Apple’s new CarPlay iOS feature has recently arrived through a limited number of in-dash vehicle entertainment systems and aftermarket products, but Apple has now introduced official guidelines for companies building CarPlay hardware through its Made-for-iPhone/iPad/iPod (MFi) licensing program, according to sources.
Apple confirms in the specs that CarPlay will only be allowed for in-dash units built into vehicles or through aftermarket installations and that rear-seat or other integrations are not yet permitted.
While most current implementations utilize USB to connect to an iPhone, Apple allows use of a Lightning connector via a dock or custom cable solution. In addition, Apple has requirements for audio and noise cancellation features, such as recommending hardware be capable of 24 bit 48kHz audio (but allows 16 bit at a lesser sample rate). It also allows a vehicle to send sensor data to an Apple device including estimate range remaining, engine type, outside temperature, and more.
Other requirements include a display with a minimum 6-inch diagonal display with a minimum resolution of 800 x 480 and 30 Hz refresh rate, and a tactile hardware button for Siri (in some cases located on the steering wheel).
Apple will have all of its CarPlay hardware go through the MFi program, which means the product will require an authentication chip that aims to prevent unofficial products from offering the CarPlay feature.
Since officially introducing CarPlay earlier this year, Apple has worked with mostly major vehicle manufacturers, and the feature has arrived in select vehicles along with a couple aftermarket options (We reviewed one from Pioneer.) Apple has announced a long list of car manufacturers working to implement the feature, and many have announced it will arrive in upcoming vehicles, but so far only Ferrari has the feature on the road in new vehicles while others stall on firmware updates for previously announced vehicles.
In addition, Apple has also revised specs outlining best practices for user interaction with its Siri Eyes Free feature available in select vehicles.
While we’ve so far only seen CarPlay aftermarket products from Pioneer and Alpine, we could see many others hit the market soon following the introduction of specs for all.
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Really surprised Apple is taking things so slow with CarPlay. Seems like ages ago iOS in the Car was introduced.
With Apple Watch coming out in the spring Apple should had more people working on CarPlay.
They’re not really taking it slow, they’re just officially announcing this as part of their MFi program. This opens the floodgates to other hardware manufacturers. Just as iBeacons and Lightning were recently added as part of the MFi program.
Many limitations…. It is really useful?
We were able to see a comparative of Google and Apple on the same car…. It is so much more practical….
if you mean Android in the car with apps, i.e. Honda and others introducing, that approach is opposite of CarPlay, much prefer the CarPlay function, just connect iphone to the head unit and it accesses apps in phone, otherwise, with android in head unit, I have to get apps for the car head unit, seems unpractical to me.
I see this as being great! I am sure that this has been on Apples site, but i haven’t been able to find this in the past. As a freshman in college and being an electrical engineering student, i see this as something to toy around with if not too expensive and build my own 3rd party CarPlay system as a fun thing to do or as a internship or project. All i can do is wish right now, only time will tell if its something i can do.
So this raises questions. No mention of a touch screen being a requirement? Also, since its requiring the chip to authenticate… so I guess that means no upgrading existing cars with Carplay. I thought one or two manufacturers had promised to do an update later to add it.
These specs are being “officially” announced as part of the MFi program. I’m sure anyone who has already added support for CarPlay, already meets these specs – they would’ve had to work with Apple just to obtain the proper communication protocols and such.
A touchscreen or combination of knobs and buttons is required.
Does it support third party podcast & maps apps? When I’m driving I’ve almost always got podcasts playing and apple’s program is horrendous. Instead I use downcast. Apple’s maps app is also very lacking in features for navigation, so i continue to use the TomTom app I purchased before Maps had a navigation feature.
If I can’t continue to use both those prorgams, I’m not interested in this system. Every report I’ve seen on this dash system, nobody even seems interested in asking about third party app support. Every article is just a puff advertising piece.
I’ve seen full length review of CarPlay on pioneer HU, the app has to offer CarPlay support, but, if it doesn’t, if you can’t access the app from the HU, you can play any audio from the iPhone and then press “now playing” to see title and control buttons. Here’s a first review from Australia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eO7Gt4pNEU and here’s a US review, I think it’s in this part, but, there are 4 parts (4 vids): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vonxDwZPNHY I think they both show how this works.
Overcast (arguably the best podcast client on iOS) fully supports CarPlay.
Presently, developers cannot just roll out a CarPlay app. They have to negotiate with Apple. For safety reasons the process is pretty locked down. No 3rd party GPS apps yet.
I cannot wait to get the iLX-007 installed into my car. I’ve dabbed with AppRadio and Mirrorlink garbage in the past and they’re less than the sum of their parts. CarPlay is a simple system that will improve over time. Factory head units are horrid things full of bugs that never get fixed.
Third-party app support is up to the developers, not Apple. Go ask them if that’s what you want to know instead of bitching about it in the comments here. And I’m not sure where you are, but Apple Maps is fantastic for navigating and the integration with Siri and CarPlay makes it even better.
Apple has to approve any app which has CarPlay enabled. Special page https://developer.apple.com/contact/carplay/ has contact form for those developers, who want to try and push their apps on CarPlay.
That’s no different than any app that’s going to the App Store. It’s still up to the developers to actually make the functionality.
Great news. I need a head unit for my car and I’ve been waiting on the market to get competitive with some car play options. Looks like I won’t be waiting too much longer.
I was at the LA Car Show and could only find one car that had the Apple CarPlay installed for demonstration and they didn’t really emphasize that it existed in the car. It was only by accident I saw it. Looks like it’s not all that greatly being pushed by Apple.
It’s a real shame that Apple does not allow offline satnav apps for CarPlay. I really like the GUI of Navigon, plus you need the offline maps when travelling. Using HDMI/MirrorLink is no option as the phone cannot be controlled by the Headunit screen. However if I had an Android phone wih MHL this works fine :-(
When I bought a 2015 Jeep this year, I was expecting to be able to use CarPlay. I can’t. Personally, I’m disappointed in that.
Some car companies are claiming that a 2015 firmware update will fix this. Not sure if Jeep is one pushing it. I have a Pioneer NEX8000 with CarPlay in my 2010 Grand Caravan. It’s not that great. I prefer the headunit OS. You’re really not missing much, but I hope this changes with time.