Yes, you read that absolutely right. A new update to the Sidecar app for iPhone brings video playback to CarPlay.
Video Playback and Web Browser Support Comes to CarPlay with Update to Sidecar for iPhone App
Sidecar for iPhone has been around for quite some time. It’s a handy app that shows you key metrics about your car by tapping into the OBD port for data.
Yes, you do need to buy extra hardware to unlock the app’s full potential.
However, there is one part of the app that should get everyone excited. That part is a recent update, and it brings web browser support to CarPlay.
Honestly, I have no idea how this update went through Apple’s review process, but now that it is here, it’s best everyone makes the most of it.
You give the web browser a link using your iPhone, and it loads up in CarPlay. If it’s a link to a YouTube video, you can watch and play it right on your car’s infotainment system too.
However, this only works if your car is parked and stationary. Watching videos while driving at the same time is a recipe for disaster.
Last but not least, while the app is free itself, you need to pay $9.99 to unlock the web browser experience in CarPlay. If you don’t pay, you don’t get anything.
Another thing worth mentioning here is this: Apple does not allow video or web browser apps on CarPlay. There is a chance Apple might pull this update soon, so before you spend that $9.99, think of it as disposable money.
As someone who loves using CarPlay every single time, I’m not going to bother with this app at all. It’s the riskiest $9.99 I’ll ever spend. I’ll just wait for Apple to change its guidelines for CarPlay apps instead.
Who knows video playback and web browser support comes in a future iOS update.
You can download Sidecar by going to this link.
