A new Android Auto update in beta form is now available for users willing to try it early. The official release could start as soon as next week, provided no major bugs appear.
How to Get Android Auto 18.2 Beta
The Android Auto 18.2 update has entered public testing, and the beta APK is downloadable online even for those not enrolled in the testing program. The manual installation is straightforward: download the APK file to your Android phone, tap it to start the update process, and follow the instructions.
Some phones might require special permissions to allow app installs from outside the Google Play Store. After updating, the app version will show as 18.2 (beta) in the settings.
New Features in Android Auto 18.2
This update introduces support for widgets directly on Android Auto’s home screen. Users will see essential info such as weather and calendar events without launching separate apps, improving convenience while driving.
Additionally, video app support is arriving, with YouTube leading as the first app to allow video playback inside the car. Videos will only play when the vehicle is parked. Once driving starts, YouTube videos switch to audio-only mode, but this requires a YouTube Premium subscription since background audio is not available on the free tier.
Proactive Suggestions Coming to Google Pixels
As part of Google’s November Pixel Drop update, a new feature called Gemini Intelligence is starting to show proactive suggestions. Gemini connects with Google services like Gmail and Calendar to suggest quick replies based on relevant information. For example, if you get a message asking about your next flight, Gemini can pull flight details from your inbox and calendar to offer a ready-made reply.
Currently, this feature is exclusive to Google Pixel phones and may expand to other Android devices later, though no timeline has been shared.
What’s Next for Android Auto 18.2
If no serious bugs appear during beta testing, Google is expected to begin rolling out Android Auto 18.2 automatically through the Play Store next week. The full beta build name is Android Auto 18.2.1646.
Source: autoevolution.com
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