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Google reveals plans to bring Android to your car with Android Auto

Updated Dec 4th, 2014 2:37PM EST
Android Auto

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Google’s 2014 I/O keynote has been packed full of action so far, and the fun continued as Google revealed plans to bring Android software and the related experiences to your car with its new “Android Auto” initiative. The software will focus on music, navigation and other applications that users need while driving. It is also fully voice enabled, so drivers never have to divert their attention from the road.

Android staples such as Google Maps have been retooled so that they can be better displayed on a screen in a car, and the source device — the user’s phone — powers the entire experience. This means that the entire experience is improved each and every time an app on the user’s phone is updated. This is a huge benefit. As we all know, updates to infotainment systems are typically painfully slow.

Google is releasing an Android Auto SDK that will become available to developers shortly and will initially focus on enabling certain types of apps, including music streaming apps. More importantly, Google said that more than 25 car brands have signed on to support Android Auto in their automobiles.

Android Auto will launch alongside Android L later this year.

Watch Google’s I/O 2014 keynote live right here!

Zach Epstein
Zach Epstein Executive Editor

Zach Epstein has been the Executive Editor at BGR for more than 10 years. He manages BGR’s editorial team and ensures that best practices are adhered to. He also oversees the Ecommerce team and directs the daily flow of all content. Zach first joined BGR in 2007 as a Staff Writer covering business, technology, and entertainment.

His work has been quoted by countless top news organizations, and he was recently named one of the world's top 10 “power mobile influencers” by Forbes. Prior to BGR, Zach worked as an executive in marketing and business development with two private telcos.