Apple iPhone 5 car features - Hit the road!

**The iPhone 5 is the hot new thing and will likely be on the top of everyone’s Christmas lists (unless you’re a big Furby fan). **The phone boasts a bunch of extra bells and whistles, but how useful are they to commuters and road trippers? Let’s take a look at the newest iPhone 5 car features and how they’ll be put to best use on the road.

All the better to see you with

One of the features that’s being touted about the iPhone 5 is the larger, 4-inch retina display. The width of the iPhone 5 is the same as its predecessor 4S, meaning you get a larger screen without compromising the size of the phone (although the iPhone 5 is taller than previous models). Sitting in your car cradle, though, a bigger screen isn’t going to mean a great deal unless it can back it up with a decent graphical punch. Apple seem to have already thought of that and have upped their resolution to 1136 x 640, giving you better quality graphics for the display. This comes in especially handy when you need to use a map …

Tom Tom integrated map

Since their split with Google, Apple’s in-house maps app has met with mixed reviews but what people fail to realise is that despite its teething problems Apple have a decent navigation system underneath, especially for drivers. TomTom is arguably the most well-known and trusted motor navigation tool on the planet, so the integration of their technology into the iPhone 5 car features means you’ve got a pretty handy and powerful sat-nav at your fingertips. You might want to wait until the latest patch, though, in case the app leads you into a lake.

Siri integration

Controlling your car using your voice is the stuff of sci-fi novels and cheesy 80s TV shows starring David Hasselhoff. Mercedes-Benz already started work on a version of their A-Class that allowed Siri to interact with their on board entertainment system, but it looks like other car manufacturers have finally taken notice. BMW and Toyota are already on the list of companies that are developing their latest models with Siri in mind, adding in voice-command functionality that allows you to interact with your maps, social networks and music without taking your hands off the steering wheel.

…but will it connect?

One of the ‘hot new features’ of the iPhone 5 is the new Lightning Port; an 8-pin digital connector to replace the older 30-pin connector. This effectively makes every Apple charger and dock you own to date redundant (and if you’re the kind of person who camps outside the Apple store three days in advance for a new release, I’d hedge my bets that you’ve got a lot of these). Apple have tried to halt any backlash by quickly stepping in with their Lightning to 30-pin adaptor (which will cost you £25 for the pleasure), but this only solves part of the problem.

Traditional 30-pin adaptors transmit via an analogue signal whereas the Lightning Port is fully digital. This means that unless your car can use a USB connection (which is also digital) you won’t get to play your iPhone 5 music through your car speakers. There’s always the option of buying a brand new car that’s compatible with your phone, but if you’ve forked out up to £700 for a brand new iPhone 5, you’ll be lucky to afford a tin of baked beans, let alone a new car.

iPhone 5 car features

So if you’re one of those lucky few to own the Holy Grail that is the iPhone 5, you’ll find a new set of toys to give your driving experience that extra boost. Just make sure you can connect it to your car before you hand over the money. Would you use the iPhone 5 car features to find your way? Let us know in the comments section below.

Jamie Gibbs is the resident gadget nut for young drivers car insurance comparison site Confused.com. His dream car is one that combines the flux capacitor of the DeLorean from Back to the Future, the sassmouth of KITT from Knight Rider and the horn of General Lee from The Dukes of Hazzard.