Uncover what’s new in Google’s newest Android Automotive replace

Although Android Automotive OS is designed for automobiles, it’s up to date pretty steadily by Google. The truth is, the corporate releases a brand new model of the working system virtually each quarter. The most recent model primarily based on Android 15 has simply been launched, and it features a massive enchancment to multi-user assist, a brand new strategy to set off Bluetooth pairing, and a few UI updates.

Concurrent Multi-Person assist in Android Automotive

The primary main change is an early model of a function known as Concurrent Multi-Person. Concurrent Multi-Person is a mode that permits Android Automotive to assist two totally impartial customers on the similar time, every with their very own devoted UI expertise. For instance, a passenger within the again seat might launch their very own actions and get full entry to the UI on the show that’s in entrance of them.

Concurrent Multi-Person assist within the newest model of Android Automotive looks like a logical extension of the multi-display assist that Google launched to the platform with final 12 months’s Android 14 replace. With Android Automotive capable of work throughout a number of shows, Concurrent Multi-Person assist allows every show to primarily act as an impartial occasion of the OS.

For context, when Google first introduced multi-display assist in Android Automotive final 12 months, it highlighted how the function might be used to point out the identical video on the primary infotainment display screen in addition to two backseat passenger shows. The corporate additionally teased how passengers would be capable to assist drivers with navigation from their backseat shows. These demos illustrate that backseat shows have been initially supposed to complement the primary infotainment system — a relationship that may change with the arrival Concurrent Multi-Person.

Nevertheless, Concurrent Multi-Person isn’t enabled by default within the newest model of Android Automotive. Automotive makers need to explicitly flip a flag within the OS earlier than house owners can use it. This is smart because it ought to solely be enabled in automobiles with backseat shows. Automotive makers can optionally allow a passenger-only expertise the place there’s no driver equal, in addition to an in-car expertise the place every passenger solely has entry to a visitor profile. These two configurations make sense for autonomous taxis, although it appears they’re experimental in the intervening time.

Google has been engaged on this Concurrent Multi-Person function since final 12 months’s Android 14 launch, although again then the function was marked as experimental and wasn’t allowed on manufacturing items. On condition that Google says the most recent model of Android Automotive solely contains an “preliminary MVP [Minimum Viable Product]” of the function, although, it’s clear that it nonetheless isn’t carried out but, so I’m unsure if we’ll see any automobiles transport with it within the close to future.

Media design refresh

The brand new model of Android Automotive additionally brings a UI refresh to the Media app to “reveal Google’s best-in-class Media expertise and design to OEMs.” Google says this refresh updates the UI of the app in each portrait and panorama orientations. Sadly, the corporate didn’t truly share any screenshots of the brand new Media app. The web page documenting Android Automotive’s Media app nonetheless exhibits the present model of the app, so I’m not but positive what the brand new model seems like.

What else is new

Google says that you would be able to now set off Bluetooth pairing by urgent and holding the car’s push-to-talk (PTT) button. It will make it simpler to pair Bluetooth units, because you received’t need to sift via the Settings app anymore.

Subsequent, Google says that automobiles with mobile or Wi-Fi areas will be capable to use the geolocation time zone companies offered by Google Play Providers to replace the time zone. This will probably be useful in case you drive throughout time zones and your automobile’s clock doesn’t mechanically replace.

Lastly, Google says it has up to date the textual content strings for driver help and ADAS-related settings in location privateness settings, and that it has up to date microphone settings to be in step with latest modifications made to location and digital camera privateness settings.

You will discover the complete changelog for the most recent model of Android Automotive, dubbed Android Automotive 24Q4, beneath:

Android Automotive 24Q4 launch particulars

Automotive framework

1. Reminiscence utilization profiling and reporting. Automotive Watchdog reminiscence profiling, which screens and information system-wide reminiscence utilization throughout system occasions.
2. AAOS concurrent multi-user (CMU) assist. Preliminary MVP for Concurrent Multi-Person.

System UI and core apps

1. Media design refresh. A UI refresh to reveal Google’s best-in-class Media expertise and design to OEMs. This refresh impacts panorama and portrait references for the Media app.
2. Allow GMS Core Location Time Zone Detection (LTZP) in Automotive. Present geolocation time zone detection to units with mobile or Wi-Fi connections. To study extra, see Location time zone detection.
3. Updates to the Location Privateness Settings UI. Updates driver help and ADAS-related textual content strings.
4. AAOS Settings microphone privateness web page replace. Up to date the microphone Settings to be in step with modifications made to Location and Digital camera Privateness Settings.

Connectivity

1. Bluetooth. Customers can now set off Bluetooth pairing by touching and holding the car’s push-to-talk (PTT) button.

For those who’re interested in what new options Google launched within the earlier launch of Android Automotive, we’ve additionally received an outline of what’s new in Android Automotive 15.