Apple released beta 4 of the iOS 17.4 update on Tuesday and has a new feature for you to try if you have the right car. According to the developer release notes, support for CarPlay with Apple Maps has been updated:
In iOS 17.4, with CarPlay supported vehicles, Apple Maps will introduce a new instrument cluster experience with information about upcoming maneuvers. Users will be able to switch the desired display type between the main screen and the instrument cluster screen by tapping the map setup button at the top right of the main Maps screen.
Since this feature works “between the main screen and the instrument cluster screen”, it appears to be for CarPlay implementations that use two screens. Most cars only use the main screen located in the center of the car console for CarPlay. Apple added the ability for CarPlay to operate on the instrument cluster screen and display maneuver maps in iOS 13.
At WWDC 2022, Apple previewed “the next generation of CarPlay,” a yet-to-be-released version of CarPlay that takes over the dashboard entirely. Porsche previewed next-generation CarPlay, and the first cars equipped with the software are expected to ship this year, but no official announcement has been made. The new CarPlay feature in iOS 17.4 beta 4 is separate from next-gen CarPlay.
You can learn more about the in-car experience in our CarPlay FAQ. And learn more about the iOS 17.4 beta, which also includes new options for distributing iOS apps from alternative app markets in the EU.
