Plex Is Now Available on CarPlay With Just One Catch

Drivers should be allowed to watch the likes of YouTube and Netflix after connecting their smartphones to the car, as Android Auto and CarPlay can block the video-watching experience when the vehicle moves from park to drive.

Google is already using this approach on Android Automotive. YouTube is available in cars powered by Google's embedded operating system, but watching videos is only allowed if the car is not in motion. It's a great way to spend some extra time when waiting to pick up the kids from school or charge the battery at a charging station.

Android Auto also has the technical support to restrict access to video content when the car starts moving. Google uses a similar implementation for the typing experience, as drivers can no longer use the keyboard in apps like Google Maps and Waze once they begin moving. The only way to input an address afterwards is via voice commands with Google Assistant (and we all know how unreliable the experience can suddenly become).

And this takes me to something drivers have been looking into for many years.

Plex is a fantastic app, as it allows you to watch movies, TV shows, and pretty much anything in your library from any device. Starting this week, you can connect to Plex from CarPlay too, thanks to a brilliant project.

Called CarPlex, the application works on any device with TrollStore, so you don't have to jailbreak your iPhone. If you already did, there's no problem, as TrollStore should work on unlocked smartphones, too.

CarPlex relies on a super-smart approach to provide access to Plex from the CarPlay interface. The project uses a Plex web app that received several optimizations to run properly on CarPlay to connect to your account. It includes an on-screen keyboard to search for content and promises "extremely stable" video playback.

I can't help but remind everybody that watching videos while driving is extraordinarily dangerous. The team that made CarPlex possible emphasized that the app was built with safe driving in mind, so you must watch content in your car responsibly. Open the app only when the car is parked, and please, please, please don't load any TV show or movie when you're already in motion.

CarPlex is a freeware application, so customers don't have to pay a single cent to install it. However, if you want to support the developers' work, you might want to consider donating a few bucks to fund the development of other similar projects.

Before you ask, no, CarPlex doesn't work with AltStore, so you must sideload it with TrollStore to ensure the required entitlements. It's only compatible with touchscreen CarPlay units, so if you use a different input method (such as a control knob), you won't be able to load content. The developing team explains that while it's technically possible to make apps like CarPlex and CarTube work on non-touchscreen CarPlay units, the process is too complex and requires a lot of work. Most CarPlay receivers support touch input anyway, so developing support for control knobs wouldn't make sense.

Apple and CarPlay video apps

Apple has never commented on video apps on CarPlay, sidestepping the topic mainly because it never intended to unlock YouTube or Netflix in the car.

The reasons are related to driver safety, but like in the case of Android Auto, there's no reason to block watching videos on CarPlay when the vehicle is parked.

The next-generation CarPlay, projected to debut later this year, could lift this restriction and allow drivers to watch video content when the car is parked. Porsche and Aston Martin will be the first two companies to adopt CarPlay 2.0, so we'll learn more about the allowed applications in 2024.

However, CarPlay 2.0 is Apple's big bet in the smart car market, becoming an alternative to Android Automotive. Apple wants the new CarPlay experience to keep drivers even more committed to its ecosystem, bringing several features in sync with the addition of widgets and support for all displays on the dashboard.

Considering CarPlay can now use all screens in the cabin, unlocking video apps makes sense, especially for the front passenger. CarPlay 2.0 will also support EVs, so allowing the driver to watch a Netflix show at a charging station is a no-brainer.

CarPlex, CarTube, CarStream, and other similar projects are living proof that users want YouTube and video content in their cars, not because they're irresponsible drivers but thanks to the benefits they get when the vehicle is parked. Car screens are getting bigger, so not taking full advantage of the available estate is a shame.