In recent years, Google has used CES to showcase its vision of “Better Together,” the idea that all devices should get along.
Typically, this entails making announcements about features such as Fast Pair and the expansion of Cast compatibility to more third-party products.
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The company announced at CES 2023 that it is collaborating with Spotify to integrate the Connect streaming tool into the Android UI.
It also teased a preview of an audio handoff feature, which would recommend different devices to move your music to based on your habits and location.
However, CES is a large car show, and Google has automobile products as well. It also revealed that higher-resolution maps will be available on the Polestar 3 and, for the first time since its announcement at I/O 2022, it demonstrated the latest Android Auto interface to the public.
The Google booth at the Las Vegas Convention Center’s trailer lot featured two vehicles: a BMW i7 with the new Android Auto experience and a Volvo EX90 with Google built in. This was our first look at the Volvo, and we’ll post a separate hands-on about our experience with it shortly.
The updated interface, as we learned at I/O, will adapt to larger screen sizes and feature a split screen layout. Google has removed the status bar and replaced it with indicator icons in a small square to the top left, as well as a row of shortcut keys below it.
When we were driving, the left panel housed the Spotify app, and a swipe from the right side brought up a list of recommended playlists.
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This left window also serves as a catch-all for alerts that you won’t have time to address during your drive. For example, if you receive a notification, you can swipe right on it to send it to the dock, where it will remain until you are ready to deal with it.
Check out the video above for more on our experience with the redesigned Android Auto in the BMW i7! Also, keep an eye out this week for a slew of CES 2023 announcements.
