Google is telling users of the Android Auto for Phone Screens app that it will no longer work soon with a pop-up message within the app (via 9to5Google). The app allows a simplified Android interface for the car that is safer to use while mounting the phone on a car dashboard, a great feature for those who don’t have newer cars with the Android version Auto running on the entertainment information screen.
Actually, this isn’t the first warning from Google that it was exiling Android Auto for phone screens. It was obsolete last year when the company disabled Android Auto for phone screens on newer Android 12 devices. People with older devices could still access the app, but Google did not provide a timeline for how long it would last, stating that “there are no more details to share at this time.” Google has revived a message similar to 9to5Google this week, again omitting a timeline on when the app will stop running.
This whole debacle is happening because of Google’s confusing plans for 2019; I wanted users to make the transition from an Android Auto experience on their phone to the Google Assistant driving mode. But the feature was delayed and won’t be released until 2020. During that delay, the Android Auto for Phone Screens app became the workaround for using your Android while driving if you didn’t have a newer compatible car.
The Android Auto for Phone Screens app is an affordable solution that anyone can use in any car and get all the benefits of Android Auto. Now, users will have to install a new expensive main unit that supports Android Auto or buy a newer car if they want the Android Auto experience.
Google Assistant Driving Mode is also not a one-to-one alternative; is a linear solution with distracting indications compared to the Android Auto interface. It could also lead users to search for a mobile phone while driving if Google Assistant receives an incorrect voice request.
Google has ambitious plans for the auto industry, and Android Auto for Phone Screens is likely to dilute it. It has a full car operating system called Android Automotive that is found in cars like the Polestar 2, and will also be introduced to Ford vehicles. Google also updated the Android Auto Connected experience this year, focusing on responsiveness and making better use of different car entertainment information screen sizes.