Apple analyst Gene Munster of Loup Ventures recently tested the accuracy of digital assistants on four smart speakers by asking Alexa, Siri, Google Assistant, and Cortana a series of 800 questions each on the Amazon Echo, HomePod, Google Home Mini, and Harmon Kardon Invoke respectively.
The results indicate that Siri on the HomePod correctly answered 74.6 percent of the questions, a dramatic improvement over the speaker's 52.3 percent success rate when Loup Ventures asked it a similar 782 questions in December 2017.
Siri on the HomePod remained less accurate than Google Assistant on the Google Home, which correctly answered 87.9 percent of questions in the test. Meanwhile, Alexa on the Echo and Cortana on the Invoke trailed Siri on the HomePod, correctly answering 72.5 percent and 63.4 percent of questions in the test.
Munster attributed the HomePod's improved accuracy to "the enabling of more domains in the past year," as a series of software updates in recent months have enabled the speaker to make and receive phone calls, schedule calendar events, set multiple timers, search for songs by lyrics, and more.
Methodology
Loup Ventures says it asked each smart speaker the same 800 questions, and they were graded on two metrics: whether the query was understood and whether a correct response was provided. The question set was designed to "comprehensively test a smart speaker's ability and utility" based on five categories:
Local – Where is the nearest coffee shop?
Commerce – Can you order me more paper towels?
Navigation – How do I get to uptown on the bus?
Information – Who do the Twins play tonight?
Command – Remind me to call Steve at 2 p.m. today.
The venture capital firm said it continues to modify its question set in order to reflect the changing abilities of digital assistants. "As voice computing becomes more versatile and assistants become more capable, we will continue to alter our test so that it remains exhaustive," said Munster.
Results by Category
Google Assistant on the Google Home correctly answered the most questions in four out of the five categories in the test, but fell short of Siri on the HomePod in the "command" category, according to Loup Ventures:
HomePod's lead in this category may come from the fact that the HomePod will pass on full SiriKit requests like those regarding messaging, lists, and basically anything other than music to the iOS device paired to the speaker. Siri on iPhone has deep integration with email, calendar, messaging, and other areas of focus in our Command category. Our question set also contains a fair amount of music-related queries, which HomePod specializes in.
Loup Ventures found the HomePod and Google Home stood "head and shoulders above the others" in both the "local" and "navigation" categories due to propriety data in Apple Maps and Google Maps respectively. "This data is a potential long-term comparative advantage for Siri and Google Assistant," said Munster.
What's Next
Siri's shortcomings were brutally exposed on the HomePod, which relies almost entirely on the assistant to function, so anecdotal evidence of improvement is a good sign, but Apple still has significant ground to make up against its competitors.
Loup Ventures acknowledged that Siri remains limited on the HomePod compared to its expanded capabilities on the iPhone. "This is partially due to Apple's apparent positioning of HomePod not as a 'smart speaker,' but as a home speaker you can interact with using your voice with Siri onboard," said Munster.
The venture capital firm said it will continue to compare the HomePod to other smart speakers over time amid rapid advancements in artificial intelligence.
AT&T's live TV streaming service DirecTV Now officially supports Apple's latest iPad Pro models, thanks to an update to the iOS app that was pushed out on Thursday.
After installing the update, owners of this year's 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models will be able to watch shows on the service in fullscreen mode minus any letterboxing, which blighted previous versions of the DirecTV Now app.
In addition to support for the new iPad Pro displays, the update introduces Cloud DVR support for HBO and Cinemax programming, albeit in a beta form.
Apart from performance improvements and bug fixes, the DirecTV Now app also makes Cheddar programming available as part of the Just Right plus channel lineup.
DirecTV Now is available on the App Store as a free download. [Direct Link] The service offers streaming packages starting at $40 per month, including a 7-day free trial.
Multiple reports are coming in that Instagram has lost support for iPhone XR and XS Max screen resolutions in the latest update to its iOS app.
