Back in September, Google promised that it would release a separate Android Auto app specifically for Android 10 users with a non-compatible head unit. Now, the app has finally arrived on the PlayStore so that Android 10 users can use the app on their smartphones.
Dubbed as ‘Android Auto for Phone screens, the new app is designed to bring the full Android Auto experience on your phone’s screen, until Google Assistant Driving mode arrives.
“This app lets you use Android Auto on your phone screen with a phone running Android 10. If you have Android 10 and an Android Auto compatible car, you can project to your car display without downloading this app. Simply plug in your phone to get started,” explained Google.
With Android Auto, Android 10 users can deploy Google Assistant to route their next destination with real-time GPS navigation and traffic alerts using Waze and Google Maps. Users get real-time updates about their route such as hazards, roadblocks, jams, and ETA.
Besides, users can also manage their infotainment system to listen to music, podcasts, and audiobooks on a wide range of apps such as Pandora, Spotify, Google Play Music, TIDAL, Deezer, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, and more. Not to mention, Android Auto also features a Do Not Disturb Mode so drivers can concentrate on the road and to avoid any distractions.
To recall, Google recently integrated Android Auto with Android 10 OS so as to remove the need to download a separate app. However, this implied that Android 10 users who own a car without a compatible head unit would not be able to use the app on their smartphones, which was possible earlier. To rectify the situation, Google has finally released a standalone Android app for Android 10 users.
Initially, Google seemed completely fine with chucking the idea of a standalone Android Auto app, as it was supposed to be replaced by Google Assistant ‘driving mode’. However, Google Assistant ‘driving mode’ is still not available, so until it becomes available, Google seems to have come up with a temporary solution for Android 10 users without an Android Auto compatible head unit with the new standalone Android Auto app.
