Jeremy Laird Maps, Glass, driverless cars - Google is miles ahead already
With the launch of Apple CarPlay, Google and Apple are on collision course in the contest for car tech supremacy.
But in my view, Google already has Apple well beaten.
Both
Apple and Google have now unveiled plans to get their mobile operating
systems, usually found in phones and tablets, running in cars.
The
first skirmish in what is likely to be a drawn-out battle will be all
about mapping and navigation. And Google Maps is miles ahead of Apple
Maps.
Factor in Google's broader track record in
automotive tech, including driverless cars and the promise of Google
Glass and a very strong case for favouring it over Apple in the contest
for in-car supremacy emerges.
There are also some broader
issues to get your head around when it comes to mobile OS's moving
in-car. For the most part, it's a welcome and arguably long overdue
move, even if some early attempts to do the same thing are already
available from some car brands.
But there's also a limit
to what you can achieve with a mobile OS ported into cars. Make no
mistake, this doesn't all mean the car makers are giving up on in-car
technology. CarPlay allows your iPhone to power your car's infotainment system
iOS and Android: The in-car basics
"By
using a mobile device to power some of the systems, you can have the
latest technology and sidestep lengthy car development cycles"
Anyway,
let's get the housekeeping done and cover the basic background to all
this. We'll come back to maps and head-up displays in a moment.
Apple has rebranded its in-car iOS functionality CarPlay, while the equivalent Google technology is currently known as Android Projected Mode.
Both
aim to do largely the same thing, namely sync a mobile device to a
car's integrated infotainment system and use the former to drive
features, functionality and even the on-screen interface.
In
other words, the maps and multimedia functionality you seen on the
car's display are actually being processed and rendered on the mobile
device, typically a smartphone.
On the face of it, this
brings plenty of really obvious advantages. Cars take an awfully long
time between conception and going on sale.
By using a
mobile device to power some of the systems, you can have the latest
technology and sidestep lengthy car development cycles. The car just
needs to support the right car-to-phone interface. Laughing. Apple already has a carpark full of car brands queuing up to use CarPlay
Easier in-car upgrades
Tech ExplainedApple CarPlayEverything you need to know about iOS in the car
Likewise,
by shifting some functionality onto your phone you can have an in-car
tech upgrade every time you replace your handset. No need for a new car.
It's
also a very attractive prospect for phone users / car owners as it
means a single device can be used to manage your digital life, even in
the car. You don't have to worry about moving data or contacts across,
managing multiple data contracts, yada yada.
Similarly,
it means you don't have to learn the nuances of yet another multimedia
interface. If you wish, you can tie yourself into a single OS and really
make the most of the ease of use that comes with intimate familiarity
with the various nuances.
Lack of options
Moreover,
the harsh truth is that most car companies have failed to come up with
really compelling multimedia functionality of interfaces. Put simply,
they're not experts at digital HMIs or mobile operating systems, so it
makes sense to leave that to the real experts.
If that's the argue for, the argument against is that neither Apple nor Google have any track record for in-car interfaces.
It's
a completely different problem to solve, involves all kinds of safety
issues and challenges involving driver distraction that don't apply to
other mobile devices, not to mention different reliability concerns.
If
the mapping on your smartphone crashes or does something odd as you
walk down the street, that's one thing. It's quite another if it happens
while you're driving to Denmark.
We also need to be
realistic about the limitations of iOS or Android in-car. The really
exciting car tech innovations like driverless technology have nothing to
do with syncing your smartphone.
Likewise, you'll still
need advanced in-car systems with their own connectivity to enable
features like remote unlocking and various telematic functionality. So
let's not get carried away. Cars are not going to be empty shells with
engines just waiting for your smartphone to be the brain.
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