Does anyone have the new Assistant Driving Mode?

[Scott337]

Does anyone with a Pixel 4, 4XL or even an older Pixel have the new Assistant Driving Mode option in their Assistant Settings yet?

Google app > Settings > Assistant Settings > Getting Around

Google announced this in early 2019, and according to their blog it has started to finally rollout. My wife's Pixel 5 has the new option, and we have the same Google app version and Maps version. Which leads me to believe it's s server side rollout, but not sure.

Just curious if anyone using a Pixel 4 (or older) has seen it.

Google Blog: https://support.google.com/assistant/answer/10217503

 

[kmf1]

It's on mine Pixel 4 XL Verizon. Haven't tried it yet.

 

[Scott337]

It's on mine Pixel 4 XL Verizon. Haven't tried it yet.

Thanks for confirming.

 

[almath]

Mine is already checked ..Sprint/TMobile

 

[Scott337]

Thanks for confirming

 

[kmf1]

Settings/Apps & notifications/Assistant/See all Assistant Settings/(scroll down to) Getting around/Driving mode. This is how I got to Driving mode.

 

[Scott337]

Well I still don't have the new Driving Mode option on my 4XL. Bummer. I have been waiting for this since they announced it in early 2019 (and Moto removed their awesome Talk To Me mode because of Google's announcement). I even spent an hour setting up Maps and Assistant again after clearing all data for both apps & rebooting my phone. I was prompted with all the usual "Maps can do this, can do that, turn this on, allow this or that" options in Maps and Assistant. Still no Driving Mode. Either Google just doesn't want me to have it (some server side switch) or an issue with my phone. Oh well.

 

[kmf1]

I'm going to try it this morning. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[kmf1]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it appears that Google Maps needs to be active and on a specific route or trip, for Driving mode to work. After opening Maps, tap Go, pick a destination, tap Start. Now Driving mode is active and a menu appears on the lower right corner of the screen. See enclosed screen shots. I couldn't figure out how to get it to work with Waze. At this point, an incoming call or text would be announced, and you'd be given the option to answer. You didn't need to have another app to be open for Moto's Driving mode. Maybe google will eventually get there. I'll have time to see how it works tomorrow.

 

[kmf1]

And, how this will all work will depend on your vehicle's blue tooth capabilities.

 

[Scott337]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it appears that Google Maps needs to be active and on a specific route or trip, for Driving mode to work. After opening Maps, tap Go, pick a destination, tap Start. Now Driving mode is active and a menu appears on the lower right corner of the screen. See enclosed screen shots. I couldn't figure out how to get it to work with Waze. At this point, an incoming call or text would be announced, and you'd be given the option to answer. You didn't need to have another app to be open for Moto's Driving mode. Maybe google will eventually get there. I'll have time to see how it works tomorrow.

Thanks for the feedback. And yes, I believe it does need Maps open and navigating to work fully. Which might not always be ideal.

 

[kmf1]

Be best if we had Moto's version. Right, Scott? Oh for the good old days.

 

[Scott337]

I agree, I miss Talk To Me.

 

[kmf1]

I tried Driving mode this morning. There was no announcement for either text or phone call. Also, no voice prompts during navigation in Maps. I tried with both bluetooth on and off in my 2013 Ford F150. So, not sure what to say. I turned it off.

 

[Scott337]

Thanks for the feedback kmf1. Sounds like it's not quite ready for every day use. Makes me wonder if Google halted the rollout?

 

[kmf1]

That could be.

 

[Scott337]

For those that do have Driving Mode on their Pixel 4, do you have your phone paired with a vehicle Bluetooth system? I opened a Google support ticket asking if this was supposed to be available on my phone and if there is a server side update that we just need to wait for. The first 3 or 4 responses were just support agents sending me the instructions on how to enable it. I finally got them to escalate my ticket and explained that I really do know how. The last response was that Driving Mode is probably not compatible with my vehicle Bluetooth. I don't think that's correct, but curious.

 

[kmf1]

I tried with and without in my 2014 Chevy Suburban. Neither worked. Haven't tried my 2013 Ford F150 yet, but I expect the same results.

 

[Scott337]

I tried with and without in my 2014 Chevy Suburban. Neither worked. Haven't tried my 2013 Ford F150 yet, but I expect the same results.

Thanks. The Google support people don't really seem to understand what this new functionality is.

 

[J Dubbs]

I agree, I miss Talk To Me.

It's hard to believe my 2015 Moto X Pure Edition was doing all these things but better over 5 years ago and Google is just now starting to catch up lol. Actually it's still doing them better, it's charged, updated, going strong and ready for a sim swap to be back in action