iOS 7 beta hints at AirPlay for your car

A setting discovered by a developer poking around the beta for iOS 7 lists "iOS in the Car" using a Wi-Fi connection.

Lance Whitney Contributing Writer

Lance Whitney is a freelance technology writer and trainer and a former IT professional. He's written for Time, CNET, PCMag, and several other publications. He's the author of two tech books--one on Windows and another on LinkedIn.

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Lance Whitney

July 9, 2013 5:37 a.m. PT

Apple's upcoming iOS in the Car feature apparently will work via AirPlay, so you won't have to physically hook up your device.

Scouring through the "Accessory Developer" settings menu in the iOS 7 beta version, developer Hamza Sood uncovered two options -- one called "iOS in the Car over USB" and another called "iOS in the Car over WiFi." Revealing his findings in a tweet, Sood's conclusion was that iOS in the Car will tap into Apple's AirPlay.

Unveiled in June at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference, iOS in the Car will integrate your iPhone with your auto's onboard receiver or "infotainment" system. This integration would let you control your phone through your car's dashboard so that you can play music, display maps, and talk to Siri without having to fumble with the device.

Using a Wi-Fi connection via AirPlay would further mean that you can simply leave your iPhone in your pocket or purse and that it will automatically communicate with your car.

So far, Apple has signed up such automakers as Honda, Mercedes, Nissan, Ferrari, Hyundai, Kia, and Infiniti to integrate more iOS features into their cars. At WWDC, Apple VP Eddy Cue said the iOS integration could kick off as soon as 2014, which means the feature itself may start to pop up in a few select 2015 models.

(Via AppleInsider)