Google announces Android Auto platform for cars, Android Wear devices for wrists

Posted:
in General Discussion edited August 2014
Google is pushing for its Android platform to be omnipresent, with the unveiling of a the new voice-enabled Android Auto operating system, and new wrist-worn, fitness-tracking devices running the upcoming Android Wear platform.




Android Auto

Android Auto represents Google's response to Apple's iOS in the Car platform. Both are reliant upon connected smartphones for accessing data and running compatible apps.

In unveiling Android Auto, Google noted at its I/O conference on Wednesday that the average person spends an hour in their car every day, and many of those people dangerously use their phone while driving.

Android Auto aims to solve this by providing users with eyes-free, voice-driven navigation, communication and music. The system is contextually aware, featuring a home screen that borrows from the Google Now feature found on Android devices, giving relevant information learned from user habits, along with recent destinations.




A connected Android phone will power the in-the-car display for Android Auto, but allows control with steering wheel buttons or applicable buttons on the car's head unit. Google also said that because Android Auto relies on a user's phone, the experience will improve if they buy a new and faster phone.

Users can input a destination with their voice, or speak to send messages or initiate a phone call. Developers will also be able to make their own music and messaging apps via a freely available Android Auto SDK.




Android Auto is scheduled to launch later this year. Google said on Wednesday that over 40 new partners for the Open Automotive Alliance, and over 20 new car brands have pledged to ship cars with Android in the near future.

Android Wear

Google emphasized the need for wearable devices Wednesday by noting that the average smartphone user looks at their device a whopping 125 times per day. The company believes wrist-worn screens can lessen that number, making information more quickly accessible while on the go.

The company demonstrated the Android Wear platform onstage at I/O using LG's G Watch. All Android Wear devices will have touchscreens, and will support both circular and rectangular displays. Swiping up on the interface presents a series of Google Now cards.




When a specific card is selected, users can swipe left and right to bring up information related to that card. And everything is synced between an Android watch and connected Android phone, meaning that associated Google Now cards are removed from the phone as well.

Android Wear also supports voice commands, and the onstage demo was used to show off creating reminders or creating notes. Android Wear will also respond to queries and find information quickly.




Fitness tracking is also a key part of Android Wear, with one example spotlighted by Google showing the user's number of steps taken for the day and week. Android Wear devices made with heart rate monitors will also be able to tap into that data for compatible apps.

Other apps showcased by Google on Wednesday included Pinterest, with a demonstration notifying users when they are near a restaurant featured in one of their pins, and Allthecooks, which automatically displayed an entire recipe on the watch and offered a timer when the associated smartphone app was opened. An SDK for Android Wear is available to developers starting today.




After showcasing Android Wear, Google announced a number of upcoming devices that will run its new platform. Chief among them was the new Samsung Gear Live, the South Korean company's first device to use Google's wearable platform, which will be available today to preorder from the Google Play store.

Also available today is the LG G Watch that was shown off onstage. But those waiting for the Moto 360 smart watch will have to wait, as Google said it won't be available to preorder until later this summer.

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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 70
    fallenjtfallenjt Posts: 4,053member
    Android in the car? I don't want the malware in it which may send my car to the river.
  • Reply 2 of 70
    mac_dogmac_dog Posts: 1,069member

    who cares?

  • Reply 3 of 70
    mistercowmistercow Posts: 157member
    fallenjt wrote: »
    Android in the car? I don't want the malware in it which may send my car to the river.

    I know. I definitely prefer the malware free Apple Maps that sends my car into the river.
  • Reply 4 of 70
    mstonemstone Posts: 11,510member

    I don't see Mercedes, BMW, Lexus, Toyota, Ferrari or Tesla logos on their slide.

  • Reply 5 of 70
    They announced that less then halve a percent of android phones have encountered malware
  • Reply 6 of 70
    sflocalsflocal Posts: 6,092member

    Google is the last company I would want powering anything in my vehicle.  Last thing I was is some ad displaying on my console about some 50% off sale at a grocery store I just passed on the right.  Malware, adware, xWare... the list just goes on and one.  Just stop, Google.  Please.

  • Reply 7 of 70
    ubernautubernaut Posts: 27member
    i don't get it most these brands have also committed to car play these cars will have both iOS and android?
  • Reply 8 of 70
    wovelwovel Posts: 956member
    ubernaut wrote: »
    i don't get it%u2026 most these brands have also committed to car play these cars will have both iOS and android?

