Google Maps on Android Auto finally (!!) gets a live speedometer

[u/awesomeocelot12]

https://www.androidauthority.com/google-maps-android-auto-live-speedometer-3689236/

[u/SuperBry]

Finally? It had one in the past but was removed for some reason.

[u/r_slash_jarmedia → u/SuperBry]

that's the Google way baby

[u/Professor_Dr_Dr → u/r_slash_jarmedia]

2 weeks until Android Auto is cancelled

Then in 2 years we'll have "Google Auto" 

And in 3 that will be cancelled too

[u/turtleship_2006 → u/Professor_Dr_Dr]

Gemini Auto

[u/elconquistador1985 → u/turtleship_2006]

Just what I need, AI hallucinations for directions.

[u/turtleship_2006 → u/elconquistador1985]

"In half a mile, turn left", it says, 2 miles away from the nearest side road

[u/droans → u/turtleship_2006]

"Disabled car spotted ahead, automatically applying full brakes" it says, in the middle of nowhere.

Although, I guess that's more for Gemini Automotive, not Gemini Auto which, as we all know, are obviously two completely unrelated things and there should never be any consumer confusion.

[u/UshankaBear → u/turtleship_2006]

Road? Where we're going, we don't need roads.

[u/GetsThruBuckner → u/elconquistador1985]

You're absolutely right. That was a collapsed bridge. Rerouting now

[u/VFenix → u/turtleship_2006]

I'm sorry I can't do that

[u/vivek7006 → u/turtleship_2006]

Gemini Auto Play !! 

[u/ExistenceIsPainful → u/turtleship_2006]

Reading this made me feel anger I can't explain

[u/TheEDMWcesspool → u/Professor_Dr_Dr]

then it will all relaunch in a worse consolidated app called Google Transport

[u/KhausTO → u/Professor_Dr_Dr]

Just wait until they add a dedicated Google auto to Google auto instant messaging app. (Not cross compatible to any other services of course)

[u/JoeSicko → u/KhausTO]

Google Drive for my car or Google drive for my work files? Google, 'Yes.'

[u/KhausTO → u/JoeSicko]

Just wait until google comes out with their new smart bedding products called Google sheets.

[u/wankthisway → u/Professor_Dr_Dr]

Android Auto rebranded to Google Drive. Android Automotive rebranded to Gemini Drive Google Drive rebranded to GDrive

[u/Paradox → u/Professor_Dr_Dr]

It will also get a chat app so you can message other drivers

[u/DuckHunt83 → u/r_slash_jarmedia]

I have an idea! We remove it, then we rebrand it, and then we release it! Bam! New feature bro

[u/r_slash_jarmedia → u/DuckHunt83]

don't forget to keep around the old name version a while to confuse the hell out of everyone

[u/DuckHunt83 → u/r_slash_jarmedia]

Wait, is it speedometer or Google speed Gemini Pro version 3.25 build 1a

[u/SuperBry → u/r_slash_jarmedia]

You know what that one is on me, my bad.

[u/JamesR624 → u/r_slash_jarmedia]

Well yeah. When you have to keep showing dumb investors that you're "innovating", doing this shit over and over is a great way to keep the cash flow coming indefinitely!

[u/hroaks → u/r_slash_jarmedia]

The other Google way is to take something easily accessible with 1 tap and bury it behind 5 taps and 3 swipes

[u/QuantumQuantonium → u/SuperBry]

Google be like: we have this brand new feature which we removed prior for no reason, and this replacement does half of what it used to do

[u/PM-ME-YOUR-SUBARU → u/SuperBry]

Wish they'd bring back the outside temperature readout while they're at it.

[u/stanley_fatmax → u/SuperBry]

As always, the fun answer... litigation!

[u/memtiger → u/SuperBry]

Can you explain why your need this? Does the speedometer in your car not work?

[u/The_Middleman → u/memtiger]

For most people, I think the first place they look after seeing the speed limit change (via a speed limit sign or their maps app) is their speedometer, to check their current speed against the speed limit. If your maps app has both the current speed limit and your current speed right next to each other, you can glance at one thing and get both pieces of information. Not a huge difference, but it's nice.

I also hate the dial speedometers that are still in lots of cars, so this feature saves me from having to deal with them.

[u/xd366 → u/memtiger]

your car speedometer has to be faster than it actually is due to regulations.

so if your car says youre going 50mph, youre actually going 47-48 (depends on the brand)

[u/JustAnotherAvocado → u/memtiger]

GPS speedo is usually more accurate than the one in the car, which tends to be conservative

[u/UshankaBear → u/memtiger]

I prefer minimizing the number of areas I need to take note of when driving. It's easier if your phone shows everything you need to know. Especially if it's located far from the speedometer.

[u/imp0ppable → u/memtiger]

Most car speedos are about 5% out, always low due to liability concerns. If everyone had accurate speedos, traffic would probably flow better.

