[I/O 2014]Android Auto
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Android Auto
Android Auto, as you may have guessed, is Google’s attempt to spread the Android ecosystem in the car.
While not exactly a stand alone OS, Android Auto encompasses a pairing of a screen in your car with an Android phone to supply Navigation, Text/Voice, and Music. Yes, you neeed an android phone to benefit from Android Auto.
It’s hard to tell what the car actually does, but Google made it clear that all of the processing and apps live on the android phone, they even went so far as to say that the phone “casts” the experience to the car’s screen. As a result, much like Android Wear, if you download an app on your phone that has Auto support, you get that for free. No special downloads.
Following the cue from Android Wear, Android Auto is contextually aware and voice activated.
As you would expect, you can get navigation directly on your car’s display. The nice thing is, you can do this entirely hands free. The power of voice :o
Additionally, you can use Android Auto to place phone calls, transcribe and send texts, control music, all much like google now already does. If you don’t like looking like you’re talking to yourself, you can use the on screen buttons on the car’s display.
Android Auto will be launching with Android L later this year. While not explicitly naming any automakers, Google expects cars with Android Auto support will be available this year.
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By screen do you mean window or another device?
If its another device, why not just mount your phone and use that? -
The screen is part of the car.
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@Almost What do you mean by part of the car?
Like one of the built in SatNavs they have in modern cars?
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@Scuzz Yes, that’s exactly what I mean.
This is what they used for their demo. The screenshots above are captures of what was displaying on that screen in the console.
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So that means I will have to buy the Google edition of a car?
I can see them release their own devices that you can cast too but then i dont see the point when you can just mount your phone.I would like a nice satnav ui though.
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It’s like cars that support onstar or services like that. The car has to have support for it, but I don’t expect having support to be a luxury service.
The reason to do this over mounting your phone is that the UI is designed for the car. Things that you actually use in the car are up front. Interaction is also intended to be hands free as much as you’re willing to use voice commands.
I don’t really see this as a big selling point for the cars, but if the car I as buying had it, I’d be happy with it.
