Hand your telephone off to a passenger for some simultaneous navigation motion

When you’ve ever swapped between Android Auto and CarPlay, you realize the 2 platforms are surprisingly related. Google’s newest redesign even pulls from a few of Apple’s greatest concepts, constructing a dashboard that retains navigation, media, and extra proper at your fingertips. That mentioned, each car-friendly UIs have their justifiable share of strengths and weaknesses, and nowhere is that extra evident than with Maps. Fortunately, it looks as if one of many largest complications for Android drivers — and their passengers — is likely to be altering quickly.

Customers on Reddit’s Android Auto group noticed a change to how the platform offers with displaying Google Maps on each screens on the similar time. At present, trying to open Maps in your telephone whereas plugged into your automobile’s show provides you an error message alongside the underside of your display screen. It is lengthy been a thorn within the aspect of Android customers, as CarPlay exhibits a full checklist of instructions when utilizing Google Maps Nevertheless, Maps model 11.67 appears to alter this, permitting a driver — or, extra doubtless on this case, a passenger — to work together with the telephone model of the app.

Google Maps 11.66 whereas Android Auto is operating.

I can verify I’ve seen this alteration on a Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely after sideloading the most recent Maps APK — on this case, 11.67.02. This view is definitely totally different than how Apple handles it. As an alternative of a simplified model of the app, Google Maps now provides you full entry to no matter’s being proven on display screen, as much as and together with turn-by-turn navigation. Fortunately, you’ll be able to at all times view a full checklist of instructions throughout the app itself, so in case you’re on a street journey, your trusty co-pilot sitting shotgun can take a look at the subsequent steps to get you to your vacation spot.

Nonetheless, I am unable to assist however assume this could possibly be an inadvertent bug on Google’s half. The general expertise is not good; after I first began the app after updating, it did not mirror what was proven on my automobile’s show. Whereas I would already chosen instructions in Android Auto, Google Maps was displaying me its default menu. Once I restarted the app, it additionally kicked my automobile out of Maps, although upon restarting the app, instructions lastly synced up between each situations. It is a a lot much less direct technique than what you may discover on an iPhone, and it is unusual to see Google leaping from providing a complete lack of second-screen expertise to this.

But it surely’s higher than nothing, and as a die-hard Auto person, I hope it sticks round. Clearly, this does not profit the motive force instantly, however with the ability to depend on one other individual within the automobile to view upcoming instructions or to re-navigate midway by a visit is a lifesaver. It is about time one thing like this got here to Auto, and hopefully, it’s going to solely get higher with future updates. If you wish to strive it out for your self, seize the most recent Maps APK from APK Mirror.