After years of teasing and a boring twist that made it a feature of Google Maps, Google Assistant’s ‘Driving Mode’ might finally start looking like Google promised it would in 2019.
Since Google first announced it as a replacement for the phone version of Android Auto, the company has slowly rolled out more multitasking within Google Maps, at least until now. With Android 12, you can say “Driving Mode” and your phone will switch to a simplified design that is more suited to driving.
That being said, this worked for me the first two times I tried it, and after that it just kicked me into Google Maps driving mode every other time. Also, every time I tried to navigate somewhere in the app, it would push me to Google Maps.
At the top, there is a search bar that you can use to set a waypoint or suggested route. Below are various tips and music / podcast buttons for sending a message or a call.
There is a reduced app drawer at the bottom of the screen and a button to activate the Google Assistant.
Overall, it looks a lot cleaner than Android Auto or Assistant mode on Google Maps. It’s also worth noting that there’s a ‘Now Playing’ section that allows you to control the playback or shuffle your songs when you’re playing music.
If Google implemented buttons for some quick locations at the top of the screen, this would be a perfect Android Auto replacement for many people as, in essence, it should be good at getting people to places. However, as of now, it doesn’t adopt your device theme like other new Android ‘Material You’ items.
Source: Droidlife