Danny Weber
Android Auto beta testers can now switch between music apps by swiping cards, making it easier and safer to change audio while driving. Rollout expected soon.
Google has started testing a new feature in Android Auto designed to make switching between music and other media apps in the car easier. Beta testers of Android Auto 17.0.162144 report that active media services can now be changed by swiping between cards directly in the interface.
Previously, the stable version of Android Auto lacked a convenient media app switcher. If a driver wanted to go back from one music service to another, they had to manually open the desired app and start playback to bring it back to the home screen. There was essentially no quick way to return to the previous player.
The new system works more simply: Android Auto displays available media apps installed on the phone as cards. Users can scroll through them and quickly select the audio source they want. This is especially useful on the road, where extra screen interactions are distracting and make control less safe.
The arrival of this feature seems like a logical continuation of changes in Android itself. Shortly before this, Google updated the media switcher in Android 17 QPR1 Beta 3, making it more prominent and convenient. Now a similar approach is being applied to the car interface, where quick access to music, podcasts, and audiobooks is particularly important.
For now, the feature is only available to Android Auto beta testers, so it is not yet in the stable version. However, given the interface's readiness and user feedback, the full rollout may not be far off.
© A. Krivonosov