Android Auto’s Makeover Prioritizes the Map and Focuses on a Split-Screen Experience

Android Auto ’s new look is cast out to testers today , though it ’s not quick for primetime just yet . The makeover twit in the beginning in the class is still only a beta . It wo n’t be useable in full until 2023 .

I got to check out the new Android Auto on Google ’s trial fleet at its headquarters . It ’s emphatically more refined than what I ’m using now in my Subaru , and I ’m eager to get on the genus Beta myself and see how it translate behind the bike . The design has a renew emphasis on the stock split - screen interface , so that you’re able to contend up to three tasks at a clock time without removing the focus from the main grounds there ’s a screen in your car : the map . And like Google announced inMay , the interface is made to scale on various auto screens , from handsome to small .

Split-screen for every display

As Google promised , the new split - covert mode is come to all cable car displays , and it makes in effect economic consumption of the usable screen size . Rather than involve you to tap around multiple times to switch playlist or make a phone call , the young user interface split based on the immediateness of the action at hand . For instance , if you ’re look for an record album on Spotify , the screen will exposit the “ plug-in ” dedicated to the medium playback while the rest of the cover stick around devoted to Google Maps so that you do n’t fall behind your lieu .

In some cases , you ’ll get a third bill of fare on the screen . For case , if a message pop in , you’re able to select the apprisal to expand it to a recession of the interface . It ’s less tumultuous than the current way Android Auto treat notifications , which plays back the message through a persistent pop - in windowpane , thus blocking out part of the mathematical function . If you do n’t interact much with that third card , it will merely show the weather .

The split - CRT screen scorecard interface is much light to glance at while motor and ride out consistent . you could always await your piloting app to be on the unexpended , closest to the number one wood ’s side — it ’s on the rightfulness for railroad car in countries where the driver place is switch . One or two carte du jour on the other side show either euphony playback or contextual information .

The new Android Auto on a BMW display.

The new Android Auto on a BMW display.Photo: Florence Ion / Gizmodo

The dock expanse has also been consolidated . Now , only the three most indispensable Android Auto features are available as shortcuts . One icon will always reference the last navigation app used , the 2nd will launch media playback , and the third offers access to the various communication apps set up on your phone — whichever Android Auto deems you habituate the most .

It feels more like Android in the car

The new Android Auto feel more Android - y than the current version , as there ’s more Material You flavour throughout . In particular , the culture medium playback circuit board looks like it was plucked flat out of the presentment ghost that ’s on Android 13 , propose a more fluid experience between Android on the smartphone and the display in the car . However , I ’m not sure I ’d feel the same if I were using a third - company Android machine . Android Auto find like Google , while Samsung and OnePlus ’s equipment do not , because they run their versions of the OS .

Still not ready for primetime

The final release of Android Auto will look like these photos , barring a few underage feature of speech additions . For example , the extremely - requested power to scrub up through a birdsong by dragging your finger’s breadth across the timeline is n’t presently in the beta , though it is plan for the launching .

I welcome these changes to Android Auto ; frankly , they ca n’t fare presently enough . In its current carrying out , Android Auto feel clumsy , specially if the car you ’re repulse is n’t accommodate to third - company software . But I ’m optimistic these new change will benefit even the most vexing splashboard setups . At the very least , the reimagined card interface is prosperous to glance at and ensures that it ’s always the mathematical function taking precedence over everything else — the way it should be with silver screen in the motorcar .

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