Big news from Google Maps: they’re ditching the driving mode feature on their Android app. This feature was a handy tool for keeping your focus on the road and steering clear of other phone distractions. Now, the exact reason for this change is a bit murky, but the grapevine suggests that Google wants folks to lean more on their trusty Google Assistant instead of relying on the driving mode.
According to some tech sleuths over at 9To5Google, they stumbled upon a couple of strings in version 14.52 of the Google app, hinting at the potential retirement of a specific “view” in February 2024. It seems these strings are linked to the driving mode in Google Maps for Android.
Google seems to be nudging users towards using the Assistant for tasks like making calls, sending messages, or jamming to tunes while navigating. The second string they found suggests you should tap that microphone to get the Assistant to do its thing instead of counting on the now-vanishing driving mode. “To call, message, or play media while navigating, tap the mic to use Assistant,” says the second string.
In case you’re not in the loop, the driving mode in Google Maps is all about simplifying things while you’re on the road. It’s like a hands-free way to deal with the app, focusing on giving you the crucial info you need while driving. The map takes center stage, showing your route with clear turn-by-turn directions and real-time traffic updates. All the extra stuff gets tucked away to keep things neat and tidy. Driving mode kicks in automatically when you start navigating in Google Maps, or you can fire it up manually by tapping the little driving wheel icon in the bottom right corner of the app.
