Android Auto At Google I/O: Best Thing Since The Wheel To Arrive Late 2014 [DETAILS, VIDEO]

The Google I/O presentation is full of exciting new announcements including the future of the operating system, AndroidOne, Android Wear, Chromecast, and more. One particular new feature by Google that has not received a lot of coverage is the innovative Android Auto, which will finally connect a person's mobile devices to their car.

For most people, the car is a second home as 100 percent of all commuter time are spent in the car. Android Auto will essentially port the familiar Android platform into a package optimized for the car. Android Auto will heavily incorporate Google Now, which provides quick, voice-based access to Google Maps navigation, text mesaging, music apps, and more.

Features that will be significantly improved include voice recognition, which means the driver will never have to take their hands off the wheel. Google has already reached out to automakers and auto accessory companies to create head units featuring an assortment of dials, knobs, and buttons that all work with the Android Auto platform.

In addition, Google also tapped developers of Spotify, Pandora, MLB.TV, Stitcher, and Pocket Casts, to make dedicated Android Auto apps. These apps will also be capable of meshing together all mobile devices in your life, including smartphones, wearable tech, and TV, together with your Android Auto experience. Imagine the joy of an uninterrupted listening experience of your favorite playlist no matter what device you switch over to.

In early 2014, Google gathered the biggest automakers to form the Open Automotive Alliance, a springboard intended to bring Google onto the dashboard of virtually every car on the market. Google promised that the next-generation dashboard will be more informative and safer to operate than ever before.

The new Google Android Auto in-car technology will be a direct competitor to the Apple CarPlay, which unveiled earlier this year. CarPlay syncs with the iPhone to allow hands-free commands to operate iOS navigation and message features. Unlike Android Auto, the Apple CarPlay is not a standalone platform and will require an iPhone to work.

It will be interesting to see how the Google vs. Apple war will play out as both tech giants shift towards automotive integration. Stay tuned in the months ahead as we learn more about Google's latest Android Auto!