[Digital Today reporter Wonseon Lee] Apple is adding a mini player for audio apps and an audio scrubbing feature to iOS 27 CarPlay. IT media outlet 9to5Mac reported on Aug. 6 that the changes will apply to CarPlay audio apps including Apple Music and Apple Podcasts.

The biggest change is at the top right of the screen. Previously, users had to tap a waveform icon to move to the Now Playing screen, but iOS 27 puts a mini player there instead. The mini player offers artwork for the current content as well as play and pause and skip buttons.

With the feature, users can make basic playback controls while viewing other screens in an app without moving to the Now Playing screen.

CarPlay will also newly support audio scrubbing. CarPlay previously did not support tapping and dragging the playback bar to move to a desired section, but iOS 27 makes the playback position indicator larger and enables scrubbing. This will allow users to quickly jump to a desired point in podcasts, audiobooks and music.

The features will first apply to Apple's CarPlay apps. Most third-party audio apps updated for iOS 27 are also expected to expand support.

Apple continues to update CarPlay features. It recently expanded CarPlay coverage from cars to pontoon boat helms and also decided to develop a copy-and-paste linking feature between iPhones and Windows 11 PCs. Blockchain media outlet Cryptopolitan reported that the boat version of CarPlay will be applied to Crest and Balise, brands under MasterCraft Boat Holdings.

The two brands will come with CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. The rollout will cover all new Balise models starting with the 2027 model year as well as Crest's Conquest and Caribbean lines. Marine navigation app Savvy Nav will send routes set before departure directly to the helm display.

The screen will show day, night and satellite charts, 2D and 3D views, real-time estimated time of arrival and speed, marina and anchorage searches, saved markers, nearby vessel traffic information and friends' shared locations. The first compatible boats are expected to be released next month.