iOSApple’s talked a big game about Siri many times in
the past, but it’s been a while since it was featured as
more than a bullet point in a presentation. So, thin as
the evidence might be, here’s to holding out hope that
the revamped HIG points to a big upgrade for the virtual
assistant this year.Key to your heart (and your car)
In addition to prepping its next major release, Apple is
currently working on iOS 13.4, which brings a handful
of new features to the current version of its mobile
operating system. But one major feature found in the
betas of this update points to potentially a bigger
story... down the road, if you will.
The CarKey API allows an iPhone or Apple Watch to
be used – you guessed it – as a key for a car that uses
an NFC-based key fob. It uses authentication via Face
ID, much like Apple Pay, and is likely even stored in the
Wallet app. More interestingly, because this car key is
virtual, it’s possible to share it with, say, other members
of your family. It will only work with supported vehicles,
but rumour has it that some car manufacturers are
working with Apple to adopt the standard.
This CarKey system has yet to be publicly discussed
by Apple, but as the groundwork is being laid in iOS
13.4, it’s also possible it will tie into a larger car-based
update in iOS 14. After all, the same 13.4 update
includes some enhancements for CarPlay as well. As
more and more cars on the road support systems like
CarPlay and Android Auto, it seems likely that our
phones will become a bigger and bigger part of our
driving experience.iOS
Apple’stalkedabiggameaboutSirimanytimesin
thepast,butit’sbeenawhilesinceitwasfeaturedas
morethanabulletpointinapresentation.So,thinas
theevidencemightbe,here’stoholdingouthopethat
therevampedHIGpointstoabigupgradeforthevirtual
assistantthisyear.Key to your heart(and your car)
Inadditiontopreppingitsnextmajorrelease,Appleis
currentlyworkingoniOS13.4,whichbringsahandful
ofnewfeaturestothecurrentversionofitsmobile
operatingsystem.Butonemajorfeaturefoundinthe
betasofthisupdatepointstopotentiallyabigger
story...downtheroad,ifyou will.
TheCarKeyAPIallowsaniPhoneorAppleWatchto
beused–youguessedit–asakeyforacarthatuses
anNFC-basedkeyfob.ItusesauthenticationviaFace
ID,muchlikeApplePay,andislikelyevenstoredinthe
Walletapp.Moreinterestingly,becausethiscarkeyis
virtual,it’spossibletoshareitwith,say,othermembers
ofyourfamily.Itwillonlyworkwithsupportedvehicles,
butrumourhasitthatsomecarmanufacturersare
workingwithAppletoadoptthestandard.
ThisCarKeysystemhasyettobepubliclydiscussed
byApple,butasthegroundworkisbeinglaidiniOS
13.4,it’salsopossibleitwilltieintoalargercar-based
updateiniOS14.Afterall,thesame13.4update
includessomeenhancementsforCarPlayaswell.As
moreandmorecarsontheroadsupportsystemslike
CarPlayandAndroidAuto,itseemslikelythatour
phoneswillbecomeabiggerandbiggerpartofour
drivingexperience.