Get ready, Android Auto users! A feature you've been wanting in Google Maps is finally making its way to your car's dashboard!
For a long time, many of us have viewed Android Auto as simply a mirror of our familiar Android phone experience, projected onto a larger screen. However, the reality is a bit more nuanced. Android Auto operates as its own distinct entity, with its own update cycle, and it often plays a game of catch-up with the features you enjoy on your phone.
But here's where it gets exciting! Google has just taken a significant stride towards bridging that gap with the latest Android Auto update. Within the code of Android Auto 16.2, a fascinating new element has been unearthed: a "driving avatar." This discovery strongly suggests that the beloved customization options for your navigation icon, which you're used to on your phone's Google Maps app, will soon be available directly within your car's infotainment system.
No more juggling between your car's screen and your phone!
While this "driving avatar" feature isn't yet visible or active in the current public release of Android Auto, its presence in the update's code is a clear indicator of its impending arrival. This means you'll likely be able to personalize your navigation icon without ever needing to unlock your phone.
Currently, if you want to change your driving avatar in Google Maps on Android Auto, you're out of luck. You'd have to grab your phone, unlock it, and make the changes there. This isn't just inconvenient; in some regions, fiddling with your phone while driving is actually illegal. But once this feature rolls out, you'll be able to make these adjustments right from your car's main display.
For those who might not have explored this option before, the standard triangular navigation icon in Google Maps can be transformed into a variety of other shapes. You can choose from different car icons, including various body styles, vans, and other vehicle types, allowing you to pick one that best represents your current ride. You can even adjust the color to perfectly match your vehicle!
It's quite interesting to note that this particular customization is being added in the update that follows the rather disruptive Android Auto bug where the direction icon would simply vanish. Could it be that the glitch, which caused the icon to disappear, was the catalyst for Google finally deciding to implement this much-desired customization? That's a fun thought to entertain, even if it's probably not the sole reason. Regardless of the motivation, the inclusion of this code is a strong signal that this personalization feature is on its way. And here's the part most people miss: hopefully, this paves the way for even more customization options to be introduced in future Android Auto updates!
What do you think about this upcoming feature? Are you excited to personalize your driving avatar directly from your car's screen, or do you feel Google is taking too long to bring phone features to Android Auto? Let us know in the comments below!
