Apple Updates CarPlay UI To Show Recently Used Apps To Drivers

Apple is always hard at work in improving its operating systems. Though the Cupertino giant is currently working on the iOS 10.3 update for its iPhones and iPads, it did not forget to also update its smartphone casting technology, called CarPlay. The update reportedly brings a very useful feature to the UI of the infotainment system.

According to MacRumors, the small tweak to CarPlay that is made possible by iOS 10.3 makes a lot of difference to drivers. Apparently, Apple modified the left-aligned dock of CarPlay to accommodate three recently used apps. By displaying these apps, it cuts the time drivers spend on manually navigating the UI to look for the apps they need.

Prior this update, CarPlay had a not-so-complicated but impractical means of launching apps. Drivers had to go on the home screen first before they could open the app. This means they had to tap to go to the home screen first, then look for the app they want to use and tap them. The same process is needed to be done when switching to other apps. Thus, it could get laborious to drivers who wish to access apps while hitting the road.

Now that the CarPlay’s UI has been updated however, drivers won’t have to worry about spending so much time on their infotainment system than keeping their eyes on the road. The addition of the recently used apps on the dock makes the process of switching to other apps seamless. Drivers can henceforth launch an app and just directly jump back to another recently opened one without leaving the home screen.

The UI tweak is only available via the iOS 10.3 beta for now. It has been in beta testing since late January. Once iOS 10.3 is officially released, the update will become accessible to all CarPlay drivers. As per The Verge, though this is not a huge change to the CarPlay software, it is something to be thankful for knowing that Apple is thinking of ways to make the interface of its software less complicated.

Apple has yet to reveal the release date of iOS 10.3. But so far, the update is getting positive reactions from beta testers. And this is not surprising because the upcoming software update comes with the Find My AirPods feature, a new app launch animation, bug fixes and many more.