3 weeks ago
Google says 2026 is going to beryllium 1 of nan biggest years for Android. However, that sentiment isn't restricted to conscionable its mobile OS because coming during nan Android Show: I/O Edition, nan institution revealed a ton of awesome changes coming to Android Auto and cars pinch Google built-in.
The first large alteration is simply a afloat rework of Android Auto's personification interface featuring Google's Material 3 Expressive design, which adds much striking fonts, updated wallpapers and smoother animations. Furthermore, nan institution is borrowing widgets from its mobile section and adding support for them to your car's display, giving you much state to customize your layout while besides providing much info astatine a glance. Widgets see things for illustration shortcuts for your favourite contacts, a upwind bug and virtual buttons for integer car shed doorway openers. Google moreover says that Android Auto will beryllium capable to accommodate its layout to accommodate cars pinch unusually shaped displays for illustration nan funky parallelogram surface BMW uses successful the caller i7.
Google
That said, possibly nan astir impactful betterment coming to Android Auto is what Google is calling Immersive Navigation, which is based astir elaborate 3D maps that show overmuch much item including things for illustration nan location of postulation lights, extremity signs, nan number of lanes and adjacent buildings. Meanwhile, Google is continuing pinch its push for AI successful Android Auto acknowledgment to immoderate caller Gemini features including amended contextual consciousness and support for Magic Cue, nan second of which we first saw past twelvemonth connected nan Pixel 10 family. In immoderate respects, nan expertise for Gemini to aboveground things for illustration addresses, appointments and different tidbits of info is arguably moreover much adjuvant while driving because this should springiness you much state to attraction connected nan roadworthy alternatively of staring astatine a surface (or moreover worse, your phone).
As for wide entertainment, Google is upgrading Android Auto's video capabilities pinch support for HD playback astatine up to 60 fps. This will get later this twelvemonth crossed a wide scope of brands including BMW, Ford, Kia, Hyundai, Volvo and Mercedes-Benz. On apical of that, if you commencement driving while watching a movie, Android Auto will beryllium capable to modulation nan clip to audio-only mode, which is awesome if you're watching thing for illustration a video podcast. Google says different media apps for illustration YouTube Music and Spotify are besides getting ocular updates, while Android Auto gets support for spatial sound via Dolby Atmos (assuming your car has nan due speakers and a greenish ray from nan manufacturer).
Google
Finally, for cars pinch Google built-in (which is sometimes called Android Automotive), nan institution is unlocking overmuch deeper integration betwixt nan OS and nan hardware successful your vehicle. For example, if you usage Gemini to inquire questions successful a supported vehicle, nan AI tin respond pinch circumstantial answers for illustration nan meaning of an parameter ray connected your dashboard aliases if an point you're trying to bring location will really fresh successful your trunk. Alternatively, erstwhile utilizing Immersive Navigation successful Google Maps, models pinch Google built-in will beryllium capable to supply much nonstop guidance by utilizing your car's onboard cameras to amended understand which lane you're successful while providing real-time directions.
While there's nary precise timetable for erstwhile these features will beryllium disposable connected your car/phone, Google says nan updates to Android Auto and vehicles pinch Google built-in will beryllium rolling retired sometime later this year.
