(ThyBlackMan.com) Google with Android Auto is all set to beat CarPlay with new features and improvements. The company is working on bringing its voice assistant to Android Auto and there’s a lot more coming. A lot of Google’s products have made life easier than before. Most of its products are actually focused on convenience. Google Assistant alone and smart speakers were the biggest things in 2017 and the simplicity of Pixel devices is just bringing more value to the customers. Google is now upgrading Android Auto in many ways and as a result, the user experience is going to be better.
Google Assistant on Android Auto has made its debut in January 2018. The company has made several announcements during CES 2018 and this one comes as a treat to Android Auto users. The voice search facility is already available on the system but it was missing the core Google Assistant features. With the latest update, the company has added a new logo and commands to the system.
So whatever the Google Assistant can do on your mobile is now possible in your vehicle. You can control your music preferences with ease, you can turn off smart lights of your home. In a demo, the company showed us how the service is going to help you reserve a parking spot and how you can order a coffee using the Google Assistant on Android Auto. Google has partnered with some brands and Android Auto users will get benefited. If you haven’t updated your Android Auto app then you will be seeing the same old four bars whenever you give a voice command to the system. Once after you update it, you will be able to see the new logo and the Google Assistant branding.
Apart from the Google Assistant, Android Auto is also going wireless this year. Those who have used the service know that you need to plug your phone into a compatible head unit. If you don’t do this, you won’t be able to mirror the screen from your mobile device, meaning that you can’t use those apps. The good news is you’ll see wireless Android Auto in future. JVC Kenwood has confirmed that it is working on a high-end unit which will support wireless connectivity for Android Auto and it will most likely support Apple CarPlay as well.
Android Auto wireless is something Google has been talking about since last two years. Google has been encouraging everyone to use the technology and we’ve been hearing about it for quite some time. Google has not shared any product of its own, but third-party head units are coming this year. Pioneer is also working on a new wireless Android Auto head unit that brings wireless functionality built in. In short, you will be able to connect your smartphone and Car using Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. The third party developers have not revealed specific details about their upcoming products, so it’s still unclear what technologies these products are going to use. The good thing is you won’t have to attach your phone to the head unit. We also hope that these third-party products will bring some highly improved UI designs.
The choice between Google Android Auto and Apple CarPlay might be simple for anyone because most of the users want to remain faithful to their smartphone makers which is obviously easier than worrying about the supported car model. But when compared with each other, Android Auto definitely beats CarPlay in terms of application support and availability in car models. Android users can literally make any car compatible with the Android Auto while CarPlay users must have a car that supports CarPlay and an iPhone 5 or above. If you have a new car, there are chances that you can get both the services. There are some third-party products available that support both old and new cars and run CarPlay and Android Auto easily. Meanwhile, BMW is planning to make CarPlay a subscription-based service, but things are not going well for Apple’s CarPlay. Recently, Cadillac CEO Johan de Nysschen expressed his view about Apple’s CarPlay calling it extremely clunky.
Staff Writer; Corey Shaw
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