Google's Android Auto to roll out 'for every car'

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In-car technology is becoming the norm in almost every new model that’s arriving on the scene for 2017 and beyond.

The problem with the rise in sophistication of car tech however is that in the future, there will be vast numbers of older cars which aren’t connected.

One potential solution to the issue - at least for those with Android phones - is Google’s latest announcement.

The tech giant has rolled out Android Auto as a...

By Rachael Power, 08 November 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Android.

Hyundai expands free rollout of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in US

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Hyundai is expanding the use of smartphone integrations across the 2017 model year range in the US, with the software update compatible with CarPlay and Android Auto now available for free through MyHyundai.com.

The 2017 Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport are now being built with both CarPlay and Android Auto support and will arrive at dealerships soon. All other 2017 model Hyundai vehicles with eligible Display Audio or Navigation systems include both smartphone integration solutions from...

By Connected CarTech, 09 August 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Android, Apps, CarPlay, Devices.

Google’s driverless cars learn how to use their horns

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Google’s self-driving cars are set to adopt the use of the horn, according to the technology giant’s monthly report, pledging that it will be “polite, considerate, and only honk when it makes driving safer for everyone”.

The tech giant revealed that the car horn will be in use only to inform others of the vehicle’s presence in instances when another car is backing out of a driveway or swerving into a lane. The test drivers have been aiding the cars in...

By Connected CarTech, 07 June 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Android, Driverless.

Hyundai rolls out greater smartphone integrations for existing models in US

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Hyundai is rolling out a do it yourself installation towards adding smartphone integrations to many existing models in the US.

Starting in June, customers can get the software at Hyundai dealerships nationwide for an installation fee. The software update compatible with CarPlay and Android Auto is now available at no cost through MyHyundai.com.

In order to make the upgrade functional, owners need their VIN number and a USB memory stick or the SD card from their Navigation system....

By Connected CarTech, 03 June 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Android, CarPlay, Infotainment, iOS.

Google to offer Android Auto experience on phones

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Google plans to bring the complete Android Auto experience to smartphones, removing the need to plug the phone into a compatible car.

The feature, as reported by The Verge and as explained by Google at its I/O conference, will come via an update to the Android Auto phone app towards the end of 2016. As a result, drivers can mount the phone on the dash and use the Android Auto app for...

By Connected CarTech, 20 May 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Android, Navigation.

BMW debuts connected car features, includes Gear S2 integration

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German automobile maker BMW has unveiled several new connected car features which it hopes will help their vehicles differentiate from competitors. 

The company's flagship vehicles, the BMW i3 and BMW i8, both feature integrated SIM cards through which the vehicle can interact with the internet and the increasing amount of "things" being connected to it as part of the IoT. 

BMW has put a focus on harnessing the latest technologies outside of the company's...

By Ryan Daws, 08 September 2015, 0 comments. Categories: Android, Apps, Devices, iOS.

Google lets Android Auto developers run their apps on PC

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A new tool has been released for Google’s connected car platform called Desktop Head Unit (DHU) which emulates a car dashboard running Android Auto for testing purposes. 

Instead of forking-out cold hard cash for an expensive head unit, all developers need to do is connect their Android device to a computer and the mobile device will think it's connected to a physical car. This allows developers to see how their...

By Ryan Daws, 28 August 2015, 0 comments. Categories: Android, Apps.

Hyundai adopts Baidu CarLife for its connected cars in China

Asian web services company Baidu has revealed plans to compete with Apple’s CarPlay and Google’s Android Auto in China with CarLife.

Hyundai has announced that it will be one of the first manufacturers to use the service after the two companies signed a memorandum of understanding and it is planning to embed the software in a Sonata sedan.

The ongoing wrangling between the Chinese government, Google and Apple over their systems is what led Hyundai to investigate Baidu’s carlife, according to...

By Simon Holland, 28 January 2015, 0 comments. Categories: Android, CarPlay, Devices, Ecosystems, Navigation.