    They are both just SDKs, so yes they will support both devices in the cars.
  • Reply 9 of 70
    wovelwovel Posts: 956member
    sflocal wrote: »
    Google is the last company I would want powering anything in my vehicle.  Last thing I was is some ad displaying on my console about some 50% off sale at a grocery store I just passed on the right.  Malware, adware, xWare... the list just goes on and one.  Just stop, Google.  Please.

    It is just the phone connecting to the car. If you don't own an Android phone you won't have Android powering anything in your car, if you do own an Android phone, you probably don't care.
  • Reply 10 of 70
    fallenjtfallenjt Posts: 4,053member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by mistercow View Post





    I know. I definitely prefer the malware free Apple Maps that sends my car into the river.

    That's 2 years ago, dude claimed by an anti-Apple person. I have used Apple Map since released without problem. In fact, Google Map sent me to the wrong damn location for Kaiser...instead of sending me to main campus, it sent me to the after-hour office located 2 blocks away...yup...who's dumb now?

  • Reply 11 of 70
    fallenjtfallenjt Posts: 4,053member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by mistercow View Post





    I know. I definitely prefer the malware free Apple Maps that sends my car into the river.

    ???

  • Reply 12 of 70
    rogifanrogifan Posts: 10,669member
    Not digging the UI at all. Hopefully Apple has something much better for their wearable device.
  • Reply 13 of 70

    I was actually thinking the fire was dwindling for new products but now it seems like its hot as ever. I own an audi and am surprised to see them on the list, but I guess they haven't said a lot about IOS. Seems like most companies would want to play nice with everyone and not choose one of the other. The wear devices still seem a little odd to me. Like it shows when your flight is departing but can you scan it from the watch or do you still have to pull out your phone and scan that if it has your ticket? Seems like google has very extensive user profiles, if it learns what time you leave work and where you are at all times.

  • Reply 14 of 70
    richard getzrichard getz Posts: 1,142member

    Google can now report your driving habits to the government lol 

  • Reply 15 of 70
    jungmarkjungmark Posts: 6,926member
    mistercow wrote: »
    I know. I definitely prefer the malware free Apple Maps that sends my car into the river.

    Better than Google Maps sending you across the median into oncoming traffic.

    ---

    Deja vu all over again.
  • Reply 16 of 70
    oneof52oneof52 Posts: 113member
    I watched the car presentation. Stated the safety feature for keeping your eyes on the road. All he did was stare at his phone and car display flipping thru numerous screens to get what he was looking for.

    Crowd response seemed lackluster, I thought. Also, the simulator car on the stage was sad to watch.
  • Reply 17 of 70
    haggarhaggar Posts: 1,568member

    Waiting for the people to start proclaiming that those auto makers on the list are trash and they will never ride in any car made by any of those companies even if their life depended on it.

  • Reply 18 of 70
    MacProMacPro Posts: 19,718member
    Next ... 'Google changes its logo to an Apple and claims it's a different apple ....'
  • Reply 19 of 70

    Looking at the watches these companies are designing and developing to sell to customers makes me extraordinarily happy that I am an Apple customer! Why are these companies rushing to get crap out the door instead of actually designing and developing something that shows the world they are worthwhile

     

    The very sad thing about all of this is the iPod Steve Jobs said could be used as a watch (How many years ago was that?) is SOOOOOOO much better looking than what Samsung and LG have come up with. IF Apple does come up with a smart watch, the Android smart watch companies will immediately drop their current designs and copy Apple's designs

     

    I truly hope the Android camp opens their eyes to honestly see and admit that Samsung, LG and other Android smart watch companies chose to drop their designs and copy Apple's designs this time around.

     

    Oops

     

    I visited Oz for a moment there.  :-)))

  • Reply 20 of 70
    fallenjtfallenjt Posts: 4,053member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by leavingthebigG View Post

     

    Looking at the watches these companies are designing and developing to sell to customers makes me extraordinarily happy that I am an Apple customer! Why are these companies rushing to get crap out the door instead of actually designing and developing something that shows the world they are worthwhile

     

    The very sad thing about all of this is the iPod Steve Jobs said could be used as a watch (How many years ago was that?) is SOOOOOOO much better looking than what Samsung and LG have come up with. IF Apple does come up with a smart watch, the Android smart watch companies will immediately drop their current designs and copy Apple's designs

     

    I truly hope the Android camp opens their eyes to honestly see and admit that Samsung, LG and other Android smart watch companies chose to drop their designs and copy Apple's designs this time around.

     

    Oops

     

    I visited Oz for a moment there.  :-)))


    Android smart watches are nothing more than just gimmicks. I wouldn't even want to be paid to wear those fugly "dumb" smart watches. See, this is how to take a phone call with those smart watches, lol:

    And this is how it fits on a woman's wrist...Beautiful...lol:

     

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