The issue has been highlighted on Reddit and Twitter after Instagram users updated to the latest version (75.0), which was pushed to the App Store on Wednesday.
Instagram v74.0 (left) versus v75.0 (Image via @Wsig)
The resulting effect is that the Instagram interface looks as if it's been zoomed in, leading users to complain about blown out images, fuzzy text, abnormal spacing of icons and other graphical elements.
The issue isn't turning up for iPhone XS users who have updated the app, presumably because it shares the same resolution as the 2017 iPhone X. Instagram added support for the new iPhone XR and XS Max screen resolutions in October.
Now I know for sure it's not just me:@Instagram for iOS just un-optmized for iPhone XS Max (and presumably XR) screen resolutions in their latest (75.0) update.
Compared below are my wife's XS Max running 74.0 & my XS Max running 75.0. Notice the story bubble spacing up top: pic.twitter.com/ePqKbYnvUL
— Will Sigmon (@WSig) December 18, 2018
This is almost certainly an accident on Instagram's part, so it's likely to be fixed in the next update. iPhone XR and XS Max users who are experiencing the issue are advised to hold tight, and anyone who hasn't updated to v75.0 should probably wait until the next version is released.
We've reached out to Instagram to find out when that might be and will update this article if we learn more.
In late 2017, T-Mobile announced plans for a "disruptive" internet TV service, set to launch at some point in 2018. T-Mobile isn't going to make that release date, however, with the rollout pushed back until 2019.
According to Bloomberg, T-Mobile is delaying its TV service because the "project proved much more complex than expected."
T-Mobile executives faced the difficult choice of either offering a garden-variety streaming platform - a service that lets customers watch cable channels and other content online - or waiting until next year to deliver a more groundbreaking product, the people said.
When the project was announced, T-Mobile CEO John Legere made big promises about how it would disrupt the TV industry, and the high bar set by the company has made it difficult to complete the project on time.
T-Mobile's TV service is built in part on its acquisition of Layer3 TV, and while John Legere has promised to "fix the pain points and bring real choice to consumers," few details about the service are available at this time.
The carrier has promised to offer solutions to issues like lengthy contracts, increasing monthly bill costs, confusing bundles, and outdated user interfaces. 2019 is the prospective launch date for the service at this time, but Bloomberg's sources warned that plans could change.
Shortly after the new 2018 11 and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models shipped out to customers, some MacRumors readers found bends in their tablets. Unsurprisingly, new iPad owners were upset and disappointed to find unwanted defects in devices that cost hundreds of dollars, but according to new information from Apple, a slight bend isn't out of the ordinary.
Apple told The Verge that some 2018 iPad Pro models are indeed shipping with a "very slight bend in the aluminum chassis," which is a "side effect of the manufacturing process" that is not expected to worsen over time or negatively affect the iPad's performance "in any practical way."
Apple says the bend, which can impact both sizes of the new 2018 iPad Pro models, is caused by a cooling process involving the iPad Pro's metal and plastic components during manufacturing. Apple told The Verge that the bend is not considered to be a defect.
2018 iPad Pro models that are exhibiting this problem have it right out of the box, according to Apple, so it does not appear to be an issue that shows up over time. There were videos indicating that the new iPad Pro models bend more easily than other models, but Apple says that concerns over the iPad Pro's "structural rigidity" are "unfounded" and that it "stands by the product." Apple has not experienced higher-than-normal return rates for the 2018 iPad Pro.
The Verge suggests that those who are irritated by the bend "shouldn't have any trouble exchanging or returning" an iPad Pro at an Apple Store, but that statement likely only applies to devices that are still under the return policy. Apple typically does not replace devices experiencing issues that are not considered manufacturing defects, so it's not entirely clear if those with bent tablets outside of the return period will be able to get replacements.
Apple experienced major consumer outcry over a "bendgate" controversy with the iPhone 6 Plus, which saw that iPhone bending due to regular use. Apple rectified the problem with later iPhone models, and given the concern over the potential for a similar issue, it's no surprise that Apple is attempting to reassure customers that this is a manufacturing issue that won't worsen over time.
