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Apple announced upgrades to standard CarPlay in iOS 26, including Widgets and Live Actions, mirroring features from CarPlay Ultra. Widgets (weather, calendar, etc.) are accessible by swiping right, while Live Actions display real-time updates like sports scores on the CarPlay home screen. Call and message notifications are less intrusive, with smaller pop-ups and emoji reactions. A new "Liquid Glass" design with rounded icons and a dark mode enhances the visual appeal.

Prepared by Jonathan Pierce and reviewed by editorial team.