useful Apple CarPlay Ultra features
The coolest, most useful Apple CarPlay Ultra features Show Caption Hide Caption Apple may increase iPhone prices, reluctant to blame tariffs, says report Apple may raise prices on its iPhones, but is reluctant to publicly blame Trump's China tariffs as the company faces higher costs. Straight Arrow News Apple CarPlay has just received the biggest update in its 11-year history, and it's called CarPlay Ultra . No longer stuck on your center infotainment screen, CarPlay Ultra can take over your instrument cluster and operate most of your car's major functions. We got a hands-on demonstration of what Apple CarPlay Ultra is capable of in a 2025 Aston Martin DBX , but it will look nearly the same in any car you own, borrow, or rent no matter how many screens there are, the size or shape of those displays, or what kind of physical controls are installed. These are the coolest new features we found. Apple gauges With Ultra enabled, your digital instrument cluster gets a new, Apple-certified look. There are multiple gauge styles ranging from more traditional to hypermodern. You can also customize the colors and background wallpaper from a list sure to grow in the future. Cheapest luxury SUVs of 2025: Vehicles that make affluence made affordable Certain gauge screens also incorporate widgets, covering everything from Apple Maps to tire pressures, trip information, driver aids, and even things like calendars and weather forecasts. You can also make Apple Maps full screen. Climate control Hate backing out of CarPlay to change climate controls? With Ultra, that's no longer a problem. Now CarPlay can control your vehicle's climate system. Temperature controls are always available in the dock on the sides of the screen or at the bottom. Tapping on them can bring up shortcuts to climate settings. For more substantial changes, tap on the new Climate app that appears in CarPlay. From there, you can change any climate control setting anywhere in the car, all without leaving CarPlay. Radio control Switching back and forth between the car's built-in software and CarPlay to change radio stations is blessedly gone. Tap the new Radio app, and you can control any audio function such as changing terrestrial or satellite stations and adjusting the equalizer, all in CarPlay. All the physical buttons and knobs still work, too, if you prefer those. Widgets Love the widgets on your iPhone? Good news, you can get them in CarPlay now, too. Keep swiping right on your infotainment screen while using CarPlay Ultra (they're not available in standard CarPlay), and you'll get to the widgets screen. Finding utility on a budget: MotorTrend's best used SUVs under $15,000 The two columns can be swiped up and down separately so you can pick which two widgets you want to see. At launch, they include clocks, calendars, weather, and reminders, but more will be added in the future. New layout Depending on what the automaker chooses, you might get a new CarPlay layout. For more than a decade, recently used apps have been stacked in a column on the left side of the screen. Now there's a new layout available that will look familiar if you've used a Mac or driven a Tesla. The recent apps, along with the climate controls, can move to a new dock along the bottom of the screen. With more space, there are now four recent apps instead of the usual three. Siri does more Now that CarPlay can control most of your vehicle functions, Siri can, too. Siri can't quite control everything you'll find in CarPlay Ultra, but it can handle plenty of simple tasks like changing the temperature or radio station. Unfortunately, Siri doesn't know what car it's in, so it can't check the owner's manual for you, but Apple says you can ask Siri to ask ChatGPT for answers to questions about your car. Which cars have Apple CarPlay Ultra? The first brand to get Apple CarPlay Ultra: Aston Martin Coming Soon: Acura Audi Ford Genesis Honda Hyundai Infiniti Jaguar Kia Land Rover Lincoln Mercedes-Benz Nissan Polestar Porsche Renault Volvo Photos by manufacturer
News.com.au
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- News.com.au
Aston Martin debuts the Apple CarPlay Ultra