Despite the fact that iPad Pro models experiencing this minor bend allegedly won't end up with future problems because of it, many iPad Pro users may be unhappy with the slight cosmetic and functional problems caused by an uneven surface.
Transit directions for Apple Maps have recently expanded to Belgium, Manila in the Philippines, Switzerland, Wyoming, and Iowa, Apple confirmed today in an update to its Feature Availability page for iOS.
In these locations, Apple Maps users can get directions using the transit options available in their states or countries. Apple actually implemented transit directions in these locales over the course of the last few months, but the Feature Availability page is only updated every few weeks.
Transit directions were added to Apple Maps in 2015 for a handful of cities, and since then, Apple has been working to expand the feature to additional areas. Transit information is now live in dozens of cities and countries around the world.
In addition to offering transit directions in new locations, Apple has also expanded its indoor maps availability to additional airports. All of the following airports now support indoor maps:
Brisbane Airport (BNE)
Central Japan International Airport (NGO)
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport (JAN)
Melbourne Airport (MEL)
Tokyo Narita International Airport (NRT)
Indoor maps for malls and airports were introduced in iOS 11, providing full layouts of each mall or airport location with icons for restaurants, elevators, bathrooms, shops, and other notable landmarks. Different floors are clearly marked, making it easy to navigate through unknown areas.
A full list of all of the airports and mall locations where the Apple Maps indoor mapping feature is available can be found on Apple's feature availability website, which also houses a list of all of the locations where transit directions are available.
Apple today seeded the second beta of an upcoming watchOS 5.1.3 update to developers, a little over a week after seeding the first beta and nearly two weeks after releasing watchOS 5.1.2.
Once the proper configuration profile has been installed from the Apple Developer Center, the new watchOS beta can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General --> Software update.
To install the update, the Apple Watch needs to have at least 50 percent battery, it must be placed on the charger, and it has to be in range of the iPhone.
As a minor 5.1.x update, watchOS 5.1.3 likely focuses on addressing issues that weren't able to be fixed with watchOS 5.1.2. No new changes were found in the first beta of watchOS 5.1.3, but we'll update this post if we find new features in the second beta.
The prior watchOS 5.1.2 update introduced the long-awaited ECG feature for the Apple Watch Series 4, allowing Apple Watch owners to take single-lead electrocardiograms to detect atrial fibrillation, which can be a sign of serious health problems.
Apple today made a tweak to its App Store Review Guidelines, allowing developers to implement a new feature that will let iOS users purchase in-app content as a gift.
Right now, iOS users can purchase paid apps as gifts for other iOS users, but there's no way to purchase in-app content as a gift. As more and more apps work on a free-to-try or subscription basis with various content only available through an in-app purchase, this change to the in-app purchase rules makes sense.
The new in-app purchase gifting rule is outlined in Apple's updated App Store Review Guidelines.
Before the change: "Apps should not directly or indirectly enable gifting of in-app purchase content, features, or consumable items to others."
After the change: "Apps may enable gifting of items that are eligible for in-app purchase to others. Such gifts may only be refunded to the original purchaser and may not be exchanged."
It's not entirely clear how gifting an in-app purchase will be handled, but Apple may be planning to add new in-app purchase gifting options to its App Store interface. Apple may soon send more information about the in-app purchase gifting change to developers.
Right now, to gift a paid app to a person, a user needs to open up the App Store, tap on the three dots icon next to an app's price, and choose the "Gift App..." option. This brings up an interface for sending an App Store credit for a specific app to a contact via email.
Some 10.5-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models that were originally released in 2017 appear to be suffering from a display issue that causes a bright spot to appear right above the Home button on affected models.
