What is Android Auto and How Indians Can Use it?

Search engine giant Google has announced its Android Auto app initially on June 25, at Google I/O 2014. and got released on March 19th, 2015. Now the latest news is that, the Android Auto is coming to India and 17 other countries.

The company announced this on their official Twitter account, saying "Full speed ahead. 💨 #AndroidAuto is now available in 18 new countries" with flag emoji's.

The list of countries includes, Argentina, Austria, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, India, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Russia, Switzerland, Uruguay and Venezuela.

What is Android Auto?

Android Auto is basically a smartphone projection standard running on Android OS. This brings the most useful apps from your smartphone to your car screen, optimized for glanceability and readability while driving. Meanwhile, this is desgined to minimize the distraction, so that the driver can stay focussed.

With this, user can control GPS mapping/navigation, music playback, SMS, telephony, and web search using a touch screen that is embedded in the dashboard. Morevoer, it uses card-based system like Google Now to gives the information as you are driving.

How to use Android Auto?

Using Android Auto is pretty simple! All you have to do is to go to Google Play store and download the app on your phone that supports Android Auto. Make sure your smartphone runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop or higher.

Now connect your smartphone to the car, where your mobile will go to the car mode and casts the Android Auto on touch screen in the dashboard. Further, the users can interact with them using Voice actions.

Inspired from Apple?

The alternative or rival to the Android Auto is none other than its long-term rival, Apple. The Cupertino giant Apple has similar technology dubbed as, "CarPlay", which was introduced with iOS 7.1.

It also employs the same technique, all the options are controlled on car's dashboard display.