We know that, in general, telephones and cars should not be used together in order not to risk dangers and not end up being distracted while driving. On the other hand, the manufacturers of smartphone systems and, in particular, Google and Apple, are carrying out programs to equip the machines with intelligent computers that can be managed via apps, such as entertainment and above all to make information useful interactively and with voice assistants. For this reason I think it is interesting, for those who do not have such an advanced car, to try some applications that allow you to use your smartphone as an on-board computer for cars to keep on the dashboard, which facilitates the use of some very useful apps while you drive by car . Many people already mount their phone on a car holder so they can make hands-free calls or use the navigator.
The apps in this article are used to expand these possibilities by putting the phone in auto mode, which automatically responds to voice commands, which makes it quick and easy to activate those functions, such as the GPS navigator, without having to mess around or search and without using your hands .
READ ALSO: Android app to use in the car, in traffic, while driving the car
1) Android Auto app that can now be used in any machine, is the simplest and most integrated Google app in the system.
READ ALSO: Best Apps for Android Auto for music, messages, maps and more
2) DriveMode is a dashboard app for using your smartphone without hands when driving in a car. The app was recently updated by adding the function of being able to reply, by voice, to messages received via SMS, via Whatsapp, via Gmail, with Facebook Messenger or other apps such as Telegram, Skype and Twitter.
Drivemode manages all these apps, reads received messages aloud and asks if you want to reply immediately, always without having to get your hands on the phone and without having to look away from the road. From the main screen, just touch the smiley icon in the upper right corner to get quick directions to one of your favorite places or swipe from the left edge of the screen to access other options such as the address book and music.
3) Car Launcher is an app that changes the launcher of the phone (or of the car radio itself) making it an on-board computer to be used in the car while driving. The initial interface allows you to quickly launch the radio or GPS navigator, music, phone and other apps, and to quickly watch things like the weather, battery percentage and clock.
4) Car Home Ultra is one of the most famous apps of this type, with an icon interface that makes it easy to use some apps while driving and with various tools at your fingertips including odometer, weather, altimeter.
The main screen is already loaded with information widgets and some icons to call up voice search, and maps and navigator apps.
Swiping to the left you can find the control for music while swiping to the right you can find customizable quick links.
Unfortunately, this app is only free for 30 days.
5) Car Dashboard is a free app for Android with modern and clean graphics, very convenient for using your smartphone and apps while driving the car.
From the interface it is only a matter of a touch or a swipe to be able to activate an app like the one to make calls, for directions, for voice commands or to use the music controls.
It is possible to set up to 16 shortcut keys to open applications, specific numbers of contacts and personalized actions such as the one to send a pre-packaged message.
6) CarWebGuru Launcher is finally an app that allows you to use your smartphone as an on-board computer for the car, with a really nice interface, support for voice commands and big buttons to start the main apps like the navigator.
These apps are therefore substitutes for the normal Android interface, in order to better use the phone while driving, only in car functions. To automatically activate these applications every time you get into the car, you can use other apps such as Tasker or Macrodroid to launch them when the phone sees a bluetooth connection card (if you have bluetooth in your car).
Otherwise it can also be activated using an NFC tag to keep in the car, as described in the article on how to use NFC TAGs with an Android smartphone.
READ ALSO: Connect the smartphone in the car: support, music, speakerphone and charger
