Upcoming Android Auto will not need a compatible car stereo

Everybody knows that Google’s Android Auto and Apple CarPlay apps offer phone users the ability to use their features off the vehicle’s infotainment display. Likewise, that meant a compatible music player was required and hence put a lot of users, who had older cars, to inconvenience.

Google has now updated the Android Auto app which will let users access the application on the phone instead of the car’s screen, and anyone with an Android phone running Lollipop (OS version 5.0) or newer can use the new version. Once set up, the new Android Auto application automatically fires up and connects to the music player through the Bluetooth function.

The app has three icons at the bottom of the screen for maps (with turn-by-turn navigation commands), phone calls, and audio listening. Once the user is accessing any of these functions, a large home button becomes visible so that one can hit on it to go back to the Android Auto home page.

Google added that support for hands-free voice commands is on its way in the coming weeks, so stay tuned.