AutoHere’s why Google has added Android Auto to Android AutomotiveInfotainment inception actually makes a lot of senseWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
AutoHere’s why Google has added Android Auto to Android AutomotiveInfotainment inception actually makes a lot of senseWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Infotainment inception actually makes a lot of sense
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Shutterstock)
(Image credit: Shutterstock)
Google’s smartphone-powered car infotainment system, calledAndroid Auto, is now available within Google’s car-powered infotainment system, calledAndroid Automotive.
If it wasn’t already confusing enough to explain the difference between these two systems – and Google’s naming strategy certainly doesn’t help – the company has now performed some kind of infotainment inception, and added one to the other.
Sorry, we told you this is all rather complicated.
Thankfully, this all makes more sense than you might think. Android Automotive runs on the car itself, and only works properly when the driver logs in with their email address and Google account. They’ll then need to set up Spotify for music, and download any other apps they might need from the Play store.
(Image credit: Polestar)
(Image credit: Polestar)
On the other hand,Android Autoruns on your phone, so when that’s plugged into a new car you’ll instantly have access to your contacts, calendar, music, podcasts and more, via the car’s interface.
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This is the key point. If you are borrowing the car, from a friend or a hire car company, you might not want to (or have the ability to) log intoAndroid Automotivewith your email address and other credentials. But, since Android Automotive now has Android Auto too, you can plug your phone in and access all of your content that way instead, no logging in required.
As car manufacturers replace their own infotainment systems with Android Automotice, it’s good to see Google retain the option for plugging a phone in, instead of logging into the car itself. We just wish the two systems had entirely different names.
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