Google Announces Android TV, Android Auto, and More at Google I/O 2014

Google announced a slew of hardware and software goals, plans, and projects during a three-hour keynote today at Google I/O 2014 in San Francisco. The full keynote is worth a watch if you’re interested in what Google does and will do, but probably the two most important announcements are Android TV and Android Auto.

Android TV is essentially a broader and better version of Google’s Chromecast. It’s basically a direct integration of Android into televisions that will allow video streaming from Google Play, YouTube, and through apps like Netflix. Users can also play Android games on their television with Android TV and search for content through voice search. It also plays well with other Android products. More on Android TV is available via its website.

Android Auto, on the other hand, brings the operating system to cars and other vehicles. It’s specifically designed to minimize distraction while still allowing access to things like Google Maps right from the console. Car manufacturers like Ford, Chevrolet, Volvo, and many more are currently working on integrating Android Auto. More on Android Auto is available via its website.

Google also focused on Android Wear at the conference, though to a somewhat lesser extent. The whole keynote seemed focused on the idea that Android would be coming to pretty much every single screen. The company also briefly touched on products like Google Drive. For more on Google’s announcements from Google I/O 2014, check out The Verge’s extensive coverage.

images via Google