Google and Volvo Cars partner to build Android into connected cars.

[Scrape]

http://mobilesyrup.com/2017/05/15/google-volvo-cars-partner-build-android-connected-cars/?utm_content=buffer1ec75&utm_medium=social&utm_source=plus.google.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Google and Volvo Cars are partnering to build Android into the next generation of vehicles featuring in-car infotainment and connectivity solutions.
Under this initiative, “hundreds of popular [Android] apps” — developed by Google, Volvo or third-party companies — will be offered to owners of the Swedish-made vehicles. No specific apps were mentioned, however.
“We are making an important strategic step with the Google partnership. Google’s platform and services will enhance the user experience by enabling more personalization possibilities, while Android will offer increased flexibility from a development perspective,” said Henrik Green, senior vice-president of research and development at Volvo Car Group.
“We’re thrilled to partner with Volvo to bring Android into their next generation connected cars,” said Patrick Brady, vice-president of Android engineering at Google. “This partnership gives us the opportunity to deliver a more seamless experience to Volvo drivers through a full-featured infotainment platform and rich ecosystem of Android applications and Google services.”
Volvo also announced that it will be bringing location-based service application Google Local Search to its recent car models. An update through the Sensus Navigation system will add the new functionality.
Volvo says further details will be revealed at Google’s annual I/O tech show (http://mobilesyrup.com/2017/05/13/google-io-2017-android-o-google-home-and-google-assistant/) later this week.

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more information...It will also include Audi and other manufacturers as well.
http://www.androidauthority.com/android-audi-volvo-772041/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=gplus
When Google launched Android Auto (http://www.androidauthority.com/tag/android-auto/) three years ago, the automobile technology solution required the use of a connected Android smartphone. Now Google is looking to incorporate its Android OS directly inside vehicles. Today, the company announced that Audi and Volvo will be among the car makers which will build Android into their future automobiles. Google previously showed off a concept of such a system with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles in January (http://www.androidauthority.com/uconnect-8-4-android-740293/) during CES 2017. According to a Google blog post, the Android incorporation into the upcoming Audi and Volvo cars will allow drivers to use features like Google Maps (http://www.androidauthority.com/tag/google-maps/), Google Assistant (http://www.androidauthority.com/tag/google-assistant/) and more without the need to connect their smartphone. In addition, Android will also help control more specific car functions like the opening of windows or a sunroof, or turning on the air conditioning.
The blog post didn’t offer much in the way of details, but it did show some mockups of how Android will look inside Volvo and Audio cars. TechCrunch adds that Audi will still use HERE’s map services for its cars as a default service (Audi’s parent Volkswagen Group is one of the owners of the HERE map company). However, owners of Audi’s cars will have the option to switch to Google Maps. More information on Google’s plans for offering Android directly into cars will be revealed on May 17 as part of its 2017 Google I/O (http://www.androidauthority.com/google-io/) developer conference, and previews of Audi’s and Volvo’s Android-based infotainment systems will also be shown at the event as well.

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[StAnger]

All of this high tech garbage doesn't belong in cars. Just saying.

[Harbinger]

I love android auto. Very simple

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

[ZR]

With distracted driving supposedly leading the way in auto crashes, injuries n fatalities, why oh why to we keep adding to the complexity of operating a vehicle.

[Scrape]

I find some of this shit annoying as well. Don't know why these auto manufacturers are adding all these un-necessary things to complicate things. A friend of mine loves this shit but for me I have limits to what I want in my car. Android and Apple car play is not one of them. The good thing is that you don't have to go into the screen unless you want to connect your device to it. It is still better than holding the device in your hand which is absolutely dangerous.

[ZR]

Plus like the nonsense of putting controls / functions multiple screens inside the radio, talk about distracted driving. No secret I really like my current truck but heater controls are in a poor location, too small and require taking your eyes off the road to use.

[Scrape]

One thing that I loved about my Mustang, Challenger and my Q50 is that the touch screen can control the climate control if needed but the basic blowing the windshield to defrost, rear defrost is still a hard button.
Plus like the nonsense of putting controls / functions multiple screens inside the radio, talk about distracted driving. No secret I really like my current truck but heater controls are in a poor location, too small and require taking your eyes off the road to use.

[ZR]

Problem is, for far too many, driving straight down the road n using only one lane is all they're capable of. Add it a touch screen with buried controls, takes so much of their attention / concentration to operate, train goes off the tracks.....................and they run into you and me.

[RedSN]

I think it's great. Twenty years ago I could not possibly imagine that you could be walking around with a computer device in your pocket, climb into your car, and without connecting any wires or anything, just say commands like what song you want to listen to or where you want to go and have the car give you directions. Incredible.

You're never going to get rid of stupid drivers, but for most normal people these systems are good.
If people like St.Anger had their way, we would still be adjusting timing manually with a lever that most people would mistake for the indicator.

[ZR]

Problem is, around me and certainly around you, average driver should not have a license.

[RedSN]

Yes, but that average driver would be just as bad a driver in a car with no technology.
Technology isn't preventing them from using their indicators,
it's not causing them to weave in and out of lanes to gain 3 spots,
it's not making them turn left on red lights,
they would still use their phone for texting.

[Harbinger]

Problem is, for far too many, driving straight down the road n using only one lane is all they're capable of. Add it a touch screen with buried controls, takes so much of their attention / concentration to operate, train goes off the tracks.....................and they run into you and me.
Shouldn't be diving into the controls of a touch screen when you're driving imo.

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

[Scrape]

They can't even learn how to turn on their headlights let alone use a touchscreen! Freakin' idiots are just not worth teaching. Get them off the road and revoke their licenses if you ask me.

[ZR]

^ yes sir.