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So why is interacting with your phone considered distracted driving, but interacting with these screens not?
 
My car (which isn't remotely new) displays the outside temp and the desired/intended inside temp - I find both useful. I'd be happier if it also displayed the current inside temp. As far as weather conditions go, I can look out the window (something I do quite a lot while driving) and see if it's raining or not. But I can't see the temperature by looking outside (is it 75° or 85° out there?).

Now, having a navigation app that tells you that 20 minutes ahead on your route there's a thunderstorm would be cool, but that also requires that you've "filed a flight plan". I don't always tell my phone/car my destination when I drive somewhere. But that's not required for it to tell me the current temperature.

Fair point.

But if I enter my destination I really would like to be informed of (bad) weather conditions, especially in the mountains. Tech is feasible, just like a road block ahead, or traffic jam.
 
CarPlay is such a boring interface. And with Ultra Apple is trying to wring value out of its failed car project. And after 2.0 failed to impress with manufacturers Apple has to walk it back and we have ultra. It's uninspired, I hope the new design language of iOS 19 make sits way to CarPlay to inject some much needed pizzazz
 
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Fair point.

But if I enter my destination I really would like to be informed of (bad) weather conditions, especially in the mountains. Tech is feasible, just like a road block ahead, or traffic jam.
Sure. I have no problem with adverse weather information. I was responding to someone wondering why you'd want to have the temperature displayed rather than current weather conditions (and, again, for current conditions, I can determine rain-or-not by looking out the windshield, but I can't determine the temperature within 5 degrees during that same look). If there's bad weather up ahead, it'd be nice to know. If there's something unusual (high surf advisory, high wind alerts, etc.), Carrot Weather forwards alerts from the National Weather Service (at least while we still have that), and for really bad conditions (hurricanes, flash flood watch, whatever), I'll likely get 37 alerts from the FEMA app.
 
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CarPlay is such a boring interface. And with Ultra Apple is trying to wring value out of its failed car project. And after 2.0 failed to impress with manufacturers Apple has to walk it back and we have ultra. It's uninspired, I hope the new design language of iOS 19 make sits way to CarPlay to inject some much needed pizzazz

I have no interest in any UI having "pizzazz".

just want to be able to do what I need to do as easily as possible
 
First, you can still use Google maps on CarPlay. Second, I prefer Apple Maps in everyday use.
I get the impression that many of the people who keep saying Google Maps is better either haven't used it, or haven't used it since shortly after it was released (which was premature, occasioned by Google trying to negotiate for creepy levels of data about people, rather than just money). I've been very happy with Apple Maps, and on the occasions when I've had to go back to Google Maps (like when somebody sends a link), I've been dismayed at how crapped up the display is - like zoom out to a 5000ft view over a section of the city and the map is still shouting "and here's an important landmark to guide you, this random Thai restaurant 10 miles away that paid us to say it's important".
 
CarPlay is such a boring interface. ... It's uninspired, I hope the new design language of iOS 19 make sits way to CarPlay to inject some much needed pizzazz
Do not give me "pizzazz", give me highly functional well-designed interfaces - a well-designed interface has an elegance all its own.

If you want shiny blinky things, go download some "free-to-play" microtransaction-based games.
 
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Do not give me "pizzazz", give me highly functional well-designed interfaces - a well-designed interface has an elegance all its own.

If you want shiny blinky things, go download some "free-to-play" microtransaction-based games.
I agree that I don’t want them to add “shiny blinky things”, but the CarPlay look IS quite dated, and needs a touch-up. Should still be as clean, just a little more “fresh”.
 
CarPlay is such a boring interface. And with Ultra Apple is trying to wring value out of its failed car project. And after 2.0 failed to impress with manufacturers Apple has to walk it back and we have ultra. It's uninspired, I hope the new design language of iOS 19 make sits way to CarPlay to inject some much needed pizzazz
How does CarPlay’s interface get updated in the car? Is it wholly dependent upon the phone’s OS version, or is the base appearance pre-loaded by the car manufacturer into the infotainment unit, with the phone just controlling the existing interface and adding new app icons? IOW, to upgrade the car’s CarPlay interface, does the car’s infotainment software need to be updated too?
 
