Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution/Google
Android Automotive keeps growing, and more importantly, the app ecosystem's expansion never stops, with Google announcing new big names landing in the store on every occasion.
This week's developer conference, where Google has focused mostly on artificial intelligence, also brought news aimed at drivers, and unsurprisingly, Android Automotive received most of the love.
Google revealed that new apps will soon land on Android Automotive, and the first two big names are Max and Peacock. The streaming services will join other services already available in the car, albeit they will only be available in vehicles where video streaming is supported, including Renault, Polestar, and Volvo.
You already know the drill. The video streaming services will only work when the vehicle is parked. You can launch Max and watch The Sopranos when you charge the car or wait to pick up the kids from school, and when you start driving, the video streaming stops automatically.
The reason is as simple as possible: video streaming can be a major distraction source, so you can enjoy the screen estate in your car when you're parked.
The next big name to land on Android Automotive is Angry Birds. The game makes its way to the cabin to let drivers and front passengers enjoy the pig-smashing fun without unlocking their mobile devices. As anyone can imagine, Angry Birds can be played only when the car is not in motion. When you start driving, Android Automotive automatically locks the gaming experience.
Google has also announced that Google Cast will make its way to vehicles with Android Automotive and Rivian (which doesn't run Android Automotive but the announcement could be a hint that the carmaker might adopt the OS). With Google Cast, users will be able to cast video content from their mobile devices to the larger screen in the cabin. The functionality is only available when the vehicle is parked, and Google encourages developers to add this functionality to their apps "to reach new audiences."
Android Automotive is Google's big bet in the automotive space. It doesn't need a mobile device to run (compared to Android Auto), but the carmaker must install it from the factory. AAOS powers the infotainment experience in the vehicle, and thanks to deeper integration into the driving experience, it can also offer more advanced functionality compared to Android Auto.
Google Maps can read the battery range and suggest charging stops, with routes also generated based on the current charge and the estimated battery at arrival. Android Automotive is available in cars from Ford, Honda, Volvo, and Renault, but Google has already promised to bring it to more vehicles, as it's already working with carmakers to install the OS in future models due in 2024 and the next year.
Google revealed that new apps will soon land on Android Automotive, and the first two big names are Max and Peacock. The streaming services will join other services already available in the car, albeit they will only be available in vehicles where video streaming is supported, including Renault, Polestar, and Volvo.
You already know the drill. The video streaming services will only work when the vehicle is parked. You can launch Max and watch The Sopranos when you charge the car or wait to pick up the kids from school, and when you start driving, the video streaming stops automatically.
The reason is as simple as possible: video streaming can be a major distraction source, so you can enjoy the screen estate in your car when you're parked.
The next big name to land on Android Automotive is Angry Birds. The game makes its way to the cabin to let drivers and front passengers enjoy the pig-smashing fun without unlocking their mobile devices. As anyone can imagine, Angry Birds can be played only when the car is not in motion. When you start driving, Android Automotive automatically locks the gaming experience.
Google has also announced that Google Cast will make its way to vehicles with Android Automotive and Rivian (which doesn't run Android Automotive but the announcement could be a hint that the carmaker might adopt the OS). With Google Cast, users will be able to cast video content from their mobile devices to the larger screen in the cabin. The functionality is only available when the vehicle is parked, and Google encourages developers to add this functionality to their apps "to reach new audiences."
Android Automotive is Google's big bet in the automotive space. It doesn't need a mobile device to run (compared to Android Auto), but the carmaker must install it from the factory. AAOS powers the infotainment experience in the vehicle, and thanks to deeper integration into the driving experience, it can also offer more advanced functionality compared to Android Auto.
Google Maps can read the battery range and suggest charging stops, with routes also generated based on the current charge and the estimated battery at arrival. Android Automotive is available in cars from Ford, Honda, Volvo, and Renault, but Google has already promised to bring it to more vehicles, as it's already working with carmakers to install the OS in future models due in 2024 and the next year.
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