Google's 'Projected Mode' in-car system possibly leaked by Mercedes-Benz

[PillowSmoke]

Job adverts aren't most reliable way to hear about new technology, but interesting ones do crop up from time to time, and that's why our eyes are drawn to one recently posted by Daimler, the parent company of Mercedes-Benz. The ad requests the services of a software engineer who can help the German car maker implement Google's forthcoming in-car system, which is apparently called "Google Projected Mode" and which is described as a way to "seamlessly integrate" Android smartphones into a dashboard's head unit. This head unit would presumably house a bigger display that mirrors a simplified version of the Android UI -- unless the use of the word "projected" implies something more futuristic.

 

The ad makes no mention of how the connection is made between the phone and the dash, for example whether it's cabled, wireless or a mixture of the two. However, it does refer to media playback, messaging, calls and navigation all being handled "safely" through the vehicle's control system, which suggests this will be a fully featured alternative to Apple's "iOS in the Car." Perhaps the most revealing thing is a line at the end of job description that refers to Google Projected Mode coming to "all Mercedes-Benz vehicles in all markets worldwide." That sounds like a pretty firm commitment to the platform, even if Daimler can't claim to be a founding member of Google's new Open Automotive Alliance.

 

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/03/02/google-projected-mode-mercedes-benz-leak/

[solosdk]

This makes no sense because it has recently been reported that "iOS in the car" will arrive to Mercedes, Volvo and Ferrari next week...

 

Looks like Google and Apple are now competing in the car sector

[brownninja97]

windows 8 in a car? maybe

[AlexGoesHigh]

Am I the only that thinks this car systems are useless one of my aunts has a 2012 explorer whit sync and I find it kinda bloated for the needs of the user GPS, phone pairing for calls and text and car management is the only thing usefull from the drivers pov any additional features seems more beneficial for the passengers IMO

[Dr_Orpington]

Android UI in a car, cool but, why is the car ALL leather interior? Also, the gear shifter bothers me.

[HaZardousLP]

Am I the only that thinks this car systems are useless one of my aunts has a 2012 explorer whit sync and I find it kinda bloated for the needs of the user GPS, phone pairing for calls and text and car management is the only thing usefull from the drivers pov any additional features seems more beneficial for the passengers IMO

 

If both Google and Apple work on their respective systems, you can be assured there won't be much bloatware left because there's now going to be a standard that everyone can work within, not to mention Google and Apple are going to compete to have the best in car software which is good for everyone really.

[Ethnod]

windows 8 in a car? maybe

 

huh, you'd be restarting the car all day. You'd never get anywhere man, plus for the first 2 hours of your "recovery service" they would be telling you to turn the car off and on again... cant see that catching on... and yet it probably will