Google just announced a lot of new Android features and rollouts at CES 2023. Here’s a summary:
1) The new Android Auto design code-named “coolwalk” is now out of beta and available for everyone.
2) Speaking of Android Auto, you’ll soon be able to make calls using WhatsApp on the “latest Pixel and Samsung” phones.
3) Digital Car Key support (both using & sharing) is coming to select Xiaomi devices. Plus, the ability to share DCKs is coming soon to Samsung phones that already support using ’em. DCK is also expanding across more car brands.
4) Waze will expand to more cars with “Google built-in”, ie. Android Automotive w/ Google Automotive Services.
5) Google’s new HD map is now available in the Volvo EX90 and Polestar 3. HD map delivers “precise road details” like lane markers, signs, and road barriers.
6) YouTube is coming to cars with Google built-in
7) Google is working with Spotify to surface Spotify Connect devices in the output switcher of Android 13’s media player. In addition, Google has formally announced the ability to switch to Chromecast devices from the output switcher, a feature we first reported a few months back.
8) Google has also formally announced it’s developing the “media tap to transfer” feature. This feature will let you handoff media playback between devices as you move locations. You’ll see a notification asking if you’d like to transfer audio. Spotify & YTM are working on this. This feature makes use of the cross-device SDK under the hood.
Lastly, some new stats:
– 320M+ Fast Pair pairings were made in 2022
– ~3 billion devices support Nearby Share
– 3000+ audio & video apps support Cast
– 3X as many active Wear OS devices versus May 2021
– 150M monthly active Google TV devices
– 7 brands offer Google built-in cars