Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution/reddit user Honest_Past8906
Google has been spotted working on a new Android Auto feature that should have been there from the very beginning.
Android Auto might soon allow users to search for a specific song, album, artist, or playlist in music streaming apps, including Spotify, YouTube Music, and others.
A recent discovery on reddit reveals that all these apps would get a search icon at the top of the screen, enabling users to type when the vehicle is parked. Google will activate the same typing experience as in navigation apps, so users can type only when the car is not in motion. Once it starts moving, Android Auto locks the keyboard, so the search feature relies solely on voice commands.
The current version of Android Auto allows users to search for songs using Google Assistant. You can ask the assistant to "play I can see you by Taylor Swift on YouTube Music," essentially instructing the application to search for this specific song. Typing isn't currently possible in Android Auto.
All music apps on Android Auto will get the same feature, as Google will update the template, allowing developers to add this functionality to their applications.
However, the feature isn't ready for public rollout, as Google is still in the testing phase. The search icon appeared in Android Auto 10.2 beta for reddit user Honest_Past8906 but is missing on my device running the same app version. I checked for the search icon in Spotify and YouTube Music, so Google probably uses a server-controlled rollout currently in the very early stages.
The search giant has remained tight-lipped on its plans for this feature, and I'm not sure if it's linked with a specific Android Auto version in the first place.
The company has been testing several smaller refinements in Android Auto lately, including a new Google Assistant loading animation. Users spotted the new visual effect in Android Auto 10, but the public rollout is yet to commence. Google enables the new experience in stages for users worldwide, so the general availability hasn't yet been reached.
The same will be valid for the search icon in audio apps, as Google first wants to make sure that everything is working as expected.
A search feature in music apps undoubtedly makes perfect sense, and it should have been there from the beginning. Typing the song's name or the artist when the car is parked feels natural and shouldn't come with any restrictions. Google's approach is correct, as locking access to the keyboard when the vehicle starts moving is a safety feature that prevents driver distraction.
If you want to try out Android Auto 10.2, you can find the first beta build on this page. The update shipped to registered beta users earlier this week, but anyone can install it on their devices using the stand-alone APK installer.
A recent discovery on reddit reveals that all these apps would get a search icon at the top of the screen, enabling users to type when the vehicle is parked. Google will activate the same typing experience as in navigation apps, so users can type only when the car is not in motion. Once it starts moving, Android Auto locks the keyboard, so the search feature relies solely on voice commands.
The current version of Android Auto allows users to search for songs using Google Assistant. You can ask the assistant to "play I can see you by Taylor Swift on YouTube Music," essentially instructing the application to search for this specific song. Typing isn't currently possible in Android Auto.
All music apps on Android Auto will get the same feature, as Google will update the template, allowing developers to add this functionality to their applications.
However, the feature isn't ready for public rollout, as Google is still in the testing phase. The search icon appeared in Android Auto 10.2 beta for reddit user Honest_Past8906 but is missing on my device running the same app version. I checked for the search icon in Spotify and YouTube Music, so Google probably uses a server-controlled rollout currently in the very early stages.
The search giant has remained tight-lipped on its plans for this feature, and I'm not sure if it's linked with a specific Android Auto version in the first place.
The company has been testing several smaller refinements in Android Auto lately, including a new Google Assistant loading animation. Users spotted the new visual effect in Android Auto 10, but the public rollout is yet to commence. Google enables the new experience in stages for users worldwide, so the general availability hasn't yet been reached.
The same will be valid for the search icon in audio apps, as Google first wants to make sure that everything is working as expected.
A search feature in music apps undoubtedly makes perfect sense, and it should have been there from the beginning. Typing the song's name or the artist when the car is parked feels natural and shouldn't come with any restrictions. Google's approach is correct, as locking access to the keyboard when the vehicle starts moving is a safety feature that prevents driver distraction.
If you want to try out Android Auto 10.2, you can find the first beta build on this page. The update shipped to registered beta users earlier this week, but anyone can install it on their devices using the stand-alone APK installer.
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