A competitor to Apple CarPlay, Android Auto is a special interface of the Android operating system designed for use in the car via the touch screen of a compatible infotainment system. By connecting your smartphone on board, via a USB cable or wirelessly, you can find the world of your favorite apps in your car.

Android Auto, which was first launched in the spring of 2015, will soon offer its users a brand new major update with the arrival of new version called “Coolwalk”. It was announced a few weeks ago at CES in Las Vegas and is already being used by Google beta testers before it hits our screens in the coming months.

Android Auto Coolwalk: New home screen

Like any new generation of system like Android Auto, Coolwalk has its share of new features. There is, for example, a new home screenwhich is divided into several “maps”, like its competitor Apple CarPlay.

Thus, you can simultaneously use navigation, multimedia player, weather or even calls and messages on the same screen. This display is currently only compatible with Google Maps, but other navigation apps available on Android Auto, such as Waze, should be updated soon to be compatible.

Android Auto Coolwalk: a more flexible interface

This new version of Android Auto is also improved adapt to different sizes of touch screens built into modern cars with more compatible car brands: in this way, the display will be able to intelligently spread over the entire surface of the screen in portrait or landscape format, regardless of their aspect ratio (4/3, 16/9, etc.). .

L’google assistant will now be better integrated into the world of Android Auto: directly on the home screen, you can quickly find smart suggestions such as missed call reminders, the ability to quickly share your arrival time, not to mention music and podcasts.

Android Auto Coolwalk: new features

with new opportunities also appear, for example, support for calls from the WhatsApp program or even an improved taskbar that allows direct access to the 4 most used programs with one click of the mouse. The media player interface will also allow you to navigate through the playback progress bar, allowing you to jump directly to a piece of music or a podcast.

You’ll still have to wait a few months to use this final version of Android Auto if you’re not an Android beta tester. Indeed, we have to see this latest update to Google’s embedded operating system for that summer 2023.