Android Auto gets Waze, a standalone app, hotword support, and Wi-Fi projection

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA—Google is showing off a major Android Auto upgrade at Google I/O, and many of the features address long-standing user requests.

First up is the standalone Android Auto app. You can now get most of the Android Auto experience without needing a brand new car or going through the complicated process of ripping out your car stereo. The app can launch a revised version of the Android Auto interface right on your phone.

The phone version loads up big, chunky buttons with a simpler UI that should be easier to use while driving. On the Android Auto home screen, the navigation bar changes to an Android Auto-style app switcher with Maps, Music, and Phone icons. When you're not on the home screen, the navigation bar changes to show Back and Home icons. Notifications appear as huge, full-screen pop-ups with large, simple text strings.

As a car infotainment system, Android Auto is subject to regulations from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), but the phone interface isn't. Still, Google says it wants to adhere to the regulations anyway, so expect to see limits on list views and a six-tap maximum once you get inside an app.

The standalone interface is a new mode attached to the current Android Auto app. If you're plugged into a car, you'll get the casted interface; if there's nothing plugged in, the app will boot into a standalone mode.

Any music app can add a listing to the music icon, but now a single app has the ability to add a second option to the maps icon: Waze. That's right, Google's other navigation app has come to Android Auto. All the features you would expect are here. You can navigate to a location and see traffic conditions. You can also report police, accidents, cameras, or other hazards right from the car screen. Like all Android Auto "apps," this isn't a standalone app. The feature will be built directly into the Waze app in the future.

There have also been some upgrades to the Android Auto app itself. Google is working on Wi-Fi projection, so (if you buy a new Wi-Fi compatible car or get a new stereo) you'll be able to beam the Android Auto interface to the car screen without a wire. Google is also adding hotword detection to the system, so you'll be able to say "OK Google" and have the voice system accept a command.

Finally, Google actually got a car company to make an Android Auto app. Hyundai added a string of options to the "speedometer" icon on the right side. You can see your service record and driving statistics, and you can contact roadside assistance.

Like a lot of things at Google I/O this year, none of the above features actually have a release date. Just be on the lookout for these upgrades in the future.