At the past
Google IO, Google showed their upcoming version Android N. This version already contains parts that aim at usage in our cars. Previously, Google's efforts towards infotainment systems were bundled in
Android Auto. Here, the smartphone had to be connected via USB to the car to use the screen on the dashboard as a screen for your device.
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| Android Auto (from http://www.digitaltrends.com/infotainment-system-reviews/android-auto-review/) |
This worked only if the car's infotainment system supported that. Some tuners, like the
Kenwwod DDX9902S, allowed for expanding these capabilities if replacing the current tuner.
Now, this is no longer necessary since the functionality is already built into the OS. This makes it applicable even to older cars. If the car has WLAN as it is available in newer cars, the user also does not need to fiddle around with USB any longer.
Here are some impressions taken from http://www.automotiveitnews.org/articles/share/1481628/
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| The center of the screens shows the navigation app while the the top and bottom portion of the screen is available for additional information |
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| When initiating a phone call, only the center screen changes |
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| When initiating a phone call, only the center screen changes |
While many car manufacturers fear that their brands may become commodity devices, Google already made the next step and provided their answer to the question: Yes, the car will become a cradle for your smartphone.
