Google Is Bringing More Android Apps To The Car With New Tools

Google has announced a major expansion of its Android Auto and Android Automotive platforms, bringing a more seamless connected experience to users enabling support for native apps as revealed in a blog post released during the company's annual developer conference, Google I/O.

With 200 million cars on the road now equipped with Android Auto and nearly 40 models featuring Android Automotive, Google is focusing on introducing more applications to enhance the in-car experience. The company is adding new entertainment apps such as HBO Max and Peacock, as well as games like Angry Birds on select models.

For Android Auto users, the Uber app will now be available, allowing drivers to accept rides and deliveries and receive turn-by-turn directions on a larger screen, reducing their dependence on phone displays for maps and Uber notifications.

Android Automotive will also see the introduction of Google Cast, with Rivian being the first OEM to receive this feature. Google Cast will enable users to cast video content from their phone or tablet directly to the car while parked, and app developers can add this functionality via the API.

To help app developers navigate the complexities of creating apps for cars, such as safety considerations and varying screen sizes across vehicles, Google is establishing new quality tiers and detailing best practices.

Tier 1 apps will be designed to work across a variety of hardware in cars, adapting the experience to driving and parked modes, and providing differentiated experiences across various screens like the central console, instrument cluster, and additional displays like panoramic screens in luxury vehicles.

Tier 2 apps, which currently make up the majority of apps available for Android Automotive, will provide a good experience on the central display of the car, with some apps incorporating vehicle-specific capabilities for use in driving or parking modes.

Tier 3 apps, enabled only when the car is parked, are large screen compatible and may not require additional development work, offering users an experience similar to that on any large screen Android-powered device.

Google is also launching a car-ready mobile apps program to accelerate the deployment of apps to cars without requiring additional development work. The company will review mobile apps that are already adaptive and large screen compatible to ensure safety and compatibility, automatically opting in qualifying apps for distribution on cars running Android Automotive and making them available via Android Auto. The program, starting with parked app categories like games, video, and browsers, will roll out in the coming months.

To support developers in creating apps for Android Auto and Android Automotive, Google is releasing new tools and emulators, including tools for testing user interfaces on different types of screens. Additionally, the company is releasing the Android Automotive OS image for the Pixel Tablet, allowing developers to physically interact with their apps without running them on a car with Android Automotive.

Furthermore, Google is expanding app categories for cars to include Media, Navigation, Point Of Interest, Internet Of Things, Video, Games, Browsers, Communication (broken down between messaging and VoIP), and weather.