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Google’s split Android Auto refresh is rolling out now

    • The new Android Auto is super flexible. Here’s a big screen mode.

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    • A super wide screen.

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    • The traditional 16:9-like screen.

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    • Messages appear as follows.

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    • And then the music player shrinks and the notification goes to the sidebar.

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    • Fast answers.

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    • The Google Assistant provides quick access to your top contacts.

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    After a long delay, Google’s big Android Auto revamp is finally here. This new version of Android Auto puts a lot of emphasis on a new split-screen interface, which is much more flexible than the old rigid Android Auto display. This update was first shown off at Google I/O and promised in Summer 2022, but somehow that got pushed back to CES 2023. Car apps have a lot of safety regulations they need to meet.

    Android Auto is an app that resides on your phone and sends a custom interface (wireless or wired) to the dashboard of a compatible car. Unlike regular Android, which can be scaled to any size or shape, Android Auto was originally designed tightly around a horizontal 16:9 screen. It’s been updated over the years to be a little more flexible, but it’s always wanted to live in this widescreen horizontal configuration. Not all car screens are widescreen, however, and for cars like the Volvo XC90, which has a large 4:3 iPad-style screen in the center console, Android Auto was just a small window in the center of the screen. Some manufacturers gave it a letter box or mailbox. Apple’s CarPlay got a similar flexibility update in iOS 13.

    Unlike the old version, the split screen interface should be able to adapt to any rectangular screen. There are three components: a navigation bar, the main app interface, and a smaller sidebar section that can display one or two additional widgets. These can all be configured in a way that makes sense for the shape of the screen. The navigation bar can be on the right or at the bottom. The main app interface can be next to the sidebar area or stacked on top of it. The sidebar can be a long vertical strip or a narrow horizontal strip. Some configurations will work!

    The sidebar is the most interesting new addition to Android Auto. It appears to work just like Android’s notification bar, but is super-sized for cars. It can show controls for the currently playing media or media suggestions. It can turn into a split screen mode, with the top item showing the latest notification, which could be an incoming text message, an option to share your arrival time or the weather.

    Some manufacturers (Volvo in this case) would put the old Android Auto interface in such a small window. There's so much more screen you could use, and this new version should fit better.
    Enlarge / Some manufacturers (Volvo in this case) would put the old Android Auto interface in such a small window. There’s so much more screen you could use, and this new version should fit better.

    Volvo

    Some of those options come from the Google Assistant’s new Smart Suggestions, including “reminders for missed calls, quick arrival time sharing, and instant access to music or podcasts. On-screen shortcuts speed up message replies and calling favorite contacts.”

    Google is also adding a searchable process bar for Android Auto music and podcast apps, which automatically applies to any Android Auto media app. Car safety regulations in Android Auto mean app developers can’t do things like design a user interface. Google has a pre-built media interface that Spotify, YouTube Music, and any other media app should use. The developers only provide a media stream, brand colors, and choose from a few button options. This pre-built interface is updated so every app gets it automatically.

    As the app update rolls out now, it’s unclear whether existing cars with larger screens will need to be updated to support this new car configuration.