Version 14.9 beta of Android Auto is preparing for the Material 3 Expressive

The new version Beta 14.9 by Android Auto It is officially in the distribution phase and, as often happens, it does not limit itself to introducing small corrections but brings with it novelty both on the front of the interface and on the more strategic one of the evolution of the digital assistant. In fact, the company seems ready to definitively close the Google Assistant era inside the cars, opening the way to Gemini and an integration based on conversational artificial intelligence.

First traces of the implementation of the Material 3 Expressive in Android Auto

As often happens with the incremental updates of Android Auto, the changes visible to the end user are also reduced to the bone in version 14.9 beta, after installing the update you will not notice in fact novelty of any kind; The changelog of the latest version does not provide any useful detail, but as usual it is legitimate to assume that the update brings with it a whole series of improvements under the hood for the stability of the infotainment platform and bug resolutions.

Despite this, it is not uncommon that apparently empty updates actually represent preparatory phases for future functionality, which are introduced at the code level but not yet publicly qualified; A strategy well known to the most attentive users of Android Auto, and which confirms the gradual and often conservative approach chosen by Google for this specific ecosystem.

In this regard, the first modification of the latest version of Android Auto concerns the look, the infotainment platform In fact, it is prepared to embrace the new Material 3 Expressive design languagethat Google has already started bringing to Android, Wear OS and its system apps.

In fact, a particularly exhaustive string of code has been identified, which reads ; This translates into the arrival of more dynamic chromatic palettes shortly, more marked contrasts and a layout capable of adapting to the context (thanks to personalized backgrounds and shades), without sacrificing the soft lines and rounded shapes that have always characterized the experience on board.

A step that might seem purely aesthetic but that, as often happens in the Google house, anticipates the intention of standardizing the graphic aspect of the interface between mobile devices, smartwatch and infotainment, so as to make the transition from one interface to another more immediate.

The second news identified in the Android Auto 14.9 Beta code concerns the Support to new vehicles of vehiclesIn fact, references to Firefly (Nio Inc. electrical brand) and Lepar have been identified; It is a clear sign of how Google is working to expand the compatibility of Android Auto, trying to consolidate one’s presence Also in emerging markets and new generation electric cars segments.

The development team confirms the arrival of Gemini

For some time now we are discussed by the future of Google Assistant on Android Auto and, in the last few hours, The company support team has publicly declared that in the coming months Gemini will begin to gradually replace the classic assistant On all platforms, including cars. The change will not be immediate, For a period the two solutions will coexistso as to allow users to continue using the functions they are used to, while they start experimenting with the most advanced ones.

This passage is far from marginal, many users in fact have long complained about the linguistic limitations of Google Assistant which in some countries make fluid use of voice commands difficult during driving; Gemini, thanks to its multilingual approach and better contextual understanding, should guarantee more natural and precise interactions, overcoming frequent errors such as the bad interpretation of names of complex places or in languages other than the most supported ones.

How to update the app to the latest version available

If you are interested in testing the latest news released by Google in the Beta Auto Beta Channel, aware of being able to incur various bugs and malfunctions, you can refer to the Apkmirror portal to proceed with the download and subsequent manual installation of the latest version available following this link. If, on the other hand, you prefer to stay on the stable channel, we leave you below the badge for the Google Play Store, where you can check the possible presence of updates compared to your current version.