Girish Janday – PIONEER VIDEO STAR!

As promised, here is the rather smart, terribly European and deeply corporate Pioneer Android Auto video, featuring Girish Janday. As said in the editorial column this week, it is very slick but if I had been the director, I would have had the star find himself to be low on fuel and ask Android Auto where the nearest petrol station was on his route at the end, rather than seeking the nearest restaurant immediately upon hearing that his girlfriend was making pasta for tea! It is possible to be too close to these things to notice that. But our Girish can easily pull off the Playa image.


All editorial jocularity aside, it looks like Android Auto, (born from the voice assistant answer to Siri from Apple) is a winner. Apple CarPlay is the other option to look at, depending upon your phone. There is a ‘speak to me’ voice control button in my new Volvo but I haven’t dared to use it yet. This looks simple and intuitive and able to pick up speech properly, even when delivered in a conversational tone.
From my point of view, it is edging into the zone where, “any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” I love it, it’s awesome!