Google Scrambles To Make Android OS An "Automotive Grade" Operating System

It was a hassle, but Android changed all that.

Andy Brenner, product manager for Android Auto, now sees the Silicon Valley giant’s smartphone interface having the same effect on cars. By helping customers use hot new apps in their cars without forcing developers to rewrite their code, he said, automakers can deliver a seamless experience that helps them sell cars.

“We think that just like the phone industry in 2008, adoption of an open software interface in the auto industry is going to create a virtuous cycle,” Brenner said.

Google started work on Android Auto in 2013, around the time that archrival Apple Inc. announced the project that would become CarPlay. Android Auto, which taps into a smartphone’s cellular connection and roughly mirrors its display on the navigation screen of a car, was first available last summer on the Hyundai Sonata sedan.

atc98092 - 1/14/2016 3:47:57 PM

+1 Boost

" engineers had to rewrite the code for Google Maps dozens of times for different smartphones from makers such as Nokia, Motorola and BlackBerry.

It was a hassle, but Android changed all that."

No, Android didn't change that. Software developers still have to make an iOS, Android, Blackberry and Windows version if they want to cover all the various models. Yes, Android runs on a lot of different phones, but an Android app still only runs on Android. iOS apps only runs on Apple phones and so on. At best, because of Android there's fewer different phone OSs. Android did not change anything other than Apple's domination on easy to use Smartphones.

For the record, my personal phone uses Windows 10. My work phone is an iPhone 5. My next personal phone will likely be an Android. I have no dog in this fight.

MorePower - 1/14/2016 4:37:37 PM

+1 Boost

Misleading title.

The article talks about how Google had to make Google maps compatible with different mobile systems, e.g. phones.

Now with the adoption of smart phones, automotive companies are "scrambling" to adopt their products to allow integration of those systems, Android and iOS, into their products.

The problem(s) is that auto manufactures make a lot of money bundling modest stereo upgrades with outdated navigation systems. Now they, manufacturers, need to find new features that work with 3rd party software while still maintaining shareholder demanded profitability and a defensive line against further system integration.

They fear that if consumers demand 3rd party system integration now, they will be more inclined to buy a car from these 3rd party companies in the future.