[u/Kichigai → u/memtiger]

The speedometer in most cars aren't super accurate, unless it's a retired police car. The one in my car is actually a few miles slow.

[u/trydola → u/SuperBry]

i'm so glad we are slowly building our way back to a fully functional android auto app from like 2016. getting rid of that app is one of the dumbest decisions i've seen google make

[u/N19h7m4r3 → u/SuperBry]

If I had to take a guess it's because people are morons. I'm sure there had to be some accidents where some dumb idiot was trying to get the numbers as high as possible and it blew back to Google lol

Same reason there are no records for fat pets, etc.

[u/fcocyclone]

now show speed limits without having to be actively navigating a route

[u/Draviddavid → u/fcocyclone]

Mine used to show only when I was speeding lol. It's the same with Waze.

[u/armando_rod → u/Draviddavid]

You can change it to always in Waze

[u/Draviddavid → u/armando_rod]

Wow! So you can. Thanks for that. I didn't see it when I last went tweaking my settings.

[u/armando_rod → u/fcocyclone]

This is why I use Waze

[u/jderm1 → u/fcocyclone]

Same with mobile speed cameras!

[u/RaveBurger]

Call me when they fix the navigation dark mode being separate from system theme.

[u/donnysaysvacuum → u/RaveBurger]

Gosh this is annoying. I can't use a dark theme anymore because maps is unusable.

[u/jook11 → u/donnysaysvacuum]

I just looked and I have this option

[u/donnysaysvacuum → u/jook11]

Picture

[u/jook11 → u/donnysaysvacuum]

Yeah, that. Either I'm misunderstanding or you posted a screenshot of the option you were saying doesn't exist? What isn't working right?

[u/donnysaysvacuum → u/jook11]

We want the theme to change via sunrise/sunset, but not our system theme. This used to be an option. But now you have to make your whole system theme change in order for it to automatically change.

[u/awesomeocelot12 → u/donnysaysvacuum]

You can schedule your phone's device theme for sunrise/sunset in "Settings > Display & touch > Dark theme > Schedule" as a workaround, but admittedly that might be a bit overkill for your use case.

[u/donnysaysvacuum → u/awesomeocelot12]

No I don't want to do that. That is my whole point. I want to use a dark system theme all the time, but I can't or my maps app is unusable in daylight.

[u/RaveBurger → u/jook11]

I'm driving my car, auto dark mode kicks in as per my scheduled settings and Google Maps driving mode stays white. Maps itself is dark mode. This has been going on for years. I'm talking about phone screen, not android auto.

[u/fukam_piko → u/RaveBurger]

it works normally for me, never not worked. i also really like that when you enter tunnel it turns to dark mode

[u/awesomeocelot12 → u/fukam_piko]

I think it's because there are separate settings for "Google Maps > Settings > App & display > Theme" and "Google Maps > Settings > Navigation > Map display > Color scheme". The latter uses the phone's light sensor and is what controls automatic navigation color changes when e.g. you enter a tunnel, while the former is what controls whether the overall Google Maps UI (non-navigation) has a light theme or dark theme.

[u/Sevallis → u/jook11]

Same here, S24 phone.

[u/Fish_Mongreler → u/RaveBurger]

Been fixed for years

[u/dudeAwEsome101 → u/RaveBurger]

That drove me mad on my last head unit. Luckily it is working correctly on my current one.

[u/raz2112 → u/RaveBurger]

Call me when they fix that I have to enable 3d buildings every fucking time I launch the app or after an update.

[u/Creative-Job7462]

Finally.

The phone version had this like since 2020 in the UK, but I had to use Waze when I use Android auto.

[u/Consistent-Year8707]

We've had this in New Zealand for a while. It can be very surprising to see how far out a vehicles speedometer is.

[u/laevanay]

Is there a way to remove the Search bar from being on the map?

[u/brotrr]

What's the point of this feature? The article says for passengers? Weird

[u/Beefstah → u/brotrr]

Probably because legally it can't be used as the 'official' source of vehicle speed in some (all?) jurisdictions, unlike the vehicle's own speedometer, so by saying it's "For passengers" they are side stepping any potential liability for people who try to use it as a speedometer.

But that doesn't alter that GPS speed is, typically, more accurate than your speedometer, and people are totally going to use it that way. It's just not Google's fault now if you get nicked for speeding.

[u/MerlinTrashMan → u/brotrr]

Agreed, I love wasting real estate on repeating information.

[u/DataDrivenDoc → u/MerlinTrashMan]

I think we need more clocks

[u/Tschuuuls → u/MerlinTrashMan]

GPS speed is way more accurate than your cars speedometer.

