If there is one time of year when I use my car for a long trip and do a good tune-up beforehand, it is the summer holidays: check the oil level, check the condition of the tires, check what papers I have in the glove compartment and that miDGT is on my mobile just in case. And yes also I’m taking a close look at Android Auto.
Because Android Auto today has a providential role to entertain me while I drive with music or podcasts, to guide me with GPS navigators like Waze and avoid radars with specific applications (I use both at the same time with this trick), but also for a good general driving experience thanks to its options. So Before I go on a trip, this is all I check in Android Auto.
The apps I use most, at my fingertips
How few people use this setting and how good it is. Android Auto is the adaptation of your mobile phone and the applications compatible with the system, but usually its presentation and those displayed are the ones we use/interest the most. So to avoid wasting time with applications that I do not use and to have at hand the ones that I usually open, I change the order of the applications and hide some of them.
This change can only be done from the mobile phone, by searching for it in the settings. And that’s it’Additional application settings‘ and we scroll down to ‘Customize the application menu‘ and we move on to the second option, which is ‘Sort the applications menu‘. Here we can uncheck the boxes of the applications that do not interest us and in ‘Sort the applications menu‘ select alphabetical or custom order. In my case, it’s always the second one. So I swipe and leave Google Maps, Waze, TomTom, Radarbot or messaging apps like WhatsApp or Telegram at the top, as well as Spotify or Prime Music when I’m on the go.
Quick access to 112
The ideal way to avoid distractions (and fines, since touching the Android Auto screen can be expensive) is to use Android Auto with your voice. I admit that I tend to have little patience with the Google Assistant, so I try to keep the touches to a bare minimum: Waze traffic events and my emergency button from “Call 112”.
While this isn’t something you can do by default, it can be configured by going into the mobile’s Android Auto settings again and tapping ‘Customize the application menu‘ > ‘Add shortcut to application menu‘ > ‘Assistant action’.
Then, just type “Call 112” and give it a name or use an emoji, like the police car. All you have to do is save. A word of advice: it’s best to leave this emergency button up high.
A little privacy
I usually go on vacation with my friends and I admit: they are quite chatty. So, when I receive a message, my eyes go straight to the screen to try to read it. It’s fun, but it’s better to have some privacy.
Although it is true that Android Auto notifications are something very personal and in my case I have them configured like this so as not to miss what is important and minimize distractions. There is, however, a framework that I do not hesitate to leave when I go alone or as a couple, but I am very careful if I travel with several people: the show first line of conversation.
To change this, simply go to the mobile settings to find “Android Auto” and go to the notification block, where this option appears first. If I’m going out with people, I make sure it’s turned off.
Let Android Auto start even with phone locked
One small setting that can become a headache is the initialization of Android Auto, which depending on the car and phone, can only happen when your phone is unlocked. Result: you get in the car after refueling with your phone in your pocket and Android Auto does not start.
One way to save time and have a smoother experience is to change this setting. How? As before, head over to the Android Auto app on your mobile and look for the ‘General‘, where you will need to enable the ‘Start Android Auto with phone locked‘.
Non-stop music
Finally, I take advantage of long trips to catch up on podcasts, get nostalgic for the greatest hits by Shakira, Celine Dion or Linkin Park (yours truly has eclectic tastes) and when I get out of the car to take a break or fill up, I want everything to continue playing when I return without doing anything.
As you can see in the screenshot just before this section (in the Android Auto app in your mobile settings, in the “General” section), just make sure that “Start music automatically‘ is activated and ready.
Cover | Montage with own photo and holiday icons created by couldulearn – Flaticon
In Xataka Android | Six Important Android Auto Settings I Recommend Setting Up ASAP
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