5 new features on the go

Just have messages read aloud, a much nicer design for Apple Maps and more: these improvements bring iOS 15 to CarPlay,

5 improvements for CarPlay in iOS 15

1. Siri reads messages

Behind the wheel you have to keep your eyes on the steering wheel, and not stare at the dashboard. That’s why Siri can read incoming messages aloud in iOS 15. The ‘digital butler’ first tells you who sent you a message and then reads it aloud.

Sounds great, right? A disadvantage is that Siri can only read messages via iMessage. It is also a pity that this function will only come to iOS 15 at a later time, and is not immediately usable upon outcome.

2. New face for Apple Maps

Apple Maps – referred to by some as Apple Maps – started out as the ugly (and especially clumsy) duckling in navigation land, but has now become a solid alternative to other popular apps. iOS 15 takes this to the next level by giving the Maps app a fresh look.

The font is slightly thicker, the colors are brighter (and therefore clearer) and the card itself is more dark blue, instead of gray. Also handy: the voice navigation can now only read the warnings. This way you don’t hear at every bend that you have to turn right or left, but you are kept informed of any dangers along the way.

3. Eyes on the road with Focus

iOS 15 brings Focus to iPhone. This function mutes notifications in a smart way, so that you do not receive personal notifications during work, for example, and vice versa. Focus does what the name suggests: reduce noise and focus your attention on what is really important (at that moment).

Focus is also coming to CarPlay with iOS 15. You can choose from which apps or people you want to receive notifications while on the road. Is someone sending you a message that doesn’t get through your Focus? Then they will be informed that you have not received a notification, but that the message has arrived.

4. New wallpapers

CarPlay also gets new wallpapers with iOS 15. These are a bit like the standard iOS 15 wallpapers. You can customize the new backgrounds yourself via the CarPlay settings menu.

5. iPhone replaces your car keys

CarKey was introduced with iOS 14 and allows you to unlock and start your car with just your iPhone. iOS 15 makes CarKey a bit smarter. From now on you can only start the car if your phone is in the car and it will be impossible to lock the doors if your phone is still in the car.

This is of course very futuristic, but there is a good chance that CarKey is of little use to you. The feature is currently only supported by a few BMW models.

iOS 15 release is this fall

You can download iOS 15 from this fall. The new iPhone update will roll out at about the same time as the successor to the iPhone 12. We expect the iPhone 13, as the unsurprising name of this phone is, in September. This device will run on iOS 15 when it comes out, but the update will come to all iPhones that now run on iOS 14.

Also read: Overview: These iPhones and iPads will get iOS 15 and iPadOS 15