People who own vehicles with Google built-in are getting more stuff to play with while parked and stuck in traffic. But driver distraction remains a serious risk.Google announced a slew of new features that will be available to cars with native Android software, including YouTube, Waze, and video conferencing apps like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Webex by Cisco. Video games are coming to Android-equipped cars.
But the announcement that streaming video and virtual meeting tools are coming to infotainment screens is sure to pique the most interest among Android users.while sitting in your parked vehicle last year. Now, the company is saying the feature will be available “in the coming weeks” starting with Volvo and Polestar vehicles. Other automakers will follow in short order.
To clarify, this is a feature that will only be accessible to vehicles with Google built-in, which the company describes as cars with Android’s operating system embedded natively. Cars with Google built-in can access Android apps directly from the infotainment screen and receive over-the-air software updates as well.
So far, the list of automakers who are releasing cars with Google built-in is relatively short — but it’s also growing. In addition to Polestar, companies releasing cars with native Android operating systems include Volvo, Chevy, GMC, Cadillac, Renault, and Honda. Ford has also said it would release vehicles with re-skinned versions of its Sync operating system running on top of Google’s native Android software.
Also, Google is letting its automotive partners make the decision as to whether they want to offer YouTube to their customers, noting that the streaming video service is “now available for car makers to offer in cars with Google built-in.”In addition to YouTube, cars with Google built-in are also getting video conferencing tools like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Cisco Webex — but only through audio, whether the car is parked or moving.