The ayes have it: An awesome majority of you need this Android Auto characteristic

Most fashionable automobiles characteristic massive touchscreens for head items nowadays. So it’s pure for anybody to need to use the house to play movies. Nevertheless, as we established just lately, doing so isn’t precisely as straightforward or easy as you may think it to be.

Whereas it’s comprehensible to limit video playback to forestall it from distracting customers, there’s no cause it ought to limit playback when the automotive is stationary or has its ignition turned off. Google, if it needed, might place curbs on watching movies when it detects the automotive in movement. It already does that by stopping customers from utilizing the bodily keyboard to seek for a vacation spot in Google Maps when the car is in movement, and as an alternative solely permits utilizing voice for search.

There are third-party options to bypass this limitation in video playback on Android Auto, however none work flawlessly. And whereas Google has promised to repair this, there’s no clear timeline, and that naturally has many frequent Android Auto customers miffed.

Almost all of you need video playback on Android Auto

We just lately requested our readers in the event that they agreed that video playback on Android Auto is a fundamental requirement. The outcomes based mostly on our ballot, as you’ll be able to see beneath, present an awesome inclination for desirous to entry the characteristic.

Almost half of the just about 10,000 readers who participated within the ballot mentioned they need video playback on their automobiles’ head items by way of Android Auto whereas it’s parked. And we predict it’s a good ask.

In the meantime, one other 40% mentioned they’d like video playback even whereas driving, so the co-passengers might take pleasure in movies. Although we admit that is the much less protected possibility, provided that it would distract drivers. Regardless of that concern, a number of luxurious automobiles already achieve this by separate screens for entrance passengers or panoramic shows that span the width of the dashboard.

The feedback on our unique article, nevertheless, had been polar reverse, with many urging them that drivers are already distracted and that there is no such thing as a want to observe movies. Some additionally level to the truth that many nations prohibit utilizing head items that enable video playback whereas driving. Almost 10% of the votes are attributed to our readers who don’t need to watch movies on Android Auto.

A selected reader, Nyankana, affords a easy answer, the place they ask individuals to “simply use their tablets on a holder” to observe movies. Additionally they stress that Android Auto has far too many issues that Google ought to handle earlier than permitting customers to observe movies, and mentioned they only use their telephone for navigation, as a result of it’s “much better and far more responsive.” A small share of ballot contributors additionally seem to agree with Nyankana, saying Android Auto wants consideration in different areas.

Now, whereas we hope Google comes round and permits customers to play movies, we additionally perceive the issues and the necessities for deeper integration with the automotive programs. That’s one space the place Android Automotive — a particular arm of Android particularly meant for in-car shows — is excelling. That’s as a result of it operates independently of your telephone and has entry to info from the automotive’s sensors and different controls. It additionally allows you to use video apps corresponding to YouTube and Prime Video whereas the car is at relaxation.

However as you may count on, Android Automotive comes at a further value for producers, which is why it stays restricted to high-end automobiles for now. Maybe that might change quickly, although 2026 doesn’t appear to be the yr for that transition, given the chance of rising part costs.