What you need to know
- Google is reportedly in the early stages of development for a new set of temperature controls for Android Auto.
- While there’s nothing concrete, internal code suggests users could find high, low, and off settings to start, but more could appear as it progresses.
- Android Auto’s Gemini integration shown off in an early demo video this week, showcasing basic functions for voice-activated music, Q&A, and trip planning.
In a subtle yet intriguing move, Google appears to be enhancing the Android Auto experience with a potential new feature aimed at improving driver comfort. Recent findings by 9to5Google have uncovered hints of temperature control functionality embedded within the Android Auto 13.9 beta update. This update, which rolled out to testers just a week ago, primarily focused on bug fixes and minor language adjustments, but it seems Google has more in store.
The newly discovered code suggests that users may soon have access to basic air control settings, including options for high, low, and off. Interestingly, the code does not explicitly mention temperature, leaving room for speculation about the full scope of this feature as development progresses.
This development raises questions about the potential synergy between the temperature controls and Android Auto’s upcoming Gemini integration. A recent demo video showcased Gemini’s capabilities, which include voice-activated music playback and answering queries related to significant landmarks. However, the AI’s trip planning features appeared somewhat rudimentary, lacking in-depth insights until the latter part of the demonstration.
If Google successfully integrates temperature controls within Android Auto, it could enhance the overall user experience, particularly when combined with the Gemini functionalities. Furthermore, earlier updates, such as the 13.5 version released in January, hinted at Google’s ambition to expand its automotive ecosystem, potentially welcoming motorcycles into the fold.
