As the latest Android version continues to hit Google’s Pixel lineup of phones, Android Automotive 13 has also been released with major improvements for privacy, camera, car framework and connectivity.
Third-party apps can now access more than one camera on the vehicle without impacting the performance or behaviour of the Extended View System (EVS). You’ll now get notifications and better handling of hotplug cameras and clients can now enumerate and open camera devices according to relative locations.
There’s a new car framework module, an enhanced touch mode and multi-anchor support for Ultra Wide Band (UWB) connectivity. As for privacy, the OS is switching to a permission mode to balance safety, privacy and user experience when driving. The car will also remind you of the permissions you’ve enabled once you park after driving. These permissions can also be modified later, and Android 12’s privacy dashboard is also coming to Android Auto.
Here’s a full list of the major new changes in Android Automotive 13.
| Privacy | |
| Permission model | Changes and new implementations to the permission model to balance safety, privacy and user experience while driving. |
| Post-drive permission decision reminder | Users will be reminded of the permission decisions made while driving once parked. |
| Recent permission decisions | Recent permissions are now shown within privacy settings, allowing users to revert any incorrect changes. |
| Privacy Dashboard | Allows users to review recent app permission usage, a timeline of events for sensor triggers and sub-attribution for GMSCore usage. |
| Connectivity | |
| Ultra Wide Band (UWB) support | Added multi-anchor support for location UWB tags with an accuracy of 10cm. |
| Bluetooth mainline integration | Automotive Bluetooth is now a separate module to allow for independent updates outside of the Android platform. Hidden APIs have been migrated to system APIs. |
| New Bluetooth stack | A new version of the Bluetooth stack named Gabledorsch has been enabled with support for automotive use cases. |
| Vehicular networking | Add controls for ethernet-based networks, including dynamic IP management. |
| Camera | |
| Android camera2 API | Third-party apps can now access one or more cameras without impacting the performance and behaviour of the Extended View System (EVS). |
| Camera enumeration support | Clients can now enumerate and open camera devices according to relative locations. |
| EVS hotplug events | You’ll now get notifications and better handling of hotplug cameras. |
For a complete list of changes, refer to Google’s release notes on Android Automotive 13.
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