this was the most important Android Auto news of 2022

There has been a lot of news about Android Auto this year and you can of course read about all the updates on Androidworld. In this article we do it differently and only summarize the most important news of 2022. From Sygic to the new Coolwalk interface: these were the most important news.

1. New Coolwalk interface

Let’s start with the best right away. Android Auto will soon look very different. In May, Google introduced a new interface called Coolwalk. The intention is that Android Auto will make much better use of the screen space of the infotainment system in your car.

Different parts of the interface are shown in a split screen. In addition to your navigation in Maps, for example, part of the screen is now reserved for Spotify’s media player or the messages you receive via Telegram.

The Coolwalk update would normally have been rolled out in the summer, but the launch has been delayed. At the moment, the new interface is already available to some of the beta users. However, it is not possible to just participate in the beta program, because Google only allows a limited group of users.

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2. Android Auto Wireless dongle

At the beginning of this year we wrote about three changes for Android Auto that we would like to see in 2022. One item on the list was the launch of an official dongle that lets you use Android Auto wirelessly. You permanently connect such a dongle to the USB port of your car and then you can leave your phone in your bag.

The AAWireless is one such gadget that was launched via Kickstarter and you can purchase it here, at least if the stock is good. This year another gadget has appeared that comes close to an official dongle. Motorola has worked with Google for this MA1 adapter. Unfortunately, it is not yet for sale in the Netherlands and Belgium at the moment, but it is already a step in the right direction.

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3. In Sygic your phone works as an extra screen

Sygic is a well-known navigation app that also works on Android Auto. In fact, it’s one of the editors’ favorite alternatives to Google Maps. Sygic has surprised this summer with a new feature for its Android Auto app. It is now possible to use your phone as a second screen in the car and that works in many different ways.

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Your smartphone can work as a dashcam while navigating, but it can also recognize road signs with its camera and display the maximum allowed speed on the screen. On the other hand, you can use your smartphone screen to add an extra stop to your route, such as a gas station. The advantage is that while scrolling through the list of places, your map and route instructions remain visible to the driver on the other screen.

4. Android Auto for Smartphones is no more

In our list of things we wanted to see different for Android Auto in 2022, you can also read something about the app for smartphones. Those who cannot use Android Auto on the car’s infotainment system could always rely on the Android Auto for smartphones app. It conjured up an Android Auto interface on your phone’s screen.

It was already known in January 2022 that Google was going to draw a line through Android Auto for smartphones. That is what happened this summer. So we hoped at the beginning of this year that an alternative would be ready soon. Nothing turns out to be less true. Google has also discontinued the driving mode of the Google Assistant. It is therefore better to look for a suitable car interface yourself instead. For example, take a look at these apps.

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What was the most important Android Auto news of 2022 for you? Do you already have the Coolwalk interface in your car or do you perhaps have an AAWireless? Let us know in the comments.

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