Key Takeaways
- Google ought to guarantee a constant consumer expertise between vehicles and telephones for security.
- The corporate ought to enhance caller show to announce calls and forestall interruptions.
- It also needs to add a toggle to pause audio playback between drives for a quiet begin.
For most individuals, Android Auto, together with Apple Automotive Play, has changed the infotainment system that got here with their automotive with one thing that’s an extension of their telephone. Whereas we have seen Android Auto flourish, there are a couple of areas the place Google might enhance the expertise.
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1 Completely different automotive, totally different expertise
Seamless experiences all spherical
Previously, one of many arguments I often had with Apple customers was in regards to the fragmentation of Android throughout totally different manufacturers. Principally, with Apple gadgets, everybody has the identical expertise. Whereas I believe that is sort of uninteresting so far as telephones and tablets go, I don’t need a totally different consumer expertise between vehicles and Android handsets after I’m driving.
I need all of the buttons and settings to be in the identical place.
I need all of the buttons and settings to be in the identical place. There should not be a studying curve. If I’ve to fiddle about in search of a selected setting or management whereas driving, that is clearly a problem. Google has already taken vital steps to unify the Android Auto expertise, however the firm might do extra. Since it is a automotive, you’d need the buttons to be in the identical place for security causes alone. I can not depend what number of occasions I’ve bought right into a rental and needed to discover buttons to do issues, solely to repeat the method in Android Auto.
2 Caller show
Anyone is looking. Do not look now.
A few of us really use our telephones for calling, and a few of us older of us let our telephones ring out loud.
When somebody calls and their title seems on the show, one factor ought to occur and the opposite I want it did not. Firstly, I want to hear Android Auto announce the caller by default. Positive, you may get your telephone to do this, nevertheless it’s a royal ache within the butt to alter the setting for every time I get into the automotive after which out manually. Google, please repair this; assist us drivers preserve our eyes on the highway.
Additionally, why does Android Auto cowl your navigation app to show the title of the individual calling you? Can you modify this, Google? A small bubble notification is simply fantastic, or as I discussed, an audio announcement with the choice to choose up or reject the decision together with your voice can be excellent. Whereas we’re on the topic, the choice to say Reject or Reply, perhaps Ship to voicemail, can the brand new Google Gemini AI assist right here?
3 Pause music between drives
Put a cease to it
My different main annoyance with Android Auto includes audio playback. Music, podcasts , or no matter you final performed within the automotive, the audio will proceed if you re-enter it, whether or not you prefer it or not.
Once more, a easy toggle someplace would do wonders.
Whereas that is fantastic on some events, it may be grating on others. Within the morning, for instance, I need a quiet getaway. The very last thing I want is a Formulation 1 podcast blasting very first thing on my morning commute.
Once more, a easy toggle someplace would do wonders.

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4 Hear what I say
Shouting would not assist, apparently
I am not American. I’m English. There are occasions when Google Assistant will battle to grasp what I say until I say it in an American accent. In case you get an opportunity to satisfy me and ask me to do an American accent, bear in mind I used to be introduced up with Soiled Harry and John Wayne films. Apparently, Google would not discover this very useful, both.
To be truthful, poor speech recognition just isn’t 100% restricted to Android Auto, however the automotive is the place the place I expertise the worst of what Google has to supply, and the place the place accuracy is paramount.

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