It seems that Google has another competition to deal with when it comes to Automotive devices in your car. Microsoft already has Windows Embedded Automotive for example and especially for the rare Windows CE powered GPS devices for the car but instead of Android or Windows related OS, it is likely that the on-board computer devices in your car are using other OSes and especially for the GPSes that don't use of Windows CE at all. You may have to check which one doesn't use the embedded Windows OS or Android OS as there may be security issues going on today.
Speaking of security issues, the existence of Android Auto can make things WORSE than Windows Embedded Automotive or CE devices in your car! The first thing that makes this vulnerable to accidents is the fact that your Android Auto will be internet-connected through your Android device so that it can have Google Maps, text messages and even online music services. What the, TEXT? What kind of text is that going to be, your notes, your schedules or even the chat or email messages? I don't know if they are trying their best to make sure that accidents don't happen with text related app. Hopefully, the text elements for reading aloud by the device will be part of the map as well as the GPS, not parts of the freaking email messages or chats on Android Auto because it ruins your driving concentration. NO, we don't allow email app or the chat related app to be in Android Auto to avoid such kinds of distractions but even then, another problem arises when it comes to such distractions coming from your Android device. You may as well turn off the notifications but when it comes to calls to answer, it may sound like another problem to get around with.
Online music services on Android Auto should as well be done usefully before you start driving compared to the actual on-car radio devices where you can switch radio channel even easier. So, how does radio channel switching work on online radio services on Android Auto? What about the music collection you have in your Android device while connected to Android Auto?
The voice instructions may be useful in Android Auto just like the other GPS devices instructing you but security-wise, you may be better off using the GPS and media player devices that don't make of Windows or Android related OSes and trying to search the catalog like that is a challenge if you want better security for your car. What if the Android Auto is tempered with by the hackers? Will they make mess of whatever that is in the Android Auto that will make you lost while you drive?
And for whatever reason of mine, the Android security isn't anything perfect nowadays and anything that uses Android technology may make things vulnerable to all kinds of cyber-network intrusions. Hell, I have seen some hardware technology for the PSP that turns the console into the next GPS but the interactivity isn't going to be that great compared to some similar technology for the PS Vita. If there's one for the PS Vita, then things may be better for the interactivity. The downside is the fact that they are the portable consoles that they have to be switched to GPS mode at all times while you're driving. When you're finished driving, this is where you can switch the console back to game mode.
The Android Auto will be released for some vehicles this year and I don't know if this is going to be an useful move or a controversial one.
