Google now lets you answer calls, send text messages, and play music, all from its Maps app. The new update is now rolling out to Android phones and will allow you to focus on the road while the Google Assistant enters the new driving mode. This means that you can make and receive calls, send and listen to text messages, and control your music with just your voice and without taking your hands off the wheel and your eyes on the road.
The Assistant will alert you to an incoming call so you can answer or reject with your voice, eliminating the need to look down on your phone. For example, instead of looking at your device to see who’s calling while you’re driving and then tapping to answer, Google will say something like “Call from Katie. Do you want to answer? » You can then say “Yes” or “No” to answer or reject the call.
You can also play multimedia content from streaming services such as YouTube Music, Spotify, and Google Podcasts by saying “Ok Google, play [artist]” or “OK Google, play [song name].” And you can make requests by genre, albums, or just say “play music.”
Google also added more details of COVID-19 to its Maps app
This allows you to see how full your transit line is in real time and check the live status of your take-out or delivery order. These features are now rolling out for Android and iPhone users, so you may not see them yet.
At this time, the Assistant driving mode function is only available for Android users (version 9.0 or higher). Google says there will be more features in its Assistant Driving Mode soon.