Hands On With Apple's CarPlay Integration With Volvo

Volvo and Apple offered the first public demonstration of CarPlay in the U.S. since its March debut at the Geneva International Motor Show, showing off how the system works during the New York International Auto Show on Wednesday.
Although CarPlay wasn't mounted in a Volvo vehicle, the demonstration unit did show how Volvo's hardware and software integrates seamlessly with the system. Mashable got to go hands-on with CarPlay; here's what we found:




Swiping the screen to change menus was speedy, and switching between applications had no noticeable lag time. In short, if you're already an iPhone lover, as well as a frequent driver, CarPlay will be very hard to resist.

App performance

The Siri voice integration worked as advertised, giving us instant access to Apple Maps, the phone, messages and music. Bringing up Maps via voice was easy, and as long as you have your location option set to "on" in your iPhone's privacy settings, the CarPlay map will default to your current location when you open the app.

Image: Mashable, Adario Strange

But it's when you ask for directions that you see the true mobile power of CarPlay. After requesting directions to a location in Manhattan, Siri presented several options on the CarPlay interface. Select one, and you are presented with a detailed, turn-by-turn routing map, complete with the 3D-buildings option in Apple's iPhone Maps app.
Making a call was just a matter of pushing the Siri button (which will be accessible via the steering wheel), and saying, "Call John Doe." After Siri acknowledges the command, the call is immediately put through. The same ease of use was present when sending messages.
And those familiar with that satisfying "ting" sound when you get a new message, will be happy to know that it's also present in CarPlay. However, if the message includes an image, you won't see it onscreen, and Siri won't tell you that an image has been included, in order to adhere to road-safety guidelines.

But is it safe to use?

While using CarPlay, I noticed that although I didn't need to look at the screen, I was nevertheless compelled to, simply because it's an attractive display with amazing graphics.
The issue of safety and distracted driving will likely come up more often, as these interactive screens begin to claim more dashboard real estate even in affordable cars. Both Volvo and Apple said distracted driving is something they're both actively working to prevent.

"We work very hard ahead of time with all the car companies, including, of course, Volvo, on the specifics of the user interface," Stephen Chick, a member of Apple's CarPlay team, said. "

The whole point of CarPlay is to have a safe environment in the car for your iPhone

The whole point of CarPlay is to have a safe environment in the car for your iPhone. That's the experience we want to bring because we realize that using your iPhone itself is not the way that we want to go in the car."

Ready for the road

Overall, CarPlay was very easy to use, and just as intuitive as an iPad or iPhone; this virtually erases the learning curve, and gives Apple's in-car system a leg up over competing systems with less familiar interfaces.

Image: Mashable, Adario Strange

Couple that with the fact that aftermarket CarPlay options from Pioneer will soon be available, and suddenly it becomes apparent just how powerful Apple's in-car system could become in a very short span of time. Chick added that other aftermarket CarPlay options will be revealed in the coming months.
Volvo's first car to include Apple's CarPlay will be the Volvo XC90 SUV, which is slated to debut later this year.(MASHABLE)