Car Widget

Alex Gavrishev

About this app

"Car Widget" makes easier and quicker access to phone features when you're in the car.
With the widget you can assign one or more screens on your home launcher to be dedicated for usage inside the car.

Unlike Car Home applications, you still will have access to all other screens of your home launcher.

To access widget settings use application shortcut.

HOW TO USE
On any home screen press "menu", then "add", select "widgets" and choose "Car Widget" from the list of available widgets.
You might need to restart the device in order to widget to appear in the list.

Main features:
* 4x4 widget
* 4,6 or 8 big shortcuts per widget
* 5 Skins
* Customization options: background color, opacity, font size and color, icons tint
* Replacement for "Car Dock" / "Car Home" applications.
* Custom icons and titles for shortcuts
* Icon pack support

Available shortcuts (can be expanded by installed applications):
* Applications
* Bookmark
* Contact
* Direct dial/ message
* Directions & Navigation (Using Google Maps)
* Gmail label
* Music playlist
* Settings
* Built-In Shortcuts - (InCar switch, Play/Pause, Next, Previous - Experimental)

Free version includes Trial of the features available in the Car Widget Pro.

Car Widget Pro features:
Automation for your car. Detects when you inside the car and adjusts settings of your phone.

Trigger (possible to combine all of the options):
* Power cable connected
* Headphones connected
* Bluetooth device connected
* Activity recognition

Actions:
* Turn on Bluetooth
* Disable screen timeout
* Adjust screen brightness
* Adjust volume level of media
* Switch off Wi-Fi
* Route call to speaker
* Auto answer (Experimental)
* Autorun App
* Shortcuts in notification bar (Android 4.0)

Limitations:
- It's not possible to unlock the screen from widget
- It's not possible to switch to the specific screen from widget
- Not possible to switch GPS

Permissions:
CALL_PHONE (Directly call phone numbers)- used for direct call shortcut
WAKE_LOCK (Prevent phone from sleeping) - used to disable screen timeout
WRITE_SETTINGS (Modify system settings)- used to adjust brightness settings
ACCESS_WIFI_STATE and CHANGE_WIFI_STATE - connect and disconnect from Wi-Fi
BLUETOOTH and BLUETOOTH_ADMIN - required in order to switch Bluetooth state
(Modify or delete the contents of your USB storage) - Backup/Restore functionality

Tips:
* On some devices you have option "Stay awake" (Under Settings -> Applications -> Development), you can enable it if your want to prevent phone from sleeping.

* Landscape mode: Not all launchers allow to use phone in landscape mode, just replace yours with alternative one that supports it (like LauncherPro or ADW).

You can find Car Widget Pro also in androidpit.com market.
(This marketplace has an option for PayPal)

IMPORTANT
Please exercise caution when using this application and do not manipulate your device while driving. Always pay attention to the road.

Ratings and reviews

Unique! It's the only app I have found so far that provide Car Mode settings without replacing your preferred App Launcher. As promised, I had purchased the Pro version because developing has been resumed. There is one bug preventing me to use icon packs, only are able to use custom icons. (Fixed) Installed on my Moto Z3 play

Great app, makes it easy to use in the car without staring at the screen. Only flaw is that you can't swap out apps easily e.g. if you switch music apps you have to delete the shortcut and re-customize it.

Never got it to look like the promo image. Closest I got was a notification bar showing my 3 shortcut choices, but I have to pull down notification bar to see them. Never got a full screen display like in the image. :(

What's new

Target Android 14
Upgrade libraries