After we heard more and more rumors, Google came out last week with a group of manufacturers with the announcement of the Open Automotive Alliance have established. This alliance should ‘bring Android to the car and the car according to the members by definition mobile, so why not Android? And Android is still not in the car? And how does Google get it done? We discuss in this article.
Tablet catastrophe and television drama
Long, long ago, Android was only an operating system for smartphones. Android proved popular and, because it is an open source system is fairly easy to adjust by manufacturers, Android was used on tablets, primarily in response to the announcement of the iPad by Apple.
This hadAndroid unforeseen consequences. Indeed, it was at that time already possible to make multiple screen sizes, suitable applications, but Android itself was not suitable for tablets. This ensured that the buyers of the first Android tablets, which were mostly made in China, were a sub-optimal experience. Samsung was the first major Android manufacturer with an Android tablet, but also turned on an Android version which was absolutely not optimized for tablets.
Free hasty Google released a subsequent version of Android out specifically for tablets, Android 3.0 (Honeycomb), but the first dent in the image of Android as a tablet OS was created. The lack of a tablet version of Android (and therefore the lack of Android Tablets) appeared for many companies still not desirable to start developing Android apps, so we got a chicken-and-egg problem: no apps , so no users and no users, so no apps. Meanwhile, Android Tablets do it pretty well and begins to accept the offer of apps, but we can not help the impression that it could go if Google had jumped earlier in the tablet market faster.
same situation we actually see with televisions. It is possible to use in TVs, set-top boxes and TV sticks (HDMI dongles) Android. However, as Android is not suitable for televisions, these devices often provide a sub-optimal experience. That does not mean that the device is not worth their money, but it had all been able slicker and easier. Google itself came with Google TV, a closed system based on Android. If the company itself had come with Android TV and the Android variant also had made open source, we had been as far as possible just now in the tablet market. There do otherwise called rumors that Google is going to come as a successor or replacement for Google TV. TV with Android
When looking for Bluetooth support for Android devices we see something similar happen. We waited a long time with the standard supporting Bluetooth Smart (or OBE) in Android. This standard ensures that developers can make apps connection with energy saving gadgets such as smart watches and activity trackers. Samsung and HTC already came with its own implementation, allowing developers had to squeeze to support. Devices from different manufacturers in curves As a result, there was much criticism of developers, but also on Android as a whole, because there are only a limited number of devices was supported again.
Source image: Bluetooth.com
It seems that Google now wants to be in the automotive market. these problems By now propose the use of Android in the car, open standards on Google tries in the car of the different manufacturers to print. The (upcoming) proliferation of extensions for Android in the head
Android is already in the car?
Yes, Android can be found in the car. different way back already The first way is lying fairly obvious. Because many people use their Android device as a navigation system with Google Maps Navigation, Waze, TomTom, Sygic, or one of many other navigation systems for the platform. In addition, several manufacturers have their version of Android with extra features for the car. Indeed, in older versions of Android Google yielded a car application along with large buttons that could be used to start. Use apps There are also apps that include, for example speech created specifically for the car.
There is also Android hardware for car. Think of the Parrot Asteroid line of Android Products of the hands-maker Parrot. These are entertainment and navigation systems that run on Android and can be installed in the car. Can also be rotated. These devices Android Apps Below we will explain the differences and similarities with the current solutions. Sony also has an interesting solution presented last week. The company came up with a special car holder can be. Placed in the dashboard This container should work with devices from different manufacturers and open a special car mode on these devices.
Source image: Parrot
Open Automotive Alliance
With the establishment of the Open Automotive Alliance Google tries to standardize Android in the car. But, who’s now all in the Open Automotive Alliance? These are currently the manufacturers Audi, General Motors (including with Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick, GMC, Holden and Opel), Hyundai (and Kia) and Honda. Also hardware manufacturer NVIDIA has joined the alliance. Absent in this series include Tesla, wanting to make that. Various Google executives are big fans of the brand have shown founder Elon Musk declared this year the use of Android Apps in the Tesla Model S possible despite
Google this group is assured of the support of major manufacturers. Google stresses that every manufacturer is welcome in this cooperation and invites manufacturers in the automobile and engineering industries to join the Open Automotive Alliance. The collaboration focuses on two parts: the first part is to optimize the use of Android devices in the car and the second part is making suitable Android as entertainment for the car.
