Google's New Android Auto Interface Works With Any Screen Size (arstechnica.com) 16
At Google I/O, the company said their Android Auto car interface app is now "built to adapt to any screen size." Ars Technica reports: Google says "there are three main functionalities that drivers prioritize in their cars: navigation, media and communication," and the new Android Auto design puts each of those interfaces in its own panel. Maps gets the biggest, main panel, media and communication panels get stacked next to each other, and there's a combo status/navigation bar. To accommodate the million different screen sizes, these items can be arranged in whatever orientation works best in the car.
One example, close to the current Android Auto configuration, shows the combo bar oriented vertically against the side of the screen, followed by a vertical stack of the message and media panels, then a big Google Maps panel. Another example of a more vertical screen design shows a big Google Maps panel on top of the message and media panels, with the combo bar on the bottom. Things can be arranged to fit. The new interface will be out "this summer."
One example, close to the current Android Auto configuration, shows the combo bar oriented vertically against the side of the screen, followed by a vertical stack of the message and media panels, then a big Google Maps panel. Another example of a more vertical screen design shows a big Google Maps panel on top of the message and media panels, with the combo bar on the bottom. Things can be arranged to fit. The new interface will be out "this summer."
Except Phones of Course (Score:2, Insightful)
Re: (Score:3)
On the latest Android the driving mode is integrated into the maps app and acts just like Android Auto does anyway including integration with apps which support Android Auto (e.g. Spotify) It makes no sense to have this as a separate OS feature / app.
Re: (Score:2)
Less is more (Score:1)
Ok, is this (Score:1)
paid content, slow news day, or /. brain fart?
A mediocre launcher from G is news?
Perhaps have analog controls in a future version? (Score:5, Insightful)
One thing I wish that cars had would be a set of analog controls on the center console. Let stuff still be controlled by a touchscreen, but it would be nice to have some hardware buttons for basic things like a volume control, on/off switch for the radio, etc. Especially if that isn't present on the steering wheel. That way, automakers could locate the volume button wherever on the dash or center console, and Android Auto would know what to do with it.
Re:Perhaps have analog controls in a future versio (Score:5, Insightful)
Absolutely this! Last thing I want is to be forced to take my eyes off the road just to change volume. "Only touch" controls should be illegal.
Re: (Score:2)
Buy a Mazda then.
Re: (Score:2, Interesting)
Especially if that isn't present on the steering wheel.
WTF kind of car doesn't have these on the steering wheel and also doesn't have physical buttons on the dash? Not trolling here, I legit have never seen such a car. Even my 14 year old beast has steering wheel controls and it was a very bottom of the range cheap Europe compact. My girlfriends car doesn't have steering wheel controls, but then I don't think the average American would call her car a car (or even fit in it), but it also has physical buttons and no touch screen (well no colour LCD at all).
Re: (Score:2, Informative)
Check out the latest Teslas. They have touch buttons on the wheel, no physical ones. Except it's not a wheel now, it's a yoke.
No physical buttons for anything, it's all done on the touch screen. That includes changing gear, so parking is an exercise in flailing your arms around as you try to operate the yoke and touchscreen.
At the opposite end of the spectrum I think the Honda e has the best HMI of any car on the market. Touch screens and physical buttons for all the important stuff that the driver needs wh
Re: (Score:2)
They have touch buttons on the wheel, no physical ones.
A touch button isn't a problem when you don't have to search for it, especially on a yoke you have limited places where your hands can be. The issue of touch is almost exclusively related to those requiring you to move your hands to the centre console in that you need to take your eyes off the road to operate them. Honestly the biggest problem here is the loss of the indicator stalk which marks a deviation from how every other car operates rather than the fact they are touch themselves.
so parking is an exercise in flailing your arms around
No it doesn't. If you
Re: (Score:2)
For the specific items you mentioned there's nothing stopping you from having a bluetooth control unit that does that stuff. you could probably arduino one.
Re: Perhaps have analog controls in a future versi (Score:1)
Just make it work again (Score:2)
It stopped working at all for me some months back. I'd rather they put effort into fixing it than lots of other things I can't use until they fix what got broken...