A new version of Android Auto is being deployed.

It can be activated manually by going to the application settings (make sure you have the latest 4.5592854 visible at the bottom of the settings page) from your smartphone and activating the option “Try the new Android Auto”.

Once activated, the next time you start you will get the new version.
First new feature, Android automatically launches on the latest navigation application (Google Maps or Waze).

At the bottom left there is a circle button to open a menu with all compatible applications, those frequently used are in the first position. There are new applications such as Agenda or News. But when there is a small “Google Now” logo next to it, a click on these applications starts the voice assistant but nothing appears on the screen. Too bad, at the stop it would have been interesting to be able to see your Google calendar for example on the screen.

The other new feature is the ability to interact with the music from the navigation application with the appearance of shortcuts at the bottom (pause and next). This same area displays navigation instructions if you are in another application.

I am quite satisfied with this new version because it makes handling easier. I couldn’t test it on a large screen of R-Link 2 or Easy Link (if someone can send me a picture…)

EDIT 24/08: Thanks for the pictures 😊 (Here a v3 R-Link 2)

By the way, a feature that has been available for a while but is very practical: the possibility of using the keyboard of your smartphone instead of the screen. To activate this option, simply click on the button at the top right of the keyboard.

I hope that one day Google will allow other navigation application editors to be compatible with Android Auto like TomTom or Navigon as Apple did with Carplay…