Apple increases automobile integration with iOS 7

The latest operation system (OS) for your Apple ‘i’ devices will further unlock in-car features. That was the word from Apple at the recent premiere of its new iOS 7.

At the World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC) Apple announced deeper integration with car infotainment systems in an effort to entrench the iPhone or iPod as the device of choice when motoring.

In particular cars that feature iOS 7 compatibility will enjoy improved wired or Bluetooth connectivity with the device that will see navigation, messaging and importantly musical data transferred in a more reliable form.

There were some rather unsubstantiated figures bandied around by Apple's senior vice president of software and services, Eddy Cue: “Ninety-five per cent of cars sold today have integrated music playback and control from an iOS device, but we want to take this integration to a whole ’nother level.”
 
The key there is ‘compatible cars’, inferring a reliance on auto manufactures to come on board with their own development.

According to the conference Apple has partnered up with manufacturers such as Jaguar, Nissan, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, Hyundai, Kia, Ferrari, Chevrolet, Opel and unsurprisingly Infiniti/Honda who have been on board with bringing iPhones in-car for some time now.

In total Apple has teamed up with 16 manufacturers, with the first compatible systems rolling out during 2014.

Apple’s personal assistant Siri has been tweaked to give more control to iPhone users, including the ability to play voice mail or Apple’s iMessage SMS communications hands free. Siri will also be armed with a male voice as well as an expanded languages vocabulary, including German and French.

The command range will be increased to include the ability to switch on more phone features, including Bluetooth, without taking your eyes from the road. Siri will also have access to an expanded library of information supplied by Bing (Microsoft’s search facility) and Wikipedia, amongst other sources.

Whether we want the much maligned Apple Maps (introduced in favour of Google Maps when iOS 6 was released) streamed to our car’s screen is debateable, but it is part of the new integration plan, allowing an optimised view of the iPhone-supplied maps streamed to the screen.

Locally Holden has taken the gamble that this kind of integration will be something customers will expect in their vehicles, the recent VF Commodore taking smartphone integration further than ever before in a home grown car. The Holden MyLink system in particular is smartphone-friendly, supporting integration with apps and allowing the audible reading of SMS messages, however there are some restrictions on usability for iPhone users, with more functionality aimed at a rival smartphone operating system, Google’s Android.

A Holden spokesperson told motoring.com.au “GM and Apple are partners; hence we were the first manufacturer to introduce Siri Eyes-Free Integration in our vehicles. We don't have a formal announcement in relation to iOS in the car and the Holden MyLink system but I would say watch this space for what's to come from our partnership.”

Meanwhile over at Honda Australia the cogs are turning: “We are currently working with Honda R&D to introduce this technology to the Australian market, however we have no timeline at this stage.” A spokesperson told motoring.com.au

The local Toyota spokesperson was less committal to an Australian rollout of compatible systems: “The audio units installed in U.S. Toyota vehicles are considerably different to the units we offer here.” The spokesperson said “Even if future U.S. audio offers new or revised functionality, it wouldn't necessarily mean that such features are to be added to the Australian Toyota range.”??“It would be premature for [us] to confirm if our local audio is going to be upgraded, or offer further integration with any new smart phone software at this time.”

iOS 7 will be out in Spring or later for the iPhone 4 and iPad 2.