Google’s eliminating its standalone Driving Mode dashboard

The standalone model of Driving Mode isn’t to be confused with the Driving Mode characteristic constructed into Google Maps, which mechanically boots up when you begin navigation. As Esper’s Mishaal Rahman factors out, Google added Assistant Driving Mode to Maps earlier than it even launched the standalone Driving Mode.

The solely distinction between the 2 is you can entry the standalone model by saying a voice command like “Hey Google, launch Driving Mode,” or by tapping the Driving Mode shortcut on your phone’s home screen. Once Driving Mode shuts down, you’ll simply need to entry its options by beginning navigation in Google Maps, which might be what many customers have been doing anyway.

Its shutdown is a little bit of a bummer for many who won’t have a automotive with a digital navigation hub that helps Android Auto, although. The standalone Driving Mode service was supposed to switch the “Android Auto for Phone Screens” app that Google discontinued with Android 12.