C. Scott Brown / Android Authority
TL;DR
- Google has added Climate to its record of supported app classes for Android Auto and Android Automotive.
- Climate apps allow you to see climate information related to your present location or alongside your route.
- In the event you’re in search of a climate app that works with Android Auto and Android Automotive proper now, there are happily two apps you possibly can already attempt.
For security causes, Google restricts the forms of functions builders can distribute for Android Auto and Android Automotive, each of that are used completely in autos. Relatively than particular person approvals, Google created a set of classes apps should fall below to be supported. As of this month, climate apps have been added to that record, opening the door to new apps that allow you to see climate information related to your present location or route.
Android Auto apps will be one of many following classes: Media (audio), Messaging, Navigation, Level of Curiosity (POI), and Web of Issues (IoT). These apps can be utilized whereas driving or parked. Android Automotive helps the identical classes, besides there’s no Messaging, and it provides assist Video, Video games, and Browsers, that are solely obtainable when the car is parked.
At Google I/O earlier this yr, Google introduced that it might convey messaging and VoIP apps to cars running Android Automotive. It additionally teased that the Video, Video games, and Browsers classes could be expanded to Android Auto and {that a} new Climate class would quickly open up in beta entry for builders. Google didn’t say when precisely it might welcome these classes, however earlier this week I observed that the corporate had up to date its record of supported app classes for Android Auto and Android Automotive to incorporate the brand new Climate possibility.
Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority
Right here’s the record of supported app classes for Android Auto and Android Automotive as of immediately:
Common App Classes
| Class | Platforms | Publishing Varieties |
|---|---|---|
| Media – audio | Android Auto and Android Automotive OS | All monitor sorts |
| Messaging | Android Auto | All monitor sorts |
| Navigation | Android Auto and Android Automotive OS | All monitor sorts |
| Level of Curiosity (POI) | Android Auto and Android Automotive OS | All monitor sorts |
| Web of Issues (IoT) | Android Auto and Android Automotive OS | All monitor sorts |
| Climate | Android Auto and Android Automotive OS | Inner Testing tracks, Closed Testing tracks, and Open Testing tracks |
Parked App Classes
| Class | Platforms | Publishing Varieties |
|---|---|---|
| Video | Android Automotive OS | All monitor sorts |
| Video games | Android Automotive OS | Inner testing tracks |
| Browsers | Android Automotive OS | Inner Testing tracks |
Google expects climate apps that can assist you see related climate data associated to your present location or alongside your route. Climate apps can optionally present navigation capabilities that can assist you get from level A to level B. Whereas builders can distribute climate apps for each Android Auto and Android Automotive by way of the Google Play Store, the class is presently in beta, limiting distribution to inside, closed, and open testing tracks. Builders will have the ability to distribute climate apps by way of manufacturing (i.e. open to anybody) tracks “at a later date.”
Builders creating climate apps for Android Auto and Android Automotive are inspired to make use of the Android for Vehicles App Library, which offers useful templates. These apps should adhere to Google’s automobile app high quality pointers, together with particular necessities for the Climate class. For instance, climate data on map tiles should use easy legends (not more than three), forecast data should use simply readable icons and symbols, forecast intervals can’t be personalized utilizing templates, and a most of 5 distinctive climate map annotations will be proven per view.
Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority
A photograph of the Climate & Radar app for Android Auto.
Though the official Climate class is barely now in beta, some climate apps have already been obtainable on the Google Play Retailer for Android Auto and Android Automotive. A climate app known as “Climate & Radar” has been obtainable since early final yr, whereas one other climate app named “MyRadar Climate Radar” launched earlier this yr. These two apps are presently obtainable for obtain, however in case you choose different choices, then you have to to attend for extra apps to be launched below the brand new Climate class.
