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Q: I have heard a lot about Apple CarPlay, but I’m not sure what to believe, or if it’s for me.  I have a bunch of questions about it, but I’m guessing that if I just ask you to teach us about CarPlay you will probably cover them all and then some.  Thanks for what you do!

 – Robert N.
Fort Walton Beach, Florida

A:  Wow – you put a lot of faith in me, Robert!  I hope I can live up to the hype.  So, the topic is “All About Apple CarPlay” is it?  Okay, let’s go!

First of all, Apple CarPlay is a system that integrates your iPhone with compatible in-car entertainment systems, providing a substantial amount of functionality that allows you to safely use your phone while driving.  It also allows you to run CarPlay-compatible apps on your phone and display them right on your car’s in-dash touch screen.  This is particularly handy for navigation apps like Apple Maps, Google Maps and Waze.  You can get the turn-by-turn directions you’re used to, but instead of directly using your phone, the map is displayed on your car’s screen, and the audio comes through the car’s speakers.

Apple CarPlay is available on any iPhone 5 or later, running at least iOS 7.1.  As of this writing, the latest iPhone model is the iPhone 16, and the latest iOS release is north of 18.3, so it seems like the chances are that if you’re an iPhone user, your device is compatible.  The same can’t be said of automobiles, however.  There are so many possible combinations of vehicle manufacturer, model, and option package, that there is just no way for me to state with any certainty just exactly what cars are capable to working with CarPlay.  What I can say is that it started appearing in vehicles around 2017 and has been becoming more common ever since.  There are currently over 800 different car models that support it, and CarPlay support is supposedly becoming more common all the time.  For example, the last few rental cars I’ve used had CarPlay support built in.  There are also aftermarket solutions available to retrofit vehicles that don’t have CarPlay support, including older vehicles.

In addition to navigation, you can also run other apps that are useful when you’re in the driver’s seat, to include weather and radar apps, news, and even some fast-food apps.  The system is designed to enable voice control of your phone via Siri, allowing you to read and send text messages, and place and receive calls while you keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the steering wheel. 

Now, I’ve been talking a lot here about Apple’s CarPlay, because that’s what Robert asked about.  However, you non-iPhone users might be wondering what’s in the offing for you.  Well Google hasn’t let you down.  There is a very similar capability called Android Auto that brings similar capabilities to you.  Like Apple CarPlay, both your device and your vehicle must be compatible.  You’ll need a phone running Android 8.0 or later, and of course, your vehicle must support Android Auto.

As for you, Robert, I can’t tell you if Apple CarPlay is for you, but it’s sure for me.  My current vehicle is equipped with it, and I thoroughly enjoy it every time I drive even short distances.  But it really shines when making a long car trip.  I can tell you from experience, it’s a real game changer.

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 Geek Note: This is a reminder and a plea regarding reader questions.  If you want to keep seeing It’s Geek To Me, please remember that the questions submitted by people just like you are, as I’ve said many times, the fuel that powers the column.  And remember, your question need not be about computers and Windows.  I’ll tackle just about any issue having to do with technology.  So, bring ‘em on and I’ll do my best to help.

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