Vivo, the Chinese smartphone giant, has introduced a new feature for its OriginOS software that streams videos from your phone to a car display. However, users outside China may not be able to access this functionality due to the limited availability of OriginOS.
The “vivo smart car” feature allows users to stream videos directly to their car’s display through specific apps on their Vivo phones. Currently, it supports seven popular Chinese video platforms: iQiyi, Tencent Video, Youku Video, Bilibili, Douyin (the Chinese equivalent of TikTok), Kuaishou (another short-form video app), and Xigua Video (owned by ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company).
There’s one limitation to this new feature — Tencent Video and Youku Video require phones running Android 14 or higher. On the other hand, for short-form video apps like Douyin and Kuaishou, Vivo is thoughtful enough to include a feature called “page-turning” (translated from Chinese) which, by the name of it, appears to allow users to navigate short-form videos easily.
But the thing you should be aware of is that you can only use this feature when the car is parked and not while driving. The company is prioritizing users’ safety and adhering to traffic regulations by avoiding video applications while operating a vehicle.
While the in-car video app may seem like a convenient addition, it’s important to note OriginOS’ restricted availability. Unlike Vivo’s standard Funtouch OS found on global phones, OriginOS is currently exclusive to the Chinese market. Unless Vivo decides to offer similar functionality on its global software or expand OriginOS more broadly, international users won’t be able to access this feature.
For global Vivo users who might be envious of this in-car video addition, existing options like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay offer similar functionalities. These platforms integrate with various streaming services, allowing users to access their favorite content while their phones are safely tucked away.
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