The issue was outlined on the MacRumors forums, with complaints first popping up back in April 2018. MacRumors reader marmiteturkey explains the problem:
I have an approx 1in spot on my iPad Pro screen which is brighter than the rest of the screen - it's unevenly lit. The spot is about 2in above the home button, and although it has soft edges, I'm anal about my gadgets, and the difference in brightness could be described as 'minor', it's clearly there. It looks a bit like a pressure spot or similar. I always keep it in a case with a screen protector and the Smart Keyboard, so it's well looked-after.
According to iPad Pro users who have the problem, it appears to be an issue with uneven backlighting in that area. MacRumors can confirm the problem, as we have a 10.5-inch iPad Pro on hand that appears to be experiencing the same issue outlined on the forums.
Customers have been complaining of the problem for months now, though it continues to be unclear how many iPad Pro models may be impacted by the issue. It is not known if a similar issue will impact the new 11 and 12.9-inch 2018 iPad Pro models, as these devices are too new and the problem appears to surface after several months of usage.
Multiple users who were affected with the bright spot on their screens have been able to take their iPad Pro models to Apple for a replacement, but users who are no longer under Apple's one-year warranty or AppleCare+ have not had luck getting a free replacement device.
Out of warranty, Apple is asking customers to pay the display replacement fee, priced at $449 for the 10.5-inch iPad Pro and $599 for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro.
Apple today seeded a new beta of an upcoming iOS 12.1.3 update to developers, just a few days releasing iOS 12.1.2, an update that focused on bug fixes for the eSIM feature and changed certain iPhone features in China after a Chinese court found that some iPhones infringe on Qualcomm patents.
Registered developers can download the new iOS 12.1.3 beta from Apple's Developer Center or over-the-air once the proper configuration profile has been installed from the Developer Center.
The iOS 12.1.3 beta actually includes the same content that was destined for the iOS 12.1.2 beta, and it appears to be labeled as a second beta rather than a first beta. When Apple released iOS 12.1.2, it featured a build number of 16C101, while the first iOS 12.1.2 beta released for developers had a later 16D build number.
Apple appears to have tweaked iOS 12.1.2 to include some emergency bug fixes and the aforementioned software changes in China, rushing the update out and pushing content originally planned for iOS 12.1.2 to iOS 12.1.3 instead.
Apple was forced to push iOS 12.1.2 out earlier than expected after a Chinese court decided on December 10 that Apple's iPhone 6s through iPhone X infringed on two Qualcomm patents related to resizing and reformatting photos for wallpaper and the app switcher.
The court enacted a preliminary sales ban on the iPhone, leading Apple to make tweaks to the iOS software in China. Apple changed the way apps close when you swipe up on an open app from the app switcher, and it tweaked the share sheet interaction for setting contact and wallpaper images.
Apple has not stopped selling its iPhones in China, despite protests from Qualcomm, and it has said that it is in compliance with the court's preliminary order.
iOS 12.1.3 will mark the fourth update to iOS 12. We don't yet know what features are included, and no major changes were found in the original iOS 12.1.2 beta that was the precursor to iOS 12.1.3. As a 12.x.x update, iOS 12.1.3 likely focuses on minor changes, bug fixes, and operating system tweaks.
If we find anything new in the iOS 12.1.3 beta, we'll update this post.
Update: Apple has made the new beta of iOS 12.1.3 available to public beta testers.
Apple today highlighted a series of holiday-themed photographs shot on its latest iPhones, the XR, XS, and XS Max.
All of the photos were shared on social networks by iPhone users, highlighting new iPhone features like Smart HDR, better blurring in Portrait mode, and improved low-light performance.
Apple has shared other "Shot on iPhone" images from its user base, highlighting images shot on iPhone XR and iPhone XS after each iPhone's release.
In its post of holiday-related iPhone photographs, Apple recommends users check out the how to section of its website for tips on how to capture great photos and videos.
Apple today seeded the second beta of an upcoming tvOS 12.1.2 update to developers for testing purposes, a little over one week after seeding the first tvOS 12.1.2 beta.
