Work-in-progress screenshots show Apple’s iOS in the Car feature

Jan 22, 2014 14:14 GMT  ·  By

Apple’s iOS in the Car feature has been unlocked in iOS 7.1 beta 4 and exposed by a developer via a number of screenshots showing what appears to be a work-in-progress UI.

Developer Steven Troughton-Smith somehow managed to pull up Apple’s iOS in the Car feature from the latest iOS 7.1 beta, and he is not shy to show the screenshots to the world.

The first thing that hits you in the face is the obvious difference between these images and Apple’s presentation slides from last year’s iPhone event.

Apple is clearly making changes as the betas progress, and we might end up with a UI that looks nothing like the one Apple showcased last year.

According to Apple’s iOS 7 marketing page, “iOS in the Car seamlessly integrates your iOS device — and the iOS experience — with your in-dash system.”

“If your vehicle is equipped with iOS in the Car, you can connect your iPhone 5 or later and interact with it using the car’s built-in display and controls or Siri Eyes Free.”

Leaked iOS 7.1 screenshot showing iOS in the Car feature
Leaked iOS 7.1 screenshot showing iOS in the Car feature

“Now you can easily and safely make phone calls, access your music, send and receive messages, get directions, and more. It’s all designed to let iPhone focus on what you need, so you can focus on the road,” the Mac maker says.

Apple plans to deploy this feature, alongside other new things, around March. The service will become available with the launch of iOS 7.1, the upcoming software update for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.

The company is currently testing iOS 7.1 internally and has released four betas thus far, with two more being planned until the GM (Golden Master) build is offered for testing, pundits say. As all iOS updates before it, iOS 7.1 will be a free download, either via iTunes or over-the-air.

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Leaked iOS 7.1 screenshot showing iOS in the Car feature
Leaked iOS 7.1 screenshot showing iOS in the Car feature
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