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Volvo to Use Google Assistant, Play Store and Maps in Next-Gen Infotainment

media.volvocars.com

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Re: Volvo to Use Google Assistant, Play Store and Maps in Next-Gen Infotainment

#121

Post by retSava »

vertex-four wrote: post #120
amelius wrote: post #114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think we've reached the point where hardware is sufficiently capable for any kind of map, music or video. Case in point: I haven't upgraded my desktop PC in 5 years either.

Unfortunately, mobile processors seem to still be undergoing the same rapid increase in power that desktop systems used to, and the OSes and applications are being built for top-of-the-line phones. Even my iPhone 6 struggles with modern versions of iOS, despite being under 4 years old.

It's designed for a very different use case, where power is a primary concern.

Not so if the same CPU and stuff were jammed into a car (under condition that the heat is taken care of so it doesn't throttle itself).

Re: Volvo to Use Google Assistant, Play Store and Maps in Next-Gen Infotainment

#122

Post by ridiculous_fish »

mantas wrote: post #36
dawnerd wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

already solved for, just support android auto or carplay and let the consumer decide.

Hopefully either of those will still work with latest gadgets 10 years from today. Think of all the car owners with iPod connectivity crying in their new 5 years old cars all over the world. By the way, today's iPhones do not support iPod connectivity. And I'm talking about protocol, not about hardware port. Which is a hassle to replace in quite a few vehicles too.

My car has a 2005 Kenwood head unit with a 30 pin connector. It has worked fine with every iPhone including my iPhone 7, using a 30-pin to Lightning connector. What support is missing?

Re: Volvo to Use Google Assistant, Play Store and Maps in Next-Gen Infotainment

#124

Post by the_new_guy_29 »

mrnaught wrote: post #104
josteink wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You might want to consider adding a link to it then :)

https://getcrankshaft.com/

From your own site:

"Can I trust it to work?

It is alpha-level software, so no. It's not an official or even related to or certified by Google or Android. It's totally a hobby. But we hope you give it a try and have fun with it when it's safe to do so."

It's nowhere near the commercial applicability car manufacturers require. Nobody really cares about private users because thats not where the money is..

Re: Volvo to Use Google Assistant, Play Store and Maps in Next-Gen Infotainment

#125

Post by bitmapbrother »

gdrulia wrote: post #91
bitmapbrother wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The level of customization an OEM can do is pretty remarkable. This is Android Auto in an Audi Q8 and it looks nothing like Vanilla Android Auto or Carplay for that matter. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Xf5hVqZHPY

I know this is not what you trying to point to in your comment, but I just watched that video and I'm really surprised at how bad the system is. Yes it looks completely different, but delay between user action and response is horrific, sometimes over a second and sometimes doesn't even do anything. It's like those cheap Chinese after market systems, that runs poor hardware and just barely works. And all of this in a…

Can you cite where in the video where these long delays were?

Re: Volvo to Use Google Assistant, Play Store and Maps in Next-Gen Infotainment

#126

Post by shortsightedsid »

denkmoon wrote: post #83
Arainach wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Everything in a car has to be certified for safety. Infotainment systems integrate deeply with cars - they consume and expose a lot of information that isn't guaranteed to be expressed over standard protocols, and most of them aren't even in consistent sizes or shapes.

Yet I can buy a double DIN head unit running android auto and just whack it in my 2012 corolla. I think the major problems here aren't safety or engineering, they are purely economic.

What about product liability?

Re: Volvo to Use Google Assistant, Play Store and Maps in Next-Gen Infotainment

#127

Post by gdrulia »

bitmapbrother wrote: post #125
gdrulia wrote: post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I know this is not what you trying to point to in your comment, but I just watched that video and I'm really surprised at how bad the system is. Yes it looks completely different, but delay between user action and response is horrific, sometimes over a second and sometimes doesn't even do anything. It's like those cheap Chinese after market systems, that runs poor hardware and just barely works. And all of this in a…

Can you cite where in the video where these long delays were?

~20sec music play and then followed pause. Just not sure what to say about that. Even the guy narrating gets confused and almost clicks for the second time to start the music. Then followed menu selection, not as slow, but still noticeable slowness in response. Later one when he clicks other buttons action follow much more rapidly, which indicates to me a weak processor.

Re: Volvo to Use Google Assistant, Play Store and Maps in Next-Gen Infotainment

#128

Post by mantas »

ridiculous_fish wrote: post #122
mantas wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hopefully either of those will still work with latest gadgets 10 years from today. Think of all the car owners with iPod connectivity crying in their new 5 years old cars all over the world. By the way, today's iPhones do not support iPod connectivity. And I'm talking about protocol, not about hardware port. Which is a hassle to replace in quite a few vehicles too.

My car has a 2005 Kenwood head unit with a 30 pin connector. It has worked fine with every iPhone including my iPhone 7, using a 30-pin to Lightning connector. What support is missing?

Thanks, I'll have to try an adapter. Does it support basic functionality like play/pause or browsing songs as well?

Re: Volvo to Use Google Assistant, Play Store and Maps in Next-Gen Infotainment

#129

Post by Lio »

mrep wrote: post #21
Lio wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You’ll have to excuse me as I don’t have a car with Apple CarPlay but can’t you just use Google Maps with an iPhone in preference to Apple Maps? At least that’s the case for normal iOS use.

Apple carplay and android auto allow you to view windows displayed by your phone on your car screen. While I can use google maps with it and get the voice directions, it does not support displaying the map on my car screen for google maps, only apple maps. I want to be able to quickly look at the physical map on the big screen in my car while driving like so: https://www.google.com/search?q=android+auto+maps&tbm=isch…

Yuck. That's a perfect example of Apple making decisions for its benefit instead of its customers.

I feel the same way about iCloud vs third party storage services for things like photo syncing.

:(

Re: Volvo to Use Google Assistant, Play Store and Maps in Next-Gen Infotainment

#130

Post by jacksmith21006 »

dexterdog wrote: post #54
jacksmith21006 wrote: post #51

I need Google maps more then most as have poor sense of direction. But so dangerous looking at phone. Love to just have Google maps built into the car.

How is looking at them on the car any safer?

Because I am too lazy to add a mount or anything in my car.

Ideally would be Google Maps and assistant built in.

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