Car infotainment systems can be dangerous distractions. In fact, some cause drivers to take their eyes off the road for as many as 40 seconds, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. Android Widgets make things easier and safer by serving up important information at a glance, and that’s where Widgets for Android Auto, a new app, comes into play.
Widgets for Android Auto, the pet project of XDA Junior Member ns130291, is completely free to use. It’s a simple application that can be installed on Android Auto, Google’s connected car platform, and set up to display a single widget of your choosing, whether for weather, traffic, upcoming calendar appointments, or a music player.
To install Widgets for Android Auto, you’ll need to enable Developer Mode on Android Auto so that you can toggle on the Unknown Sources option, which lets you install apps from outside the Google Play Store. In the Android Auto app on your smartphone, open the Hamburger menu, select About, tap About Android Auto ten times until the Developer mode enabled toast appears, and then tap the dots at the top-right of the screen. Select Developer Settings and enable Unkown Sources, and from that point, simply sideload Widgets for Android Auto.
You’ll need to open Widgets for Android Auto in order to select the widget you want to display, and then you’ll need to pair your phone to your car’s head unit. After you select Widgets in the OEM Tab, though, you’re good to go. One of XDA’s team members, XDA Forum Moderator Zacharee1, has tested this and confirms it works just as you’d expect.
A widget that requires too much attention can be a major distraction while driving, but other widgets can actually help. A calendar widget that displays your schedule, for example, or a basic weather report can discourage you from sneaking glances at your smartphone. If for no other reason, that’s why Widgets for Android Auto is worth giving a go.
Android Auto - Maps, Media, Messaging & Voice (Free, Google Play) →
Check out Widgets for Android Auto in our Android Auto forum
0 comments:
Post a Comment