The introduction of Android Auto and CarPlay got automakers to finally start thinking about how people use touchscreen devices. Google and Apple took what they knew about touchscreens, voice assistants and media, creating easy-to-use interfaces.
Automakers wised up and now most have systems that no longer try the patience of drivers while delivering useful information. With that in mind, Google has updated Android Auto (rolling out now) to compete with the latest from carmakers. This latest update is great, UI-wise, but more importantly, it makes sure that Google’s greatest asset to the car Google Maps is front and center.
It’s not all of the icons work the way you think they would. While the icons for third-party apps like Spotify and Audible launch their respective apps, hitting Google News doesn’t bring up your news immediately, per se. Instead, Google apps like Calendar and Podcasts just bring up Google Assistant, which just ends up asking you to complete the task by voice.
Among other UI changes, almost everything is bigger now except for the time, which is now hidden away in the upper left corner. Although the new left-aligned app launcher is supposed to make it easier to reach, it’s actually more difficult for some car screens.
While this new layout means that information can sometimes display awkwardly, thankfully incoming calls, text messages, and now playing bars are highlighted much more clearly against the dark background.
Google Assistant also handles the launching of apps found in the new app launcher screen. The weird, notification-style layout of the home screen is gone. Instead, Android Auto’s home screen now resembles a tablet with all your apps in one place.
Google isn’t alone updating its in-car system. Apple’s CarPlay is getting its own update when iOS 13 officially lands on iPhones in the fall of this year. Like Android Auto, it’s forgoing the single-feature-on-a-screen UI and serving up information from more than one feature.
