Get ready to say goodbye to the USB cable: using Android Auto wirelessly will soon be possible with millions of smartphones, from all manufacturers
Good news for those who use the Android Auto platform to keep their smartphone connected and continue to use their favorite apps while driving, but without distractions or risks: soon everyone will be able to use Android Auto wirelessly, that is, without connecting the phone to the car via USB.
The wireless connection is the real breakthrough for using Android Auto, because it doesn’t require us to plug and unplug the phone every time we get in or out of the vehicle. However, at the moment only the latest Google Pixel and Samsung are compatible with Android Auto Wireless, despite the fact that this feature is already quite mature (it was introduced by Google in 2018). In un recente aggiornamento della sua pagina ufficiale di supporto per Android Auto, però, Google dichiara che nuovi telefoni potranno presto usarla. E saranno parecchi, per la gioia di milioni di potenziali utenti che vogliono usare Android sulla propria auto.
Android Auto Wireless: cosa cambia
Il cambiamento principale in Android Auto Wireless è che sarà disponibile su tutti gli smartphone con il prossimo sistema operativo di Google, Android 11. Tra i requisiti elencati nella nuova pagina di supporto, infatti, si legge che per usare la funzionalità basterà “Qualsiasi smartphone con Android 11.0 e rete Wi-Fi da 5 GHz“. It will be enough to have a phone with updated Android and a Wi-Fi 5 or higher network, then, to be able to use Android Auto wirelessly.
Android Auto Wireless: Why it’s important
While waiting for the new Android Automotive OS to roll out to a large number of cars, connecting a smartphone with the car’s infotainment system is the only way to bring Android apps into the car. The wired connection for a long time wasn’t a big deal, as it also served to keep the phone charged while we used it via Android Auto. The inconvenience of plugging and unplugging the smartphone, then, was more than justified for the purpose of keeping it charged. With the spread of wireless charging on more and more smartphones and more and more cars, however, there is no longer a need to plug in the USB cable to charge the phone. The pairing of wireless charging and Android Auto wireless, then, will be increasingly logical and natural for all users.