2018 Toyota Camry packs an open-source Linux-based infotainment system
Lexus Champion
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,309
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From: Canada
That's right. And it is likely much worse here in Canada --- drive any distance out of the few pockets of heavily-populated cities here and you suddenly enter the middle of nowhere.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2011
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From: ON/NY
I do agree. But I do also see why they are not doing it.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 35,487
Likes: 385
From: ON/NY
Just read some of the threads out there before deciding that the current Toyota system sucks.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads...o-bad.1966614/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads...o-bad.1966614/
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,825
Likes: 4,102
From: Maryland
Originally Posted by dojoman
Maps in smartphones are great when you have data coverage. Remember you do need data connection for GPS to work, or else you'll be staring at empty screen. I found most rural areas have very bad LTE coverage then your phone is useless for navigation.
And in those instances you can use the cars nav if it has it. The CarPlay is an additional option.
Lead Lap
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,931
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From: NY
Automotive Grade Linux is a project that is developing an operating system for in-car computers. Its first use is in the 2018 Toyota Camry infotainment system but could be used later as the software platform for the instrument cluster, head-up display, telematics and autonomous driving systems.
It is an operating system, NOT an application that runs on an operating system. The operating system is the lowest-level of computer software. It sits between the computer electronics hardware and programs / applications that the human user has access to, and allows the applications to talk to the hardware. It is NOT an application like Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.
Automakers that decide to use AGL may wish to offer Android Auto and/or Apple CarPlay as applications but Auto and CarPlay are limited. There are reasons why Toyota would choose not to offer them:
It is an operating system, NOT an application that runs on an operating system. The operating system is the lowest-level of computer software. It sits between the computer electronics hardware and programs / applications that the human user has access to, and allows the applications to talk to the hardware. It is NOT an application like Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.
Automakers that decide to use AGL may wish to offer Android Auto and/or Apple CarPlay as applications but Auto and CarPlay are limited. There are reasons why Toyota would choose not to offer them:
- They were not designed and developed by Toyota. Toyota does not like to buy and use "off-the-shelf" products.
- Off-the-shelf products were not developed by Toyota so Toyota has no control over their quality nor how they are used. The interfaces shown to the user by Auto and CarPlay do not match the interface that Toyota uses in its other infotainment applications. Anyone who has used Lotus Notes knows what I am talking about. I used Lotus Notes as an email application on Microsoft Windows; it worked but it was different enough from other Windows applications that it was frustrating to use (its interface did not quite match the standard Windows interface and its shortcut keystrokes were different so that it required a learning curve before using it).
- Android Auto only works with Android smartphones. Apple CarPlay only works with Apple iOS smartphones. People with other types of phones (Windows and BlackBerry for example) are out of luck.
- Toyota has selected to use Smart Device Link, an open source vehicle to smartphone link application originally developed by Ford but now open source. SDL should allow the infotainment system to link with more than just Android and Apple phones.
Lead Lap
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 4,611
Likes: 370
From: In your head
Automotive Grade Linux is a project that is developing an operating system for in-car computers. Its first use is in the 2018 Toyota Camry infotainment system but could be used later as the software platform for the instrument cluster, head-up display, telematics and autonomous driving systems.
It is an operating system, NOT an application that runs on an operating system. The operating system is the lowest-level of computer software. It sits between the computer electronics hardware and programs / applications that the human user has access to, and allows the applications to talk to the hardware. It is NOT an application like Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.
Automakers that decide to use AGL may wish to offer Android Auto and/or Apple CarPlay as applications but Auto and CarPlay are limited. There are reasons why Toyota would choose not to offer them:
It is an operating system, NOT an application that runs on an operating system. The operating system is the lowest-level of computer software. It sits between the computer electronics hardware and programs / applications that the human user has access to, and allows the applications to talk to the hardware. It is NOT an application like Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.
Automakers that decide to use AGL may wish to offer Android Auto and/or Apple CarPlay as applications but Auto and CarPlay are limited. There are reasons why Toyota would choose not to offer them:
- They were not designed and developed by Toyota. Toyota does not like to buy and use "off-the-shelf" products.
- Off-the-shelf products were not developed by Toyota so Toyota has no control over their quality nor how they are used. The interfaces shown to the user by Auto and CarPlay do not match the interface that Toyota uses in its other infotainment applications. Anyone who has used Lotus Notes knows what I am talking about. I used Lotus Notes as an email application on Microsoft Windows; it worked but it was different enough from other Windows applications that it was frustrating to use (its interface did not quite match the standard Windows interface and its shortcut keystrokes were different so that it required a learning curve before using it).
- Android Auto only works with Android smartphones. Apple CarPlay only works with Apple iOS smartphones. People with other types of phones (Windows and BlackBerry for example) are out of luck.
- Toyota has selected to use Smart Device Link, an open source vehicle to smartphone link application originally developed by Ford but now open source. SDL should allow the infotainment system to link with more than just Android and Apple phones.
I still applaud toyota working on alternatives, and if its really good without Auto/CPlay power to them. Show em how its done
Lexus Champion
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,729
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From: Toronto, Canada
Toyota is taking a chance here by negating that demand and implementing the linux system on America's top selling car. I give kudos for Toyota for trying something different (namely, ditching Microsoft). Since its open source though, I'd be more concerned about security than connectivity. I wonder if they'll let developers develop custom ROMs for the infotainment system....that would be kinda cool too, hmm.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,363
Likes: 2
From: Ontario
QNX was originally a customized OS that ran the Automotive Control System securely. RIM(Blackberry) buys QNX and forks a mobile variant as BB10. BB10 ran as virtual over the QNX kernel, hence the pathetic performance. BB10 seems like it lives on as AGL, where the infotainment will run as a virtual open source layer over the secure QNX kernel. Just look at the list auto makers that are part of AGL, mostly all QNX at one point or another.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,936
Likes: 0
From: CA
Automotive Grade Linux, or AGL, is a division within The Linux Foundation set on developing open-source software for cars
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,363
Likes: 2
From: Ontario
With cellular data connection, either built in or bridged through a paired smartphone, OS patches and security updates are just one click away. They won't worry that updating the virtual instance of AGL could corrupt the kernel running the telematics, since that would be a separate virtual.
) has basically said windows 10 is the last 'big' release with everything from here on out being incremental and more frequent.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,521
Likes: 261
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
Might want to get some front-end pictures of (if possible) both the hybrid and the gas version....if, for no other reason, just to verify what is on Toyota's web site. The site is showing two vastly different front-end trim/under-grilles for them...the gas version has an imitation spindle-grille, and the Hybrid is much more conventional. Doesn't make much sense to me.
https://www.toyota.com/upcoming-vehicles/camry/
Last edited by mmarshall; Jun 7, 2017 at 04:29 PM.
Lead Lap
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 4,892
Likes: 14
From: Virginia
Thanks for the offer. Might want to get some front-end pictures of (if possible) both the hybrid and the gas version....if, for no other reason, just to verify what is on Toyota's web site. The site is showing two vastly different front-end trim/under-grilles for them...the gas version has an imitation spindle-grille, and the Hybrid is much more conventional. Doesn't make much sense to me.
https://www.toyota.com/upcoming-vehicles/camry/
Might want to get some front-end pictures of (if possible) both the hybrid and the gas version....if, for no other reason, just to verify what is on Toyota's web site. The site is showing two vastly different front-end trim/under-grilles for them...the gas version has an imitation spindle-grille, and the Hybrid is much more conventional. Doesn't make much sense to me.https://www.toyota.com/upcoming-vehicles/camry/
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