Do you have an iOS device and a car with Apple CarPlay? If so, you probably love being able to run all your favorite iOS apps through your vehicular dashboard. There is one major drawback to CarPlay, though: Apple Maps, Apple’s proprietary navigation software, is just not very good. In fact, some people have developed a deep-seated hatred of iPhones because of it.
At today’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), Apple announced that in iOS 12, Apple CarPlay will support third-party navigational apps — including Google Maps and Waze, the two most popular options in America today. For many users who eschew CarPlay altogether in favor of phone-based navigation, this could streamline commutes and reduce transportation stress when driving to new locations.
If you’re unaware, CarPlay is a software overlay that essentially turns your car’s dashboard display (the video screen, not the part with the speedometer and gas gauge) into a second screen for your iPhone. We say “essentially” because CarPlay isn’t compatible with the full suite of iOS apps; it’s mostly limited to navigation, voice-activated communication — both calls and texts — and playing music. The list of supported third-party apps is scarce, comprising mostly just music apps like Spotify, Pandora, and Tidal.
The addition of support for Google Maps and Waze — not to mention the brevity of the announcement in the WWDC keynote and the news’ relegation to a footnote in this press release — may signal an admission from Apple that its navigational software is, indeed, inferior. Last June, Apple deployed a program, TryRating, that allowed users to test Apple Maps software and provide feedback, ostensibly in an attempt to improve the app’s accuracy.
Apple’s iOS 12 update isn’t limited to CarPlay improvements. As with each iteration of the operating system, the company has compiled a bevy of new bells and whistles to both optimize phone performance and increase capabilities. This year’s slate is headlined by some neat augmented reality features and the addition of group FaceTime calls. Other notable improvements include changes to Photos, Notifications, Apple Books, and Apple News. Head on over to our WWDC 2018 landing page to get the scoop on everything Apple announced.
BYD has launched the third-generation Qin Plus DM-i in China, and the first thing that caught my eye is its price. According to CarNewsChina, the plug-in hybrid sedan starts at 79,900 yuan, which is about $11,980. That’s an incredibly low price for a brand-new car, especially by US standards.
What’s even more impressive is the range. The Qin Plus DM-i can drive up to 137 miles on electricity alone, which should cover most people’s daily commutes without using a drop of gas. Once the battery runs out, the 1.5-liter engine takes over. Thanks to its 17-gallon tank and roughly 91 mpg with a drained battery, the combined range reaches up to 1,423 miles.
Apple won the PC market’s worst quarter, but that’s not the entire story. It won the race by stumbling less than everyone else.
PC makers shipped just 57 million computers worldwide in Q3, which might look good, but it’s a 21% year-over-year plunge (via Counterpoint Research). And despite Apple’s Mac shipments falling by 11%, to 5.6 million, its market share rose from 8.7% to 9.8%. How did that happen?
Update (October 22 23:54 PT): In response to our query, GM clarified that offline recording support is already available on eligible vehicles. Like Tesla's Sentry Mode, it requires owners to connect a USB drive to save incident recordings, which can be viewed on the vehicle's infotainment screen. The upcoming Connected Cameras feature will build on this by giving owners remote access to these recordings via the revamped OnStar app, allowing them to check footage without walking out to their car.
General Motors has announced plans to add a new Connected Cameras feature to its OnStar service starting next year, giving drivers a way to monitor parked vehicles remotely and capture footage of certain incidents.