Android Auto Release: Google Announces New In-Car Safety Technology
Google continued to announce new products Wednesday at their I/O conference in San Francisco, California, this time announcing an in-car experience designed to make driving safer and less distracting. It will be called Android Auto.
Android Auto will be, of course, Android-friendly, meaning it will interact with the Android devices you already have.
Some of the features that Android Auto will have include: safer text messaging, vocal maps and GPS technology, music selection options and more.
You'll be able to speak into your car and tell the car phrases like "take me to the nearest gas station" or "change the song to 'Barbie Girl' by Aqua."
Android Auto can get used to your driving habits and depending on traffic and the time of the day, can find you shortcuts.
Texting and driving has always been dangerous, so it's nice to see that Google is trying to make sending text messages safter by letting drivers use their voice to text their friends. And, even better, drivers will be able to text without leaving the maps app.
The first cars to be equipped with Android Auto will be released before the end of the year. Google already has 40 partners lined up to participate in the Android Auto release. Some of the partners include: Volvo, Honda, Audi, Jeep, Kia, Subaru and more.
Similar to Apple's CarPlay, which is set to be released soon, Android Auto will require an Android phone to work. It won't work as a standalone device. The experience is being "casted" from your Android phone, so the more powerful your Android phone is, the more rich the experience can be, Google says.
The existing knobs, dials, levers and buttons on Android Auto cars will be fully compatible with Android Auto, so there will be no need to get a new instrument panel or have buttons replaced.
What do you think? Are you looking forward to having Android Auto in your next new car? Let us know in the comments section below.
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