Android Auto Driving vs. Google Assistant vs. Android Car Operating System: All the Ways Google Starts

During his opening address and his 2019 I / O conference, some interesting announcements were made about Google in the car. Google wants to be more useful at the wheel, but it's also a bit confusing with four very similar technologies and driving modes named and presented.

Now that the dust has settled, let's take a look at Android Auto, the Android Auto app, Android Automotive OS and the Google Assistant driving mode to see how they compare.

Android Auto

Android Auto is Google's application projection and connectivity technology for cars, much like Apple CarPlay or MirrorLink. After connecting a compatible phone to a compatible vehicle, Android Auto can support your car's dashboard display, overlaying Google's OEM interface software with notifications, messaging and hands-free calls free, streaming audio applications and navigation software.

The system connects to the driver's Google account and displays recommendations for navigation, calendar appointments, etc., on its home screen. Users can navigate with Google Maps or Waze, reply to text messages and application-based messages with voice commands, and stream audio from any of the dozens of compatible apps. music, news, radio and podcasting. And of course, Google's voice search and wizard technology is integrated, giving drivers hands-free control over everything.

Android Auto is in the process of making a major overhaul this summer, making it easier to multitask, reducing the back and forth between browser applications and audio applications, and hopefully further reducing distractions.

How did you get it?

Android Auto requires a compatible vehicle for projection. So make sure your car supports the technology first. Then simply install the Android Auto application on your compatible phone, connect via USB and hit the road. Some newer vehicles even support Android Auto wireless connectivity via Wi-Fi. There are also available multimedia receivers that can add compatibility to older cars.

Android Auto App Mode

Shortly after the launch of Android Auto, Google launched Android Auto App Mode. It's basically the same Android Auto without the projection. The simplified interface of the car mode, low distraction, runs directly on the screen of the host phone rather than being transmitted to the dashboard of the car.

The Android Auto app can use the same voice commands, offers the same recommendations from Google Assistant and supports the same navigation, messaging and streaming audio applications as Android Auto because it s & # 39; 39 is of course the same software.

How did you get it?

Just go to the Google Play Store on your Android phone and download the Android Auto app. It's as simple as that, although you still need to find a place to mount and charge your phone safely while driving.

Do not tie too much, though. The application mode of Android Auto will be phased out when it will be replaced by the new Google Assistant driving mode later this year. Talking about that …

Google Assistant Driving Mode

Google's Google-based Google Assistant is gaining a new ride this year with the addition of its new driving mode interface. When enabled, the auxiliary driving mode fills the screen with a redesigned dashboard offering navigation suggestions, appointments and calendar reminders, frequent contacts, links to audio applications and podcasts, etc. in a simplified view.

The assistant is mainly a voice activated system. Therefore, expect that prompts and voice commands play a very important role in your interaction with the deputy driving mode. However, users can still press and drag to navigate the interface. Once started, Google Maps Navigation appears in full screen. A lower bar appears to display audio commands, notifications, and quick access to manually triggering new Google Assistant prompts.

How did you get it?

You will have to wait for Google to deploy the new Action Assistant later this year. Once this happens, simply enter your Google Assistant phone and say, "Hey, google, drive" to call the driving interface. Android phones will definitely be supported, but a Google Assistant app can run on iOS devices, so we'll be watching the support closely on this platform.

Android operating system

The other newcomer is the recently announced Android Android operating system. In short, Android Automotive is a new version of the Android operating system customized by Google for use in vehicles.

Android Auto, which bears the same name, resides on the Android phone of the user and is simply projected in the dashboard, an Android automotive vehicle. is The Android device with Google's operating system powers everything from embedded navigation, messaging and streaming media applications to traditional vehicle systems such as climate controls, comfort and convenience functions. convenience, vehicle settings, etc.

How did you get it?

The only way to get Android Automotive is to buy a brand new car equipped with the software, but for that you have to wait. Until now, the Polestar 2 of 2021 is the first car to integrate technology upon its arrival in 2020 with Google Services and the Google Play Store in the dashboard. The operating system will also be available on the Volvo XC40 at about the same time.

More Android motor vehicles will likely follow with the adoption and modification of open source software by other automakers, but they may not always carry the "Android Automotive OS" brand.