What you need to know
- The latest Android Auto update includes a “P” icon for apps with parking-only restrictions, making it clearer for users.
- Previously, trying to use these apps while driving resulted in an error message.
- Android Auto is also introducing a new road safety feature called Message Summary.
Android Auto will show you more clearly which apps only work while your vehicle is parked.
According to SmartDroid, in the latest software update 11.4, apps with parking-only restrictions will now display a small “P” icon in the lower-right corner of the home page. Previously, users trying to use these apps while driving would receive an error message.
The indicator will appear on apps like gaming and video streaming, mostly intended for electric car owners to use while charging the vehicle, including GameSnacks, a suite of touchscreen games for Android Auto users.
We’re not exactly thrilled with the idea of introducing video games to a car’s infotainment system, but it’s easy to understand the need for entertainment during waiting time.
This way, with a quick glance, users can easily see which apps are good to use while the car is moving and which are not.
Android Auto and similar platforms make car infotainment better. Unlike older, clunky systems, these are excellent. The downside is the security issues with these rich features. Fortunately, Google is fixing this in the latest update.
Another new road safety feature now available on Android Auto is Message Summary, according to 9to5Google. It condenses long text messages into summaries that can be listened to while driving. The catch is that messages with more than 40 words will be paraphrased, while those under 40 words will be read in full.
However, since the summary is generated by artificial intelligence, its accuracy may vary. The original message will still be visible on your phone, so you should still check the original text before relying on an AI response.