If we go back two years, we probably remember the launch of Android Auto, an app whose goal is to adapt the smartphone's resources to be much more useful while driving. The problem was that Android Auto required a compatible car, or special receivers with daunting prices. Support for Android Auto expanded to 200 models, but finally Google fulfilled its promise, and now it's possible to use its features in any vehicle, directly on the phone.
A Promise Fulfilled
Turning a smartphone into a GPS is nothing new. In fact, the market offers hundreds of mounts that allow exactly that. However, typical actions like replying to messages or changing music require the user to pick up the device, which breaks the experience and poses a potential risk. The people at Mountain View thought of a tool that could combine all those essential functions on the car's dashboard, and the answer was Android Auto. The theory is excellent, but from the start there was a small technical barrier: the car had to be compatible. As a shortcut, the user could buy a receiver with Android Auto support, though that meant spending hundreds of dollars. Last May, Google announced that Android Auto would receive an update to work like any other app on the smartphone's screen. That update is already here.
How It Works
Once you download the app, the rest of the process is just granting the necessary permissions. Essentially, Android Auto requests access to identity, contacts, location, messaging, phone, microphone, WiFi, and a long list of secondary resources, which is logical given that it changes the phone's behavior significantly. The plan is to group as many functions as possible into four or five buttons, aiming to reduce distractions and in a way force the driver to keep their eyes on the road. When you receive a call, the options are to answer or send it to voicemail, while for text messages (Google will read them to you), you can only reply by voice or disable notifications.
What's Next
Google has very ambitious plans for Android Auto, including adding the OK Google feature to maps, music, and messaging. The app's availability will expand to more than thirty countries in the coming days, and the main requirement is that the device has Android 5.0 or higher installed.
