TL;DR
Android Auto is more than navigation and streaming: a recent roundup highlights eight non-music, non-maps apps that expand a car’s dashboard capabilities. The list includes tools for meetings, parking, EV charging, fuel tracking, weather-aware routing, live emergency audio, smart-home control, and short games for waiting times.
What happened
Android Police published a guide showcasing eight Android Auto apps that offer utilities beyond the common uses of Google Maps and Spotify. The selection covers productivity and safety tools — Zoom appears in an audio-only form with calendar integration for one-tap joins, while SpotHero lets users find and review pre-booked parking reservations from the car. EV drivers get PlugShare’s community-driven reliability ratings and real-time station status synced from planned trips. Fuelio handles fuel logs, trip recording and service reminders using crowdsourced station prices. MyRadar’s RouteCast predicts hazards like surface conditions and cross-winds and refreshes frequently. Scanner Radio provides access to thousands of live emergency feeds by distance. Samsung SmartThings links vehicle arrival to home routines via geofencing, and GameSnacks offers lightweight touch games that disable when driving. The piece frames these apps as ways to make infotainment systems more useful than just radio players.
Why it matters
- Expands what an in-car infotainment system can do beyond navigation and music.
- Offers tools for practical needs: parking, charging, fuel tracking and service reminders.
- Provides situational awareness: weather- and emergency-related feeds can inform route choices.
- Integrates vehicle presence with smart-home automation to streamline arrival routines.
Key facts
- The article argues many drivers primarily use Android Auto for Google Maps and Spotify.
- Zoom on Android Auto runs in audio-only mode and integrates with the calendar for one-tap meeting joins.
- SpotHero lets users reserve parking in major cities and use Android Auto to check bookings and get directions.
- PlugShare includes a PlugScore reliability rating from 0 to 10 and can sync planned charging stops to the car’s dashboard; it also shows real-time station status for most chargers.
- Fuelio tracks gas usage, records refueling logs, offers trip recording, service reminders, and uses crowdsourced data to find cheaper fuel nearby.
- MyRadar’s RouteCast analyzes road temperature, cross-winds and surface hazards along routes and updates approximately every 15 minutes.
- Scanner Radio provides access to over 8,000 live audio feeds from police, fire and emergency services and lets users browse by distance.
- Samsung SmartThings can trigger modes and routines based on geofenced location (example: Coming Home scene opening a garage and turning on lights) and limits shown entities to avoid clutter; it may be slow on first startup.
- GameSnacks supplies lightweight touchscreen games that are disabled once the car is put in drive.
What to watch next
- Avoid joining live meetings while driving; Zoom on Android Auto is audio-only but the article cautions that participating in meetings while driving is unsafe.
- PlugShare’s real-time status covers most stations, which can help decide charging stops en route.
- Whether every app listed works in all makes, models or Android Auto setups is not confirmed in the source.
- Any subscription, in-app purchase requirements or regional availability for these apps is not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- Android Auto: A platform that projects selected Android apps and interfaces onto a vehicle’s infotainment display to provide navigation, communication and media functions.
- EV charger status: Information indicating whether an electric vehicle charging station is available, in use, out of service, or otherwise occupied.
- Geofence: A virtual perimeter around a geographic area that can trigger automated actions when a device enters or exits that area.
- Crowdsourced data: Information collected from many users, often contributed voluntarily, to provide insights like prices, availability or quality ratings.
- RouteCast: A predictive routing feature (as described for MyRadar) that analyzes conditions such as road temperature and winds along a planned route.
Reader FAQ
Are these apps meant to replace Maps and music apps?
No — the article presents them as complementary tools that add additional capabilities to Android Auto beyond navigation and audio.
Can I join Zoom meetings with video on Android Auto?
Zoom on Android Auto switches to audio-only mode according to the article.
Is it safe to use these apps while driving?
The piece warns that joining meetings while driving is unsafe; some apps (like GameSnacks) disable gameplay when the car is put in drive.
Do these apps work in every car or Android Auto setup?
Not confirmed in the source.
8 Android Auto apps that have nothing to do with music or maps (but you need them) Credit: Lucas Gouveia / Android Police By Ben Khalesi Published 22 minutes ago Ben…
Sources
- 8 Android Auto apps that have nothing to do with music or maps (but you need them)
- These 8 Apps Make Android Auto Even Better
- Best Android Auto Apps Collection 2025 Changing How …
- The 9 best Android Automotive apps to upgrade your …
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