TL;DR
- Google is making ready to discontinue its Google Assistant in-car equipment.
- These embody the JBL Hyperlink Drive and Anker Roav Bolt.
- A textual content string within the Google app says they’ll be shut off within the “coming weeks.”
One other day, one other product that Google is killing. As Google continues to erase any lingering stays of Google Assistant and substitute them with Gemini, we’ve discovered proof of that transition marking the tip of a forgotten accent: Google Assistant automobile dongles.
An APK teardown helps predict options which will arrive on a service sooner or later based mostly on work-in-progress code. Nonetheless, it’s potential that such predicted options could not make it to a public launch.
In 2019, a 12 months the place it appeared like new sensible shows and audio system had been launching each different month, Google partnered with JBL and Anker to launch Google Assistant-powered dongles — successfully turning your automobile right into a Google Assistant speaker. The JBL Hyperlink Drive and Anker Roav Bolt (pictured above) plugged into your automobile’s 12V cigarette lighter socket, had built-in microphones, and performed audio via your automobile’s audio system through AUX or Bluetooth. As soon as arrange, you can problem “OK Google” or “Hey Google” instructions simply as you’ll with a Google Dwelling.
Nonetheless, these equipment seem like they’re about to be shut off for good. In model 16.5.33.sa.arm64 beta of the Google app, there’s a textual content string labeled assistant_car_accessory_depreciation_notification. The textual content for that notification reads, “By the best way, Google Assistant in your automobile accent will probably be discontinued in coming weeks. To maintain utilizing Assistant, invoke queries both in your Cellular or through Android Auto.”
Code
<string identify="assistant_car_accessory_deprecation_notification_content">By the best way, Google Assistant in your automobile accent will probably be discontinued in coming weeks. To maintain utilizing Assistant, invoke queries both in your Cellular or through Android Auto.</string>
<string identify="assistant_car_accessory_deprecation_notification_oobe_title">Activate Google Assistant on Automotive accent</string>
<string identify="assistant_car_accessory_deprecation_notification_title">Google Assistant on Automotive accent</string>
This notification doesn’t look like dwell but, and it’s unclear when that may change. Nonetheless, with the notifications prepped within the Google app and able to go, it’s in all probability solely a matter of time earlier than Google sends them to customers and formally begins winding these devices down.
Once they launched six years in the past, there was a transparent marketplace for equipment just like the JBL Hyperlink Drive and Anker Roav Bolt. Google Assistant audio system had been scorching, and sensible assistants, normally, had been having their huge second. Android Auto wasn’t almost as prevalent in automobiles as it’s right now, so a dongle so as to add Google Assistant performance to automobiles with out Android Auto built-in made sense. They had been additionally priced effectively, with Anker’s accent priced at $50 and JBL’s going for $60.
In 2025, nevertheless, these equipment are a tougher promote. Android Auto is a lot extra frequent in fashionable automobiles right now than in 2019, considerably lowering the necessity for devices just like the Hyperlink Drive and Roav Bolt. Additionally, as somebody with a 2003 PT Cruiser that lacks Android Auto (and most different fashionable conveniences), I at all times discovered these equipment a bit superfluous; a automobile mount and hands-free voice instructions on my telephone work simply effective.
Echo Auto (2nd Gen)
2022 launch • Voice management with Alexa • Slim design
The final word in-car companion. With a slim design and a five-mic system, Alexa can hear you over music, A/C, or highway noise. By no means miss a beat with the quick automobile charger included to cost your telephone on the go. Stream playlists from Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, and extra, or hear dwell to radio stations. And even management your sensible house earlier than you get there.
The JBL Hyperlink Drive and Roav Bolt will proceed to work for the speedy future, however with their days numbered, you’ll wish to take into account a substitute in case you at the moment use one. The Amazon Echo Auto makes use of Alexa as an alternative of Google Assistant, but it surely serves largely the identical function — and is on sale proper now for simply $35.
