Apple CarPlay: Why I Love It and Why You Need It

I'm in the car a lot. Apple CarPlay mirrors my phone on the SUV's infotainment screen so I can stay connected, navigate and listening to our favorite music.
Apple Carplay Interface
ALL OF MY FAVORITE IPHONE APPS CONVENIENTLY ACCESSIBLE VIA APPLE CARPLAY. PHOTO: KIM SMITH

It’s my #1 must have in a car. Period.

If I told you 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 multimedia  system. Basically, it mirrors approved iPhone apps right on your media 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.

Related: Android users are not left out! Android Auto mirrors your phone on many infotainment systems.

A Girls Guide To Cars | Apple Carplay: Why I Love It And Why You Need It - My Favorite Iphone Apps On Apple Carplay
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 Carplay Allows Me To 'Love' My Favorite Music
APPLE CAR PLAY ALLOWS ME TO ‘LOVE’ MY FAVORITE MUSIC & EVEN CREATE A STATION BASED OFF OF A SPECIFIC SONG. PHOTO: 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!

Why I Love Apple Carplay And You Should Too

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Kim S.
Kim S.

Kim Smith is a 30-something-year-old wife and do-it-all mom of two beautiful daughters; her rainbow babies. As if working full-time isn’t enough, Kim owns Beauty and the Bump NYC, a mom blog where she writes about the things that she finds beautiful: her love of family, travel, food and more. She also shares her love of cars on her other site What Drives Kim As a contributor to A Girl’s Guide to Cars, Kim shares her love for cars by providing helpful tips and car reviews from the perspective of a modern working millennial mom.

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