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Apple is one of the most famous and valuable companies in the world. Over the years, the company has proved masters at reinventing their products and amassing a loyal following. While they may be best known for their smart phone and tablet designs, Apple recently unveiled their ‘CarPlay’ functionality, which is their latest advancement in the rapidly changing world of in-car technology.

At the Geneva International Motor Show, one of the most prestigious car shows in the world, Apple showcased their CarPlay features. The CarPlay functionality is already available in Ferrari and Mercedes Benz, so drivers of those luxury cars have been able to use the latest in technology advancements.

iOS In The Car

CarPlay was originally called iOS in the Car, which is an accurately descriptive name of the technology. CarPlay allows drivers to use iPhone in the car in a safe manner. It is currently illegal to talk on the phone or to text while driving, so CarPlay provides a safe and efficient alternative, where people can access their iPhone features through voice or touch commands.

With the busy and hectic lives people lead today, where they often want access to technology at all times, this is the latest step forward. While previously only available in select luxury cars, with the recent launch CarPlay will now be available in a greater variety of automotive brands like:

General Motors
Honda
Kia Motors
Nissan Moto Company
Subaru
Toyota
BMW Group
Suzuki

With so many prominent automotive companies now carrying the CarPlay technology, it has gone from a side project to a potentially billion dollar offering. It will give directions and even estimated time of arrival to drivers, amongst its many features. Anyone using CarPlay while driving will have access to a wealth of features.

Since Apple has launched Apple TV, which has been called their pet project, in-car technologies like CarPlay seems to be their next major focus. With the interest already generated, it seems like it’s already captured the imagination of the consumer.

Attracting Attention From All Sectors

The CarPlay technology is also creating a splash, because it’s attracting attention from different sectors, including the automotive, communications, and tech communities. They all have a stake when it comes to in-car technology being integrated with smartphone capabilities. It’s believed that in the future functionalities like CarPlay will be the norm as people increasingly want to have access to their smart phone while driving. In-car technology is particularly hot, because in the ever-changing world of technology, cars are here to stay for the foreseeable future.

People will be driving cars for a long time to come and in the competitive automotive world features like CarPlay can help make an automobile more appealing to consumers. The Ferrari FF was the first car to feature the CarPlay technology and Apple reports that they are constantly receiving requests to find out more about the technology.

Previous In-Car Screens

Previous in-car screens have reportedly been hard to navigate and confusing. Apple has changed that with CarPlay and they have been able to refine and bring the time-tested and consumer-tested graphical interfaces of the iOS to the car. And the key to making in-car technology work is implementing successfully what is called “eye-free” technology.

This means that the driver can access all the features without having to use eyes, crucial for the safety of the driver and other drivers. In this sense, Apple does seem to be ahead of its competitors like Google and Android, although both are busy launching their own in-car technologies. While CarPlay has been hailed as the future of car technology, it remains to be seen how it’s embraced by consumers when first released on a large-scale basis.