Short guide to developing iOS apps for CarPlay
I’m pretty sure not everybody will approve, but nowadays, a smartphone and a car are pretty indispensable. Just stop for a few seconds and imagine what would you do if you would have to “survive” for a week without a smartphone or even without a car. Now, I’m not saying it would be impossible, but you’ll have to agree, it would be a pain in the back having to figure out pretty much everything without a search, calling/texting a friend, or an app telling you the answer.
What exactly is CarPlay?
Apple introduced around 2014, “The ultimate copilot” — CarPlay. Now, what exactly is this and what does it do? CarPlay is an extension of iOS that enables a car’s infotainment system (aka the built-in entertainment and information system) to display and control a range of apps. Streaming music, dialing into a meeting, finding a car park, and ordering food, are just some of the apps you might consider enhancing to take advantage of the maturing CarPlay platform.
What are CarPlay apps?
Fortunately, Apple allows app developers many possibilities to build something that might be perfect for CarPlay, but before you jump to conclusions, you must also know that Apple restricts quite a lot of apps that CarPlay can enable, so the type of apps that you can develop are:
- Audio apps (Music, Podcasts, News)
- Communication apps (Messages, Calls)
- Navigation apps
- EV charging apps
- Parking apps
- Food ordering apps
What niches should you pay attention to when developing?
- Traffic safety
- Safety and liability insurance
- Fuel-saving applications
- Health and ergonomics
Can I integrate CarPlay into my existing app?
You could do so, but it is recommended to create a new one that complies with all CarPlay legal criteria. CarPlay apps are meant to appear and feel similar to your iPhone app, but with UI features comparable to built-in CarPlay apps. It must be in accordance with certain dimensions.
How to develop a CarPlay app?
1. CarPlay app entitlement
2. Assess your entitlement
4. Add the new key to Entitlements.plist file
5. Add the below key in info.plist
6. Write the code
7. Test it on Simulator
Read the full section in the article here.
How much UI does CarPlay accept?
Well…not much to be honest.
For example, music players or podcast apps are pretty restricted by Apple, and the UI displayed on the car’s dashboard screen is very strict and allows no customization of the provided template. Looking at the bright side, it all means less development work and is easier to implement.
The biggest policy is given to car producers, who are free to customize the CarPlay UI as they please.
In the table below, you can view each of the different CarPlay UI templates, as well as the app categories that are accepted by each:
As we’ve said before, building a CarPlay-enabled app is quite accessible and easy for an experienced iOS developer, but even if you’re a beginner, you should give it a try, and test your boundaries. And if you ever feel overwhelmed, then we are here to take this issue out of your hand. Contact us and let our professionals build the project you desire. Read the full article here, and until the next one, keep your hands on the wheel and drive safe!
