iPhone in the car: improvements in carplay and navigation in iOS 18.4

With the update to iOS 18.4, which is expected in April, there are also various improvements on the iPhone for a certain target group: that of the drivers. Apple no longer binds it to its in-house navigation system, provides more space in the CarPlay interface and has also optimized e-car support-at least in an important market.

Apple Maps no longer necessarily

With iOS 18.4, it is now possible to determine which app is used by default for navigations – not only by car, but also by public transport, on foot or by bike. There is now also a standard setting for the navigation system in the area area. If you want, you can then set Google Maps, Sygic or another suitable application. Apple does this because the group is regulated as part of the Digital Market Act of the EU Commission. So there is no function in other markets. After all, US users can now (also) stop a default app for translations, this is voluntarily implementing this.

It initially remained unclear whether the default setting also applies to CarPlay. But there is also a positive change with iOS 18.4: The number of icons on certain vehicle displays is increased, depending on the alignment by entire lines or at least split. This is useful because you have to scroll less, especially on the way an extremely sensible “feature”. For example, two rows with four icons each appeared on a 9-inch screen. How exactly Apple this decides is unclear – there is obviously no setting option.

Nice shop in America

If you are traveling in the USA with an Apple car player, you can also use new routing functions for e-cars. The NACS loading adapter is now supported, so you can now have a Tesla supercharger in a Ford that was previously not available for these vehicles. There is instructions on this On the US Ford website. It is still unclear whether the function will also come to other markets.

Apple has details on the use of e-vehicle navigation in Apple Maps and CarPlay compiled here in his support area. The functions vary depending on the country and region, the group warns.