Google officially launched the Android Automotive infotainment operating system almost two years ago and will bring it to many millions of vehicles in cooperation with some big brands. To try it out, a hobbyist found a way to install Android Automotive on a tablet that can then be used both in and out of the vehicle. An interesting project based on LineageOS, the concept of which could also be interesting for Google.
Android Automotive is to succeed Android Auto in the long term, which is known to be just an extended smartphone display. Automotive, on the other hand, is a fully-fledged operating system for the vehicle’s infotainment area and brings both popular apps and other options into the vehicles that would not be possible with Android Auto. This includes retrieving vehicle data, controlling the air conditioning and touch-based use of the window lifters.
Because Android Automotive has so far only been available on vehicles equipped with it and is therefore currently not available to many people, a hobbyist found an interesting solution last year: With the official Android Automotive builds and a little technical skill, Android Automotive was able to be installed on to install on a Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e. The whole thing is based on LineageOS so several projects interlock here.
I’ve been playing around with some Android Automotive builds for my Samsung Tab S5e. Works great in my car thanks to the built-in 4G, GPS, microphones, speakers, etc.
You can easily customize with your choice of navigation apps, media apps, etc. But the real potential probably lies in further customizing the OS and coming up with some nice automotive-specific apps or custom launchers.
Android Automotive on a Samsung tablet
The whole thing should probably work very well within the scope of the technical possibilities. Everything apart from the additional functions already mentioned in the car can be used with the tablet.
Anyone who can now attach the tablet to a suitable (and legal) place in the car can use Android Automotive in any vehicle. The fact that the tablet can then also be taken along and used on the go may prove to be a great advantage. Possibly also a project for co-drivers and passengers.
Unfortunately, the project inevitably dispenses with Google Automotive Services, which are comparable to Google Play Services. Accordingly, there is no access to the Play Store, but the Aurora Store is used.
The hobbyist has been hoping for feedback on Reddit for several months and is thinking aloud about making the whole thing an official Lineage project. Although there is a rejection from the Lineage team, there is still interest in this project.
Even after a long time, there is still no download, but the reactions are extremely positive, so helpers may be found who will turn it into a downloadable project. It would be an alternative solution to the Android Automotive dongle I already suggested.