Designed for the fourth and fifth-generation Apple TV models, the new tvOS 12.1.2 developer beta can be downloaded onto the Apple TV via a profile that's installed using Xcode.
tvOS updates have historically been minor in scale, focusing on under-the-hood bug fixes and improvements rather than outward-facing changes. Apple unfortunately provides little to no information on what's included in tvOS updates, so we may not discover anything new after installing the new beta.
Though we don't often know what's included in tvOS updates, we share when new software is available so developers and public beta testers are able to download it upon release.
If there are noticeable changes in the second tvOS 12.1.2 beta, we'll update this post with details.
Update: Apple has made a new beta of tvOS 12.1.2 available to public beta testers.
Apple today seeded the second beta of an upcoming macOS Mojave 10.14.3 update to developers, a little over a week after releasing the first beta and two weeks since the launch of macOS Mojave 10.14.2.
The new macOS High Sierra 10.14.3 beta can be downloaded through the Software Update mechanism in System Preferences after the proper profile has been installed from Apple's Developer Center.
We don't yet know what improvements the third update to macOS Mojave will bring, but it is likely to include bug fixes and performance improvements for issues that weren't able to be addressed in the macOS 10.14.2 update.
No new features were found in the first beta of macOS 10.14.3, but if we find anything new in the second beta, we'll update this post.
Update: Apple has made a new beta of macOS Mojave 10.14.3 available to public beta testers.
Apple today released a new update for Safari Technology Preview, the experimental browser Apple first introduced over two years ago in March of 2016. Apple designed the Safari Technology Preview to test features that may be introduced into future release versions of Safari.
Safari Technology Preview release 72 includes fixes and updates for Web Authentication, CSS Painting API, Web API, WebRTC, Web Inspector, Web Share API, Media, JavaScript, and Service Workers.
The new Safari Technology Preview update is available for both macOS High Sierra and macOS Mojave, the newest version of the Mac operating system that was released to the public in September.
Apple’s aim with Safari Technology Preview is to gather feedback from developers and users on its browser development process. Safari Technology Preview can run side-by-side with the existing Safari browser and while designed for developers, it does not require a developer account to download.
Amazon has confirmed that Apple Music will eventually be supported on additional Alexa-enabled speakers, according to a tweet from Mashable's Raymond Wong spotted by AppleInsider. Amazon didn't provide a timeframe for the rollout.
A variety of third-party Alexa speakers and devices are available from brands such as Sonos, JBL, Ultimate Ears, and First Alert.
🚨UPDATE!!!🚨Amazon has confirmed to me @AppleMusic will be coming to other Alexa enabled devices in the future. When? Idk... but hopefully soon https://t.co/ZYqyfNKWk1
— Raymond Wong📱💾📼 (@raywongy) December 19, 2018
Apple Music went live on Amazon's line of Echo speakers last Friday in the United States. This allows users to link Apple Music with their Amazon account in the Alexa app for iOS and use Alexa voice commands to control playback of Apple Music songs and playlists and Beats 1 radio on Echo speakers.
To access this feature, simply use a voice command such as "Alexa, play music by Ed Sheeran on Apple Music" or "Alexa, play today's hits on Apple Music." Apple Music can also be set as the default music service in the Alexa app so that "Apple Music" does not need to be specified each time.
Apple and Amazon announced this new partnership in late November, with Amazon saying it is "committed to offering great music providers to our customers," and referring to Apple Music as "one of the most popular music services."
Apple on Monday released iOS 12.1.2 exclusively for iPhones. The software update fixes bugs related to eSIM activation on the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max, and addresses an issue that could affect cellular connectivity in Turkey on those devices, according to Apple's release notes.
In China, as planned, iOS 12.1.2 also implements minor changes to address two Qualcomm patents that led to a Chinese court issuing a preliminary injunction on the iPhone 6s through iPhone X last week, according to Apple's release notes in Chinese. These changes were not mentioned in any other countries.
