[Steven Lyle Jordan]

I'm recently seeing messages that Android Auto for phone screens will "stop working soon." I've been using Android Auto for my car and my bike for years, and I like its setup, so it's a pity that it's leaving.

Apparently Google has built new "driving mode" features into Google Maps, which I'm going to try out since I'm not thrilled with the other driving apps I've seen. Here's an AutoEvolution article about it, if you're interested in checking it out yourself. On an Android phone, it creates a new app icon that opens the Diving mode.

The look is different, but it seems very similar to Android Auto, so I'll be taking a few trips and trying it out for ease of use (in the car and on the bike). Trying it outside the car, it displays some likely apps it can find on my phone (book, music and map apps), and when you choose a few apps that you like to use, they will turn up on your phone screen. You have a limited control over what displays and where, however. It also has default buttons for calls, messages and media, which will give you a few choices in each. You don't get a lot of choices in the menu, but it accepts voice prompts... I'll have to see how well that works through my Cardo in my helmet.

This might be an app you want to check out, if you're in an Android environment. If you know anything useful about Google Driving Mode, feel free to mention it, and I'll shout if I come across anything good or bad.

 

[TLeventry]

My read is that Android auto is only going away for devices running Android 12, meaning if you are running 11 (like me) the old software still works fine. It will also continue to work in your car.

If it doesn't work with Waze, I am going to have a problem

 

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

My read is that Android auto is only going away for devices running Android 12, meaning if you are running 11 (like me) the old software still works fine. It will also continue to work in your car.

My phone has Android 10, and I got the message that I'm losing Android Auto. Best thing to do is turn on Android Auto (in your vehicle or not), and it will post a message right up top if your app will stop working soon.

 

[TLeventry]

I'm not getting that message.

That's why I was surprised when I heard you mention it was going away.

 

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

Yeah, it's confusing, since Google is recombining Android Auto functions with Google Assistant and doing it through Maps, and a lot depends on your Android version and device, the age of your car navigation system, and... oy. I sort of stumbled into the Assistant function from Maps, and now I can't see how to repeat the process. A Neowin article describes it like this: "You can access the driving mode by launching Google Maps, starting your journey, and then tapping the app launcher button on the bottom right to launch other apps like Spotify."

And who knows what this will mean to helmet coms...

 

[TLeventry]

You can activate DRIVE MODE by saying "drive mode"

or in the drive mode settings you can setup

When Navigating in Google, drive mode will launch when you start navigation
When connected to cars bluetooth
When driving is detected

Im just going to wait until Android Auto goes away

 

[alphabud]

You can activate DRIVE MODE by saying "drive mode"

or in the drive mode settings you can setup

When Navigating in Google, drive mode will launch when you start navigation
When connected to cars bluetooth
When driving is detected

Im just going to wait until Android Auto goes away

I looked it up on play store, someone made a shortcut to get you there. I tried it out and it seems to work. Driving Mode Shortcut - Apps on Google Play