Jeep Apple CarPlay: Getting Hands-on with iPhone-connected Tech
New Device, Same Experience
Apple has been working on mobile device-automobile integration since automakers began supporting the iPod back in the early 2000s, so the advent of CarPlay is not surprising at all.
If you are familiar with Apple CarPlay, then you know starting it up is as simple as connecting your iPhone via USB. As soon as I connect my iPhone, the UConnect system automatically engages the CarPlay app. It is actually the fastest I’ve seen it boot up. I always thought Android Auto reigns supreme in that aspect. But alas, Jeep’s UConnect hardware is clearly optimized and this version of CarPlay is super snappy.
Visually-speaking, anyone who has used an iPhone in the last five years will find the interface inherently familiar. That is because the UX for CarPlay is purposely identical to the way you use your phone in real time. You have an array apps, quick launch apps at the upper left, and even a digital home button at the bottom. You feel like you’re actually using your smartphone, only with a much larger screen and, of course, without holding it in your hands. It goes without saying but despite it being a fantastic iOS emulation, you won’t be able to play Angry Birds or Fruit Ninja for obvious reasons.
Siri is Your Wingman
Because voice control is such an integral part of the CarPlay experience, Siri is the virtual cornerstone of the system’s core functionality. The jovial Apple representative who volunteers to show me a demo starts by showing me the communications portion first. He pushes the phone icon, and Siri swoops in to ask him who he wants to call. Naturally, he says one of his good friends by his first and last name, and Siri immediately dials him. By the way, you don’t even need to push phone app to make calls. You may simply say, “Hey Siri, call (insert random friend).” It works just as well.
iMessage
Same thing goes for text messages, too. However, you aren’t able type anything on the display (again, for obvious reasons), nor will you be able to see any body copy. You can see each conversation thread but when you click on any one of them, Siri will read your latest iMessage text. We got an incoming text while in the car and it appeared from the notification shade, just like an iPhone. Once we click on it, Siri tells us what the message says and then asks us if we’d like to respond. Simple.
Best part about all of this fancy, futuristic telephony is that all of your data goes with you once you disconnect. Since CarPlay is fed by the iPhone itself, none of your information is stored on the car. Which means you can hop from vehicle to vehicle and get still get the same experience without compromising your sensitive data.
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