A translation of the iOS 12.1.2 release notes in China:
iOS 12.1.2 includes iPhone bug fixes. This update:
- Fixes bugs with eSIM activation for iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max - Addresses an issue that could affect cellular connectivity in Turkey for iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max - Introduces a new animation when force closing apps - Updates share sheet for setting contact and wallpaper images
MacRumors uncovered a video on Weibo of the new animation for force closing apps on an iPhone running iOS 12.1.2 in China. Rather than moving up and off the screen when swiped closed, which looks familiar to Qualcomm's patent in China, apps now appear to shrink into themselves when swiped closed.
Video Credit: 灰原帆 / Weibo
As noted on Twitter by our editor-in-chief Eric Slivka, it appears that Apple may have rushed the release of iOS 12.1.2 to address the Qualcomm patents and possibly other time-sensitive bug fixes. The update that was previously intended to be iOS 12.1.2 will likely be transitioning to become iOS 12.1.3.
iOS 12.1.2 is a 16C build, while the beta was a 16D build. Looks like Apple rushed out the release with emergency fixes/updates and will push back the original 12.1.2 to a 12.1.3 release.
— Eric Slivka (@eslivka) December 17, 2018
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Qualcomm's chief lawyer Don Rosenberg said that Apple continues to "flout the legal system" by violating the preliminary injunction, which should have resulted in affected iPhones being unavailable for purchase in China, and by releasing misleading statements about the ruling.
Apple called Qualcomm's efforts "another desperate move by a company whose illegal practices are under investigation by regulators around the world," and said that "Apple and many other companies, consumers, and government will suffer truly irreparable harm" if an iPhone sales ban were to be upheld in China.
Amazon and B&H Photo today have discounts on a few new Apple products from 2018, including the 9.7-inch iPad and MacBook Air. In many instances, these are the lowest-ever prices on each device, and some retailers like B&H Photo are providing further discounts thanks to clippable coupons on each product page.
At Amazon, you can buy the 2018 9.7-inch iPad for up to $100 off in multiple configurations. The sales start with the 32GB Wi-Fi model down to a new low of $229.00, from $329.00, and also include some cellular options. You can check out the full list of items discounted below:
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
For the MacBook Air, you can find discounts of up to $150 off today, including 128GB and 256GB models of the new laptop. Amazon and B&H Photo also have notable discounts on the older 2017 MacBook Air, so check out the full list below for all of these sales:
13-inch MacBook Air (2018)
8GB RAM, 128GB HD (Gold) - $1,049.00, down from $1,199.00 at Amazon and B&H
8GB RAM, 128GB HD (Silver) - $1,049.00, down from $1,199.00 at Amazon and B&H
8GB RAM, 128GB HD (Space Gray) - $1,049.00, down from $1,199.00 at B&H
Lastly, Aspyr has Sid Meier's Civilization VI for Mac down to just $15.00, from $59.00, during its new holiday sale. You can find all of the Mac system requirements for the strategy game right here.
For more ideas on holiday gifts, be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to check out this week's discounts, including Apple's HomePod for $249.00 at B&H Photo and a new 25 percent sale on select gifts at Pad & Quill.
A few months ago, the 2019 Lexus ES became the first vehicle from Toyota's luxury brand to add support for CarPlay, built on top of the brand's Enform 2.0 infotainment system, and Lexus now has a half dozen 2019 models announced with CarPlay support.
I've had a chance to spend some time with a Lexus ES 300h Ultra Luxury hybrid model that includes a number of technology features, so here's a look at what iPhone users can expect now that Lexus is rolling out CarPlay support.
CarPlay support comes standard on all ES models starting from October production, and the base ES infotainment system comes with an 8-inch color display that can use a tethered smartphone with the Scout GPS Link service to provide navigation. My test vehicle, however, was equipped with a Navigation Package that boosts the center display to a 12.3-inch widescreen palette and provides native onboard navigation capabilities.
Widescreen native navigation
This widescreen display offers a choice of an ultra-wide view of main apps within the Enform system like navigation or a split-screen view to put a traditional size navigation pane alongside an audio pane, for example.
