INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
It should go without saying that using your smartphone while driving is unsafe and, in most places, illegal
For years the answer was to suction-cup a sat-nav system from the likes of TomTom or Garmin to your windscreen, replacing the often-terrible
mapping system of the car itself.Then smartphone mapping apps improved and those started appearing on windscreens instead
But so did their hundreds of daily notifications and distractions in the form of emails, Instagram Likes and non-stop WhatsApp group
This resulted in Apple and Google coming up with solutions for their customers; CarPlay for iPhone owners and Android Auto for Android
fans.Connect your smartphone to the dashWhat is Android AutoAndroid Auto casts a Google Now-like interface onto your car's infotainment
It's not the same as mirroring your phone onto the car display using HDMI, as the vehicle's touchscreen, steering wheel controls,
dashboard screen, because that would still be distracting and unsafe
Instead, Android Auto is more like a simplified version of Google Now, with the ability to make calls, play music stored on your phone, send
dictated messages to contacts, and of course use Google Maps.Calls and messages will come through (although the latter are read out by
Google Assistant instead of appearing on-screen), but all other notifications are completely hidden away in the background
with no reduction in sound quality, unlike with Bluetooth audio streaming
If you have to, in some models (like those from VW) a short press of the voice command button makes the car listen, while a long press
summons Google Assistant.Android Auto has a permanent menu bar at the foot of the screen for quickly returning to the maps, phone or music
There is also a button for accessing car information and diagnostics, but this is not supported by all manufacturers.Android Auto should
look familiar if you've used Google NowThe UI shares a lot with Google Now
It has that same card-based menu that's part of Google's unified design language, and it's laid out on a home screen with all of the
predictions you'd expect.Without even having to think about it, Android Auto suggests directions on where you might want to go
This is based on recent searches or your daily routine.The weather, missed call or text alerts and in-progress music also appear within this
strength and battery percentage always appear in the top-right corner, along with a microphone icon
Tap this and you can talk to Google Assistant to get directions, make a phone call, send a text message, or even ask about the weather, or
number of third-party map and message applications.3493757de56a4f7f40bebe3715b5d5df.jpg#
