Google recently announced at its I/O developer conference that the popular app is now available on Android Auto, Google’s answer to Apple Car Play.
But waze is not the only update or upgrade that Google had up its sleeve for the developer conference. Google CEO Sundar Pichai also announced that the users will be able to wake up the in car system without using their hands by saying OK Google. This will ensure that the driver’s hands remain on the steering wheel. Google also promised a lot of other updates and upgrades that will be rolled out in the coming months.
Sync
Soon Android Auto users will also be able to user the platform to sync their data with the car infotainment system that comes pre-installed. Such a system called the Sync 3 is available on the current models of Ford. The data sync will take place without the user having to use a cable wire.
Android Auto will work over WiFi. For those customers who are not using a modern car with the capability to handle all these features built-in, there is an update to the mobile or smartphone app that will be launched in the coming months so that they can also enjoy these features. There is nothing wrong with a pleasant upgrade.
More automakers and automobile manufacturers are now working on rolling out their updates for Android which will include features like names and addresses of official service stations, routes to gas stations, car diagnostics, and more. You thought having a tow truck’s number in your phone was cool, how about that?! These are exciting times for the automobile industry and for drivers!
Rise of Car Tech
Google users have been asking the company to add Waze to the system for some time now. In fact it was the top request by Android Auto users across the globe. Waze was bought by Google in the year 2013 for a whopping $1.1 billion. Before Waze was integrated into Android Auto, automobile users have been using the inbuilt default Google Maps integration to navigate around their city.
More and more automobile companies are now partnering up with technology companies in order to provide more robust features to their existing and potential customers. The race is on and each and every automobile manufacturer is looking to woo the prospects with a car that is a combination of technology and computer hardware on wheels. The idea is to allow consumers to move their smartphone and tablet tethered lives from their homes and office to their automobile seamlessly.
Google also told the developers that they are free to work, experiment, and develop apps for the platform as long as they are willing to work with the company’s software developer kit or the Auto SDK kit. There are over 50 apps that are currently available on Android Auto at the moment for automobile enthusiasts who like to try new technology even before it goes commercial or before it is offered to the masses.
It is expected that Android Auto and even Apple CarPlay will go fully commercial in the next five to ten years and become very common. Already we are seeing so much development in this field that it is difficult to imagine what this field holds for us as consumers in the next wave of innovation.
But this new technology needs to help the driver, not distract them. Now if the driver is a computer, that is another story.