Android Auto is still rolling out its big dashboard overhaul known as “Coolwalk”, but as this update is slowly coming to users, Google is already making tweaks, including updated animations and the potential for a light theme.
As we noted in our review of the Android Auto dashboard update, animations were one of the changes Google made that made the whole experience feel new. Everything was smoother and just nicer overall. But, apparently, the business was not over.
Reddit user shmykelsa, who is used to enabling new Android Auto features, showed off a tweak to “Coolwalk” with a new animation in place when switching between music and navigation apps.
The change, which is apparently tied to Android Auto v8.9 which just hit the beta channel recently, sees a new animation as the two experiences switch places on the “dashboard”. This replaces the existing animation, which fades to black before showing the new application. However, this new animation only seems to be in place on larger screens. The “Coolwalk” dashboard only shows music apps with a smaller card on the side on large screens, where on smaller screens music apps can either display on the side of the cards or right in screen.
Below you can see the two animations side by side, with the new look at the bottom.
Notably, too, this same user recently discovered that Google seems to be working on a lightweight theme for the Android Auto redesign. That would be a bit of a step back from Google, as the Android Auto redesign in 2019 removed the light theme entirely. But still, it’s nice to see that the option could become available, even if it’s only in the very early days for now.
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