Android Auto YouTube Limitations: Is It Worth Using In The Car? - Engadget

Right now, it's not exactly a seamless experience. YouTube has always been a curious middle child on Android Auto. The streaming app isn't as feature-packed in a car as it is on a desktop or smartphone, and if you wanted to see a baseball game while parked, you were out of luck. Some of that is about to change. At the Android Show: I/O Edition event in May, Google promised big upgrades for Android Auto's YouTube video playback within the year. From HD videos at 60 frames per second while parked to transitioning into an audio-only mode when you start driving, the platform is expanding beyond traditional driving needs as media consumption seeps into every facet of our lives. The update brings more treats like a reworked interface with widgets and deeper Gemini integration to brands like BMW, Chevrolet, Ford and Hyundai. The short answer is kind of: if you consider the audio of a video to be "playing a video." Picking a YouTube video on your phone will only let you play its audio via Android Auto while driving. That means podcasts and video essays can be listened to from the comfort of your car, even if it's in motion. 9to5Google notes that some manufacturers like GM have already unlo