Android Auto, Google's version of Apple CarPlay, now notifies users of apps that can only be used when the car is stopped.

According to SmartDroid, in the recently updated version 11.4, apps with such restrictions are indicated by a small "P" icon in the lower right corner of the app on the home page. Prior to this, attempts to access a parked app would result in an error message if the car was in motion.

The parked icon is reported to appear more frequently in Android Auto game apps and video streaming apps. Notably, both apps are available for electric vehicle owners and can be used while charging. Namely, GameSnacks, a collection of touchscreen games for AA users.

While this introduction would be helpful for Android Auto users to keep track of app restrictions while driving, we assume that this minor adjustment has been in the works for some time; according to Reddit posts and other forums, Android Auto previously required parking to There were issues with access to the navigation app being restricted or being thought to be running when it was not, and users speculated that their cars might be related to this issue (spoiler alert: not related).

We can only speculate that this new feature will help Android Auto users avoid trying to access the app while driving, but we will keep you posted when an update is rolled out.

With the launch of v11.4, Android Auto can now summarize longer text messages that can be heard while driving. The only caveat is that messages over 40 words can be paraphrased, but anything less than that will be read in full.

According to 9to5Google, the company hopes to reduce the potential for distractions while driving by allowing Android Auto to "automatically summarize long texts and busy group chats while driving" and "suggest relevant replies and actions you can take without touching your phone." .

Another caveat about this feature (and one that should be noted) is that the content of the summary may differ slightly from the actual text received. Since the message is still displayed on the phone, it may be best to read the original text before opting for an AI reply.

If you do not want Android Auto's AI to summarize or read out the message, you can turn it off in the car display or phone settings.