2018 Toyota Camry packs an open-source Linux-based infotainment system
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Joined: Oct 2008
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From: California
2018 Toyota Camry packs an open-source Linux-based infotainment system
Automotive Grade Linux, or AGL, is a division within The Linux Foundation set on developing open-source software for cars that will help support the future of connected cars. The group is made up of more than 100 automakers, suppliers, and tech corporations. We sampled some of the iterations at this year's CES in Las Vegas. Toyota, one of the first two OEMs to join, announced today that a new AGL-backed infotainment system will go on sale later this summer in the 2018 Toyota Camry.
The new system will mark a huge step forward for Toyota and presumably Lexus, which has fallen far behind in the infotainment department. The Camry will be the first vehicle with the new AGL infotainment, but the system's flexibility will help provide an easy transition to other models, including those from Lexus. The big takeaway is improved connectivity and new functionality, though exact details haven't been revealed.
Because AGL is open source, Toyota will focus most of its effort on customizing and personalizing the system for its vehicles. That said, it should give us our first taste of a system that could find its way into products from Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Ford, and others. Because Toyota was one of the first to work on the project, it's had a heavy influence in AGL's development and direction. We'll get our first taste when we drive the Camry later this year.
AGL itself is the result of hundreds of engineers from various members working to build an open-source system. Think of it like Android for smartphones: a common base that various companies adapt and customize. Info gained from the Camry will be fed back to AGL and used to improve the system. The goal is to create a de facto industry standard.
The new system will mark a huge step forward for Toyota and presumably Lexus, which has fallen far behind in the infotainment department. The Camry will be the first vehicle with the new AGL infotainment, but the system's flexibility will help provide an easy transition to other models, including those from Lexus. The big takeaway is improved connectivity and new functionality, though exact details haven't been revealed.
Because AGL is open source, Toyota will focus most of its effort on customizing and personalizing the system for its vehicles. That said, it should give us our first taste of a system that could find its way into products from Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Ford, and others. Because Toyota was one of the first to work on the project, it's had a heavy influence in AGL's development and direction. We'll get our first taste when we drive the Camry later this year.
AGL itself is the result of hundreds of engineers from various members working to build an open-source system. Think of it like Android for smartphones: a common base that various companies adapt and customize. Info gained from the Camry will be fed back to AGL and used to improve the system. The goal is to create a de facto industry standard.
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Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 35,474
Likes: 383
From: ON/NY
Generally speaking, Apple phones and Google phones work best when they are new. As you upgrade software and such, it is designed to deteriorate the experience ever so slightly.
I would be royaly pissed if I had a four year old car with an Apple car play only to have to upgrade my phone just to make the system work.
With ^ said, I do think they should offer it and I understand they are on board for these systems, but just not yet.
Rookie
Joined: May 2017
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From: San Diego
1) I truly hope they follow through with maintenance, support, and new additions to the infotainment - that's a lot to promise. Infiniti promised apps and all kinds of expandability of their piece of crap that debuted with the 2014 Q50 (one of which I have lemoned...) and to date, they have left their Android based infotainment to die.
2) that swoopy asymmetric display is driving my brain nuts. that layout is a trip.
2) that swoopy asymmetric display is driving my brain nuts. that layout is a trip.
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Lead Lap
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 4,590
Likes: 367
From: In your head
Good luck with defacto industry standard. Too many cooks in the kitchen, and no one wants to give up ground on that. All you can hope for is that since Toyota was on the groundfloor it had more control then previous iterations of entune.
Its really quite simple in the wants of people with car infotainment.
-Responsive
-Environment aware HMI
-Natural language voice input/recognition
-allows input of modern devices with wireless control (wired for backup charging etc).
-Separate climate controls, tune and volume *****
-security of system
Android Auto and Apple carplay are too new and take complete control over design which at least Toyota dislikes. Plus the amount of data its collecting is always fun.
Its really quite simple in the wants of people with car infotainment.
-Responsive
-Environment aware HMI
-Natural language voice input/recognition
-allows input of modern devices with wireless control (wired for backup charging etc).
-Separate climate controls, tune and volume *****
-security of system
Android Auto and Apple carplay are too new and take complete control over design which at least Toyota dislikes. Plus the amount of data its collecting is always fun.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 35,474
Likes: 383
From: ON/NY
It's not about saving them development costs. It has to do with user satisfaction long term. Toyota is not willing to let Google or Apple be the determining factor in how the end users likes or dislikes the vehicle.
Generally speaking, Apple phones and Google phones work best when they are new. As you upgrade software and such, it is designed to deteriorate the experience ever so slightly.
I would be royaly pissed if I had a four year old car with an Apple car play only to have to upgrade my phone just to make the system work.
With ^ said, I do think they should offer it and I understand they are on board for these systems, but just not yet.
Generally speaking, Apple phones and Google phones work best when they are new. As you upgrade software and such, it is designed to deteriorate the experience ever so slightly.
I would be royaly pissed if I had a four year old car with an Apple car play only to have to upgrade my phone just to make the system work.
With ^ said, I do think they should offer it and I understand they are on board for these systems, but just not yet.
Lead Lap
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,918
Likes: 305
From: NY
It's not about saving them development costs. It has to do with user satisfaction long term. Toyota is not willing to let Google or Apple be the determining factor in how the end users likes or dislikes the vehicle.
Generally speaking, Apple phones and Google phones work best when they are new. As you upgrade software and such, it is designed to deteriorate the experience ever so slightly.
I would be royaly pissed if I had a four year old car with an Apple car play only to have to upgrade my phone just to make the system work.
With ^ said, I do think they should offer it and I understand they are on board for these systems, but just not yet.
Generally speaking, Apple phones and Google phones work best when they are new. As you upgrade software and such, it is designed to deteriorate the experience ever so slightly.
I would be royaly pissed if I had a four year old car with an Apple car play only to have to upgrade my phone just to make the system work.
With ^ said, I do think they should offer it and I understand they are on board for these systems, but just not yet.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,309
Likes: 31
From: Canada
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.
Pole Position
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,944
Likes: 182
From: Los Angeles, CA
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.
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.