GM next-gen infotainment system to run Android

[kostby]

 

Harman International, the car infotainment manufacturer, recently spilled the beans on a "next-gen" infotainment system it is building for General Motors. Automotive News has quotes from the company's CEO, Dinesh Paliwal, who describes an Android-based system with an app store and "instant" boot up. The report says that Harman is "working closely" with Google to make the system a reality.

 

 

This system isn't Android Auto. Unlike regular Android, Android Wear, and Android TV, Android Auto isn't an operating system. It doesn't live on the car's computer, it doesn't control peripherals, and it doesn't have an app store. Like Apple's CarPlay, Android Auto is just a "casted" interface. Your plugged-in smartphone sends a custom interface to the car's screen and receives touch events, but the car still has to run some other operating system.

 

Harman won a $900 million contract from GM to build the system, and judging by Harman CEO's description, this is an actual embedded Android system that will power the entire infotainment setup. That typically includes the audio system, air conditioning, navigation, voice recognition, phone calls, reverse cameras, and Internet access.

 

Soon Google (via an in-car Android OS) will be able to track your in-car listening habits, use of heat or A/C, navigation system usage, precise abusive language directed at the !@#$%^&* navigation system, phone calls made to/from your vehicle, websites you browsed online while driving stuck in traffic, all the stores, restaurants, and gas stations you visit, along with everything else they're already tracking about you.  

 

And of course there WILL be in-car ads to defray the costs...

Edited November 6, 2014 by kostby

[Marc Smith]

think about it...  for the longest time  car makers have been trying to create software for the A/V aspect of cars.  its about time  they got smart and let a computer company that already has mobile platforms  deal with the systems.

 

I think its a win/win.  we are already voluntarily tracked by the GPS in the car, your credit card purchases, EzPass usage,  and when your cell phone is on 

 

whats one more level of voluntary tracking.  if you don't like it... to buy the product.  ;)

 

think about it.  if your display screen essentially was just a duplicate of your phone screen... yuo'd have your music, NAV, contacts, ect  all on a screen that you are already comfortable interacting with. 

 

the only bummer will be is if you are abn "apple person"  and you car is a droid...

[scottwood2]

There are a number of companies that are on board with this.  Great idea to let the phone do the job.  It is very powerful already and we can upgrade to a new phone when we want.  looking forward to this coming onto the market. 

 

Give me a built in place to put the phone with wireless charging and I am good to go.  :)

[Marc Smith]

  wireless charging would be nice  but  too many models of phones/cases to make it really possible...

 

Id be happy with a "shorty" USB plug or restraciable plug and a dedicated pouch/recess to hold the phone out of the way.  thats not in the center console or a center up holder...

[ArizonaEnergi]

I can see the future. You're driving along and an ad pops up on the screen announcing a big sale at a store one block ahead. Or as you drive by Safeway a "got milk" message flashes, maybe with a nice video of cows.