The Android Auto interface is about to evolve, particularly in the way you control music playback on board. Google is currently testing a new layout of the media player controls on the Android Auto home screen. This update aims to improve safety and usability, but may disturb users accustomed to the old layout.
A new design for the Android Auto media player
The heart of the change concerns the media card located on the Android Auto main screen. The Play/Pause button has now been moved to the far left of the interface, i.e., closest to the driver (in cars with a left-hand steering wheel). This makes it even easier to access the button and limits distractions while driving.
The button also has a new look: a large colored disc, matching the dominant shade of the album cover or the current track. A way to capture a little more attention and make the element immediately identifiable. The new positioning follows a reverse logic compared to the layout we know today: Play/Pause is on the left, followed by the Back button and the Next button.
Getting the hang of it
This change, which is a good idea in absolute terms, will change the habits of Android Auto users. The current design, used for years, has shaped drivers' muscle memory, and moving the controls may therefore create a little confusion at first. This will therefore require a short adaptation phase.
A test that comes as Google prepares another major transformation: the gradual replacement of Google Assistant by Gemini, its new assistant boosted by artificial intelligence. Gemini's integration with Android Auto is already underway, a sign that Google wants to standardize its ecosystem to integrate AI into all its applications.
Source: Android Authority
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