I've had the chance to install the iOS 13 beta on my iPhone, which comes with the new CarPlay experience.
Kind of bummed by the fact that due to Volvo's approach to integrating CarPlay (lower half of the vertical screen, smaller diagonal due to this), it results in one of the poorest CarPlay experiences out of all the automakers.
Consequences of this*:
- dashboard view is crammed
- less information is displayed in the Dashboard view than pretty much every other automaker's screen (missing navigational arrows, full audio controls, audio source text, missing 3rd contextual information tile).
This software is beta, but I do hope Volvo adds better support to the new CarPlay experience (even though I know this is a slim chance due to them working on rolling out the new Android-based system). Things that iOS 13 enables that Volvo can adapt to:
- fullscreen vertical layout for CarPlay (this is available even now, in earlier iOS releases, but Volvo decided to block fullscreen CarPlay). Even more, this poses safety concerns especially when using navigation, since Volvo's approach is to bury CarPlay in the lower half of the Sensus screen. The upper part of the screen is taken by non-usable information (such as Phone via Apple CarPlay, Media via Apple CarPlay)
- maps data in second screen (instrument cluster) - assuming Volvo adds support for iOS 13 CarPlay, I hope they don't block out this feature to spur sales of their Sensus Navigation
- Second video stream support - Automakers can develop CarPlay systems that show information in a second screen, such as in a cluster or HUD.
I know this is early stages - but how do others feel about CarPlay. To me, it's the main way I use the infotainment in my car.
* - these first observations can be just a result of the first beta of iOS 13, things could change once development progresses
Apple CarPlay in iOS 13
That is a real shame. I thought Apple had allowed second display with iOS 12, or maybe even 11? Full screen, if CarPlay can make use of the vertical layout, would be awesome. Nice large map on top, dashboard controls underneath rather than side-by-side.
I do think the crammed, odd shape is already a shame. I like the overview mode of maps, but it doesn’t make good use of the screen in a Volvo. On my old Sony headset, it worked really well.
Is there a way to give feedback to Volvo, like Apple’s was.apple.com/feedback site?
I do think the crammed, odd shape is already a shame. I like the overview mode of maps, but it doesn’t make good use of the screen in a Volvo. On my old Sony headset, it worked really well.
Is there a way to give feedback to Volvo, like Apple’s was.apple.com/feedback site?
Inscription Pro | Pine Grey | Amber Leather | D3 FWD Manual
Ordered 11th May 2018
Delivered 6th November 2018
Ordered 11th May 2018
Delivered 6th November 2018
I have filled out this Customer Experience form on the Volvo website: https://www.volvocars.com/intl/footer/contact-us-form
Not sure about the second display in previous iOS releases, however it is a certainty as of iOS 13 - Apple markets it as a feature.
However full screen CarPlay has been available in previous iOS versions in vertical layouts. Apple's developer guidelines give as example the 768px x 1024px resolution for vertical screens: https://developer.apple.com/carplay/doc ... -Guide.pdf
Not sure about the second display in previous iOS releases, however it is a certainty as of iOS 13 - Apple markets it as a feature.
However full screen CarPlay has been available in previous iOS versions in vertical layouts. Apple's developer guidelines give as example the 768px x 1024px resolution for vertical screens: https://developer.apple.com/carplay/doc ... -Guide.pdf
There's a video in which Apple detailed what automakers can do with the new CarPlay APIs in iOS 13.
https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2019/252/
If Volvo decides to implement them as an update to existing XC40s, I'm a hugely happy customer.
https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2019/252/
If Volvo decides to implement them as an update to existing XC40s, I'm a hugely happy customer.
That explains a lot about Volvo’s implementation! The graphics almost suggested they were aiming the update AT Volvo (or maybe that’s just me and wishful thinking).
Inscription Pro | Pine Grey | Amber Leather | D3 FWD Manual
Ordered 11th May 2018
Delivered 6th November 2018
Ordered 11th May 2018
Delivered 6th November 2018
Not contributing to the discussion with anything meaningful, but hey, you're about 5 minutes from me
That said, it's a major disappointment and i sort of start regretting getting CarPlay integration. My car is still about 1 month away, hope once iOS 13 comes out it'll look much better.
That said, it's a major disappointment and i sort of start regretting getting CarPlay integration. My car is still about 1 month away, hope once iOS 13 comes out it'll look much better.