Android Auto Material Designs Now Available in Latest Beta App: Report
The Android Auto app is finally getting a new Material You build in the beta channel, according to a report. The new update reportedly brings a redesigned UI and some additional features to the Settings menu. The beta app for Android Auto version 8.6 is available to those enrolled in the beta program. The new beta app includes major changes to themes, a newly designed ‘Connect Car’ button, new toggles, and more. However, Google has not officially released the update, and this appears to be a server-side issue.
According to some screenshots shared on a Google news phone channelThe new beta version of the Android Auto app is reportedly bringing the Material You redesign and several other features to its Settings menu. However, the report notes that the beta is not widely available as the beta channel is already full so no new registrations are being accepted.
The report adds that the new design comes with a large collapsible header, dynamic colors and new Material Design 3 switches and a dark theme. Additionally, the new Material3SettingsActivity introduced in the Android Auto 8.5 app is also said to work in the new update.
Google has not yet released a stable version of Android Auto version 8.6. So, if you’re not signed up for the beta program, you’ll still see the old Material Design 1 style design with a colorful top bar.
It appears that the new updated Settings menu for the Android Auto app appears to be enabled with hidden flags or appears to be coming from the server side. As seen in the screenshots, the old header image is no longer visible. The new design offers a modern feel like other Google apps. Not only that, the options are now better organized, making navigation easier than ever.
Google earlier this year in May, announced that it will release a bunch of new Android Auto features later in 2022. It shared that it will bring features like a new user interface and support for suggested answers based on Google Assistant suggestions. Announcements are made for I/O 2022.
