Apple CarPlay will be completely wireless and aims to fully integrate with the vehicle's controls.

Revolution in Apple CarPlay

After giving up on its 'secret' Apple Car project, the Cupertino company is focusing on the evolution of Apple CarPlay, the rival to Android Auto. The giant with the bitten apple has taken advantage of its annual event for developers, WWDC 2024, to detail some important changes that will come to its driving system. Apple CarPlay will not only be completely wireless, but it aims to cover all the controls and screens of the car. To do this, Apple offers them what it has called "Perforated UI," a layered system in vehicle control, as reported The Verge.

Total Vehicle Control

The tech giant's intention is for its vehicle customization to go beyond the entertainment screen like Android Auto. That is, not just displaying maps or controlling music, but expanding to the rest of the controls and changing the clocks on the speedometer or tachometer.

This idea was first proposed some time ago, but it has raised more than a few eyebrows among car manufacturers. Therefore, in its presentation a week ago, Apple clarified that manufacturers will continue to play a significant role in the operation and design of their vehicles. To this end, Apple is offering them what it has dubbed the "perforated UI," a layered system for controlling the vehicle.

Personalization and Security

The smartphone manufacturer offers a wide range of designs and functions for car companies to choose from to customize the screens and controls of their models when the driver is a user of the Apple ecosystem, i.e., an iPhone owner.

This leap means that the phone will no longer display a series of services that run on the smartphone on the vehicle's screen, but will instead work closely with the car's own technology, collecting and analysing driving data, including HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning).

In this sense, all these essential driving systems cannot depend on a phone, even less so when one of the new features announced by the Cupertino company is that Apple CarPlay will only work with a wireless connection, at 60 fps or more if the car allows it.

Different Interface Layers

Apple proposes different layers for added security: some functions run on the iPhone, while others occur in the car. These layers include:

• Overlay UI: It runs entirely inside the car and controls critical functions like the turn signals.
• Local UI: Manage customizable elements such as the speedometer.
• Remote UI: Provides music, maps and information through your phone.
• Punch-through UI: Gives manufacturers control of the interface with options for the rearview camera or the air conditioning system.

So far, only Aston Martin and Porsche have announced Apple CarPlay compatibility, but no official results have been released yet. We'll have to wait and see if these changes convince the industry and the new Apple CarPlay hits the roads sooner.