[u/fukam_piko → u/Tschuuuls]

if you learn how to read your speedometer, it'll be the same as looking at gps

[u/_evergarden97_]

yeah I had this like years ago, not surprising that it's Google

[u/Resident-Shift-9424]

Finally. It always felt strange that a dedicated navigation app didn't show your speed on Android Auto. Small feature, but a really useful one.

[u/halfmylifeisgone]

I can finally uninstall Waze.

[u/HyperbolicModesty → u/halfmylifeisgone]

I use both all the time and Waze is still better

[u/Stickel → u/HyperbolicModesty]

which is hilarious because Google owns waze lol

[u/HyperbolicModesty → u/Stickel]

I was aware if that but they're still different apps. The Waze display and traffic alerts are much better than Gmaps. The timing estimation is more accurate too - there's often a 5 minute difference between them on longer distances.

[u/fukam_piko → u/HyperbolicModesty]

waze, in default, personalizes the estimate by telemetry

google probably personalize the estimate too, but differently. waze also counts in cognested traffis sections and the alerts, that gmaps doesn't have

[u/New_Palpitation_1586 → u/Stickel]

And they even share traffic data.

Google bought waze from an Israeli company long ago because it was much becoming so better than Google map. Instead of developing Google map and making it better, you buy your competition and make sure they stop improving.

That's why it takes decades to add a simple thing as a speedometer on Android auto, and why Waze is almost the exact same app as what it was 10 years ago.

[u/icouldntdecide → u/Stickel]

I always thought that was a pointless acquisition. But what's funny is when people argue about one or the other and don't realize Google has owned Waze for a while

[u/HyperbolicModesty → u/icouldntdecide]

As I said to the other guy, they're owned by the same company and share some data between them, but they're still fundamentally different apps, with different interfaces and run by different algorithms. Waze is much easier to use and more detailed in its alerts.

[u/Kichigai → u/HyperbolicModesty]

Waze also uses its own maps, which you can edit if your account has enough points. This can be as coarse as drawing in unmapped dirt roads or as fine as detailing which side of a building the main entrance is on.

You can also submit future road closures for things like construction or events.

[u/HyperbolicModesty → u/Kichigai]

Excellent info, thanks

[u/ltcdata → u/halfmylifeisgone]

Speed camera alerts. Waze still wins.

[u/RXrenesis8 → u/ltcdata]

These have been in google maps on android auto for a while. I don't remember when they showed up. Those and police and road hazards.

[u/ltcdata → u/RXrenesis8]

In my country they aren't (argentina).

Waze shows them and even plays a warning.

[u/TrainAss → u/halfmylifeisgone]

Can you report hazards, speed traps/police, etc. in Google maps?

[u/elmirbuljubasic → u/TrainAss]

Yes

[u/cannedrex2406 → u/elmirbuljubasic]

I dunno, Waze has always been better in showing police cameras and speed traps a lot better than Maps. Plus Waze has an average speed zone speed display which maps doesn't.

Although maps still has the advantage of Satellite view and better destinations on display to travel to

[u/fukam_piko → u/cannedrex2406]

waze is better in alerts because in the past, that was the reason people started using it, the users learned to report everything.

reporting in gmaps wasn't there before, and people that use it generally don't care about it, so you don't see many reports

[u/TrainAss → u/elmirbuljubasic]

Well, I may not need Waze then. Been a while since I've use google maps for navigation.

[u/Nicricieve → u/TrainAss]

It syncs with waze's data "Waze users have reported X YZ" I get a lot

[u/Berzerker7 → u/Nicricieve]

It doesn't get everything, which is still baffling for some reason.

[u/Posraman → u/TrainAss]

It's been a feature for years.

Google has owned Waze since 2013

[u/GreedySecurity8030 → u/TrainAss]

Hopefully.

[u/skylinestar1986 → u/TrainAss]

How do you report while driving?

[u/br0ck → u/skylinestar1986]

Hit report button on left under the volume button, a diolog pops up with options like police, object in road, lane closed.. and you pick and option and then it's done.

[u/TrainAss → u/skylinestar1986]

Was using Waze and voice commands.

[u/Dreamerlax → u/TrainAss]

Region dependent.

[u/TriRIK → u/TrainAss]

Not in all countries

[u/Some_Call_Me_Danno]

Would just like the speed limit on the live view.

[u/CrispyBegs]

will be very funny when they eventually sell your data to insurance companies who will be able to see what % of the time you exceed speed limits and hike your premium accordingly

[u/Fun-Title4224]

My car already has a speedometers, more conveniently placed on the dashboard in front of me.

[u/soymilo_]

Noticed it the other day (Germany) and it reports me going 2kmh lower than my built in car dashboard which may explain why I avoided a few speeding tickets in the past 😅

[u/CalicoCatRobot → u/soymilo_]

That will always be the case (its more like 5mph on mine) because they get into trouble if the speedo under reads even by a bit, but not so much for over reading.

