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Google To Take On Apple's CarPlay

Posted by Unknown on from the aux-input-not-cool-enough dept.

cartechboy (2660665) writes with news that Google is working on software to complete with Apple's CarPlay car dashboard software: Google is set to unveil its own automotive operating system known internally as Google Auto Link. The search giant plans to unveil its system at a software developer conference this month. Interestingly, Auto Link is the first production developed in conjunction with the Open Automotive Alliance, a group of companies including Audi, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, NVIDIA, and Google itself. Like CarPlay, Auto Link won't be an "embedded" system, rather, a "projected" one--an operating system that uses a driver's own smartphone operating system. We'll obviously learn details soon enough, but for now, we are left to wonder whether it'll be Apple or Google that ends up owning the automotive market.

20 of 126 comments (clear)

  1. Answer: Both by Que_Ball · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Why would it have to be exclusive?

    Car makers can simply support both protocols in their built in systems and whatever device you bring just pairs up with it.

    Why would an automaker want to exclude potential customers by only supporting one method or the other is the question you need to ask.  Unless Apple or Google is subsidising the cost of the car they just want to make the most attractive package possible and sell more cars.

    1. Re:Answer: Both by Grishnakh · · Score: 2, Informative

      Um, no, I'm speaking from experience. Phones aren't supported by the mfgrs or carriers after 6-12 months. Just try asking your carrier when you're going to get an update to the latest version of Android for your 2 or 3-year-old phone. They'll tell you to buy a new one.

      At least Apple seems to support their devices for a decent amount of time, if you can stomach the insane amount of control and vendor lock-in that Apple exercises.

    2. Re:Answer: Both by Alan+Shutko · · Score: 3, Insightful

      It's a protocol, not an OS. Vendors won't be running Android or iOS inside their cars. They'll just be able to talk to the device you plug in or pair.

    3. Re:Answer: Both by kannibal_klown · · Score: 2

      Neither please. Choosing between a big brother-like ad-riddled OS from Google vs a severely restricted vendor lock-in from Apple? I'd rather run my car on Windows than either of these.

      You don't want that.

      I'm not a Microsoft hater... I'm one of the few that think Win 8.1 is alright. But I *now* am not the biggest fan of the Microsoft "MyFordTouch" on my Ford Edge.

      The Navigation system is nice, I wouldn't trade that in for the world.

      But outside of GPS the Microsoft MFT system is buggy and crashes, and they failed to deliver on a heavily-advertised feature for MFT. It crashes about once-per-month, during which time while driving I lose a lot of climate-control / GPS / entertainment functionality.

      The failed feature was: connecting to iOS apps. They were supposed to let the MFT connect to a handful of iOS apps like Pandora and such. They couldn't get it working.

      They DID get it working on the regular Ford Sync... which lacked the large touch-screen monitor. So great... people with the cheaper system got the advanced feature while those with the more expensive system were told to "go screw."

      Meanwhile they were advertising how the MFT would do this that and the other thing... and failed to deliver.

    4. Re:Answer: Both by Lumpy · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Reality is that Android is fragmented to hell and back. Even now a great example. The HTC ONE M8 HTC's Flagship has a very shitty Android that most people are flashing the phone back to the google Play edition to regain functionality of Android.

      Unless Google tells all phone makers "FUCK YOU" and demands they can not call it android in any way if they modify it in any way like how apple tells AT&T and Verizon that they can not put their bloated garbage all over the phone... Then it will have crap integration.

      My AT&T M8 came with so much AT&T garbage baked into the rom that I was ready to smash the phone after 48 hours. Then the HTC Sense crap coupled with the AT&T crap pushed me to the point that I risked bricking the phone and went to Cyanogenmod dailies until someone released a GPE recovery image.

      --
      Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
    5. Re:Answer: Both by LWATCDR · · Score: 3, Insightful

      " costs money to license, and you have to agree to forcing Google's shit by default (like the Play store)."
      1. No it does not http://9to5google.com/2014/01/...
      And the things that Google "forces" android handset makers is frankly what customers want.
      Google started making handset makers to do make GMS and all or nothing service when a handset maker put on all sorts of Google apps but made the search BING and locked it down!
      Some companies choose not to use GMS but still use Android like Amazon.
      AOSP plus GMS == the Android must consumers want.

      Compared to IOS, BlackberryOS, and WP Android is as free as can be. If you want source to everything but the GMS apps just run Cyanogen. You can even add in the GMS apps if you want them or just run Outlook, YahooMail, or a FOSS mailclient for mail, and the mapping software of your choice.

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    6. Re:Answer: Both by Karlt1 · · Score: 2

      So you need to buy a Google-branded phone to get good support, and all the other Android vendors such?

      Google usually only updates their phones for 18 months.

      http://liliputing.com/2013/10/...

      Apple just released a security update in February for the 3GS that was introduced in June 2009.

      They released iOS 7 for the iPhone 4 released in June 2010.

    7. Re:Answer: Both by spire3661 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Apple has fragmentation too, but they hide it MUCH better.

