Google has published Android Auto Developer Overview guidelines for developing for Android Auto. The overall interface has been standardized for easy viewing while driving.
The document claims “The Android Auto SDK lets you easily extend your existing apps to work in the car, without having to worry about vehicle-specific hardware differences.”
The first version of Android Auto supports media apps such as music, podcast, live radio, and audio news apps. The platform integrates existing APIs for notification and support a set of voice commands. The Android SDK will be released in the coming months.
The Android Auto app shows the app’s customized UI on the vehicle’s screen. To communicate with the Android Auto app, the media app implements a set of media interfaces.
The entire architecture consists of the Media App, Android Auto App and Vehicle Display. The UI defines interfaces for browsing, searching, and listening to content from media apps. The developer can change the app’s name, colors, schemes for day/night and background images. The driver interacts with Android Auto through the action bar and auxiliary action bar.
When released, the Android Auto SDK will provide media service interfaces, an APK for handheld devices that simulates the Android Auto app, and other tools for Android Auto development. Developers can extend their current apps for Android Auto. The developer doesn’t need a car head unit, instead s/he can use a tablet like the Nexus 7 for testing.
In the meantime, we don’t expect Android Auto in any cars until 2015. We at AUTO Connected Car News have been promised a demo at the Connected Car Expo at the LA Auto Show. iPhone’s CarPlay has been delayed by most car makers and after market infotainment system makers except for Hyundai. There have been a ton of Bluetooh problems reported with iOS 8 and automotive sound systems.