Imagine having a personal assistant on the road. Google Assistant Routines makes this a reality, automating chains of actions with a single voice command or trigger. This underrated feature in Android Auto has been around since 2018 but remains under-the-radar for many drivers. With its recent comeback in 2021, it’s time to shine a light on how you can upgrade your driving experience.
The Basics
Android Auto is Google’s way of mirroring your phone’s interface onto the car’s display, making calls, navigation, and more hands-free. However, basic voice commands are limited. That’s where routines come in – bundling multiple steps into one trigger, like a mini-script for your drive. Think Tasker or Bixby Routines but tailored for driving.
Setting Up Routines
Getting started is straightforward, but the options are buried deep enough to miss them. You’ll set up routines in the Google Home app on your phone and then add shortcuts to your car’s launcher for easy access. Create a starter by selecting a voice command or time of day schedule. Add conditions to ensure it doesn’t trigger when you don’t want it to, and stack actions like navigating to an address or playing a playlist.
Some Killer Examples
Here are four routines worth trying:
1. Morning Commute: Get directions via the fastest route while avoiding tolls, play a news podcast, check your calendar, and enable DND for non-emergency calls.
2. Family Pickup: Send a text to your spouse when you arrive at the kids’ school location, switch to the kids’ playlist, read the weather forecast, and enable calls only from family.
3. Evening Wind-down: Dim the screen to night mode, navigate home, preheat the house via Nest thermostat, and play relaxing ambient sounds.
4. Traffic Jam Buster: Switch to audiobooks when a slowdown is detected on your route, notify contacts of the delay via text, suggest alternate routes, and adjust the AC for more comfort.
Tips and Tricks
To avoid glitches, test your routine before running late. Keep it simple – overloading a routine can cause lags. Remember, this feature is a free win for safer, smarter drives, making even an old car feel cutting-edge in a world of pricey add-ons.
Source: https://www.androidpolice.com/android-auto-google-assistant-routines-guide