Everyone is waiting for iOS 7 to be released as soon as possible, and after we told you that iOS 7 to feature a “very flat†user interface akin to Windows Phone’s ‘Metro’ visual style – along with Mac OS X 10.9 borrowing core multitasking features from iOS 7 – 9to5Mac writer Mark Gurman is back at it again with another exclusive. Today’s story details an alleged integration of Apple’s Siri digital personal assistant and in-house built Maps service in iOS 7 with your car’s dashboard…
Citing unnamed people familiar with the plans, Gurman claims Apple is working with car makers on updated versions of car center consoles that could attach to iOS devices like the iPhone.
Specifically, an iPhone could be plugged into a car and an optimized, redesigned version of Apple Maps will appear on the car’s built-in display instead of a proprietary GPS system found in many cars.
The report is comparing the feature to a video-out or mirrored display representation of the iPhone’s Maps app, only designed for the bigger screens found in many vehicles today.
“With the iPhone connected, Siri would be used to control the Maps functions and other iOS features,†Gurman writes.
He cautions a public release could be potentially far off as Apple will need to carry out extensive car-based testing, cut deals with car makers and improve upon its Maps and Siri cloud infrastructures. The feature is thought to be resource-hungry and as such may be“exclusive to recent iOS hardware.â€
Notably, Apple’s iCloud chief Eddy Cue now sits on the Ferrari board. The luxury automaker recently started outfitting one of its cars with iPad minis. It is also no secret that Steve Jobs wanted to take on Detroit with a rumored iCar project.
And I am not so surprised to hear that we could see Siri in some cars.. Many rumors have been claiming that Apple is working to bring Siri integration to some cars.
As noted by Wired.com, Apple’s in-car Siri integration has hit a roadblock, so to speak, because ten months down the road only General Motors has implemented the feature.
