Videos in CarPlay: Apple cracks down on third-party app

It was either a PR stunt or a test of how far Apple is allowed to go: a developer from the USA briefly offered a CarPlay app that allowed users to use a web browser and a video player on the screen of a car via Apple's car interface. However, shortly after it became known, Apple intervened and asked the developer to withdraw the function.

The company Fearless Design, which actually presented itself as fearless in this matter, actually specialized in reading and displaying diagnostic data from a car with its Sidecar app. This data is read from the vehicle using an OBD adapter that has to be purchased separately and, according to the app description, is used to display information on the technical condition of the vehicle and past journeys.

Smuggled past the app review

On Sunday, the developer surprised us with a new function that made it possible to display websites and videos on the vehicle screen when the car was parked. Apple does not offer either of these functions itself and does not provide them in the approved programming interfaces or app categories for CarPlay apps.

How the developer managed to get past the strict app review with this function remains a mystery. After all, the function was also linked to a new in-app purchase of 10 US dollars in order to unlock it. This option was also activated by the app reviewers. However, Apple has since made improvements: according to the developer, he received a direct request from Apple to remove the function as it does not comply with the App Store guidelines. This request has since been complied with and any in-app purchases made will be refunded, berichtet the 9to5Mac site.

Hardware remains an alternative

Apple is apparently limiting the CarPlay interface to a few categories for safety reasons and to avoid distracting drivers. These include apps for navigation, podcasts, audio books, weather, news, music, food, charging electric cars and communication apps. However, the latter also only offer limited options for viewing – to drive distraction-free, messages are read aloud instead.

If you still want to use your car display for videos and CarPlay, there are a number of devices on the accessories market that are designed to make this possible with the help of Android Auto and CarPlay. A few weeks before the WWDC developer conference in June, it is clear that Apple itself has no ambition to change the current ban on such functions any time soon.

(mki)