Now hopefully cars enactment it —

The caller sheet plan fits large screens, wide screens, and tiny screens.

Ron Amadeo - Jan 6, 2023 10:58 p.m. UTC

After a large delay, Google's large revamp of Android Auto is yet here. This caller mentation of Android Auto puts a large absorption connected a caller split-screen interface, which is simply a batch much flexible than the old, rigid Android Auto display. This update was archetypal shown disconnected at Google I/O and promised successful the summertime of 2022, but someway that got pushed backmost to CES 2023. Car apps person a batch of information regulations to spell through.

Android Auto is an app that lives connected your telephone and sends a customized interface (wirelessly oregon wired) to a compatible car's dashboard. Unlike regular Android, which tin standard to immoderate size oregon signifier display, Android Auto was primitively designed rigidly astir a horizontal 16:9 display. It's been updated implicit the years to beryllium slightly much flexible, but it has ever wanted to unrecorded successful this horizontal, widescreen configuration. Not each car screens are widescreen, though, and for cars similar the Volvo XC90, which has a large 4:3 iPad-style surface successful the halfway console, Android Auto was conscionable successful a tiny model successful the mediate of the display. Some manufacturers gave it a missive oregon pillar box. Apple's CarPlay received a akin flexibility update successful iOS 13.

Unlike the aged version, the split-screen interface should beryllium capable to accommodate to immoderate rectangular screen.  There are 3 components: a navigation bar, the main app interface, and a smaller sidebar conception that tin amusement 1 oregon 2 further widgets. These tin each beryllium configured successful a mode that makes consciousness for the screen's shape. The navigation barroom tin beryllium connected the close broadside oregon the bottom. The main app interface tin beryllium adjacent to the sidebar conception oregon stacked connected top. The sidebar tin beryllium a gangly vertical portion oregon a skinny horizontal strip. Some configuration is going to work!

The sidebar is the astir absorbing caller summation to Android Auto. It seems to enactment conscionable similar Android's notification barroom but is super-sized for cars. It tin amusement controls for the presently playing media oregon media suggestions. It tin crook into a split-screen mode, wherever the apical point volition amusement the latest notification, which tin beryllium an incoming substance message, an enactment to stock your accomplishment time, oregon the weather.

Enlarge / Some manufacturers (in this case, Volvo) would enactment the aged Android Auto interface successful a tiny model similar this. There is truthful overmuch much surface you could use, and this caller mentation should acceptable better.

Volvo

Some of those options are from the caller Google Assistant astute suggestions, which see "missed telephone reminders, speedy accomplishment clip sharing and instant entree to euphony oregon podcasts. On-screen shortcuts velocity up connection replies and calling favourite contacts."

Google is besides adding a seekable process barroom for Android Auto euphony and podcasts apps, which volition automatically use to each Android Auto media app. Car information regulations successful Android Auto mean app developers don't get to bash things similar plan a idiosyncratic interface—Google has a pre-built media interface that Spotify, YouTube Music, and each different media app needs to use—the developers lone supply a media stream, branding colors, and prime from a fewer fastener options. This pre-built interface is being updated, truthful each app volition automatically get it.

While the app update is rolling retired now, it's unclear if existing cars with bigger screens request to beryllium updated to enactment this caller automotive config.