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Hands-on with Android Auto in the 2015 Hyundai Sonata

We get our first look at how third-party apps will be presented in Google's Android Auto infotainment system.

Antuan Goodwin
Antuan Goodwin gained his automotive knowledge the old fashioned way, by turning wrenches in a driveway and picking up speeding tickets. From drivetrain tech and electrification to car audio installs and cabin tech, if it's on wheels, Antuan is knowledgeable.
Antuan Goodwin
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1 of 8 Josh Miller/CNET

Android Auto in the 2015 Hyundai Sonata

Hyundai and Google were on the floor at the Connected Car Expo preceding the 2014 LA Auto Show to demonstrate the upcoming Android Auto in-car app-integration software.

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2 of 8 Josh Miller/CNET

Google Now in the car

An off-shoot of Android 5.0 Lollipop, Android Auto rolls in Google Now's contextual info cards. Its home screen displays scrollable data about weather, commute times, traffic and more.

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3 of 8 Josh Miller/CNET

Voice recognition

Google's voice search and text-to-speech figures heavily into in-car interaction with Android Auto.

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Google Maps

Ask Google to take you to the airport, for example, and within moments Google Maps will be giving turn-by-turn directions.

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Third-party apps

Today marks our first interaction with third-party apps in Android Auto. A newly released API allows developers of audio and messaging apps to adapt their software for the car.

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Simple audio interface

Audio apps feature a simplified interface that places large buttons at the forefront.

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Consistent design

With the exception of color palette changes and a few menu tweaks, all of Android Auto's audio apps look pretty much the same.

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Keep those eyes on the road, not the screen

Google says that it's aiming for simplicity and interface consistency with this first generation of Android Auto apps, which should help limit driver distraction.

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