I live in the California suburbs , known for their relative un - walkability , exasperate by the presence of rolling hill and swelter hot days . I bank on my car to get me and my family places , and I want the least distraction possible when I ’m behind the wheel .
I adopt Android Auto back in 2016 as my aging railcar ’s in - panache amusement system of rules when Google released a earpiece - only version of Android Auto for fomite without infotainment systems . Eventually , maker like Anker go produce third - company adapters like theRoav Bolt , which plug into a automobile wall socket and broadcast sound through the fomite ’s speakers via Bluetooth . It was a means for me to cheat out of upgrading my car to get hands - free feature .
But Google plan to do away with the Android Auto standalone phone app and is instead pivot to a more flowing experience inside the Google Maps app . It ’s called Assistant Driving Mode , and it ’s started rolling out to select devices , according to9to5Google . If you ’re running the Android 12 Beta , you should see it pop up once you abuse out , “ pop driving mode ” or “ Let ’s drive ” to the Google Assistant . Some have also reported it pop up on Android 11 devices running the Google Assistant beta , which you could flip on through thePlay fund , though I could n’t get it to come up myself .
The new Assistant Driving Mode can help you get places without touching the screen while behind the wheel.Photo: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
I did oversee to get it to work on the Pixel 5 with the latest Android 12 genus Beta update . There ’s asupport pageif you need more help get it to show up . The new UI is suppose to be available without entering a finish , but I was only able to get the new nursing home screen door the first fourth dimension I need the Assistant to launch the feature film , after which it realized I was n’t motor anywhere and reverted to Google Maps . The bottom right - manus corner of the Maps app displays a little app drawer release like you ’d see on Android , and pressing that consume you to a driving launcher of sorts .
you may choose your apps from here , similar to the way you ’d pasture through apps in the Android Auto launcher on cars that have it embedded in the sprint . Each little app has an user interface that populates with ready links and playlists if it ’s a media playback app . There are also quick buttons to make a call , send and view message , or look through media playlists curated for you by the Assistant in apps like YouTube Music and Google Podcasts — two apps I do n’t use at all . I even marked Spotify as my default music player in the Google Assistant stage setting , but I do n’t have access to those playlists unless I specifically tap into the Spotify app .
There is no back release on Assistant Driving Mode , so if you want to move on to another labor or another app , you ’ll have to tapdance the launcher and choose the option that accommodate you . Or you could talk the , “ Hey Google ” control , which is what this feature is supposed to inspire you to do , anyway . It ’s why you ’d corrupt an accessary like the Roav Bolt , which add a mike to your cable car so it can see you say it , and why Google is shifting away from the original feeling of Android Auto on the phone .
The new Assistant Driving Mode is a completely reprised Android app launcher for the car.Screenshot: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
The new Assistant Driving Mode is n’t perfect , but it feel like a step in the right way . It ’s much better than theinitial previewI saw at Google I / oxygen in 2019 , where I watch a demo of a full - page interface that long - scroll through each of the feature of speech options available while driving . The interface is also much easier to tap through with one finger , and there are few menus to divvy up with , probably why there ’s no longer a “ back ” button to drag you through menu structures . The key to a safe in - car interface is that you’re able to peek at it to get the entropy you need without learn your focus off the road ( which is why I render to avoid drive onbeta software program ! ) .
I hope it will become a little easier to get to the curated rest home sieve without move into sailing mode or the car having to recognize motion . After all , what if I ’m driving nowhere in particular , but I still desire to scuffle through my music ? I can reach the Assistant Driving Mode to start the song , but only if I set up up a destination , which I do n’t always want to do .
With the Android Auto phone app heading to theGoogle Graveyardsoon , it ’s nice to see that Google is trying to amend the Assistant Driving Mode . It makes it well-off for those of us without Android Auto - compatible cars to have feature and apps that are optimized for safer driving .
The Pocket Casts app on the Assistant Driving Mode (right) has fewer menus to dig through than the original Android Auto app (left) for the smartphone.Screenshot: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
Update , Sept. 15 at 4:45 atomic number 61 ET : Google provided the fall out statement about the futurity of Android Auto :
Google Assistant drive mode is our next phylogeny of the roving driving experience . For the hoi polloi who use Android Auto in underpin vehicle , that experience is n’t go off . For those who employ the on phone experience ( Android Auto mobile app ) , they will be transition to Google Assistant driving mode . start out with Android 12 , Google Assistant driving manner will be the built - in mobile drive experience . We have no further details to share at this time .
Daily Newsletter
Get the best technical school , scientific discipline , and culture news program in your inbox day by day .
News from the future , delivered to your present .
You May Also Like
