But any improvement to the in-car Android experience is welcome.Step 3: You should now be looking at the Pin-builder screen. It’s also worth noting that if you’re sitting and charging your EV, you can do all this from your phone anyway. Gaming, browsing the web, and conference calls. Android Auto is also working with Cisco, Microsoft, and Zoom to enable conference calls, so you can join meetings by audio directly from the car display. Still, car companies will likely be happier with Google’s less aggressive approach here.

Apple’s version, rather than working alongside the existing car software, will supposedly replace it entirely-so this Android automotive update feels “lite” in comparison. Games mentioned include Beach Buggy Racing 2 (will you be able to play using the steering wheel?), and Solitaire FRVR (yawn). Apparently, YouTube will be available in Polestars, which already run on a Google OS, in the coming weeks. It didn’t come during the I/O keynote, but it came in side-briefings before the show.Ĭottoning on to the fact that people are sitting in their vehicles with little to do while at charging stations, Android Auto will soon support video, gaming, and browsing in cars. In something of a plodding reply to Apple’s startling plans for CarPlay 2 announced in June last year, Google’s Android Auto team finally has news to share. As they say, if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em … in putting a Matter sticker on every home appliance.

Any family member can access the panel, or switch profiles. But it did let us know in briefings that in just a few weeks, you’ll be able to control Matter devices in the Google Home app from iOS devices. Google didn’t spend a lot of time touting the relatively new Matter smart home standard during the I/O keynote. Google is even- gulp-building tools to provide Matter support for iOS users. Other sweeteners include easier access to Google Home from your Wear OS smartwatch and a new control panel for your home that runs on Android tablets. But what will it take to tip that expectation over the edge into reality? Google bets that small, incremental improvements will slowly tempt you to incorporate more connected devices into your home, like the fabric-covered Pixel tablet that functions as a portable Nest hub with one-tap access to a newly redesigned Google Home app. We always seem to be on the cusp of the real and helpful-and not annoying-smart home.

Everything about pinterest