Android Auto will get a new feature for safer driving

Google regularly introduces new improvements and enhancements to android auto, enhancing the user experience in various ways. One of the recent updates focuses on how users receive message notifications while driving, making it quieter and less distracting.

If you’ve spent any time with Android Auto, you know that its main purpose is to help users interact with their apps without making driving dangerous. It minimizes distractions by using voice commands, allowing you to use Google Assistant to listen to music, send messages, make phone calls and set up navigation, all without taking your hands off the wheel.

Android Auto also lets you stay in touch with your contacts and receive notifications while you’re driving, with Google Assistant handling reading and responding to your messages. This ensures you can keep your focus on the road.

Users can now disable notifications in Android Auto

The Mountain View-based tech giant has already allowed Android Auto users to hide message notifications on their infotainment screens, although they will still appear in the notification center. A recent update now allows users to completely disable message notifications in Android Auto, making driving safer and reducing distractions in the cabin.

Android Auto version 11.8 enabled a new option (although its availability is gradually improving with server-side implementation) to disable notifications with Google Assistant. This essentially allows users to block all message notifications permanently. Google clarifies in the feature description that notifications will no longer be sent to Google “for features like playing your messages out loud.” Additionally, Google states that “they never save notifications,” meaning they block them completely.

The option to disable message notifications was first introduced almost two years ago. However, this new setting, which is being rolled out gradually, completes the package. It allows users to fully concentrate on the road while driving.

The company has yet to make an official announcement about the new feature, but since it is currently being rolled out in stages, the company may discuss it in the coming weeks once it becomes available to everyone.

Google may announce new Android Auto settings in May

Google hinted at upcoming Android Auto announcements during I/O, the developer event scheduled for mid-May. The company may include this new setting in these updates.

Meanwhile, Google continues to refine Android Auto, demonstrating its commitment to improving the in-car experience. This ongoing effort reflects Google’s commitment to providing users with a hassle-free and safe driving experience.

Competition in the field of automotive technology is intensifying, especially since Apple is stepping up its game by releasing long-awaited updates to Apple Maps. The latest major iOS update introduced offline maps, allowing users to navigate without the need for an internet connection. Looking ahead, the next major release, planned for the fall, will include support for custom routes similar to Google Maps. This feature will allow users to plan routes on their computers and then send them to their cars using their Apple ID.

Android Auto vs. CarPlay: The competition is getting more intense

Apple is ready to introduce the next generation of CarPlay, which will make its debut in Aston Martin and Porsche vehicles in 2024. The company previewed this updated experience as early as 2022 and promised to announce the first vehicles to include it by late 2023. While two automakers have confirmed that they will be adopting CarPlay 2.0, details are still pretty limited. That’s because Apple is reportedly working directly with automakers to seamlessly integrate the new system.

The upcoming version of CarPlay it will be exclusive to new cars and will continue to be powered by the iPhone. Apple has explored the possibility of transforming CarPlay into a standalone operating system to compete with Android Automotive. Ultimately, however, the company decided that keeping the current model, which uses an iPhone to power the system, was the better choice. This approach takes advantage of the user’s familiarity with their existing CarPlay setup and keeps the iPhone as a crucial component of the experience.

The seamless connection of Android smartphones with Android Auto continues to improve

Google is working to improve compatibility between Android and Android Auto. Earlier this year, the company introduced new features that allow Android icons and wallpapers to sync with Android Auto. This integration gives Android Auto users a uniform look in their cars that matches their mobile phone icons and home screen wallpapers. Currently, this feature is available exclusively for Samsung devices, but there is evidence that Google has started expanding this capability to other Android manufacturers, including Xiaomi.

Android Automotive is improving its features through Google Maps, which now include the ability to automatically search for nearby charging stations when the car’s battery level drops below a certain threshold. This feature offers convenient charging stops, helping to ease mileage anxiety and prevent the car from running out of power. Also, Google is incorporating more AI technology into the system. Along with the message summaries already available in Android Auto, the company uses artificial intelligence to provide additional directions for drivers looking for specific charging stations. This information comes from user reviews on Google, offering more detailed and user-oriented guidance.

Conclusion