As Android Auto takes shape, it follows ‘s Material Design aesthetic

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Published 29 Sep 2014

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Disclosure

The Android Auto demo that we saw at I/O continues to take shape. Updates to the developer page show more screenshots instructions for developers to stardize how Android apps extend to the dashboard, with the promise of making it easy— safe—to use your Android phone in a compatible car. 

The look follows ‘s Material Design, the new aesthetic coming in Android this fall. The guidelines are pretty strict, with developer options limited to a few choices in order to keep the interface consistent.

roid auto ui Android Developers

unch your favorite music player straight from the dashboard.

How it works

st as with Android ar, the apps for Android Auto are an extension of applications from your phone. For example, if you have a music service installed, you can launch it from a supported car’s touchscreen display. You can also make or receive phone calls from the display instead of reaching for your device.

roid auto music Android Developers

Cycle through songs or switch to a phone call with Android Auto.

The new Android documentation focuses on media services, assuming you’re likely to launch Spotify or ay Music as soon as you get in the car. th the regimented guidelines for how apps should look respond, the unified platform is a welcome departure from the fragmentation found with Android phones tablets.

y this matters: ‘s Android Auto  Apple’s Caray are battling to extend their device influence into new devices, including cars. Both car platforms are designed to keep you locked into their ecosystems, as they require phones running the core operating system. (It’s worth noting that their other rival, Mirrorlink, is platform-neutral.) But you don’t drive a car like you use a phone, so ‘s carefully balancing the need to keep the interface familiar to Android users while also making it safe to use in a moving vehicle.