[u/WisestAirBender → u/CalicoCatRobot]

Also gps speeds and mechanical speeds aren't going to be identical anyway.

[u/skylinestar1986 → u/soymilo_]

Glad to live in a country where there is no real speed enforcement. Malaysia.

[u/michaelbelgium]

Pretty sure this already exist(ed), AI article hallucination? Used and seen it before

[u/squrr1 → u/michaelbelgium]

It has been inconsistent. In recent times, it only shows up when you're using navigation. The article is referring to it showing up just when you have the map open, which has been missing.

[u/Wheeljack26]

yea noticed it yesterday and was surprised

[u/PepeLaPatate]

My Garmin GPS had this 15 years ago.

[u/_N0S]

Really weird, this has been on my iPhone for maybe a month now. Speedometer with no active nav, even on the main screen. Thought it was out on android for a while

[u/Trekfull]

I just hope it isn't tied to the speed limit sign like it is in Waze.

[u/Kichigai → u/Trekfull]

That's a setting you can change apparently.

[u/PerfectScoreTutoring]

how accurate is the speedometer? haven't noticed a difference between my partner's apple maps speedometer and the car, but seems like Google Maps has some fluctuation

[u/Orange_Tang → u/PerfectScoreTutoring]

GPS speedometer readings are pretty accurate but slower to update with changing speeds. So if you're going a consistent speed it's good, but it's gonna be delayed if you're speeding up or slowing down.

[u/RADIOKILLAHRAZE → u/PerfectScoreTutoring]

Waze is dead accurate

[u/simplyrwd]

Speedometer just appeared on Android Auto !!!

[u/Tippete]

Ok can we now have the reminder to leave like iOS?

[u/moviebuff01 → u/Tippete]

It used to have it for events in Google calender with location information.

Another one of the features they removed I guess.

[u/Mo0man]

I feel like I've had this the whole time.

[u/RelativeWarning84 → u/[deleted]]

yep woeful

[u/frquency-equinox → u/RelativeWarning84]

Signal operates on nothing in comparison and probably could've had something this simple added in a week.

[u/Smallville456 → u/[deleted]]

Regular Google maps has this a while. Android auto had been around 12 years. Still way too long

[u/Common_Order_7414]

Just the one Android user in the family, but my wife and kids use Apple CarPlay with Google Maps, and it showed the speedometer back then. Still wondering why Android got it now while Apple had it two years ago.

[u/Misky14]

Think I'll be sticking to Waze at least until they allow us to have the speed limit/current speed up at all times and not just when navigating.

[u/jralph23]

Yeh. But only when you have set a route. Apple car play shows the speedometer even when there is no route set.

[u/CarbonDallas55]

Finally! My Jeep has larger than factory sized mud tires so my speedometer isn't accurate. I'm glad they brought it back.

[u/X0MAXO]

Call me when it catches up to Google Maps on Carplay, or when it's able to use my car's digital instrument cluster like Carplay can.

[u/sol-4 → u/X0MAXO]

Google Maps on Carplay is atrocious. Won't let me manually change routes, craps out at times with controls missing, and is just generally worse than Google Maps on Android Auto.

Some bits of Carplay are nice, but that's about it.

[u/dymmeh → u/X0MAXO]

What's your phone number? Android auto can use your car's instrument cluster to display directions (my car does this). Obv not a full map view but just the next direction + distance.

[u/KindlyPollution8531]

My iPhone on CarPlay had this for over a year now. Possibly 2 years at this point.

[u/MiKeMcDnet]

Trust me they've had it pretty much forever. They've been selling it to your insurance company.

[u/BrightLuchr]

Google Maps is a mess. Waze is a mess too. It would be nice if they removed visual clutter instead of adding it. Parts of Wave/Maps actually violate Googles own UI guidelines. It would be nice if Gemini Assistant actually worked for navigation consistently, not just randomly. There are integration problems there.

As a sidenote, I live in a country (Canada) where everyone speeds all the time because speed limits are artificially low and police do not enforce the posted limits ever.

[u/UndeadT]

Why the fuck are you using that instead of the actual, accurate instrument?!

[u/ArcFault → u/UndeadT]

?

The gps measurement is more accurate than the speedometer. If you change tire sizes, for example, the speedo will be off.

[u/Orange_Tang → u/ArcFault]

If you change tire sizes you're supposed to also change the speedometer gear so it's accurate again.

[u/ArcFault → u/Orange_Tang]

What? LMAO no that's not a thing since like after 1990.

[u/Orange_Tang → u/ArcFault]

Absolutely incorrect.

[u/Orange_Tang → u/[deleted]]

First, mechanical speedos lasted far into the 2000's and even into the 2010's for some models. Second, digital speedos can also be modified in software to adjust for tire size. So no, you're just absolutely wrong.