Split screen native navigation with audio
Widescreen CarPlay
The 12.3-inch display on the Lexus ES makes it one of the few vehicles on the market, along with some models from the likes of Mercedes and Alfa Romeo, to support widescreen CarPlay, which takes over the entire display. While most users are familiar with the traditional 4x2 grid of icons for the CarPlay home screen, with a wide enough display as in the Lexus ES with navigation, the CarPlay interface will actually increase this to a 5x2 grid.
CarPlay home screen
Individual apps are of course also optimized for the large screen, which means you'll get an encompassing view of what's ahead of you in Apple Maps and other CarPlay navigation apps.
CarPlay Apple Maps
Music apps and more are also expanded to fill the screen, but the extra real estate really isn't of much benefit as it typically results in more padding and blank space rather than being able to display additional content.
CarPlay "Now Playing" screen
This widescreen CarPlay interface, while offering some benefits with the increased scope of view, does have some drawbacks. The primary one is that with CarPlay taking over the entire display, you don't have a simultaneous view of other apps from the Enform system such as audio. You can configure the digital driver's display to show some audio information such as the radio or SiriusXM stations and song titles, but this view is pretty limited.
Driver's display with audio info showing at left
Unlike the Acura RDX I reviewed that limits CarPlay to taking over the left three-fourths of the display while maintaining a view of key Acura infotainment functions in the right display pane, there's no ability to do this on the Lexus. Ideally, full screen or partial screen would be a user preference, but that's simply not how it works in either the Acura or the Lexus, with the two brands opting for opposite solutions.
Remote Touch and CarPlay Controls
The giant 12.3-inch widescreen (as well as the smaller standard 8-inch screen) is not a touchscreen, which makes reasonable sense considering just how far the driver would have to stretch to reach the right side of it. As a result, Lexus has opted for a Remote Touch trackpad interface and associated hardware buttons down on the center console within easier reach of the driver.
Remote Touch trackpad on center console
The previous joystick-style Remote Touch interface used by Lexus has been the subject of significant criticism, and while the trackpad may improve things a bit, it's still a bit of a chore to use. The system does not use absolute positioning as in the Acura, so navigating around the Enform interface on the Lexus requires dragging your finger around on the trackpad to get the cursor where you want it and then pressing or double tapping on the trackpad to register your selection.
The system offers both haptic and audio feedback as the cursor lands on clickable items, which some may consider helpful but which I found to be a bit much. Fortunately, these can be turned off entirely or the volume/haptic strength adjusted.
The trackpad does support some gestures including pinch-to-zoom on the Enform system's maps (but not CarPlay), double tap (equivalent to press), and flick (to quickly scroll lists or pan Enform maps), but it's still a somewhat limited substitute for the intuitiveness of direct touchscreen manipulation.
Dock-style main menu
Hardware buttons above the trackpad offer quick access to the navigation app, the main menu (which slides up from the bottom like a dock rather than taking you to an entirely different screen) and a "back" function to walk you backward out of your current location within the app and settings hierarchy. Below the trackpad is a single button labeled with an inverted double chevron that provides a supplemental function depending on where you are in the system and is only occasionally active.
Steering wheel controls with talk switch at lower right of left cluster
As is typical, voice access to CarPlay via Siri can be controlled using a talk switch on the steering wheel, with a short press bringing up the Lexus voice assistant and a long press activating Siri.
With most infotainment systems, the volume of the radio/audio and navigation voice prompts can be controlled independently, typically with changes made while the navigation voice is speaking adjusting that volume while changes made at other times affect the main audio volume. That's not the case with the Lexus Enform system, either for the built-in navigation or CarPlay navigation, and it's rather infuriating. The only way to adjust the volume of navigation voice prompts is to dive into a settings menu that isn't even available while the car is in motion.
Ports and Connectivity
The wired CarPlay connection is managed through a pair of USB ports near the front of the center console in a section that can be hidden by a pop-up cover when not in use. Two media devices can be connected to the Enform system simultaneously, but if either of them is an iPhone connecting as CarPlay, the other USB port becomes charge-only.
