The Android Auto infotainment platform is likely to develop into a core product for Google in the coming years, which is mainly driven by the offshoots. Accordingly, the pace of further development is also being tightened, which is evident these days with several features just around the corner. They appear to be big steps, opening up an additional perspective for the platform.
Something is happening with Android Auto: For a long time, the platform was more of a by-product that was born out of necessity to be able to use the most important smartphone functions related to communication, navigation and audio in the vehicle.
It worked surprisingly well, and now Google is one step further with the tentative introduction of Google Assistant Driving Mode and Android Automotive. But the classic Android Auto, which will probably last for many years to come, is also likely to change.
New Design
First up is the new Coolwalk interface, which is about much more than just an adaptation for larger displays. The main drive seems to be to create a uniform interface for the car platforms and the new Android Auto design is very reminiscent of the newly renovated Android Automotive and basically the Driving Mode interface.
It will be the standardization that enables a quick and uncomplicated change and can therefore include all user groups: Those who have a display in the vehicle for the first time and have previously relied on the smartphone. But the step into the next evolutionary stage will also be made easier because millions of people will presumably buy a vehicle with Android Automotive in the next few years. The learning curve will remain flat so users will feel right at home.
Cast smartphone screen
These days, a new Android Auto Cast app has appeared, the intention of which is still unknown. It reflects the smartphone surface onto the display. But because this action is started via the infotainment display itself, which already shows Android Auto, it doesn’t make much sense. Maybe it’s an accidentally unlocked trial version, but maybe there’s more to it than that.
You can’t really talk about the convergence of smartphones and displays, because both have always only appeared in combination, but some things can still come closer together when used. I think we’ll be hearing, reading and seeing a lot more about it over the next few weeks.
It is quite possible that the mirroring should actually take place the other way around and that information should be brought from the infotainment display to the smartphone. That in turn would be strange because the display surface is controlled by the smartphone. Possibly it goes in the direction of the second screen.