Introduction to Apple CarPlay Update
With a clever upgrade to cars around the world, you can watch videos on the integrated screen of your engine. It’s all for a new update to Apple CarPlay, which is in millions of cars worldwide. However, there is a big catch to this update.
The Big Catch
The function only works if the car is parked. This is supposed to prevent drivers from watching videos like Love Island on the M25 – a dangerous combination. With CarPlay, your iPhone takes over the screen of your car and gives you access to your apps, music, contacts, and more.
How it Works
And with the iOS 26 update for the iPhone later this year, you can stream videos from your cell phone to the display of your car. This works via the same AirPlay function with which you can stream iPhone videos on your television. So you can play a video that was saved in your photos app. Or you can use one of the many TV apps that support AirPlay to simply stream content on your Apple CarPlay monitor in your car.
Supported Devices and Apps
This includes Apple TV+ and YouTube – or another app that CarPlay offers. The other catch is that your car manufacturer has to switch on the function. CarPlay is managed by Apple, but your auto provider has to activate the new ability to watch TV. And it will only go live at least September if we expect iOS 26 from iPhone models as a free update.
Availability of CarPlay
But many cars support CarPlay. CarPlay was introduced in 2014, and more than 800 engine models in 40 brands are now supporting it. Apple recently announced that it was used more than 600 million times a day. So there is a good chance that the new feature will come near your car in the future.
Additional Upgrades to CarPlay
Apple has also announced other upgrades to CarPlay, including a new liquid glass look, which other Apple devices will receive later this year. This gives the apps a glassy new aesthetics with a translucent design. And you will be able to send tap shots to texts – you are the fast emoji reactions that are already available in the news app on the iPhone.
CarPlay Ultra
There is support for widgets on the screen and live activities (which could show sports values, for example). And Apple has finally debuted CarPlay Ultra, the charged version of CarPlay, which is currently only available with a car brand. CarPlay Ultra only replaces your infotainment screen, but also serves as a customizable instrument field (shows your speed and fuel and so on) and enables you to control car functions such as heating.
Future of CarPlay Ultra
CarPlay Ultra is currently available in new models from the British Motoring Giant Giant Aston Martin, but it will probably continue to arrive in other vehicles in the future. According to Apple’s Greg ‘Joz’ Joswiak, "We bring out that too next Generation of CarPlay, which we first released about a month ago." Joz continued: “CarPlay is this beautiful ability to use it characteristics From your phone. We wanted to have an experience with CarPlay Ultra, with which you can also control the aspects of your car via the same user interface you can control your phone.”
