If you’ve tried using WhatsApp on Android Auto, you probably don’t know much about it. You can see incoming messages while driving, but very few of them, and if you open the “app” on Android Auto, looks almost emptyThe same goes for any other messaging app that is compatible with Android Auto.

At the last Google I/O in 2024, we learned that Google will allow more types of apps in Android Auto and Android Automotive, including the arrival of messaging and VOIP apps in Automotive. New features will be at your fingertips in the communications category in Android Auto: message history.

Another WhatsApp WhatsApp on Android Auto

Messaging apps in Android Auto are more like notifications coming to you from your mobile phone, with the added benefit of being able to respond to incoming messages by dictating your response to Google Assistant. Like other apps allowed in Android Auto, developers don’t have free reign over what they want to do, instead must use certain specific templates.

Google therefore keeps a tight grip on what is and is not allowed in Android Auto, mainly for security reasons and to ensure that navigation is similar between different applications. Now it has recently opened its hand Allow more applications while the vehicle is stationaryLike GameSnacks mini-games or YouTube or Google Cast support in Automotive.

The messaging apps found in Android Auto (very limited) are about to come fully to Android Automotive. Android Automotive is a full-fledged operating system, whereas Android Auto runs on the mobile device and is mirrored on the vehicle display. Therefore, future messaging apps for Android Automotive may be more complex when run directly in the vehicle, but We will also have news on Android Auto.

Status of different app categories in Android Auto and Automotive. Communication apps are currently available in beta in Android Auto and will soon be coming to Automotive

Google’s developer documentation includes information about new features for messaging apps for Android Auto: message and call historyWe already have calls via WhatsApp, but it is hoped that other applications will be able to join in the future.

Particularly interesting idea View WhatsApp message history (and similar apps) are on Android Auto, so we will have a WhatsApp that is more like WhatsApp on Android Auto, without a simple view of recent notifications. We still don’t know exactly how it will work, since developers who want to try out these new features in the Communications category will have to ask Google for access by filling out a form.

Today, WhatsApp on Android Auto only shows new messages you receive while you’re driving. without any context or previous messages. In some cases, you won’t know what they’re replying to, but that could change if Google allows such apps to show chat history and perhaps the chat list.

Of course, this is something that can be quite distracting while driving, so It wouldn’t be surprising if it was limited unless the car was parked.For now, Google hasn’t let us see exactly how it will work, and all documentation on it is based on the current method, based on system notifications.

The status of communication applications has been officially announced It is in “beta” and access is limited to those manually approved by Googleso we can only expect to see news on a few apps over an as-yet-undetermined period of time.

via | Android Authority

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