Do not be afraid to say it – at this moment in automotive infotainment systems, there is a good chaos. Over the years, everyone tried to develop their own solutions – both in terms of cooperation with smartphones, as well as application support, causing headaches both developers and end users. Fortunately, now can it begin to change.
It might at some point seem that solutions to these problems have already received – in Auto Android form for those who have chosen as the main smartphone device with a green robot, or CarPlay – for those who are closer to Apple products. After one system for each of the leading mobile platforms, identical in function and operate in every car, regardless of the vehicle which the brand just get on.
Definitely it facilitated a job application developers who can focus on fewer platforms, instead of trying to catch up decisions automobile manufacturers.
But not everything went as planned.
First of all, the very process of adding CarPlay and Android Auto takes a terribly long time, at least according the standards to which we are accustomed mobile market. Of course, these options are already available from several vendors, and subsequent join this rate, but that there is a problem – “several” does not mean “the majority”. Even in Poland CarPlay is available in single cars.
It is no wonder that car manufacturers do not make weapons. On the contrary – they reach for a new one. This time has to be, SDL, which SmartDeviceLink – a solution developed for some time by Ford, which now has gained two powerful partners – Toyota, which from now on will develop SDL with Ford, and QNX.
This is not the end – new, open source standards also have an interest in Mazda, PSA, Honda, Subaru. Although it is not known when a final decision will be taken in the case of these companies, but one thing is certain – SDL was faced with a considerable chance of becoming a de facto standard, not just the ‘standard one manufacturer “. Although, given the scale of Toyota (whose cars from 2017 will additionally connected to the LTE network) and Ford, perhaps the help from outside will not be as needed.
There is no doubt, however, that for customers it would it was, but if a group of interested joined by as many firms.
What is SmartDeviceLink?
In a nutshell, SDL is a platform that will facilitate developers to create applications smartfonowych that easily You can integrate with the service of a vehicle systems, ie. using the buttons (on the steering wheel, etc.) or other navigation devices, including the touch screen or voice control. All this to while driving as little as possible to reach for the phone. And best not to go at all.
Developers who choose to take advantage of the opportunities the SDL can thus in one fell swoop ensure proper functioning of their application in all automotive systems, which this standard support, regardless of Who is the manufacturer of the car.
On the other hand, manufacturers may produce entire systems in their own way (eg. differentiating them between models and brands within the Group), while not interfering with cooperation on line car system – smartphone. And probably that’s what hurts the giants of the automotive market the most – the fact that their system is applied to the end of the target Android Auto or CarPlaya and suddenly Bentley Golf (where would service the AA / CP) look in this respect exactly the same.
Besides, if anyone, on-site car manufacturers, would give one of its most important elements, in possession – in a sense – the competition? And Apple and Google need to be treated as such. Besides giving up without a fight as a tasty morsel, which are automotive infotainment systems, simply not an option.
Each receives so potentially what it needs.
Customers – applications running no problem at millions of different cars, regardless of whether we have a phone with Android or iOS. Manufacturers – the ability to create their own systems and differentiate in this way different models and brands. Developers will be able to create applications that immediately will be in accordance with the millions of vehicles. Android Auto and CarPlay can therefore obtain decent competition, which has been virtually lacked.
The left unanswered for the time being, only one, the key question – is it at all accept. There’s no denying that car makers on matters of multimedia and smartfonowych slept through the revolution of mobile and not all of their attempts to catch up with contemporary trends are successful.
May, however, the SDL was different, and Google and Apple are not feeling too confident on another market.
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