Even though Android Auto is Google's most popular automotive project, we can't forget Android Automotive, which will probably be more important in the long run. Remember that Android Automotive is Android version for carswhich does not require a connection to the mobile phone as Android Auto does; It therefore works directly on the car's touch screen, with all the advantages that this entails.
The great advantage of Android Automotive is the Better integration with automotive systemswhich allows you to offer functions that are not possible in Android Auto; at the same time that it offers access to the same applications such as Google Maps, Spotify or YouTube. The new features announced by Google very well represent the advantages of Android Automotive, not only compared to Android Auto, but also compared to systems created by manufacturers.
For example, one of the upcoming features of Android Automotive is simultaneous multi-user mode; In other words, two people can use the system at the same time. This mode is intended for cars equipped with several screens, which are increasingly common, particularly in high-end ranges; The driver has access to a central screen, while the passenger has their own dedicated screen on the dashboard. Screens for rear passengers are also becoming more common, usually in the form of seat-mounted tablets.
With the upcoming Android Automotive update, each screen will be able to operate independently, showing different sessions and apps to each user. For example, a rear passenger can run a video streaming application such as YouTube, without affecting the operation of the driver's central screen, which can display Google Maps. In practice, it's as if each user had a screen with an independent system, even if in reality it's the same system that runs on the car's “hardware”.
This multi-user feature is in addition to the multi-screen functionality that Android Automotive received last year. Multi-screen produces the opposite effect: all screens can receive the same content as the main screen; This is useful in many situations, such as for the passenger to help create a route in Google Maps so that the driver is not distracted while driving, or to display the same video on multiple screens so that all passengers see the same movie.
Speaking of multimedia content, the other big news from Android Automotive concerns its player, with a renewal of the “Media” application with a modernized and improved interface. Although Google hasn't shared images of the new app, it says the redesign is designed for both horizontal and vertical screens. Although horizontal screens are more common in cars with Android Auto, many manufacturers using Android Automotive, such as Volvo and Polestar, have opted for vertical screens, and now the media player will fit better on them.
Other new features in Android Automotive are minor or focused on fixing issues discovered during the experiment. For example, it is now possible to activate Bluetooth by holding down the push-to-talk (PPT) button on the car steering wheel, which will make it much easier to pair new devices like headphones without having to access the system settings. . Another curious novelty is that the car will be able to change the time automatically, using Google services, if it has a cellular or WiFi connection; something very useful if we make long trips in which we change time zones.
