A Web Browser Briefly Snuck Onto CarPlay
Credit: Gabriel Nica / Shutterstock
Toggle Dark Mode
It’s no secret that Apple runs a pretty tight ship when it comes to the App Store and what it allows to be installed on its devices. However, as restrictive as life can be on the iPhone and iPad (at least for those outside of the European Union), the situation with CarPlay is even more limited.
There’s a simple and somewhat understandable reason for this. CarPlay apps are designed to be used on your dashboard while you’re driving, and Apple wants to ensure that they’re actually helpful rather than distracting.
As such, Apple limits CarPlay apps to a few specific categories and also requires that apps in those categories adhere to certain design requirements. For example, while messaging apps are permitted, they have to be usable entirely via Siri; they can’t present a keyboard or show other user interface elements that might encourage you to take your eyes off the road.
The specific categories Apple allows are Audio, Communication, EV charging, Fueling, Navigation, Parking, Quick Food Ordering, and a few other apps related to “driving tasks,” such as toll support and towing help. Apps that fit into these categories must also “provide meaningful functionality relevant to driving.” For instance, a Quick Food Ordering app has to show nearby locations rather than forcing a driver to scroll through a list of every spot in town.
Needless to say, a web browser would almost certainly not be on Apple’s list. However, that didn’t stop one developer from giving it a shot to see if Apple might be more flexible.
Yesterday, 9to5Mac shared the news that Sidecar, an automotive utility app that’s been on the App Store for a while, had added a browser feature for playing video. This fell short of being a full-featured browser; instead, it was focused specifically on loading URLs to play streaming video while parked.
Fearless Design, the developer behind Sidecar, was also very careful to ensure that the browser could only be accessed when the vehicle wasn’t in motion, as it was intended to let you watch videos while your car is parked.
To be clear, Apple hasn’t changed its policies on such apps; Sidecar merely managed to get an update through without Apple’s App Review team noticing the new functionality.
The browser also wasn’t free. Sidecar uses a subscription model to unlock its full functionality, which includes OBD scanning, trip logging, and with some useful CarPlay widgets to show data like tire pressure, fuel levels, and more. However, users could get the “park and browse” feature as a one-time in-app purchase for $9.99.
The new Park and browse feature allows you to view web content in CarPlay while parked. Requires a one-time purchase.
Sidecar v2.3.4 update notes
Of course, like most things that sneak past the app review team, we had to know this was too good to last. While Fearless Design presumably hoped Apple might see the light, this one went the same way as many other similar attempts we’ve seen.
Less than 24 hours after the “park and browse” update was posted, the developer found itself publishing another update to remove the feature, and issuing refunds to folks who had jumped on the in-app purchase, telling them that while they “hoped this feature would be an innovative addition to the CarPlay experience,” they’d “received a direct request from Apple to remove this feature” to align with App Store guidelines.
Thank you for your interest in our Safari browsing feature for CarPlay. We’ve been overwhelmed by your positive response and support for this functionality.
We designed this feature with safety as our top priority, ensuring it only operated while your vehicle was completely stopped to prevent distracted driving.
Unfortunately, we’ve received a direct request from Apple to remove this feature from our app in alignment with App Store guidelines. While we’re disappointed by this outcome and hoped this feature would be an innovative addition to the CarPlay experience, we fully respect Apple’s platform requirements and have removed the feature from Sidecar accordingly.Fearless Design, developers of Sidecar (via 9to5Mac)
Knowing Apple, we’re not holding our breath for the day that this will ever be allowed. Fortunately, there are other solutions for folks who want to watch streaming video and have more freedom on their dashboard. While Google’s Android Auto is nearly as restrictive as CarPlay, there are several Android-powered CarPlay adapters available, such as the Carlinkit AI Box CarPlay Max (which I reviewed last year for Android Police), that can run nearly anything from the Play Store on your dashboard while also letting you interface your iPhone to your vehicle via CarPlay.
