We have known for a while that Apple and Google are both working on bringing their platforms to in-car solutions, but matters have gotten slightly clearer over the past couple of days. Apple unveiled its CarPlay system, and hints of the Open Automotive Alliance‘s first efforts have leaked under the potential name of “Google Projected Mode” . While this is all quite exciting and I am impatient to get my hands on smarter, better in-car systems, I just can’t help but feel some reservation about their potential.
In-car systems will only be available in new cars
Since this is practically a novelty, it is highly unlikely that we will find installable in-car systems that would fit in pre-existing cars. This would limit their potential availability to the newest models only. And because any “technology” in a car is always considered an over-priced luxury add-on item, you will most likely only find these systems in the high-end car market.
Android may have more hope than iOS to be included in your run-of-the-mill Kia or Toyota though, so I’m crossing my fingers for that. Nevertheless, I don’t expect to see widespread use of Android-equipped vehicles for another couple of years — which is a little too slow compared to the speed at which technology is evolving.
Apple’s CarPlay has just been announced
Car lifecycle versus technology lifecycle
The average person buys a new car every ten or so years, while a new smartphone is bought every 18 to 24 months. So what would happen in 2017, after you have owned an Android-equipped car for a couple of years? At the rate that technology is improving, both the hardware and the software of that system would be antiquated.
Faster processors, better screens, other wireless standards might have been developed, and you will be left with this old hardware. The software might get a couple of updates, but who would guarantee that it would be compatible with the smartphones of 2017? And would car manufacturers let you replace everything with a newer unit, or would you have to upgrade your whole car to get the most recent vehicle system?
Openness to third-party apps
Apple’s CarPlay is for now limited to certain Apple-approved apps — don’t expect to use Google Maps for your navigation there! As for Google’s, we don’t have a lot of details but we can either expect a total openness to third-party apps à la Android or a limited roll-out with select providers à la Chromecast. We all have our own preferred entertainment, search, communication and navigation apps, so being limited to what Google or Apple have approved will be a major letdown.
As I said in the introduction, I am very excited about using better in-car systems but I am just not ready to jump in excitement. It’s a step in the right direction, sure, but most of us will not benefit from this change for several years when it’ll be time to upgrade our current cars.