Open Automotive Alliance seems modeled after the Open Handset Alliance, the organization behind Android. With the founding of the Open Handset Alliance major manufacturers were represented: HTC, LG, Sony, Motorola and Samsung. This alliance has been a success: these products have been very important for the tremendous growth of Android operating system for smartphones and tablets
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Android device in the car
Many people use their phone in the car. For example to call via hands-free kit or to navigate. Open Automotive Alliance will either say improvements in Android to make sure that there is better integration between Android devices and vehicles:
We are working with our partners to better integration between cars and Android devices to secure, for the car optimized experience. a
Saves Google with its partners in the same way as rival Apple. Last year Apple announced the “iOS in the Car” function. This brings up an interesting new application for the iPhone and in-car entertainment and navigation system. This new control mode provides a new interface that focuses on the use of the car. With large buttons and big letters iOS must be in the car. Then used This special car mode will be processed by a large number of car manufacturers in their in-car entertainment systems. This would be done in 2014. The most interesting thing is that the display and control over the display of the entertainment happens. The drive can also be completely hands-free, ie with Siri Eyes Free.
It seems likely that we will see in future versions of Android. similar opportunities Indeed, it is quite possible that we (at least partially) these features are going to see in older versions of Android back. Google would be a special car launcher can create works through voice commands., In collaboration with the various manufacturers, Car manufacturers would have their own entertainment then also able to connect to an Android device, for example via the wireless standard Mira Cast in conjunction with some extras (for control), so the special car interface can be displayed and controlled on the dashboard. Applications would offer a special car mode, making them easier to use in the car. An update of Android is not there necessarily needed for: this could be achieved through the so-called support package that Google already offers developers new Android features on older Android versions offered. Google could also use the Google Play services can continue to bring. New (auto related) features to older devices in
We see incidentally another parallel with the Open Handset Alliance: here, manufacturers their options open. General Motors, Honda and Hyundai have indicated support for iOS in the Car to offer in addition to their participation in the Open Automotive Alliance. It remains possible to support both systems and probably is the best for the end user as both systems (simultaneously) are supported. The chance is small because Apple will choose to iOS in the Car capabilities to run. Using an open system
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Android entertainment in the car
Android operating system for your car? Is that a good idea? Well, the operating system would at least your satnav to float. A special interface for Android cars would make for automotive systems. Suitable one stone The operating system runs already on such devices and the wide catalog of applications would provide enrichment for these systems. Open Automotive Alliance states:
We are also working on new platform features that ensure that the car can be connected Android device.
What can we expect? Firstly, the special car interface we have mentioned above obviously very well come in handy when an entertainment. Where a special car mode apps can be added, Google could also use the Play Store can deliver it and can filter out auto-optimized apps. Our suspicion is that this will actually happen.
Second, a car can be seen as “accessory” that can be read by the Android system in this case. It is important that uses a standardized access to the car itself. Google would do well to thereby make the existing On-Board Diagnostics standard (OBD and OBD-II). Use Applications would then have access to information about how the engine works, how hard the user instance runs and can offer a lot more functionality. These could, for example, can provide with respect to its driving. The user suggestions By being able to speak in Android, this information directly via a standard Google to ensure that not every manufacturer has its own solution, and apps can be used for all Androidentertertainmentsystemen for car. Adapted at once
Availability
Before the end of this year, Google expects the first cars with Android Integration will appear. written by the Automotive Open Alliance partners to market Chances are that it is about Kia models, as parent company Hyundai had indicated to work on Android in its cars. Earlier
We expect that Google and its partners will let you know what changes we will see in the Android platform quickly and in what way (as an update, or Google Play services support package update) we will see in the near future.
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