At this year’s Google I/O developer conference, the company announced some important updates relating to Android in cars. This affects those who use Android Auto to project their phone to their in-car touchscreen, or owners of cars with Google built-in. Starting with Android Auto, it gets a full refresh that results in it being adaptable to the shape of any screen. Whether it is an ultrawide rectangle, a circle or a unique shape like in BMW’s Neue Klasse cars, Android Auto will fill up the available screen real estate for a more immersive look. Meanwhile, Google’s Material 3 Expressive design language is applied to Android Auto for expressive fronts, smooth animations and wallpapers. Users will also get to enjoy configurable widgets, allowing them to place relevant content such as favourite contacts, a garage door opener, a weather overview and more within each reach, even while actively navigating. On that mention, Immersive Navigation is the big change to Google Maps, bringing with it a vivid 3D view that shows buildings, overpasses and terrain. Critical details such as lanes, traffic lights and stop signs are also highlighted to hopefully ensure you make tricky turns. A new feature coming to Android Auto is the ability to watch videos on apps like YouTube in full HD at 60 fps. This will come later this year in supported cars, starting with those from BMW, Ford, Genesis, Hyundai, Kia, Mahindra, Mercedes-Benz, Renault, Skoda, Tata and Volvo. For safety reasons, video playback will only be available when the car is parked. However, if you switch to drive, videos will seamlessly transition to audio-only in apps that support background video, so you can continue listening to your video podcast. Supported cars and apps will also support Dolby Atmos for a richer sound experience, with media apps such as YouTube Music and Spotify also set to be updated for greater ease of use. Given the AI boom, Google’s Gemini Intelligence is naturally integrated into Android Auto to understand context and anticipate your needs to gets things done on your behalf. As an example, should you receive a text from a friend asking for an address, the system will be able to understand the context of the question and find the answer using information from your past interactions before suggesting a reply, all with a single tap. Another example is ordering takeout on your drive home. As for cars with Google built-in, they will get the features mentioned above along with a wider variety of downloadable apps, including Zoom. Working even more closely with automakers, Google says built-in apps will be more deeply integrate with a car’s hardware, so you can ask about a function that the car has or even know if a package will fit in the boot. Immersive Navigation in Google Maps in Google built-in cars is also said to be more precise thanks to live lane guidance, which uses a car’s front-facing camera to determine the lane you are in and inform if you need to switch or turn into an exit. Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro. Use the promo code 'PAULTAN' when you checkout for 10% discount!