#WWDC: Apple Announces All-New In-Car Features But Do YOU Want Them And Will YOU Use Them?

Yesterday, Agent 001 was keeping tabs on Apple's latest announcements from its worldwide developer conference, which is known as WWDC. It is one of the largest events the technology company has and it has always been a place where Apple launches products or all-new features.

This was not any different this year.

Several things that caught 001's eye were the all-new, in-car features for Apple users.

The first new feature is a Do Not Disturb function that will be available in all iOS 11 devices. So, when driving the feature will not let people get through via text and it will actually reply to folks trying to contact you with a message that you will get in touch when you arrive at your destination. In addition, you can set the feature to let certain people get through to you.

Secondly comes the updates for Apple Maps. These are a bit more incremental. Now, the application will display posted speed limits and will feature lane guidance — much like car navigation systems, it will let you know which specific lane you need to be in to give you more accurate directions.

All of that said, I've got to ask: Do you actually want these all-new, in-car features? Do you foresee yourself using this functions?

Let us know in the comments below!

MDarringer - 6/6/2017 8:35:25 AM

-2 Boost

This the ability to do this has existed for some time. I think it should go one step further. A phone has to be paired with a car and when the car detects only one phone, it should automatically put the phone in brick mode. IF something is so "urgent" in text, that person can call and the information passed through the hands free interface. When the car detects multiple phones, then it could ask who is the passenger.

Cell phones are a menace to driving safety. Campaigns to get drivers to do the right thing have failed. It's time to clamp down and force a software solution.

Heck, I'd love to have a driver's license revoked for driving and texting because I feel it is so unsafe and if you think about it--immoral--because when you text and drive you are essentially saying that killing others is OK as long as your emoji gets sent.

TheSteve - 6/6/2017 11:49:25 AM

+1 Boost

My frustration with car infotainment systems is that they typically demo well in a PowerPoint presentation or a media soundbite, but in real-world use, most of them suck.

A case in point is the latest arrival of Apple Car Play found in the new Porsche 911 (2017 model year, nicknamed the "991.2"). Just one example found by a slightly more thorough car reviewer (i.e., one who wanders off the PowerPoint feature list and actually uses the product), shows us that after you hang up a connected mobile call, the entire system bricks for "a couple of minutes", and then slowly, the functionality resumes working.

While you might expect this in an economy car, you certainly would not expect it in a $100,000 Porsche 911, and especially not from Apple, maker of allegedly premium products that "just work."

If you want to maintain your belief that Apple makes great, trouble-free products, then steer clear of the Apple forums, especially after a new iOS update. As a person who uses Apple products extensively and heavily (Macbook Air with Bootcamp, iTunes on PC and Mac, 3x Apple TVs, 2x Airport Extreme wireless router, 2x iPhone, iPod), I can tell you with confidence: The Apple of today is nothing like the Apple of Steve Jobs' days. It's one of the reasons I don't get excited by new Apple products or features... the discovery phase with all the problems you'll encounter :-(

atc98092 - 6/6/2017 12:40:24 PM

+1 Boost

I carry a government phone and am often on call 24/7. I never look at the phone while driving (there's actually a federal law that says I can't), although it will vibrate away with email and text messages. But if it's something critical, then I get a phone call and I will talk via handsfree. I have to be able to take that call while driving, although I have often pulled over to concentrate on the discussion. I'm OK with text message alerts being hidden, but don't brick my phone while driving.

MDarringer - 6/6/2017 5:41:22 PM

+1 Boost

The Apple software allows calls to go through.

Agent00R - 6/6/2017 2:03:05 PM

+1 Boost

Yeah, I want none of this...

MDarringer - 6/6/2017 5:41:50 PM

-1 Boost

So you're a proponent of texting and driving?