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See iOS in the Car in action on iOS Simulator ahead of release (Updated with new video)

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5OZMu5u0yU]

Earlier this month we reported that a developer was seemingly able to get Apple’s upcoming iOS in the Car feature running through what we assumed was the iOS Simulator. Today, the same developer, Steven Troughton-Smith, has posted the video embedded above showing the feature actually up and running in a 800×480 Simulator window. Using the iPhone Simulator and iOS 7.0.3, the video shows the Maps app, a crude multitasking tray of sorts, and the ability to search by voice to navigate. No other apps are shown in the video, but it does appear that media controls of some kind are in the multitasking tray like in previous versions of iOS.

We noted before that the design had changed quite significantly since Apple first showed off the feature on stage at WWDC last year. The first set of screenshots posted showed a horizontal navigation bar, but the new video shows a design that’s much closer to what Apple showed on stage and what it is currently displaying on its website. Smith also made some notes of his own after playing with the simulator:

• Supports Multiple Resolutions
• Supports touchscreens (presumably single-touch?), hardware buttons, wheels and touchpads
• Does not support multitasking – car display will always show same current on-screen app as iPhone (which can be locked/asleep)
• Whitelisted to specific Apple apps – no public API for developers [yet?]
• Has no keyboard UI – voice recognition as input
• UI clearly subject to change
• Missing functionality in video is due to iOS Simulator not containing all the stock iOS apps

iOS in the Car is expected to make an appearance in new vehicles in 2014 and Apple is already working with Audi, BMW, Chrysler, General Motors, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, and Toyota to implement Siri Eyes Free features.

Update: Another developer has gotten this mode working on the iOS 7.1 beta, which shows a slightly modified user interface.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qd_Wz7ZP5c0]

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Comments

  1. MaRico NoHands Spikes - 10 years ago

    I have a 2013 Cruze with all bells but not all the whistles ( no fog lights, no sun/moon roof) but I have infotainment Dash 7″ LCDw/ rear cam/sonar , Siri works with voice button on my steering wheel with Bluetooth or USB, could I possible get ‘iOS in car’ ? Would be awesome.

  2. Steve Saxon - 10 years ago

    Looks like it is acting as an external monitor, much like using AirPlay to play a game through your Apple TV. If so, that would make it very easy for developers to extend their apps to leverage the dashboard screen. I assume the car exposes a private wifi hotspot that you set up on your phone.

    The coolest part is that you aren’t locked into the version of the software that came with your car – you always have the latest and greatest versions of everything that you have on your phone.

  3. danbridgland - 10 years ago

    Would be great to use TomTom also, since many rural locations are out of signal range, iOS maps often can’t plan a route.

Author

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Jordan Kahn

Jordan writes about all things Apple as Senior Editor of 9to5Mac, & contributes to 9to5Google, 9to5Toys, & Electrek.co. He also co-authors 9to5Mac’s Logic Pros series.