Both Apple and Google are bringing their mobile platforms into the car in a big way. Car manufacturers are building in support for both of these operating systems into new vehicles and today we get a closer look at Hyundai’s implementation of both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
Dom Esposito of macmixing.com compared the two car-centric operating systems at last week’s LA Autoshow. The Hyundai Esposito uses includes support for both operating systems, which means users won’t have to configure their car for one or the other. This also means you can jump between Android and iPhone without worrying if your new car will support your phone. Note, both operating systems run on top of Hyundai’s own head unit interface so car specific features still need to be handled by the included interface. It’s a little jarring to jump between the two but I’m guessing users will be spending a majority of their time inside CarPlay or Android Auto.
Android Auto looks and feels more fleshed out than CarPlay.
Both operating systems share similarities like big, touch-friendly buttons and a focus on calling an navigation. But Android Auto and CarPlay also different immensely. Android Auto looks and feels more fleshed out than CarPlay because of its design and features. CarPlay on the other hand relies heavily on Siri to perform functions. Both operating systems feature voice controls but Apple is pushing Siri as your in-car assistant to do everything from navigate to responding to text messages.
CarPlay will feel familiar to iOS users as it looks and feels exactly like the home screen of your iPhone. Android Auto users will feel at home if they’ve ever used Google Now. Both platforms are powered by your phone so you don’t have to worry about updating your car with new software. Your phone will be disabled when plugged into a compatible head unit with all functions being handled by the car.
The above videos show that both Android Auto and CarPlay are almost ready for release. It’ll be interesting to see how app developers integrate their apps into each platform. My hope is that Android Auto and CarPlay will cut down on distracted driving instead of contributing to it.
Source: macmixing.com | Google Developers (YouTube)
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