Google Boosts In-Car Connectivity With Android Auto

[Spartan]

 

 

The Open Automotive Alliance finally shows a product at Google I/O after its launch in January this year: Android Auto. Members including Google, Audi, Honda, GM, Hyundai, and chipmaker Nvidia have been collaborating to bring Android safely to the car in 2014. Rather than the more traditional model that sees smarts baked-into the car's headunit, your phone will project its OS and the app in play onto the car's screen -- much like AppRadio does now. The big benefit here is as your phone updates, your car's center stack gets better without you needing to fiddle with it.

Android Auto is a completely voice-enabled contextually based system, so speaking to your car will allow it to pass along info on opening and closing times of places near you, restaurant listings, send messages, play music and make calls. The info is then displayed on screen on cards much like you're used to seeing in Google Now. Apps like Spotify, Songza, MLB.com at Bat are on-hand at launch though we expect that list will grow. In the on-stage demo, the phone was tethered to the car with a cable -- likely HDMI -- though we expect that it may well use Bluetooth for audio as well. The APIs used in Android Auto are shared by Android Wear, so devs will have the ability to easily port between watch and car or even integrate them. 25 car brands have signed up so far bringing the total member count to 40 including the technology partners that have jumped on board thus far. Car makers like Acura, Alfa Romeo, Bentley, Chevy, Chrysler, Dodge, Honda Hyundai, VW, Subaru and Maserati will have models rolling off the assembly line this year. The SDK isn't available just yet but will be available soon.