Android Auto finally breaks free of the dashboard
Google just introduced a new way to bring your ride into the future.
Android Auto can now function entirely from your phone, the company announced in a blog post Monday, meaning you no longer need a special dashboard or an entirely new car to use it.
"Whether your phone is connected to a compatible car display, or placed in a car mount on the dashboard, Android Auto brings your favorite apps and services into one place, making them accessible in safer and seamless ways," Gerhard Schobbe, Android Auto product manager, wrote in the post.
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These apps include Spotify, Pandora, Google Play Music and Google Maps. Waze, which is owned by Google, is not yet supported by the Android Auto app -- but will probably be integrated into the Android Auto app eventually, as it was mentioned in the Google I/O developer conference earlier this year.
As you'd expect, the Android Auto app can also "make calls or send messages with hands-free voice commands." You'll be able to read and send text messages by simply talking to the app.
The auto app also works to tailor your notifications to avoid unnecessary distractions while you're behind the wheel.
The new update is rolling out now in over 30 countries and is free. Visit the Android Auto website to see when it'll be available on your device.
