You've probably heard of the Apple carplay for now: It is the software that allows you to project a version - albeit limited - of IOS iPhone on your car's dashboard display. However, unless you have a new car is unlikely to have had the opportunity to play with him. Indeed, very few cars sold before 2016 are offered with carplay.

Now that automakers are fully geared up and deploying the 2016 model year cars in the streets, carplay spreads every day. In addition, there are a few months carplay, manufacturers have had the opportunity to meet better systems of their own.

Does the car mounted on the Apple system still fulfills its promise - to make navigation and connectivity in the most coherent and practical car? And nothing better than a system in the car to keep your eyes on the road? I carplay used at least half a dozen cars there, and I can answer these questions definitely.

Beginning

Before using carplay, you must first understand that. There are a total of iOS in the car to replace all the functions of car infotainment system - is in any way robust. Instead, it is designed to add a quick and easy way to understand your screen control panel that allows quick access to the best features of the iPhone, that Siri, Apple Maps, Apple Music, Spotify and iBooks.

He will not allow access to the configuration of your car - it is not programmed for it. But this means, for example, to change the ambient lighting in your car, you will have access to use the system in your car and not carplay.

Another thing to consider is that all information and the computer comes out of your phone. Even if your car has its own GPS system, carplay can not access them. Any web browsing and searching Apple Maps is your cell signal, which can be a burden on your monthly phone plan.

Now that we got that out of the way, let's talk about how to begin.

obvs things first: To access carplay, your car (or aftermarket stereo head on the map) should include the feature. You may find that your car is ready carplay here. If so, you need to connect your iPhone via the standard cable into a USB port on the car.

Apple said it enabled wireless connectivity carplay. However, no automaker offers yet.

carplay activation is different in each car model. However, most should give a visual warning on the display on the map, providing launch carplay. Once selected, a familiar screen appears on the screen with eight applications: phone, music, cards, messages, lessons, podcasts, audiobooks, and Spotify.


Functions

The applications are accessible via the car controls the touch screen or voice with Siri. Whenever you want to go back to the main screen, you can push a digital version of the iPhone home button on the screen.

In many cars, Siri really works better than on iPhone. I attribute this to have a nearby microphone, built in an enclosed space. Dictate text messages or ask Siri to call one of my contacts, he was nearly flawless - never say something about trying the same tasks on my iPhone.

With Siri, you can access navigation through Apple Maps, call a contact, dictate a text message, or search through music, podcasts or audiobooks. It can not, however, use Spotify with Siri, which is quite annoying. Or you can use Siri to search the Internet with carplay.

Carplay lets you know when an incoming call or text to display a drop-down menu at the top of the screen in the instrument board similar to what you see on the screen of your cell car. You can press the touch screen to respond or Siri call with the press of a voice command button on the steering wheel (if your car has one).

Take out

Overall, I like carplay. It is an intelligent system. That said, flaws and disadvantages.
Personally, I prefer to use the Waze navigation and Spotify for music. But Waze is completely absent from carplay and Spotify can only be used via the touch screen (except for the launch of the application itself). This is disturbing for two reasons:

1- Apple Maps Glitchy meeting and unreliable

2- If you have to look at and touch the screen on the card, this benefit is carplay really offer? In this way, simply distracted driving is reduced.

In addition, and perhaps more importantly, carplay is fairly limited in scope. By that, I mean, carplay can really replace the auto-ever system that means you have to run on top of it and use the material - which is usually slower and less agile than to simply use your phone. Heck, many screens on the board, can not support pinch to zoom, for example.

Not only that, you can not control your car with carplay away, as is done with systems automaker provided. And for me it is a big part of the appeal of such a system Ford Sync Connect.

Finally, my biggest complaint is that carplay is that really should not limit driver distraction. At least one study of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that even hands-free phone calls and voice commands can distract drivers up to 27 seconds after the call ends. Carplay and is full of such occasions, calls talks Siri dictation to text.

When all is said and done, ignoring the problems with the perpetuation of distracted driving, carplay is good, but not great. If you are in your new car and have an iPhone, you can also use.

But if you do not have one of the new cars carplay enabled, you are not missing much. Yes, you can buy aftermarket units stereo Alpine and Pioneer have enabled carplay head. However, it is not so good that it made additional investments in these models worth.