When Google developed Android Auto, it did so primarily to offer a mobile control interface compatible with driving. This is essential because using your mobile phone in the car can be punishable by several fines, at least in Europe. The touch screen is one of the most used forms of control. Most cars compatible with Android Auto or Apple CarPlay have touch screens, of varying quality. But it is not the only way to perform actions in this system, nor the safest.
There are currently many vehicles that They have a button on the steering wheel that activates the voice command system of the car. It may or may not be your own built-in system, but it is usually compatible with Google Assistant when Android Auto is connected. In this way, it is possible to interact with the mobile phone without having to take your eyes off the road or let go of the steering wheel.
There are many commands compatible with this system, but some are particularly practical and make driving easier, such as those related to GPS navigation. This is not only about being able to locate a route, but also being able to search for gas stations along it, for example.
GPS navigation
Google Maps is probably the most used application in Android Auto. It’s not strange. It occupies a large part of the interface and allows you to reach your destination reliably, with elements like real-time traffic or estimated arrival time, in addition to the normal indications of a program of this type.
From the button on the steering wheel, it is possible to dictate commands such as “Go home” or “Go to Calle Sol, 24”, the device calculating the route without even having to look at the screen.
When we are on the road, it is possible to execute other commands, such as “Search for gas stations”, and it will only do so near the place where we are going to pass, so as not to deviate too much.
Music
The other most used apps in a car are music apps. Some use Spotify, others Amazon Music and, increasingly, YouTube Music. All are compatible with voice commands, allowing you to start a specific playlist or genre without having to navigate between the app options on the screen.
For example, you can say “Play Taylor Swift music” or “Play Jazz music”, although it is also possible to choose the application that will play it with commands such as “Play electronic music on Spotify”. The only limitation is obviously that these applications are installed on our mobile.
It is also possible to control playback with commands such as “Reduce volume by half” or “Increase volume to maximum”. If we wish, it is possible to change songs with “Skip to next song”, as long as our music application account that we use allows it. Remember that some free plans only allow changing songs in random mode and this will determine which song the system will switch to.
Send a WhatsApp
Being the most used messaging application in our country, WhatsApp is one of the most important mobile applications. And it is not uncommon to receive a notification while driving. If so, we can play it simply by clicking on the screen.
But the best thing is that at the end of reading the message, it will be possible to respond with a voice message to the person. The system will transcribe them and they will arrive as a normal text message. In addition, it is possible to send a WhatsApp without waiting to receive one, simply saying “Send a WhatsApp message to Carlos with the text, I will arrive in 5 minutes”. The important thing in this message is to maintain the structure, changing only the name of the recipient and what you want to say, but keeping the rest of the sentence. It is also possible to use commands to send SMS, but in Europe this is not usually useful because no one uses short messages to communicate with other people.
Google Assistant
Android Auto’s voice command is no different from the one we have on our mobile. It allows you to perform actions with the Google Assistant, and soon with Gemini. For example, it is possible to add items to the shopping list if you remember them while driving, or set a reminder or alarm with commands such as “Add rice to the shopping list”, “Set an alarm for 8 am” or “Remind me in an hour to put a washing machine.”
The assistant also communicates with the home automation devices that we have at home, so it is possible to open the garage door if we have it automated, turn on the air conditioning of the house on the way so that it is cool when you arrive or simply warn that we are on our way with the command “Announce to the house that I am arriving”. For the latter, you will need to have a smart speaker compatible with the Google Assistant.
Calls and notifications
As usual, call control can also be managed by voice, making calls simply with the command “Call Juan Peral” or “Call Mom”. It is even possible to know if there are notifications on your mobile phone simply by asking “What notifications do I have?”
Added to all this are the normal questions that can be asked to the assistant, such as doubts about dates, historical events, mathematical operations or curiosities about celebrities. After all, you can do the same as on your mobile, but without touching the screen.
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