Google Maps for Android Auto Receives a Questionable Interface Update

Oddly enough, the change that Google is experimenting with doesn't make much sense, making Google Maps feel more cluttered.

The latest app versions include a new sidebar for the controls on the screen, including the options to zoom in and out on the map, the compass, the alerts, and the settings button. Previously, all of them were displayed on the right of the screen when you touched the map, but they have been moved to a sidebar on the side of the interface.

The sidebar uses a translucent design, probably to make it feel less intrusive, but it still uses unnecessary screen space.

While I agree that some options, such as the compass, should always be enabled, a full sidebar makes the interface more crowded, using valuable screen estate that should otherwise be used for other purposes.

Google Maps should use as much screen estate as possible for the map, as drivers must look at the display and see their directions at a glance. Spending too much time peeking at the navigation application is a big no-no from a distraction perspective. With this update, Google Maps makes it harder for drivers to observe essential data.

The sidebar doesn't always appear but only when you interact with the map (such as when moving up and down across the route) and is exclusive to the full-screen mode on Android Auto. It doesn't work on the dashboard view (the Coolwalk interface).

The new interface is still in the testing phase, probably as Google is still working on refining it before starting the production rollout. Hopefully, the company will find a way to make this option less intrusive and keep the interface less cluttered, as a full sidebar uses unnecessary space on the screen in an application that must be as clean as possible.

The latest Google Maps updates include the feature, which isn't tied to a specific Android Auto version. The most recent stable Android Auto build is 10.0, but the same interface is live on older releases. It looks like the sidebar also appears on devices running Android Auto 10.1 beta, so you must install a specific Google Maps update (whose version number is currently unknown) to get it – chances are that Google enables it in stages, though.

Google has remained tight-lipped on the new update so far, but an announcement could go live soon if the company completes the limited testing and begins the public rollout to all Android devices. I'll let you know when this happens, but for now, I can only hope Google further polishes this idea.