USB ports in center console
To the right of the USB ports is a cavity with a removable plastic insert that divides it into a cupholder and a narrow upright phone slot. You won't be able to see much of your screen when your phone is in the slot, but otherwise it can be a convenient, space-saving place to put your phone, provided your phone fits.
Upright phone slot in center console
The slot holds my iPhone XS Max in an Apple case in the normal position with essentially no room to spare. If I want to have the phone plugged in for CarPlay or charging and need to place the phone in the slot upside down, it doesn't fit due to the slight protrusions of the volume and power buttons on the upper part of the phone. A smaller phone model in a thin case would fit just fine though.
Rear USB ports
On the rear of the center console is a pair of 2.1A charge-only USB ports with spring-loaded covers, as well as a 12V power port. There is also a 12V power port up front inside the center console compartment.
Qi Wireless Charging
While Lexus's CarPlay implementation is wired, the ES does have an optional Qi wireless charger, although it's tucked away inside the center console compartment. It keeps your phone secure and hidden away, but for those who prefer a charger more out in the open where it's easy to toss the phone onto it as you sit down and grab it as you exit the car, the compartment location makes things a little more inconvenient.
Qi charger in center console compartment
Even more so, the wireless charger is a tray that's partially tucked under the front lip of the center console with only a small amount of vertical clearance, and the charger isn't particularly large. I have an iPhone XS Max with an Apple leather case on it, and my phone just barely fits on the charger. I have to carefully slide it under the lip of the console compartment to get it onto the charger, and then it takes a little bit of maneuvering to get the phone out again.
Phone charging on Qi charger
Smaller phones would have a bit more room side to side, but if you're using a thicker case you can likely forget about using the wireless charger. At least for my phone, the tight fit certainly ensures the phone remains secure on the charger, but overall there's just too much of an effort required to get my phone on and off the charger when quick and convenient is my primary goal in using a wireless charger to begin with.
The wireless charger is a standalone option on all trims, but its $75 price tag is remarkably cheap compared to some other manufacturers that are charging more like $300 or even as much as $500 for the option.
Wrap-up
CarPlay on the new Lexus ES has some novel attributes, but overall the experience leaves a bit to be desired. The widescreen CarPlay experience is definitely something different compared to most other manufacturers, and the expansive view of CarPlay navigation apps is very nice. But other CarPlay apps can't really take advantage of the extra screen real estate, so the benefits are limited. The widescreen CarPlay also comes at a cost when there's no option for a split-screen view that would let you see information from both CarPlay and the Enform system side-by-side.
Trackpad infotainment control systems are hard to get right in an age when we're so accustomed to direct manipulation on our iPhones and iPads, and I feel like the Remote Touch interface in the Lexus ES isn't the best implementation out there. Navigating around the large screen via trackpad is cumbersome, and while the Enform system helps a bit by snapping to available UI actions as you get close, you don't get that assistance when using CarPlay.
Wireless charging is becoming more and more prevalent in vehicles, but it's frequently slow and in the case of the Lexus ES it's not particularly convenient to use with it being a tight fit tucked away in the center console compartment. And of course, it feels like a missed opportunity to not offer wireless CarPlay, although it's hard to put blame uniquely on Lexus considering BMW is the only manufacturer that has managed to roll it out.
The 2019 Lexus ES starts at $39,600, but if you want to max out your trim and options to get all of the goodies like a hybrid engine, premium audio/navigation package, and more, you'll be approaching $55,000.
CarPlay is thankfully included on all trims at no additional charge as of October production, so as long as you don't end up with one of the first ES vehicles to roll off the line, you'll be good to go. If you want the widescreen 12.3-inch center display rather than the more traditional 8-inch screen, you'll need to add several options and packages, including the Navigation Package, that total around $4,500 at a minimum.
Apple today made a tweak to its 
Apple today 
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