Fermi

Q: iOS CarPlay and movies

I've been trying to research the specifics of CarPlay since I'm shopping for a new car now. I haven't been able to answer this:

 

I'm looking at a Toyota Sienna or Honda Odyssey, with the integrated DVD entertainment system. Will CarPlay be able to interface an iPad that can play movies through the system? I don't see movies as an option on the screenshots I've seen.

 

In addition, does anyone know if existing Sienna or Odyssey models will be able to upgrade to CarPlay? I'm assuming the upgrade would require new head unit hardware. Will it be able to feed to the rear (integrated) video screens? The dealership salespeople had no idea (understandable since it isn't released yet).

iPad (3rd gen) Wi-Fi, iOS 6.1.3

Posted on May 17, 2014 12:07 PM

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Q: iOS CarPlay and movies

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  • by KiltedTim,

    KiltedTim KiltedTim May 17, 2014 12:15 PM in response to Fermi
    Level 9 (54,877 points)
    iPhone
    May 17, 2014 12:15 PM in response to Fermi

    Fermi wrote:

    Will CarPlay be able to interface an iPad that can play movies through the system?

    The answer is almost certainly no since it is illegal almost everywhere to do that on a screen that's visible to the driver. CarPlay as it's defined so far is designed for the driver to interact with the phone.

  • by Fermi,

    Fermi Fermi May 17, 2014 3:01 PM in response to KiltedTim
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 17, 2014 3:01 PM in response to KiltedTim

    No, what I'm asking is whether CarPlay can duplicate the EXISTING functionality of the minivan entertainment system, which is controlled from the front console but displays the movie on the rear screen. I don't want to watch the movie on the dashboard. Seems like this could be a major selling point of CarPlay for Apple, since it could encourage more purchases of movies from iTunes rather than DVDs.

  • by KiltedTim,

    KiltedTim KiltedTim May 17, 2014 3:14 PM in response to Fermi
    Level 9 (54,877 points)
    iPhone
    May 17, 2014 3:14 PM in response to Fermi

    I'm sure the manufacturer of the system could come up with a carplay compatible app that would control the system, but I wouldn't expect to see that soon.

  • by Tozzz,

    Tozzz Tozzz Apr 12, 2015 6:59 PM in response to Fermi
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 12, 2015 6:59 PM in response to Fermi

    I don't know for the other models but for the Pioneer NEX Head Units, you can display movies on the rear screen only.

  • by scr21,

    scr21 scr21 Jun 1, 2016 1:41 PM in response to Tozzz
    Level 1 (104 points)
    iPhone
    Jun 1, 2016 1:41 PM in response to Tozzz

    Tozzz wrote:

     

    I don't know for the other models but for the Pioneer NEX Head Units, you can display movies on the rear screen only.

     

    I also have a Pioneer NEX unit.

     

    The ability to play movies on a "rear screen" is not a function of CarPlay but more along the lines of putting a DVD into the unit and having it play on an external screen / device.

     

    To answer the poster's original question - CarPlay does not have the ability (at this time at least) to play video content of any sort.

     

    With that said, there is likely a way you could connect your iPhone or iPad to your built-in rear entertainment system via the built-in inputs that are likely part of your rear entertainment system and play content from the iPhone / iPad on the built-in screen.  I have done similar things with some portable DVD screens that hang over the headrest of the front seats.  I'd use those for the screens for the kids while playing content that I had on an old iPhone.  Worked great!

     

    SCR

  • by Supp0rtLinux01,

    Supp0rtLinux01 Supp0rtLinux01 Jul 13, 2016 12:46 PM in response to Fermi
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Jul 13, 2016 12:46 PM in response to Fermi

    More to your question... CarPlay does NOT support iPads or iPods, only iPhones. I have a new '16 Silverado with CarPlay. Among the family we have 2 iPhones, 2 iPads, and 1 one iPod Touch. Only the iPhones are recognized with CarPlay. The iPads and iPod Touch are not. So your question about movies have been answered, but the core of your question... using an iPad... is not possible.

     

    On a side note... I don't get this. I guess if a data connection (3G/LTE) is required, I can understand excluding certain devices (like a WiFi only iPod Touch). But both of our iPads have LTE and data plans just like our phones, so I'm not sure why one would work, but not the other. The only real difference is the iPads don't do phone calls.

     

    Something else to consider with CarPlay... its a convenience thing and for the sake of convenience... some privacy is lost. I don't mean "sending data to 3rd parties privacy"... Apple does a great job of stopping that. But I mean personal space privacy. Picture the scenario... you're married, but you have a girlfriend on the side. Your wife never sees your phone... so its all good on the down low. But you're driving with the wife when the G/F txts you. So your wife says "who's that". Consider the outcome... there's no good answer other than lying. If you play the message, you're incriminated. If you ignore it, what excuse do you have for not having Siri read it to you? So now you look guilty. Hmmm...

     

    Or consider what happened to me: I was trash talking the boss to the wife via txt all morning at work. A few of us go to lunch and the boss rides with me. The wife txts me and I let Siri read it... and then I turn red in the face as my wife talks about the likely miniscule size of the bosses appendage... and the boss in my passenger seat.

     

    Its sort of like all the Apple apps on our phones that we don't need (do you need the Apple Watch app if you don't have an Apple Watch?)... until Apple allows you to choose which apps show up in CarPlay, its a potential privacy and security concern. And until more devices and more apps support it, its more of a novelty. For example... why does Waze support it?

  • by spurge b3,

    spurge b3 spurge b3 Sep 4, 2016 10:53 AM in response to Fermi
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iPhone
    Sep 4, 2016 10:53 AM in response to Fermi

    How about your music videos as well? I really like music video selection? Not just movie let the videos play when the car is in "park". Like all aftermarket car radios. I really wish Apple would do that as well. That messaging stuff I can wait on really.