Google is gearing up to enhance one of the Pixel series’ most cherished features—Now Playing. This beloved tool, which identifies background music, is set to transition into a standalone application available for download from the Google Play Store. This development has been hinted at since last year, but recent updates to Android System Intelligence have provided clearer insights into this exciting evolution.
Currently, the Now Playing feature operates within the Android System Intelligence framework, which also supports functionalities like Live Caption and Smart Text Selection. Its interface has remained relatively unchanged, featuring a straightforward layout with tabs for History and Favorites. However, the latest version, B.21, of Android System Intelligence reveals code strings indicating that Now Playing may soon become an independent app. Notably, one string suggests that users will be redirected to the Play Store to download the new Now Playing app.
This transition promises to offer more than just a shortcut; Google envisions a “new home” for Now Playing, complete with settings, song history, and additional features integrated into the standalone app. The package name “com.google.android.apps.pixel.nowplaying” further reinforces the notion that this will be a fully developed application rather than a mere adjustment to the system interface. Our exploration of version B.21 also uncovered a screen referencing the new Now Playing app, hinting at its imminent arrival.
A Pixel-only app, at least for now
While the prospect of a Play Store listing might imply broader accessibility, our findings suggest that the new Now Playing app will not be universally installable on all Android devices. In the Android Canary builds, Google seems to be implementing device-level checks to restrict installation, indicating that access may be limited to supported Pixel devices for the time being.
As the launch date remains uncertain, it is unclear how the app’s interface or functionality might evolve. There is also speculation about whether Google will eventually broaden access, potentially positioning Now Playing as a competitor to well-known music recognition applications like Apple’s Shazam.
