Google launches the Android Auto application; Updates YouTube, Maps and other apps

After unveiling Android Auto in June and distributing developer APIs in November of last year, Google finally released a consumer version of the Android Auto app on Google Play on Tuesday.

Android Auto app is compatible with Android 5.0 Lollipop devices and above, and recently launched Pioneer headunits / dashboard products, noted Google. Currently, Android Auto is only supported for users in the US, UK, and Australia, and Google plans to add more partners soon.

Google’s Android Auto platform essentially brings Google Now and Google Maps to the car’s dashboard. With the app connected to the cars’ dashboard / main units, users get detailed navigation, traffic information and more via Google Maps. Users can send and make calls, request Google Now cards through, and listen to music using voice commands, notes the Google Play list.

The company also hid a developer mode in the Android Auto app. To enter Android Auto Developer Mode, users need to tap the image header 10 times in the app.

Meanwhile, Google’s Wednesday app update cycle brought new features for Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, YouTube, Quickoffice, Maps, Play Music, and Inbox by Gmail.

With the update, Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides apps have the option to switch to full screen while scrolling. Users can now double tap the current document or tap the pencil on the Material Design theme in the lower right corner once to edit the document.

At the same time, Google updated the Quickoffice app to limit its functionality before finally removing it from users. The app now uses individual Google Docs, Sheets, Slides apps to edit documents, and if none of the individual apps are installed, Quickoffice notes that it is no longer supported and has been replaced by the Docs, Slides and Sheets apps, prompting users to download them.

For the YouTube app, the 10.10 update brings a new 4K video search filter, filtering options for video downloaders, as well as changes to the video editing interface.

On the other hand, Google has updated the Maps app to version 9.6, bringing a new toggle in the navigation settings menu that will allow users to choose between turn-by-turn voice navigation through the speakers of the phone. device or via bluetooth connection and some design tweaks to the app.

With Google Play Music version 5.8.1836R, Google introduced YouTube music videos to the app’s search results. Users can also see all the albums in My Library without having to tap More.

Finally, the Inbox by Gmail version 1.4 application available on Google Play would now allow Google Apps users with invitations to access the service. Google hasn’t announced anything about it yet.