Infotainment updates in cars: Why delta technology is better than compression

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There is a lot of talk about software revolutionising the automotive industry and the conversation is growing because of how software management will impact the whole business of recalls.

The outrageous amount of good money going after bad is the reason why car manufacturers and tier one suppliers are looking for an optimised and alternative way to reduce the amount of time it takes to deliver a software update, reducing the cost associated with recalls and improving customer...

By Yoram Berholtz, 06 January 2015, 0 comments. Categories: Android, Apps, Connectivity, Devices, Ecosystems, Infotainment, iOS, Navigation.

Google aims to put full Android in the car

According to Reuters, Google is preparing to put a full-version of Android in the car which wouldn't require the user to plug in their smartphone. Google's current automotive initiative, Android Auto, acts as an extension of the smartphone to provide easy access to functions in a driver-friendly HUD which reduces potential distractions.

This is limited as not only does it require the driver to own a smartphone, but apps are mirrored on the display rather than running native. Apps for Android Auto must fit into strict...

By Ryan Daws, 19 December 2014, 0 comments. Categories: Android, Apps, Head-up Display.

2014: The year connected cars roared into adolescence

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It has been a big year for connected cars. Automakers, handset vendors, app developers and aftermarket CE manufacturers have graduated from a primary education in the best ways to support car and smartphone connectivity. There is now a solid outline of what the future body of connected driving will look like.

As the anatomy fills out, we have learned some critical lessons. Most importantly, smartphones are without question the brain of the connected car organism. They have the...

By Antti Aumo, 19 December 2014, 0 comments. Categories: Android, Apps, Best practice, CarPlay, Connectivity, Devices, Ecosystems, Mirrorlink, Regulation, Standards.

How will the connected car fit into the internet of things?

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There has been a lot of talk recently of the connected car becoming a major component in the Internet of Things (IoT). A world in which cars know their drivers and communicate with the world around them is enticing and full of potential, at the very least. But it also begs the question: just what role will smart vehicles play in the broader connected world?

One thing is for certain: the connected car will play a critical role in the Internet of Things...

By Tim Evavold, 11 December 2014, 0 comments. Categories: Android, Devices, Ecosystems, Infotainment, iOS, Payments.

Google makes Android Auto APIs available to developers

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Prospective car app developers can now get their hands on the first two Android Auto APIs after Google announced their availability.

Android’s car-focused sibling lets drivers extend smartphone apps onto their car dashboard in a way that is optimised for the driving experience, with support for head-unit display, steering wheel buttons and more.

The APIs support Android 5 or higher in a bid to reach across manufacturers, models, and regions, meaning developers only need to tailor...

By Simon Holland, 24 November 2014, 0 comments. Categories: Android, Devices, Ecosystems, Infotainment, Video and audio.

Jaguar Land Rover goes it alone with justDrive platform launch

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Manufacturer of 4x4 vehicles and luxury saloons Jaguar Land Rover has unleashed justDrive, a new infotainment and connectivity platform.

Instead of opting for one of the more renowned operating systems, Jaguar has chosen Silicon Valley-based CloudCar to base its platform on. Jaguar has optimised justDrive for CloudCar’s InControl platform, which will support Apple iOS 8 and Android mobile phones.

When asked by Connected Car Tech about the reasoning behind Jaguar’s...

By Simon Holland, 20 November 2014, 0 comments. Categories: Android, Apps, Devices, Infotainment, iOS, Navigation, Voice activation.

GM Android infotainment deal is a win for Google

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Google is set to be the major beneficiary of a deal involving the installation of its Android mobile operating system in General Motors vehicles.

In its latest earnings call, Harman International Industries CEO Dinesh Paliwal revealed that the company, which won a won a $900 million contract from General Motors in 2012 to supply a next-generation infotainment system, will be based on Android.

The deal is a serious coup for Google as the connected car industry becomes another area where...

By Simon Holland, 06 November 2014, 0 comments. Categories: Android, Apps, Infotainment, iOS.