Revealed: Android 15 brings a major upgrade to cars running Android Automotive

Although most of the changes in the new Android release are aimed at mobile devices, there are many changes that are not intended for phones or tablets at all. After all, the Android operating system also supports watches, TVs, and cars. The special version of Android for cars, called Android Automotive OS (AAOS), follows an annual release cycle like Android for mobile devices. Although Google has not yet officially announced Android Automotive 15, the latest version of AAOS based on Android 15, the company has shared detailed release notes that show the new features and changes the update brings. Here’s what they are.

Streaming to Bluetooth headsets

For starters, Android Automotive 15 finally lets you stream audio from your car to your Bluetooth headset. Google says you can now use wireless headphones as audio output devices by opening Audio Settings > Audio Output Devices and then designating a pair of cell phones as productivity tools. If you choose to do so, however, then you won’t be able to stream audio from your phone to your car’s Bluetooth, as the operating system only supports one active media or Bluetooth audio stream at a time, regardless of whether the car is it acts as a source or a sink.

You might think it’s strange that Android Automotive only added support for streaming audio to Bluetooth headphones, but Google actually had to rework Android’s Bluetooth package quite a bit to make it work. that is possible. In previous releases, Android’s Bluetooth package allowed devices to act as a source or sink, but they had to stick to one. Android now supports devices that assume both roles, although it doesn’t support devices that actually do both at the same time. However, this new capability opens up the ability for passengers to listen privately while the driver is focused on the road. This can be useful for parents who want to keep their kids busy with some fun.

App lock and ambient view

The next big change in Android Automotive 15 for cars is the addition of a package that allows users to pin their favorite apps to the bottom for quick launch. I don’t have any pictures of this dock as Google hasn’t yet shared emulator images for Android Automotive 15, but I think you should be able to press and hold the app in the app drawer to put it in the dock. .

Next, Google added support for ambient vision in Android Automotive 15, which the company says will allow automakers to create “different experiences” when head unit screens are turned on but not in use. The treatment view of Android Automotive 15 may be similar to the ambient mode of Google TV, which is basically a screensaver that shows the current time and weather conditions. Since car makers can customize it, they will likely apply their branding to the screens and show additional information while the head unit is not working.

What else is coming in Android Automotive 15?

Moving on, Android Automotive 15 also allows hotspots to be maintained between driving sessions. Google calls this feature “Wi-Fi hotspot persistence,” and it’s controlled by a toggle in the AAOS Settings app. This feature will be useful for anyone who regularly enables the hot spot provided by their car.

The last big change I wanted to highlight is the improved radio support. Google says that Android Automotive 15 fully supports HD and DAB radio standards so that automakers can integrate radio features.

There are other changes mentioned in the Android Automotive 15 release notes, but they are mostly focused on the base changes that only concern AAOS developers. As I mentioned in the beginning, most of the changes in Android 15 are aimed at mobile devices as they comprise the majority of the Android installation base. In addition, Google has to be very limited while developing new features for Android Automotive due to safety concerns in making software that drivers interact with. Still, there is a lot that Android Automotive users have to look forward to, not only the Android 15 update but also the number of automotive-ready apps available on the Google Play Store.