Palms-on: CarPlay in iOS 17 provides SharePlay for Apple Music listening events, even for long-distance mates

One of many huge modifications in iOS 17 for CarPlay customers is the addition of SharePlay help for Apple Music. This characteristic permits anybody within the automobile to regulate and contribute to what’s enjoying by way of Apple Music, quite than only one particular person.

I took SharePlay for Apple Music in iOS 17 for a latest drive. My takeaway? That is going to be a really, very enjoyable characteristic.

The method of initiating a SharePlay session in CarPlay is a breeze. On the Apple Music Now Taking part in display screen, there’s a brand new SharePlay icon within the upper-right nook. Tapping on this can convey up a QR code that different individuals can scan. As soon as they scan that QR code, you’ll obtain a pop-up that tells you somebody needs to hitch your SharePlay session.

When you settle for that request, the opposite particular person is ready to management what’s enjoying by way of Apple Music. Apparently, this works even when that different particular person doesn’t have an Apple Music subscription themselves.

I examined this with Zac, who was simply in a position to scan the QR code generated by CarPlay and be part of the SharePlay session in my automobile. He may add songs to the Apple Music queue, see what was presently enjoying, and play or pause content material.

9to5Mac’s Take

The kicker? Zac wasn’t within the automobile with me. He was at dwelling in Mississippi, and I used to be driving round city in Texas. This, after all, isn’t the supposed use case of CarPlay’s implementation of SharePlay. Apple needs you to make use of it to permit others within the automobile with you to select songs to play.

Nonetheless, the flexibility to have distant SharePlay listening events with CarPlay goes to be very enjoyable. I really like the concept that I could be driving and having a listening social gathering with another person by way of CarPlay. It received’t be the best way most individuals use iOS 17’s implementation of SharePlay by way of CarPlay, however I’m comfortable that Apple hasn’t restricted this characteristic to solely working with individuals really within the automobile with you.

In the event you’re utilizing SharePlay with somebody within the automobile, they’ll merely scan the QR code because it seems in your CarPlay show. In my case, I took a screenshot of the code and despatched it to Zac by way of iMessage. Straight within the Messages app, he long-pressed the QR code to disclose an “Open in Music” possibility.

Not everybody loves the thought of giving music management to another person within the automobile, and I’ll admit even I used to be skeptical of this characteristic when Apple introduced it. However after attempting it out, I feel that is going to be a good way of creating highway journeys extra partaking and extra enjoyable.