ALL OF MY FAVORITE IPHONE APPS CONVENIENTLY ACCESSIBLE VIA APPLE CARPLAY. PHOT BY KIM SMITH

If I told you that I would not have chosen my SUV if it didn’t have Apple CarPlay would you believe me?

Apple CarPlay is an interface that takes hands-free phone use to the next level. It allows users like me, of Apple products – iPhone or iPad – to use our favorite iPhone/iPad features and functions through our car’s infotainment system. Basically, it mirrors approved iPhone apps right on your infotainment screen.

What I love about Apple CarPlay

I love that the CarPlay interface is customizable. You can move your favorite and most used apps to the first eight spots, and add the rest on the next screen. For me, my communication apps and entertainment apps are on the first screen, and I can access my navigation apps with a quick swipe to the next screen. In addition to that, I’m going to share the features of Apple CarPlay that I love.

WHETHER IT’S LISTENING TO MUSIC OR A PODCAST, IT IS ALL HERE ON THE CARPLAY INTERFACE. PHOTO: KIM SMITH

Safe Driving With Hands-Free Phone Calls and Texting

Safe driving is my number one priority, which is one of the top reasons why I love that my SUV is equipped with Apple CarPlay. It allows me to conduct phone calls hands-free, as well as allows me to hear text messages read aloud over the stereo and respond to the messages without taking my hands off of the steering wheel or eyes off of the road.

Related: 6 Surprising Reasons to Connect Your Phone to Your Car Right Now

APPLE CAR PLAY SAFE DRIVING PHONE AND TEXT ACCESS

SAFELY RECEIVE PHONE CALLS & HAVE SIRI READ TEXT MESSAGES WHILE DRIVING. PHOTO BY KIM SMITH

Easy Navigation Through Third-Party Map Apps

My family and I are always on the road, and without navigation, I would be lost. When I first got my SUV, third-party mapping apps like Google Maps and Waze were not available to use via CarPlay since Apple has Apple Maps. Sometime late last year that changed so now, I am able to use my favorite community-powered map app, Waze. It provides turn-by-turn navigation information and user-submitted travel data including accidents, road obstructions, and more.

Related: Amazing Car Safety Features: Innovative Driver Assistance Technology

WAZE COMMUNITY POWERED MAP APP ACCESSIBLE ON APPLE CARPLAY

WAZE IS MY GO TO MAP APP AVAILABLE ON CARPLAY. PHOTO: KIM SMITH

What is awesome about being able to use Waze in conjunction with Apple CarPlay is that instead of using the small screen of my iPhone, I can see the map displayed on my SUVs 10” screen, as well as hear the turn by turn navigation and warnings through the speakers. In addition to that, I can view turn by turn route details on my phone while simultaneously viewing the map on the infotainment screen.

Customizable entertainment

Whether it is going to work, shuttling my daughter to gymnastics or swimming, or even a road trip, I spend at least 85% of my time in my SUV. Therefore, I need to be able to access not only my favorite entertainment apps but my daughter’s as well. I love that I have access to the following entertainment apps via Apple CarPlay:

Apple Music/iTunes
Sirius XM
Podcasts
Google Play Music

Related: Let Your Kid Dictate Your Next Road Trip with Waze Voice Recorder

APPLE CAR PLAY ALLOWS ME TO ‘LOVE’ MY FAVORITE MUSIC & EVEN CREATE A STATION BASED OFF OF A SPECIFIC SONG. PHOTO BY KIM SMITH

I also love that if I am playing a song that I love via iTunes, I can use CarPlay to create a radio station that is comprised of music similar to that song. It’s as simple as touching three dots in the “Now Playing” menu which will then give the option to create a radio station out of the current song or rate a song by pressing “Love” or “Dislike” on the screen.

ITUNES ON APPLE CARPLAY - H.E.R. AS I AM

I LOVE THAT I CAN NAVIGATE ITUNES MANUALLY OR USING SIRI TO FIND MY FAVORITE SONGS LIKE “AS I AM” BY H.E.R. PHOTO: KIM SMITH

Ignorance is Not Bliss… If it Means Not Having Apple CarPlay

I can attest to that my life before having an SUV without CarPlay versus now with Apple CarPlay, having a vehicle without CarPlay is not an option, especially if it means losing the convenience and safety of accessing my favorite apps and features of my phone while driving.

Also not an option is driving while distracted. Although Apple CarPlay enhances your driving experience it can lead to distracted driving. We all know that distractions are dangerous, so be a responsible driver when using Apple CarPlay (or any technology feature) while driving in your car. And stay safe out there!

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Kim S.

Owner/ Editor at Beauty and the Bump NYC

Kim is a 30-something-year-old wife and do-it-all mom of a daughter, Chloe. She not only works full-time and is a freelance makeup artist, but also writes, on her site, Beauty and the Bump NYC about the things that she finds beautiful: her love of family, travel, cars, and makeup and skincare. If that wasn’t enough, she also took on the role of class parent for her daughter's 2nd-grade class. These are all tough jobs, but somehow, she gets it all done with style, grace, and of course, beauty.

@BeautynBumpNYC