FLY & DRIVE WITH ANDROID
By Robert Thompson
I recently wrote about Google’s attempt to control the natural evolution of the open nature of Android. The impact of these actions are still unclear and will probably not be fully understood until later this year or into 2012. What is clear, however, is the potential that many companies see in Android right now. Panasonic recently announced an Android-based in-flight entertainment system called the eX3 that will supply fliers with news, live television, games, and — just what we all need — on-board social networking via a Facebook app. I’m not sure how the checking-in feature will work. The system is also aimed at business travelers with broadband internet access and in-flight video conferencing, which has the potential to displace screaming babies as the best reason to buy noise-cancelling headphones. The openness of Android, varied source of apps and content availability was probably the reason Panasonic choose Android as opposed to a closed operating system.
Similar reasons have seen Android chosen as the OS in many car infotainment systems. At the Los Angeles Auto Show in late 2010 and CES early this year, the iPad was seen as a major influence on car infotainment designs as a growing number of car makers and their suppliers have embraced the Terminal Mode connectivity proposition from companies such as Nokia and RealVNC. The adoption of this technology was recognition that the 6-inch to 10-inch in-dash displays are a superior option to even a carefully mounted 4-inch smartphone display. Last month, Saab announced its development of a new infotainment concept called IQon that will be based in Android. Users will be able to download a wide range of applications, online services and multi-media functions provided through a Saab IQon store. Saab will issue third-party developers with a vehicle application programming interface (API) providing access to more than 500 signals from different sensors in the vehicle. Saab’s main reason for choosing Android: “We will be inviting the global Android developer community to use their imagination and ingenuity,” said says Johan Formgren, head of Saab aftersales and commercial project leader for IQon.
These use-specific devices that utilize already released versions of Android and appeal directly to the developer community for specific app development abstract the reliance on Google, but tap into what attracted the open source community to Android in the first place, openness.