iOS 18.4 adds new API for sports apps in CarPlay

iOS 18.4 is coming soon, as the company released the RC (Release Candidate) build to developers and beta testers on Monday. In addition to the features we already know about, such as Priority Notifications and the expansion of Visual Intelligence, the update also comes with a new API for sports apps in CarPlay.

Sports apps can now take advantage of new CarPlay API

Apple didn’t make a big announcement about the new API. Instead, it was quietly revealed on a new documentation page on the Apple Developer website. Named “CPNowPlayingModeSports,” Apple describes the API as a “sports mode” for CarPlay, which adapts the layout of the Now Playing screen to “sporting events.”

Interestingly, Apple says that the API only works for events with “exactly two teams.” That’s because apps using this API will be able to show information about each team on the left and right sides of the screen, with a “large colorful image for the background.”

“The sports mode represents a layout for now playing suited to live-streaming or recorded playback of a sporting event that features exactly two teams,” the API description reads.

Since we’re talking about a new API, it’s now up to the developers to adopt it in their apps so that we can see it in action. The API requires an iPhone running iOS 18.4. For developers, it requires Xcode 16.3 RC or later.

This isn’t the only change coming to CarPlay with iOS 18.4. The update also adds a third row of icons in cars with larger displays. In addition, Apple Maps EV routing will now have knowledge of the fact that certain cars can charge at Tesla NACS stations.

According to Apple, iOS 18.4 will be released to the public in early April.

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