Apple are about to give cars the ultimate iPhone makeover. The next generation of Apple CarPlay — which takes over all the car's screens, including the speedometer — has officially launched in the US, debuting in Aston Martin sports cars. The update is currently available for new Aston Martin vehicles in the US and Canada, with the carmaker planning to expand globally over the next year. Having revolutionised in-car entertainment with Apple CarPlay by seamlessly integrating smartphone apps and features into vehicle displays, Apple has always aimed to take over digital dashboards and other readouts. This latest announcement marks a significant milestone in achieving just that. The tech giant reignited the hype around the Apple CarPlay Ultra at its 2024 Worldwide Developers Conference, offering more details on its design and how it worked. The current version of Apple CarPlay is an app within a car's existing infotainment software that allows drivers to access things like maps, music, and messages without picking up an iPhone. Instead of using the carmaker's built-in system, CarPlay puts a version of an iPhone right on the car's touchscreen (similar to a monitor). Apple CarPlay Ultra is Apple's next-generation in-car system, which doesn't sit on top of a car's software but instead takes over the entire dashboard. While drivers will still be able to access the familiar features from the current CarPlay system, CarPlay Ultra goes further by replacing both the central touchscreen and the digital instrument cluster behind the wheel with a fully customisable, Apple-designed interface. This new interface includes a complete makeover of the speedometer, rev counter, fuel gauge, temperature, tire pressure, trip details, driver-assistance tools, and safety features. All of these are presented in the clear and legible style that has become the hallmark of Apple's products. Drivers can also use on-screen controls and physical buttons to manage standard vehicle functions like the car's radio and climate. Unlike the current version of CarPlay, which sometimes takes a few seconds to connect, CarPlay Ultra operates entirely over a wireless connection. It is designed to activate immediately when the car starts, ensuring that crucial features like instrument clusters are immediately operational. CarPlay Ultra also introduces widgets powered by iPhone that perfectly fit the car's screen or gauge cluster to provide information at a glance. For the system to work, drivers will need an iPhone 12 or later and use an operating system of at least iOS 18.4. The latest announcement has only confirmed Hyundai, Kia and Genesis for the system ahead of its Australian launch in the next 12 months. However, luxury brands such as Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Audi, Volvo, and Jaguar Land Rover also agreed to the changes.
NDTV
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- NDTV
Apple Rolls Out CarPlay Ultra, Comes With Instrument Cluster Integration
The American tech giant, Apple has now announced a major update for the CarPlay. The brand has now added a few features in the CarPlay suit that was first up for showcase at the 2022 Worldwide Developers Conference. The CarPlay is a feature that allows users to integrate their smartphone functions and actions in their car. The updated Apple CarPlay is called the Apple CarPlay Ultra. Talking about the functionality, the Apple CarPlay Ultra allows users to access maps and media in their iPhone, alongside the tachometer and the speedometer. Also, the users can select from a variety of themes and backgrounds for the display. The Apple CarPlay Ultra enabled the users to access standard as well as advanced functions through the screen control or Apple's digital assistant- Siri. The users can now access and regulate the car performance and change the music, regulate music volume, control cabin temperature function and more, via Siri. Also, it can now display the vehicle information and other details on the instrument cluster and the infotainment system. This will be quite helpful for users in order to get a better glance of the information and control functions seamlessly. CarPlay Ultra allows user to customize themes and background for display Aston Martin will be the first car maker to integrate the Apple CarPlay Ultra in its lineup. Aston Martin's 2025 Vanquish, DBX S, DBX 707, Vantage and DB 12 will be the first batch of cars to get this feature. The models that get the second-gen CarPlay will get an option to update it to the Ultra suite. However, in the coming months other car makers, like- Genesis, Kia and Hyundai will also integrate the Apple CarPlay Ultra in their lineup.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Sorry Android Users: Apple CarPlay Ultra Debuts For Aston Martin
