Hyundai first out with Android Auto — last rites for in-dash GPS navigation? - ExtremeTech
( Update 5/28/15 12:12pm ET: Added information on the update for current 2015 Sonata owners at the bottom of the post. Hyundai today became the first of many automakers — and eventually, every automaker — to link directly to a smartphone for services such as navigation. Hyundai’s announcement is for Android Auto on the Hyundai Sonata. Apps that aren’t selected for Android Auto or CarPlay integration are locked out as long as the phone is plugged in via the USB jack. How Hyundai implements Android Auto The 2015 Hyundai Sonata is the first model in the Hyundai line to get Android Auto and compatibility covers the 50,000 or so Sonatas already built. Other Hyundai models will follow, perhaps starting with the Hyundai Tucson model changeover this summer. According to Hyundai, owners will need to be running the Android 5. 0 Lollipop OS (or later) and the Android Auto companion app on their phone. On the Sonata, Android Auto works with cars with the 8-inch touchscreen display, the one that comes with Hyundai navigation. Expect automakers to start offering big screens, sans navi, and maybe save buyers $500-$1,000. If your car was purchased before the Android Auto. Source: www.extremetech.com
