Google updates Android Auto Design with new default dark mode



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Android Auto is refreshing a bit, Google announcing a new version of its smartphone-based infotainment system in anticipation of the company's I / O developer conference this week. Due out this summer, it is supposed to be more intuitive, easier to use and will require fewer taps for things to get done – and it will also use a new default theme in dark mode.

The highlight of the updated Android Auto design is a new, more dynamic navigation bar, located at the bottom of the UI. Instead of just static white buttons on a black background, the new version allows some applications to take ownership of part of the navigation bar, allowing more granular control without the driver being forced to switch to the complete application in question.

For example, if you use Google Maps to navigate to a destination, but the full application is not open on the screen, the new navigation bar will show the next step in the detailed instructions. Or if the full map view is open but the music is playing in the background, the navigation bar will show up on the surface / pause / skip application commands such as Spotify. (Google indicates that "all multimedia applications" will be able to take advantage of them as soon as they are already approved for Android Auto.)

The newer navigation bar also provides direct access to Google Assistant in one click. It moves the home button completely to the left (rather than the middle), which makes it a little less accessible. Notifications in the notification center now have more actions available, and the launcher design has also changed.

According to Android Auto Product Manager Rod Lopez, the goal of the refresh is "to help you get on the road faster, to display more useful information at a glance, and to simplify the day-to-day tasks. leading. " , Google indicates that the updated version of Android Auto can now continue to automatically play media files and will also open "the navigation application of your choice" as soon as you connect your phone to the car.

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