When I first drove a car with Apple’s CarPlay, shortly after its launch in 2014, I was bowled over. I thought it was a genuinely big thing; a life-changing technology ranking alongside the likes of video streaming and your first digital camera. Simply by plugging your phone into the dashboard, you were no longer dependent on dumb and costly-to-update manufacturers’ sat navs, you could bring your own entertainment with you in different cars, and enjoy hands-free operation of your phone, through simplified versions of appropriate apps. All while the phone was charging and without any clumsy mounts cluttering your view ahead. Android Auto, launched in 2015, achieved similar magic for Android users.
Since launch, improvements to both systems have been limited but nonetheless worthwhile - bigger screens, a wider range of app support, more voice control options, wireless connectivity and steps towards a multi-window display, so you can change music track without exiting navigation, for example.
