Google Updates 'Car Home for Android' App

Car Home for Android is an application that provides lots of the tools drivers want at their fingertips when behind the wheel. Google on Friday rolled out updates to the app, including new features like shortcuts, icon colors, and a background wallpaper option.

"Car Home for Android turns your Android phone into a better driving companion by providing you with quick access to key applications on the go: GPS navigation, voice-activated commands, contacts, and more," Markus Mühlbauer, Google Automotive's manager of engineering and product, said on the Google Mobile blog. "We're releasing a new version of Car Home for Android which makes it easier to customize Car Home to get the information you need faster."

The app can now be automatically launched when linked with a special dock mounted on the windshield or when it's connected with Bluetooth. You can also customize for one-touch access to certain apps and phone information via "Add shortcut," as well as select personal wallpaper settings.

The free app is available in Android Market for phones running Android 2.2.

The updated app debuts at an opportune time. This week, several studies related to the dangers of distracted driving have been released. A study released Thursday by Vlingo revealed that 35 percent of drivers are using their phones to text while driving, and a study by the Highway Loss Data Institute found that bans on texting behind the wheel aren't decreasing collisions. As more data becomes available, the need for hands-free solutions will likely increase.