Google Launches Android Automotive Consortium 117
DeviceGuru writes "Google announced an initiative with Audi, GM, Honda, Hyundai, and Nvidia aimed at fostering and standardizing Android in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) systems. The Open Automotive Alliance (OAA) is dedicated to a common platform that will drive innovation, and make technology in the car safer and more intuitive for everyone, says the group. The OAA is further committed to bringing the Android platform to cars starting in 2014. In its FAQ, the OAA suggests that this is not a full-blown Android in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) system, but rather a standardized integration stack between automotive systems and mobile Android devices. However, the OAA FAQ also discloses broader ambitions for 2015 and beyond: 'We're also developing new Android platform features that will enable the car itself to become a connected Android device.'"
Just give me a standard size and connector! (Score:5, Insightful)
Think of the kind of computer or phone you had 5 or 10 years ago. Do you want a 5-10 year old device hard-wired into your car 5-10 years from now?
And no matter how "open" Google tries to make things, vehicle OEMs are just as bad as handset OEMs and cellular carriers and they WILL make these things suck. I know a guy who has a $100 windshield-mount GPS in his GPS-equipped car because he didn't want to pay the dealer $hundreds to update the maps in his built-in unit. So now he has a device on his windshield with a dangling cord and some dead space in his dash.
Re:Naturally (Score:3, Insightful)
Normally, we call a product "vaporware" before there is one single independent test of it.
For some reason, with Google self-driving cars, we assume they deliver up to claimed spec. We cite the statistic about fewer accidents than with human drivers, even though conditions were chosen by Google, expert human back-ups were available throughout who were dedicated to the job of ensuring a car is driven safely, and there was zero review of the evidence used to make the claims.
The Google robot car, for anyone remotely following the modern scientific method, should be regarded as an experimental idea, not a working implementation.
Where's the Knob Alliance when you need them? (Score:5, Insightful)
Critical infrastructure - air gap it. (Score:5, Insightful)
I prefer my cars air-gaped. Why? First, I don't trust automotive manufacturers to introduce adequate security measures. Second, I don't trust automotive manufacturers to stay on top of patching security holes over car's expected useful lifetime.
Re:Just give me a standard size and connector! (Score:2, Insightful)
The only company that can actually get automotive companies to actually agree and do something "right" is Apple. If Apple put a 1-2 DIN audio head, they would push out the half-hearted attempts by vehicle makers and after market companies (Alpine, Sony) just like Apple seized the MP3 player market by storm.
Apple would make a killing if they went into the automotive audio market. Standardizing the car interface, offering streaming, XM radio, AM/FM radio, and even apps so one can start the vehicle from remote, set the temperature and see when the vehicle is warmed up... stuff nobody can ever dream of doing except Apple.
Android will just fragment as vehicle makers want their own features (OnStar), while Apple is the only game in town that can present a unified UI regardless of maker.
Re:Just give me a standard size and connector! (Score:4, Insightful)
Re: Where's the Knob Alliance when you need them? (Score:3, Insightful)
Yeah, because they dont' want to pay premium prices for a machine whose touch rots away from skin oils, bleach, and detergents within 5 years.. Tactile controls in cars are a necessity because it allows the driver to keep his eyes on the road. Digging through menus of bullshit is not acceptable.
Re:Just give me a standard size and connector! (Score:5, Insightful)
I know that flies in the face of the "everything was better when I was young" old-man logic, but it's still a fact.
The industry is looking for reasons to get customers into the showrooms on a faster cycle, hence the heavy focus on enhancements like this
It also kinda explains why making the product easily upgradable isn't a big concern.
Re:Just give me a standard size and connector! (Score:3, Insightful)
For which you can thank the Japanese for actually producing cars which weren't pieces of shit, and forcing the American manufacturers to compete on quality.
There were a lot of years where Detroit put out absolutely crap cars, and expected people to buy them anyway.
Meanwhile, Honda and Toyota were making cars which were better built and lasted longer.
To this day, I still get into an American car and think "why can't you buy a fucking Honda, take it apart, and understand what goes into making a decent car?"