Android Auto has introduced a new Adobe Acrobat PDF app that allows users to access PDF documents while driving. The app is designed for safe use, preventing reading while driving but enabling users to catch up on important documents during stops. This feature enhances productivity for drivers who need quick access to PDFs on the go.
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No, you can't read and drive. But you can catch up on important documents.
Android Auto has a number of surprising apps, including ones for finding a parking spot, ones for tracking storms, and even games. One of the most recent additions, though, may just be the most surprising of all.
Google's smart driving companion recently added support for the Adobe Acrobat app. When I first saw it, I had the same question many other people did… why? Trying to read a PDF on a small car screen doesn't seem ideal, and I'm obviously not trying to read or sign anything while on the road.
Also: 6 Android Auto apps I wish I discovered sooner, because they make driving much easier
When I opened the app, I was more confused. It doesn't display PDFs, even if you're parked. After spending some time with it, though, I found it more useful than I expected.
Since your car's screen doesn't display your PDF's contents, the app's usefulness comes from the "Read Aloud" feature, which does exactly what it says: reads a document aloud at the tap of a button. It has basic play, pause, and skip controls, all of which you can control with your screen or steering wheel buttons.
To start, I tried the app with a PDF of a book I'm currently reading on my Kindle. The read-aloud feature used a typical text-to-speech voice and wasn't audiobook-quality, but it was good enough that I'd feel fine knocking out some chapters on the road. If you're the type of person who listens to books in the car, I suspect you'd much rather choose an actual audiobook, but this option is there in a pinch.