3 hidden Apple CarPlay options I discover actually helpful

You probably have each an iPhone and a automotive that was manufactured within the final 5 to 10 years, then there is a stable likelihood that you just make use of Apple CarPlay for all issues infotainment whereas out on the street. CarPlay has gained appreciable traction in latest instances, and for good cause: it is an intuitive strategy to benefit from the computational energy of your smartphone in a format that is optimized (and much safer) to be used whereas on excursions.

For essentially the most half, the CarPlay movement is so simple as it will get, counting on the identical fundamental app launching and contact screen-based swiping that we have all come to know and love on lots of our mobile gadgets. The expertise interprets fairly properly onto the built-in dashboard show of any given automotive or truck, full with outsized and easily-discernible icons, widgets, and in-app controls.

Just below the floor, hidden proper in plain sight, are a set of extremely helpful Apple CarPlay features that, for my part, elevate the platform to a fair better diploma. Listed here are three such options that I discover extraordinarily helpful, and that I depend on every time I am utilizing a CarPlay setup whereas out and about.

CarPlay screenshots

Taking screencaps is an easy course of

As a author and reporter working within the shopper electronics business, I inevitably take loads of screenshots all through my work day. Whether or not it is to do with interface modifications, new UI parts, or state-of-the-art software program options, there is a good likelihood that I’ve gone forward and captured the most recent contents of my display screen and saved it inside my digital camera roll.

Some platforms — together with Apple’s personal tvOS — make screenshotting a bit extra of a problem to drag off, however this fortunately is not the case with regards to CarPlay. What many do not notice is that by merely taking a screenshot of your iPhone whereas linked to CarPlay (wired or wi-fi), a secondary screenshot of your automobile’s CarPlay-powered infotainment show may even save to your digital camera roll.

CarPlay parking spot updates

Always remember the place you parked your automotive once more

There’s nothing worse than exiting a mall after a busy day of purchasing, or leaving a movie show after watching a blockbuster function movie, and never figuring out the place on Earth you parked your automotive. Whereas it is true that you would be able to place an AirTag or comparable monitoring system inside your automobile to maintain tabs on its location, doing so is an extra funding that additionally requires often changing the button-style batteries that energy them.

As a substitute, I discover myself merely counting on CarPlay’s built-in automotive parking operate. Mechanically, every time I park my automotive and stroll away from it, its geolocation is marked on each Apple Maps and Google Maps, and is due to this fact simply accessible always. Personally, I flip off the push notifications that alert me of my up to date automotive park places, as they will grow to be annoying over time, however having the additional peace of thoughts with out having to manually drop a pin on a map to indicate a parking spot is a big high quality of life function on the entire.

CarPlay wallpaper customization

Add a pinch of personalization to your dashboard

Along with having the ability to toggle between light and dark mode themes, CarPlay helps you to customise your dashboard wallpaper independently of your iPhone’s background picture. Now, for higher or for worse, there is not any choice to set a customized wallpaper inside CarPlay, however Apple does present a pre-selected group of photos to select from.

Particular person wallpapers are adjustable instantly by way of the CarPlay interface, with out requiring you to dig via your cellphone’s settings to make modifications. Varied choices can be found, together with hues of blue, inexperienced, pink, orange, in addition to each stable colours and swirl designs. Every picture can be dynamic in that it gives each a lightweight and darkish variant, which might swap robotically alongside your theming primarily based on ambient light situations.