Update allows you to mirror movies and series in the multimedia center, but function will only be allowed with the vehicle parked
Apple is about to take a significant step in the automotive multimedia center market. The technology giant is preparing to release video playback in CarPlay, transforming the vehicle’s dashboard into an extension of home entertainment. The feature, promised since last year, has reached the latest beta version of iOS and will allow occupants to watch movies and series while the car is parked.
The move is a direct response to the advancement of the Google Built-In system, which has gained ground in automakers by offering native integration with apps like YouTube and Amazon Prime Video. With the update, the brand is trying to regain ground in the dispute for drivers’ attention, in a market that has become even more valued with the popularization of electric vehicles.
The growing fleet of battery-powered models has changed the dynamics of time spent on board: as owners often have to wait long minutes at charging stations, the vehicle ends up becoming a temporary ‘living room’, in an ideal scenario where media consumption via streaming takes center stage.
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To make the tool viable, Apple is betting on the strength of its ecosystem: users will be able to mirror videos from their iPhones directly to the multimedia center through AirPlay technology. In addition, the update will bring the native Apple TV app to the main navigation interface, making it easier to search for streaming catalogs.
Safety, a sensitive point when it comes to screens in automobiles, was treated rigorously. The reproduction of the images will be immediately blocked if the vehicle starts moving, avoiding dangerous distractions for those behind the wheel.
Although the software infrastructure is already ready, the function comes up against a classic bottleneck in the sector: adoption by automakers. Enabling streaming requires manufacturers to develop and implement specific support in their own original multimedia systems. In practice, the arrival of the novelty to the consumer will depend on the pace of modernization of each brand, and it may take time to reach the streets. Still, Apple’s signaling confirms that the car’s dashboard has consolidated itself as the new frontier in the dispute between the technology giants.