Read the full story on The Auto Wire While Apple CarPlay has been out for a while, a new Ultra version of the system has been revealed for newer Aston Martin vehicles. Instead of just residing on the infotainment touchscreen for things like music and navigation, Apple CarPlay Ultra will control the digital gauge cluster screen, forever changing how drivers interact with their probably doesn't amuse Android users and we get why. But Aston Martin made the move to show it's embracing 'the forefront of technology and innovation.' We're not sure what this means for those who don't use iPhones, other than they won't have access to the new feaures. One of the advantages of Apple CarPlay Ultra is Siri voice commands control more than just navigation, music, and a few other infotainment features. Instead, drivers can speak to adjust the air temperature or access information about the car instead of having to use he touchscreen in heavy traffic. Plus, widgets like the ones iPhone users have been adding to their lock screens and home screens can be added to the infotainment or gauge cluster screen, displaying useful, customized information at a glance. That's not all users can customize. There are different types of digital gauges, layouts, and colors you can choose, allowing Aston Martin owners, and eventually drivers of other brands, to select what they enjoy most. We wouldn't be surprised if this means different looks for daytime versus night or other automatic changes you can set up. One thing that isn't changing is Aston Martin's dedication to having some of the most used features in cars remain accessible through physical switchgear. The press release mentions specifically Chassis, ESP and Exhaust, Lane Assist and Park Distance Control switches, as well as the transmission, drive modes, heating, and ventilation. Plus, Aston Martin is working to bring back manual transmissions. Images via Aston Martin Join our Newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube page, and follow us on Facebook.
Auto Blog
18-05-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
Aston Martin Finally Unveils This Apple Feature
A new level of smartphone-car integration Aston Martin is the world's first automaker to integrate Apple CarPlay Ultra. The new version of the popular software better integrates iPhone-compatible software into Aston Martin's automobile operating system, meaning CarPlay will now be a part of both the infotainment touchscreen and the digital instrument cluster. Aston Martin Apple CarPlay Ultra — Source: Aston Martin CarPlay Ultra works with iPhone 12s or newer running iOS 18.5 or later. The new Aston Martin DBX, Vantage, DB12, and Vanquish will get the software starting today, while existing 2025 model-year Aston Martins and the 2024 Aston Martin DB12 can access it in the coming weeks through the automaker's dealer network. 'Aston Martin is delighted to have collaborated with Apple and to be the first to launch CarPlay Ultra,' said Adrian Hallmark, Aston Martin's CEO. 'The integration of CarPlay Ultra is a clear example of the dedication to collaborate with the best companies in the world to bring unique experiences and in-vehicle capabilities to our customers.' Beyond the basics Aston Martin Apple CarPlay Ultra — Source: Aston Martin Aston Martin's 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen or digital instrument cluster will now display maps, music album covers, or lane information. More than that, Apple says that standard vehicle functions like the car's audio system, climate controls, advanced vehicle-specific features, and performance settings can be changed from within CarPlay and are displayed along with the speedometer, tachometer, and tire pressure. Drivers can use Siri or the car's physical buttons, which are retained for transmission, drive mode selection, and climate, to control these functions. There are also override switches for the chassis, ESP, exhaust, Lane Assist, and Park Distance Control. Aston Martin Apple CarPlay Ultra — Source: Aston Martin Apple CarPlay Ultra features the familiar infotainment screen and Apple CarPlay home page, but swiping to the right brings up a new widgets page that features time and weather, as well as any other iPhone widgets that users want to add. Functions are not mirrored from the iPhone, but are carried out locally, integrating Aston Marin's native user interface. That means you never have to leave CarPlay to activate non-CarPlay functions. 'With CarPlay Ultra, together with automakers, we are reimagining the in-car experience, making it even more unified and consistent,' said Bob Borchers, Apple's vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. 'This next generation of CarPlay gives drivers a smarter, safer way to use their iPhone in the car, while deeply integrating with the car's systems.' Aston Martin Apple CarPlay Ultra — Source: Aston Martin Final thoughts Aston Martin is merely the first automaker to get the new Apple software. CarPlay Ultra will also be coming to Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis vehicles, although the software's design will be customized to the unique look and feel of each automaker. 'This is just the beginning, with more automakers on the way,' Borchers said.
