Although Android Auto is a wonderful ally for our road trips, there are cars that simply aren’t compatible. In these cases, there are alternatives to installing Google’s infotainment system, such as changing the radio to one equipped with Android Auto or installing an additional screen. But there is another simpler and cheaper solution: use your Android mobile.
So, you can give a second life to an old Android to transform it into a screen with Android Auto or use your current smartphone directly with a launcher. There are alternatives as good as Car Launcher or this one that we present to you today. And one last option: use Google’s driving mode, although we already told you that that’s not what it was and that the new one is rather decaffeinated. But if you want to use a mobile phone and are looking for a complete experienceThis alternative launcher to Android Auto is really wonderful.
A free alternative to Android Auto to improve the in-car mobile phone experience
The app in question is CarWebGuru and I can tell you that not only is it light years ahead of Google’s driving mode, it actually does customization, compatible applications and flexibility its best assets even in the free version (there is a paid version to get rid of ads and have more themes and widgets). The first thing to do is download it from the Google Play Store.
As soon as you install it on the phone, you need to provide it with some logical permissions to be able to use it fully. An interesting point is that in addition to listing them, it explains why you need them: location to calculate speed or distance, notifications to receive notifications from browsers, system settings to change screen brightness, between others. Once configured or not (you can always accept the minimum and accept them if necessary), we slide to the lower area to start the application (the green button).
An additional recommendation– Although WebCarGuru can be used vertically, it is worth unblocking rotation as you get the most out of this launcher horizontally.
From there, we find a design that is perhaps a little outdated in these times of minimalism, but at least it is intuitive and functional. This also allows you to change it up and down. The default interface has a sort of control circle with play buttons and basic general information. You can tap this central area to see the current speed, date and time, reading, or even a compass.
However, What interests us are the buttons on the side (widgets)since we can configure them both in the order we want and with the application we want (for which we will only have to press and hold), which significantly improves the experience compared to the driving mode , but also opens app options even going beyond Android Auto compatibility.
So, for example, in “Navigation” we can configure it to open AmiGo, “Music” to do the same with Amazon Music Unlimited, “Phone” to link it to contacts, but also eliminate others that may have less of meaning. which come by default as “File Manager” or “Internet” and instead put a radar app like Coyote or even Netflix. Yeah, CarWebGuru lets you open any app…which doesn’t mean it’s a good idea if you’re driving, so at your own risk.
There are other buttons arranged outside of this type of dashboard panel that lead to the help section, the phone’s WiFi settings, or the file manager. As before, with a long press we can change to place another action. And we’re not done: by swiping up on the main screen, you have more options, like changing the background or even the interface skin and general settings. In short: there’s customization to be bothered with. The statistics and widgets sections deserve special mention.
How it works? Fluidly and fulfilling its mission of simplification. Ultimately, this reduces the steps and Android interface of our phone so that we can open the applications that we are going to use while driving in a more agile and faster way. Of course it doesn’t have the handy multi-window mode of Android Auto Coolwalk and we can’t control it with our voice either (something essential if we want to avoid fines), but it will still be better than using the mobile phone as it is.
CarWebGuru Car Launcher
Alternative launcher to Android Auto
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In Xataka Android | No Android Auto, no problem: five alternatives to Android Auto for your mobile