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Cave Johnson with yet another horrible take. This is on brand.
While $100k might not be an exact number (it was a joke) prices on all vehicles are absolutely going up as a result of the tariffs. CarPlay or no CarPlay. That’s just math. You can’t levy a huge tax on vehicles, and expect prices to remain the same. Even if the vehicle is 100% made in the us, and I’m pretty sure none are, the dealers will raise prices to increase profit margin when competing with imports who’s price absolutely will go up. I have a gm vehicle with CarPlay. I know it will never get this update, but it certainly would be a nice thing to have. I hate going into the stock software just to check the outside temp of the vehicle, or to tune the radio.
 
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CarPlay Ultra's built-in Radio app can also be used to control satellite radio stations, but this is less notable given that SiriusXM already offers a CarPlay app.

Well, yes, but wouldn't that app stream rather than using the car's satellite receiver?

The entire point of satellite radio is that it works anywhere you have a clear sky - no need for cellular coverage (not that I really think that's tremendously significant in the year of our lord 2025, but it is the way they market it).
 
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iPhones should get an AM/FM radio app
For what it's worth, if you know the call letters, you can get many stations by telling Siri to "play WFMU" (for instance) and it'll do just that. Works on HomePods too. I've been using an app called RadioApp, which has a very cool analog-style tuner interface that lets you skip around to streams in your local area (or anywhere, if you want).
 
Radio feels quite archaic with Spotify and Apple Music on the market.
It can be great to find a cool local radio station and listen to shows and get DJs who tell you more about what you're listening to.

People actually still listen to the radio? Last time I tried was maybe 15 years ago, browsing through went like this:

- commercials
- news
- morning talk show cr@p
- commercials
- pop trash
- commercials
- prayers
- the same news as 30 minutes ago
- commercials

Why would you do that to yourself
Yeah, you're describing commercial radio and it is very ****ty. Not all radio stations are like that. Try an indie, or a college station. World of difference, and sometimes great LOCAL information.

View attachment 2512927

Huh? Why would anyone care for the temp when driving? Wouldn't the weather conditions be way more informative? I would like to know if there's rain, gale, thunder et cetera along my route. What's this? "Let's add some random info on people car displays".
Agree. But what IS useful in my car (and maybe yours) is the onboard thermometer that tells you the real temperature where your car actually is -- not at some random weather station. That becomes very useful information near the freezing mark so you know to watch for ice.
 
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For what it's worth, if you know the call letters, you can get many stations by telling Siri to "play WFMU" (for instance) and it'll do just that. Works on HomePods too. I've been using an app called RadioApp, which has a very cool analog-style tuner interface that lets you skip around to streams in your local area (or anywhere, if you want).
I know you and others are trying to be helpful by letting me know that the iPhone can pick up internet streamed simulcasts from many radio stations who offer that, but it really is completely missing the point of what I am actually saying
 
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I know you and others are trying to be helpful by letting me know that the iPhone can pick up internet streamed simulcasts from many radio stations who offer that, but it really is completely missing the point of what I am actually saying
OK, I'll bite: what is your point?
 
OK, I'll bite: what is your point?
I am very deliberately saying that the iPhone should be able to receive AM/FM broadcasts. There are many reasons for this that go beyond simply wanting to hear whatever song is playing on KROQ at the moment
 
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I am very deliberately saying that the iPhone should be able to receive AM/FM broadcasts. There are many reasons for this that go beyond simply wanting to hear whatever song is playing on KROQ at the moment
No, what you wrote was that "iPhones should get an AM/FM radio app". And then people responded with... how you can stream AM/FM radio on an app.

But what you apparently meant was that you want there to be an actual hardware tuner built into iPhone. Big difference!

And, for what it's worth, I agree that would be useful -- and important in some emergency situations. I can't find it right now but I remember reading an article specifically about how a lot of people (or even regulatory agencies? can't remember) were pushing for AM/FM hardware in smartphones so they could be used to receive emergency broadcasts regardless of cell/data signal.
 
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