Google Brings Android Streaming, Gaming Apps to Parked Cars
Cars with screens aren’t going away anytime soon. Even though scientists complain that they are a distraction , companies use them because of their adaptability. Case in point: Google is adding even more apps to cars with Android Auto (which runs on the phone) or Google Built-in (which is powered by the car itself). It will also make it much easier for developers to create their own games and streaming apps for cars in the future.
The news follows Google’s I/O report yesterday and is one of the company’s biggest developments outside of the AI or mobile phone space. The best part? Google doesn’t have to do much to make it work, and neither do developers.
Essentially, Google will now bring existing Android apps to cars “without the need for new development or a new version,” Google product managers Vivek Radhakrishnan and Seung Nam said in a press release . This means that the built-in Android Auto and Google ecosystems will potentially become much larger, all of which will rely on existing work.
Any app that already runs on the big screen will soon be able to run naturally in the car too, thanks to a new tiered system that differentiates Android apps between apps built specifically for cars, apps with special features for cars, and apps built for tablets or phones. who just happen to also work on cars. Developers looking to gain access to the latest tier of “car-ready mobile apps” can request review to participate soon, but Google will also begin automatically distributing existing Android apps it believes will be vehicle-ready. cars “in the coming months.”
Those concerned about safety can now breathe a sigh of relief. While Google says it will start with categories such as gaming apps, video apps and web browsers, these will only work when the car is parked. There are plans to “expand into other app categories in the future,” so we’ll have to see if any in-car-ready mobile apps will actually be available while driving.
Meanwhile, Google is actively adding several applications to cars , but only for cars with built-in Google. These include Max and Peacock, as well as a version of Angry Birds . Customers of Rivian’s compatible vehicles will also soon be able to stream video content to their vehicle, a first for the renowned mirror-prone brand. Other brands are set to follow suit, but again, only those with Google built-in. Again, all of these apps will require your car to be parked.
None of this lives up to Elon Musk’s promise to turn the Tesla into a full-fledged gaming rig , but for those of us who miss the days of physical buttons and dials, maybe it’s not such a bad thing.