Photo: BMW
Samsung, the world’s number one phone maker, has recently announced an upgraded experience on Android Auto, with the company promising to bring one of its most innovative apps to the car as well.
More specifically, the company used the Unpacked event on January 14 to reveal that the SmartThings app would be coming to Android Auto, essentially making it possible for users to control their smart homes right from the head unit in their cars.
While very little info was shared on the integration of SmartThings in Android Auto, the company did mention users will be able to turn on the porch lights and control the home temperature from the vehicle.
It all comes down to automation features that will be available on Android Auto, and users will theoretically be allowed to launch them by simply tapping a shortcut on the screen. Most likely, Samsung is also working on adding assistant integration, which means the same functionality would be available with a voice command while driving.
In other words, you should theoretically be able to open the garage door, turn on the lights, and things like that when simply driving home by using a voice command. Still, there’s a chance the feature would evolve even more in the coming updates and integrate location triggers that would allow the whole thing to run without any user input when you reach a specific point on the map.
In the meantime, however, Samsung suggests there may be more coming to Android Auto, as it wants to expand its mobile experience everywhere.
“An ecosystem of connected and intelligent devices helps improve the mobile experience. It provides greater access to information, better communication, smarter ways of working, and access to entertainment at any time, any place. Now, we are further powering mobile experiences – when you are moving between your house, office and even on-the-go in your cars with Android Auto – so you have the flexibility to access key features, and share and stay connected with the people and things that matter most,” KJ Kim, Samsung’s EVP and Head of the Mobile R&D Office, explained after the Unpacked event.
There’s no ETA as to when the SmartThings app could launch on Android Auto.
While very little info was shared on the integration of SmartThings in Android Auto, the company did mention users will be able to turn on the porch lights and control the home temperature from the vehicle.
It all comes down to automation features that will be available on Android Auto, and users will theoretically be allowed to launch them by simply tapping a shortcut on the screen. Most likely, Samsung is also working on adding assistant integration, which means the same functionality would be available with a voice command while driving.
In other words, you should theoretically be able to open the garage door, turn on the lights, and things like that when simply driving home by using a voice command. Still, there’s a chance the feature would evolve even more in the coming updates and integrate location triggers that would allow the whole thing to run without any user input when you reach a specific point on the map.
In the meantime, however, Samsung suggests there may be more coming to Android Auto, as it wants to expand its mobile experience everywhere.
“An ecosystem of connected and intelligent devices helps improve the mobile experience. It provides greater access to information, better communication, smarter ways of working, and access to entertainment at any time, any place. Now, we are further powering mobile experiences – when you are moving between your house, office and even on-the-go in your cars with Android Auto – so you have the flexibility to access key features, and share and stay connected with the people and things that matter most,” KJ Kim, Samsung’s EVP and Head of the Mobile R&D Office, explained after the Unpacked event.
There’s no ETA as to when the SmartThings app could launch on Android Auto.
Google News