Google is bringing a ton of new assistant-led features to Android Auto on the phone and in the dashboard. Image: Google
Google plans to discontinue the Android Auto app for Android phones and has created a new way to navigate Google Maps with the Google Assistant. Today Google announced its new Google Assistant Driving mode for Android smartphones gets a new dashboard that is easier to use and the speakerphone does not require that you do not have to set a destination in Maps at the beginning. The Driving Mode Assistant will be integrated into Android 12 in the coming weeks, and the new dashboard will also be available on phones that cannot be upgraded to 12.
All you have to say is “Hey Google, let’s drive” and the new driving mode launcher will pop up over the usual home screen. You can also set a preferred Bluetooth device to show driving mode as soon as you turn on your car and before you hit the road. You can read more about how to set it up here.
Note that this change only applies to Android smartphones and not the in-dash version of Android Auto on your car’s display. If your car doesn’t have a display in the dashboard, you can use the phone version as a replacement and this update will make it easier.
Google calls the Driving Mode Assistant as part of its “voice-forward” approach to helping people use their devices safely while they are behind the wheel. The company has been working on switching from the Android Auto app to phones since November 2020 when it introduced the original Driving Mode Assistant to the Google Maps app. The difference now is that the feature is part of Android 12 and is no longer a standalone feature. It will also not be available to iOS device users.
Say “Hey Google, let’s drive” and the Assistant Driving Mode dashboard will appear on your phone.Gif: Google
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As with the soon-to-be-expired Android Auto app for smartphones, you can still have notifications read out to you when you ask them to activate Google read automatically. Whether you are in navigation mode, automatic recommendations will appear on the map, as will entertainment recommendations from the apps you have installed on your smartphone. The Google Assistant’s new driving mode also works with third-party car accessories like the one Roav Bolt.
The new features of the Assistant Driving Mode will be introduced in the coming weeks both as part of Android 12 and as an update for phones with older Android software. Google said that users who rely on older versions of the Android Auto app or the Assistant Driving Mode in Google Maps will be “guided to this experience” but the app will be in the Load game for the time being. Updating to Android 12 will remove the Android Auto phone app.
Android Auto changes in the car
Google is also bringing new features for Android Auto to car displays. The assistant starts to show more music, news and podcast recommendations on the main display and it can switch apps on the screen with a voice command. Dual SIM Android users can also switch between different phone numbers. And Android Auto supports in-car work profiles, so you can see meeting details and driving directions built into the rest of your life.
While it may seem like the opposite of the entire hands-free part of using Android Auto, Google will bring games to the display as well, but only after Android Auto detects that your car is parked. GameSnacks Games are designed to help people pass the time, for example when they are waiting in the school pick-up line. It’s also meant to keep you from ever putting your hand on your smartphone.
An example of what the game apps in Android Auto look like when the car is parked. Image: Google
Another feature to look out for in Android Auto is the ability to pay for gasoline with just your voice. Call “Pay for Gas” and the assistant will ask for your pump number before starting the transaction in Google Pay. Hands-free calling will be available at more than 32,500 gas stations when the rollout begins, starting with select Exxon and Mobile stations. Google plans to add support for Shell, Conoco, Phillips 66, and 76 stations over time.
Google integrated directly into the car
Google has announced that Honda will use the Android automotive platform in models like the Civic from 2022. Honda joins in ford, General Motors, Polestar, Renault and Volvo offer Android Automotive in their vehicles.
Android Automotive runs directly in the car and is more strongly integrated into the rest of the hardware. You can use Android Automotive to control parts of the car that normal Android Auto cannot, such as the HVAC and the instrument cluster.
Electric vehicles also get some new functions in Android Automotive. The operating system displays more specific information, such as: B. Locations of charging stations and their availability.
As a long-time user of the Android Auto app for smartphones – since it debuted in 2015 – I’m excited to see some much-needed changes to the way Android does infotainment in the car. The transition has not been easy for those of us who have stupid cars with no displays. The assistant driving mode in Google Maps remains very limited compared to the Android Auto app for phones – at least until the updated assistant driving mode is introduced. It’s clear that the app hasn’t received a significant update in a long time and doesn’t have anywhere near the dash of Android Auto’s glitz.
I am curious to see how quickly the transition will take place and whether it will go so smoothly for non-pixel smartphones that do not upgrade to Android 12 on the first day. At the moment it looks like I’ll keep using the Android Auto app for phones until the assistant-guided driving mode is safe on my device.
