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My Journey with CarPlay: Making Every Drive Better
As someone who lives in a rural area and frequently travels, whether for work or to explore remote hiking trails, I spend a significant amount of time behind the wheel. Over the past year alone, I’ve logged more than 25,000 miles, giving me ample opportunity to discover the very best apps that make any trip as smooth, efficient, and stress-free as possible.
Being an iPhone user, my platform of choice for in-car tech is overwhelmingly CarPlay. While I occasionally dabble with Android Auto on an older handset (especially when CarPlay decides to act up), this guide will focus on the apps that truly shine within the CarPlay ecosystem. (And yes, you might notice I’m on the “wrong” side of the car in photos — that’s just life in the UK!)
The bottom line for any driver is safety: the road demands your full attention. This means interacting with apps must be kept to an absolute minimum while driving. I strongly recommend pulling over to a safe spot for anything beyond a quick tap or a simple voice command to Siri.
Many iPhone apps have a CarPlay variant, but only a select few truly prove their worth on the road. Remember, the CarPlay experience won’t mirror your iPhone exactly; the user interface is often stripped down, and many apps rely heavily on Siri. For instance, video conferencing tools like Microsoft Teams and Zoom are limited to audio-only functionality, and you should also anticipate occasional cellular connectivity issues, especially when traveling at speed through different cell zones.
Want to declutter your CarPlay screen? It’s simple: on your iPhone, go to Settings > CarPlay, select your vehicle, and tap Customize. From there, you can easily remove an app by tapping the red circle next to its icon or rearrange your favorites by dragging and dropping them.
Navigating Your Journey with Confidence
When it comes to navigation apps, everyone has their favorite, and it’s a bit like choosing the best pizza – highly personal! While I won’t dive into the Waze vs. Google Maps vs. Apple Maps debate, my personal go-to for years has been Waze. It’s generally bombproof, though I always keep a backup like Google Maps handy for those rare moments when my primary choice acts up.
However, if you need a navigation solution that excels when you’re off-grid or off-road, look no further than OsmAnd Maps. This isn’t your average mapping tool; it’s packed with unique features designed for adventurers.
- It provides offline maps, perfect for areas with no signal.
- Enjoy advanced features like counters, hill shading, and 3D building support.
- It’s tailored not only for drivers but also for cyclists and hikers.
- You can display, record, import, export, and navigate GPX files, making it incredibly powerful.
Do be aware that while OsmAnd Maps is incredibly powerful, it comes with a learning curve, so get acquainted with it before you set off. A paid subscription is required for CarPlay use, but in my experience, it’s an investment well worth it for its robust off-roading capabilities.
Staying Ahead of the Weather
Nothing can turn a pleasant drive into a frustrating ordeal faster than unexpected weather. Keeping an eye on conditions is crucial, but I prefer specific, route-relevant information rather than a general overview. I want to know what the weather will be like exactly where I am, and what’s predicted along my route when I’m estimated to be there.
I typically switch between two fantastic weather apps. First, there’s Carrot Weather, a powerful and highly customizable app with a personality you can set from sarcastic to professional (or even profanity-laden, if you dare!). It’s my preferred weather app across all my Apple devices, including CarPlay, and can draw data from various weather sources.
My other indispensable weather app is Weather on the Way. As its name suggests, this app provides a quick, reliable overview of the weather conditions along your planned route. I find it particularly useful for a rapid check at the beginning of any journey.
Your Soundtrack to the Road
When it comes to in-car entertainment, your preferred music streaming service on your iPhone, be it Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, or SiriusXM Radio, will likely be your go-to in CarPlay. My key advice here is to leverage playlists and stations; trying to navigate the UI to find specific songs while driving is simply not safe.
For Apple Music users, SharePlay is a fantastic feature that allows other iPhone users in your car to take control of the music, turning long drives into a collaborative DJ session. Beyond music, there’s a world of podcasts and audiobooks to explore.
For podcasts, the built-in Apple Podcasts app often suffices, but many users swear by alternatives like Pocket Casts, Overcast, or Downcast. For audiobooks, I’m a long-time, devoted subscriber to Audible, which I can’t imagine driving without. However, excellent alternatives include Kobo Books and Google Play Books.
If you prefer to use your own audio files, BookPlayer offers a great way to organize and access them. And for those who love borrowing digital audiobooks, the Libby app lets you access your local library’s collection for free with just your library card.
Fueling Up & Parking Smart
Finding gas stations or EV charging points is typically straightforward using my navigation apps like Waze or Google Maps, which often highlight convenient options along my route. I prefer to keep app-switching to a minimum while driving.
However, if you want to dive deeper into pricing and availability, GasBuddy uses crowdsourced data to help you find the best fuel prices. For electric vehicle drivers, ChargePoint is an essential app for locating and using charging stations.
Similarly, for parking, Waze usually does a good job of suggesting convenient spots at my destination. But if you need a dedicated app for this task, consider EasyPark for everyday on-street parking (which also integrates EV charging options) or SpotHero for pre-booking spaces in commercial garages, ensuring you have a spot waiting for you.
Source: ZDNet – AI
