Is wireless CarPlay real?

Now that we're about a year out from the iPhone XS, XR, and XS Max, it's time to take a look at how the wireless CarPlay functionality is really working. I've been using it extensively, both at home and at the office, and it definitely has some limitations but it's also a good way to use CarPlay without having to think about charging or plugging anything in.

What Is CarPlay? CarPlay is Apple's version of an infotainment system. It's what you see when you look at the infotainment display on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. When you set up CarPlay, the first thing you're asked to do is add it as an app on your car stereo. This involves connecting the iPhone to the car via Lightning and using the CarPlay app on the phone to add it to your car's infotainment display.

That's it. No wires. CarPlay should now be fully integrated into your infotainment system, showing up whenever you launch the CarPlay app on your iPhone or iPad.

You're also able to add any of your other Apple devices to the CarPlay setup, which includes Apple TVs, iPads, iPods, and Macs. CarPlay vs. Android Auto The most noticeable difference between CarPlay and Android Auto is the lack of direct access to the Google Maps navigation app. With Android Auto, the only way you can actually access the Maps app is to double tap the navigation button on your steering wheel. (This is done using a process known as haptic feedback.)

With CarPlay, you're able to double-click the Home button to get to Maps and make voice directions. But it's still nowhere near as seamless as CarPlay.

Of course, the lack of Google Maps with Android Auto isn't even really important. All of your navigation needs can be done using the iPhone's maps app, which is included on every iPhone sold and does a great job of showing where you need to go. (This is the map view that's available even on the cheapest iPhones.) The real difference between CarPlay and Android Auto is that you get the ability to do voice commands.

Can you convert wired CarPlay to wireless?

It was reported this week that Apple is working on a wireless version of the connected CarPlay system. That's great news, especially if your phone never leaves your armrest. You won't be pulling it out at stoplights, so you can keep your eyes on the road. (We'll see how well this theory holds up next week when Apple officially announces the car.)

So ? Of course! And you can try today with my handy guide. Wireless isn't really about converting, though. It's about upgrading CarPlay, because wireless is much better and has more features. You can get all the CarPlay features Apple says it will add to a future wireless solution today by simply updating to the new system.

To figure out whether you'll be able to update to CarPlay over the air, there's only one rule: If it's available on the iPhone 6S or later with iOS 9.0 or later, you have a wireless-ready CarPlay.

That's all there is to it. If your phone has those capabilities, you can have wireless CarPlay.

What does that mean? You can listen to or answer voice calls wirelesslyover any Bluetooth-capable earpiece such as an in-car speaker or your own Bluetooth headphones. You'll also be able to make a voice-to-text transcription using CarPlay features such as dictation. And the display won't need to pull any cables, either. As long as you are an iPhone 6S or later user, you are a wireless CarPlay ready phone.

This is not a new CarPlay feature. It's been available with wired audio since CarPlay came out of beta testing three months ago, and since the 6S, it's become easier to find. But that doesn't make it less important or exciting to me. The real story is that CarPlay now runs on smartphones and it can run even if you don't use your phone directly.

Here's the catch, though: You can only use wireless CarPlay on an iPhone. Or another wireless-ready device such as a 6S or later, an iPad, or a Mac. You can't use a wired connection to your car system, nor can you wire CarPlay over Bluetooth from your phone.

Does the magic box work while driving?

As long as the app is not using your phone's GPS (or any other location), it will be able to use the phone's location. However, it may or may not work in situations where the phone's GPS is being used, like driving.

I would like to know if my Magic box will work while driving because I have it on my car and I do not want to risk getting a ticket for breaking the law because I forgot to turn off my GPS. Yes, the Magic Box can be used while driving. If you do these things, then your Magic Box should work. But if you are driving with Maps and Directions (or any other navigation app) and you also use the phone's GPS, then you need to turn off the GPS and Maps and Directions at the same time, or else you will likely get a ticket. If you do not turn off the GPS when you turn off Maps and Directions, then you risk getting a ticket. I was curious about this. When I was in the back seat of my friends car, I turned off the gps app on his phone, which then turned off the maps and directions app on my phone. All I could do was hear a little beep and that was it.

As long as the app is not using your phone's GPS (or any other location), it will be able to use the phone's location. No. It works while driving but only for the Magic Box. The phone's gps is on and in use in most situations. The "Maps and Directions" app uses the gps in a bad way by using the gps to calculate the location instead of getting that location from the network.

Does the Magic Link work for CarPlay?

When an in-car Apple device is connected to a vehicle, it usually needs to be paired with the vehicle using the iCar Connect software. Unfortunately, the car doesn't always offer this option. This means you may not be able to see some of your iPhone content in the CarPlay Display. That's why I was so excited to learn that Apple and Audi offer a Magic Link to let you see the CarPlay display from anywhere in the vehicle using your in-car WiFi access.

Magic Link works by sending iOS 10 compatible cars an Apple WPA2 Personal Hotspot wireless access point that you can use to tether your iPhone. Once it is connected to the hotspot, the CarPlay display will appear on the Apple device and provide you with all of your CarPlay content including movies, music, and audiobooks.

If you are looking for a way to get CarPlay into a vehicle that does not have the iCar Connect software, there is another way that will give you access to the CarPlay interface. Apple has included a new feature in iOS 10 that allows third party apps to work like they would in CarPlay. Since the latest iPhones can connect to an Apple WPA2 Personal Hotspot, many of these apps can use the same technology that gives you access to the CarPlay Display when connecting to a vehicle that supports it.

IOS 10 CarPlay App Support. The first app to take advantage of this new feature is BMW iDrive 6 Apps Plus. With this app, you can pair up to five iPhones to work as one personal hotspot (5-7), access Siri, and give other people access to their iPhone.99. It includes support for iPad, MacBook, Apple Watch, and iPhone.

You can pair up to five iPhones to work as one personal hotspot (5-7), access Siri, and give other people access to their iPhone. IPhone Xs Max. The new iPhone Xs Max offers a full 6.5 inch display that is optimized for CarPlay. The only way to view the CarPlay content is via CarPlay itself or with an Apple Watch. The good news is that you can still use the other iPhone apps that we listed below that support CarPlay.