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Google Is Making Android Auto Available In Any Car (techcrunch.com)
An anonymous reader quotes a report from TechCrunch: Earlier this year, Google announced its plans to bring Android Auto, its phone-centric in-car infotainment platform, "to every car" by launching it as a stand-alone Android app, too. It's taken a while, but the company today launched an update to the Android Auto app for -- well -- Android that makes good on this promise. Even if your car isn't Android Auto compatible, you can now get all the benefits of Android Auto without the cost of a new mid-size sedan. Android Auto on the phone provides you with a simplified interface that combines directions, music, and incoming messages into a relatively distraction free experience. That's essentially the same interface you would see on an in-car display with Android Auto support. Android Auto works with popular apps like Spotify, Pandora, Google Maps and others. Like all things Google, the app will also soon let you use "Ok Google" commands to use directions, send messages and control your music. What's more is that the app will automatically boot-up when the phone connects to your car's Bluetooth network. It's compatible with smartphones running Android 5.0 and newer and will be available to users in more than 30 countries over the course of the next few days.
In case you haven't noticed, you got both things delivered to you. Be happy!
Actually, for me, text messages on my map display, particularly if I'm using the latter to get to an unknown destination, is a nuisance. I've set my phone to automatically send text replies if I'm driving. I can wait until I get to a place and then check my messages. If someone wants to call me, I'll take the call via the speaker. But it's in any case illegal to text while driving, so the automatic message that goes out should be adequate for the time that I'm driving. And if it's more urgent, the other person can call me
Your wireless mouse and keyboards don't use Bluetooth: they use an IRDA style wireless that connects a mouse/keyboard w/ a USB dongle, which goes into one of the 4 (or whatever) USB ports on your computer. It's like having a USB keyboard and USB mouse, sans the wires. Bluetooth is not the standard used here to connect one w/ the other.
I'm sitting here listening to Jackie Blue by the Ozark Mountain Daredevils on my Logitech bluetooth Headset, while simultaneously typing to you on a logitech K480 bluetooth Keyboard and using an Apple magic mouse and I even tried moving the mouse with no effect on either the keyboard or headset all operating simultaneously.
The K480 does have a USB plug-in, if I want it, but its sitting in a recess in the headset, not in use. That's a different technology and for devices that have USB and not Bluetooth. That's a whole different thing.
Otherwise, carry on.
The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
The problem I have with putting any of these auto services directly on a phone is that the hands-free/no texting laws the police try to enforce may snare you.
The cops are usually just trying to keep any eye out for anyone driving along who picks up a cellphone and holds it in their hand. That's why the navigation systems, Apple Car Play, and Android Auto on an in-dash stereo have value. It ensures the interface is actually part of the vehicle, on the dash.
You can argue that this is stupid, etc. But good luck getting out of the next "texting while driving" ticket by arguing with the cop that all you were actually doing was pressing a key to skip to the next song on your stereo from your phone.