As the gossip mongers predicted, at the Google I/O 2014 press conference along with Android One, Android L and Android TV, the Android Auto was launched. This new system makes use of the Android smartphone as an in-dash system to control the navigation, messaging and music related features. In simple words, this is a redesigned car-specific interface for Android.
Basically, Android Auto is a setup that allows you to access and control your smartphone’s apps and other features through car dashboard’s touchscreen. This feature is voice activated and it allows you to search step-by-step Maps navigation without taking your hands off the steering wheel.
In addition to this feature, the smartphone powered dashboard can read text messages that come in when you are on-the-go and allows you to reply responses without getting distracted. Next feature down the line of Android Auto is music playback and streaming that makes it easier for you to listen to your favorite tracks while driving. Again, the Android Auto’s voice control feature makes it easy to navigate to a specific track and this is as simple as asking Google Now to play the track.
Several developers have already built early versions of Android Auto apps such as Pocket Casts and Spotify. Google is working on an Android Auto SDK that will help the developers modify their apps to be functional and highly integrated with the in-car displays.
Google has also announced that the Android Auto experience will be available to the users along with the Android L later this year. Moreover, the firm has already inked a deal with over 25 automobile manufacturers to ship cars with the Android Auto support in near future. The details regarding the list of manufacturers can be found on Open Automotive Alliance website. The first car with Android Auto on-board will be released by the end of this year.