Your Android smartphone can now be used as a car key

Published December 2, 2021
Author: Ash Khan

Your Android smartphone can now be used as a car key

Published December 2, 2021
Author: Ash Khan

Google announced an online car key feature for Android smartphones earlier this year, and now you can lock, unlock, and start your vehicle by using your Android smartphone — if you’re using a Google Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, or Samsung Galaxy S21 with a suitable BMW. It’s a huge occasion for the few of you who fulfill these specific requirements. 

Google has since been striving to improve the Android experience in cars. It started by reducing the size of its Android Auto mobile app and replacing it with a Google Assistant Driving Mode, but now it’s trying to deliver on its promise to make the in-dash car hub as hands-free as attainable. 

The company confirmed a slew of new Android Auto features that will be available starting today. If you start your vehicle with your smartphone nearby, Android Auto will now activate automatically on the dashboard if it was already synced.  furthermore, Google introduced an always-on “play” button to the main screen of Android Auto, that you can tap to begin playing your favorite songs. 

Google has also added smart responses to the Android Auto dashboard. This may be less disturbing than trying to communicate with the Assistant and attempting to dictate a message whilst still driving. 

The choice to use your voice to browse for songs within the other media applications is an Android Auto function that will be available soon, as it is currently difficult to do so while driving. When the function is ready, you’ll be free to ask Google Assistant to play an artist or music by tapping the search option on the dashboard. 

Outside of the car, Google is also releasing major updates for Android. The company is extending the ability to auto-reset authorizations to some more smartphones that use Google Play services and run Android 6.0 or above. It’s good news for those using an older device because it allows authorizations to be revoked from any applications which have been defunct for some time. The ability to auto-reset was earlier restricted to phones running Android 11 and higher, which is when Google first tried to introduce the function. 

Households who depend on the Family Bell no longer need to have Google Assistant-enabled devices placed strategically throughout the residence to hear it. You can now use a smartphone to schedule planned rest periods and shift-overs as needed. It may also result in a calmer alert, which is beneficial if only half of the family is expected to heed the Family Bell. 

There are a few new widgets to put on your device’s main screen for widget fans, particularly those that are currently enjoying Android 12’s Material You visual style. There’s a YouTube Music widget that displays the playback controls and most recently played songs. The Tech giant will also release a new Play Books widget next week, allowing users to access their collection of books and audiobooks. As a long-time Android user, I have a large library kept in Play Books, and I’m pleased to see it included in the widget lineup. A Google Photos widget will display your favorite people and pets, allowing users to revisit the memorable moments from the same screen where you launch your “I’m Feeling Sad” playlist. Everything is coming together. 

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