Android Auto this summer changes its face: Material You and Split Screen for everyone

During the annual I / O 2022 conference, Google has finally realized the long-awaited restyling of Android Auto that has been talked about for a few months now. Known with the codenamed Coolwalkis based on a key point: the interface capability of fit the size of any car screen – a crucial detail in a period in which manufacturers have begun to implement ever more courageous and particular solutions. Coolwalk is organized in three basic tabs:

• The main and largest is dedicated to maps and navigation. There are zoom controls, quick links to common destinations like home or work, and of course a search box.
• The secondary is much smaller than the main but slightly larger than the third, and is dedicated to the multimedia. There are controls for playing music, podcasts, and so on.
• The tertiary is “jolly“: it shows various types of information, from the clock to traffic or weather updates, which vary according to the context and the time. Particularly interesting are the travel times for the current destination with the possibility of sharing them quickly with your contacts.

One is added to the three cards status bar with some quick commands (including the one to open the app drawer), the battery indicator and the smartphone signal. Finally, there is a floating notification system for incoming messages, calls and so on. The peculiarity of these windows is that, as we said, they automatically change position and size according to the size and aspect ratio of the screen on which it is run; and this will happen even on the smallest displays, for example 5 and 6 “, on which until now the convenience of split-screen was precluded. Setting aside, we naturally notice the spread of the Material You stylistic language in every part of the UI, from the clock to the buttons.

Google only said that the new Android Auto will arrive this summer. It is worth noting that the Beta of version 7.7 came out a couple of days ago but still does not seem to include the restyling. Google added that there are also news for Android Automotive, which is a real embedded operating system that manufacturers can use for their head units (for example Honda): the main ones are that the official YouTube app is coming. , as well as other native video streaming apps, and the support to the Cast protocol. Below you can review the session in its entirety.