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      Good-bye
    8. Re:Answer: Both by sosume · · Score: 2

      Windows XP was officially supported for over 12 years after release. Apple usually supports its hardware until up to 4 years after release. Android support is usually only offered *before* release date and a few months after.

  2. car play more than just for cars by zr · · Score: 4, Insightful

    iphone is a keyboard and a tv-set away from being a full-fledged computer for 99% of the population.

  3. Mirrorlink by AmiMoJo · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Do we really need another standard when we already have MirrorLink? It works fine, allows the phone to display a special "car mode" homescreen, charges... What more do we need?

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  4. Re:BlackBerry by the+computer+guy+nex · · Score: 4, Informative

    "Well Apple's CarPlay is run on top of BlackBerry's QNX"

    CarPlay is a protocol. CarPlay can be run on top of any Operating System. Google's old idea was to have each manufacturer fork Android for their own version of an entertainment system. Google is changing course to follow Apple's lead on creating a protocol instead.

  5. apple and google are missing the point. by nimbius · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I dont know about other slashdotters, but Millenials like myself cant afford a brand new car, end of discussion. Years of college loans have ruined our credit score and what little we are saving is going directly toward maintaining the vehicle we already unfortunately own. For a bit less than a hundred dollars though, I can get a used car stereo and a wiring kit that lets me play music from a USB stick and over BlueTooth from my phone. If i cant afford that, I can just put my ear buds in.

    I dont value a car. not like the Gen X or Y or baby boomers did. To me its nothing but oil changes, tire changes, and a lifetime of direct mail spam about my "warranty" running out or the latest bullshit deal from herpo derpersons car and truck supercenter. Its having to strap myself to an insurance company that will subrogate everything. A car just means I put up with expensive parking, gridlock traffic, tickets, and ridiculous gas prices until it dies on a hot day alongside the freeway.
    what i do value is public transit. affordable busses that run every 20 minutes and light rail systems that give me time to do shit I actually care about, like browse slashdot and work. I already have a device that lets me use google or apple or whatever I need, but to strap it to a 2000 pound haggared burro doesnt help.

    --
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    1. Re:apple and google are missing the point. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Maybe Google and apple know this about you, and also realize that you aren't their target market for this particular development...
      That's right millennial, it isn't always about you... Some times it is about Gen X, Y, or the Boomers...

      Better still, Gen X and the boomers have disposable income, and have demonstrated their ability to dispose of it for the most frivolous of items...

      So you know that there is a reason behind what I'm saying when I say SHUT UP DIRTY HIPPIE! the grown ups are talking about how to blow your inheritance.

    2. Re:apple and google are missing the point. by tlhIngan · · Score: 2

      I dont know about other slashdotters, but Millenials like myself cant afford a brand new car, end of discussion. Years of college loans have ruined our credit score and what little we are saving is going directly toward maintaining the vehicle we already unfortunately own. For a bit less than a hundred dollars though, I can get a used car stereo and a wiring kit that lets me play music from a USB stick and over BlueTooth from my phone. If i cant afford that, I can just put my ear buds in.

      You don't need a new car to have CarPlay and this. There are CarPlay decks coming out that can be retrofitted into your existing car. I think initially the licensing of CarPlay got that confused, but Pioneer has CarPlay decks available for purchase soon. So besides the integration inside new vehicles, retrofits and upgrades are possible.

      And please don't drive with earbuds. Not only is it illegal in most places to drive like that (if you have Bluetooth, just get a regular Bluetooth speaker or something), but it really cuts down your situation awareness.

      As for not valuing a car - you are quite correct in that the car is no longer a means to itself (like the computer isn't a means to itself these days), but just a thing. Quite a few car manufacturers are seeing the hurt on that as traditional showy and flashy cars that target the typical group don't sell as well. Instead sales go towards practical cars that are easy on gas, have all the whiz-bang they like, and are generally cheap. And even they don't get used as much since public transport is preferred.

    3. Re:apple and google are missing the point. by Anubis+IV · · Score: 2

      I don't need it, so no one does.

      FTFY

      Just because you're not the target market doesn't mean others aren't. And while public transit is a nice idea, it isn't practical for everyone. The fact is, most of the US urban centers were built with personal transportation in mind, not public transportation, so cars make the most sense for the most people, and automated cars seems to be the future there. As such, getting into this market seems to make a lot of sense.

    4. Re:apple and google are missing the point. by Wovel · · Score: 2

      College loans have very little impact on your credit score unless you are not making payments...

  6. Dear Google..... by Lumpy · · Score: 2

    Just STOP.

    you do NOT need to have a car specific OS, just fucking bring back "car mode" to Android. Android as it is works fantastic as a Infotainment OS once you disable the stupid screen timeout and add circuitry to wake/sleep based on car ignition status.

    --
    Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
  7. Re:Consumer = LOSE by Lumpy · · Score: 2

    Yet older BMW cars can not control a modern Iphone.

    My wife's 525 has the old 30 pin and even with the legit apple adapter, it will not control the music app in the iphone.

    --
    Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
  8. Re:Better question by JudgeFurious · · Score: 2

    And for some of us that's just fine. I've found nothing particularly problematic about being locked into Apple.

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