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

Android Auto’s new look is rolling out to testers right now, although it’s not prepared for primetime simply but. The makeover teased earlier within the yr continues to be solely a beta. It received’t be accessible in full till 2023.

I bought to take a look at the brand new Android Auto on Google’s take a look at fleet at its headquarters. It’s positively extra refined than what I’m utilizing now in my Subaru, and I’m wanting to get on the beta myself and see the way it interprets behind the wheel. The design has a renewed emphasis on the split-screen interface, with the intention to handle as much as three duties at a time with out eradicating the main target from the primary cause there’s a display in your automobile: the map. And like Google introduced in May, the interface is made to scale on varied automobile screens, from massive to small.

Split-screen for each show

As Google promised, the brand new split-screen mode is coming to all automobile shows, and it makes higher use of the accessible display dimension. Rather than requiring you to faucet round a number of instances to modify playlists or make a cellphone name, the brand new interface splits primarily based on the immediacy of the motion at hand. For occasion, in case you’re on the lookout for an album on Spotify, the display will enlarge the “card” devoted to the media playback whereas the remainder of the display stays dedicated to Google Maps so that you simply don’t lose your home.

In some circumstances, you’ll get a 3rd card on the display. For occasion, if a message pops in, you may choose the notification to increase it to a nook of the interface. It’s much less disruptive than the present means Android Auto handles notifications, which performs again the message via a persistent pop-in window, thus blocking out a part of the map. If you don’t work together a lot with that third card, it should merely present the climate.

The split-screen card interface is far simpler to look at whereas driving and stays constant. You can at all times anticipate your navigation app to be on the left, closest to the motive force’s facet—it’s on the proper for automobiles in nations the place the motive force place is switched. One or two playing cards on the opposite facet present both music playback or contextual data.

The dock space has additionally been consolidated. Now, solely the three most important Android Auto options can be found as shortcuts. One icon will at all times reference the final navigation app used, the second will launch media playback, and the third gives entry to the assorted communication apps put in in your cellphone—whichever Android Auto deems you employ probably the most.

It feels extra like Android within the automobile

The new Android Auto feels extra Android-y than the present model, as there’s extra Material You flavoring all through. In explicit, the media playback card appears prefer it was plucked straight out of the notification shade that’s on Android 13, providing a extra fluid expertise between Android on the smartphone and the show within the automobile. However, I’m unsure I’d really feel the identical if I have been utilizing a third-party Android machine. Android Auto feels like Google, whereas Samsung and OnePlus’s units don’t, as a result of they run their variations of the OS.

Still not prepared for primetime

The remaining launch of Android Auto will appear to be these pictures, barring a number of minor characteristic additions. For instance, the highly-requested potential to wash via a tune by dragging your finger throughout the timeline isn’t at present within the beta, although it’s deliberate for the launch.

I welcome these modifications to Android Auto; frankly, they will’t come quickly sufficient. In its present implementation, Android Auto feels clunky, particularly if the automobile you’re driving isn’t accommodating to third-party software program. But I’m optimistic these new modifications will profit even probably the most annoying dashboard setups. At the very least, the reimagined card interface is simpler to look at and ensures that it’s at all times the maps taking priority over every part else—the best way it ought to be with screens within the automobile.