Google unveils new Android Auto features

2 min readUpdated May 27, 2025Jan 6, 20239:21 AM

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Google’s booth at CES officially opened today and highlighted some of the progress that has been made to make the Android ecosystem more helpful across multiple devices. Some of the apps and features that have driven this include the media player, seamless switching between Android and ChromeOS and a brand new Android Auto.

At CES, Google is showing how its technology already helps devices work better together and how we as users can enjoy entertainment in new ways, like by expanding its work with Spotify so we can listen without interruptions.

With Android 13, Google added a new media player to your Android phone’s lock screen and notification area, letting you quickly choose which Bluetooth or Chromecast-enabled devices to play your content on. This year, Google is working closely with Spotify to make it easy for users to switch between any Spotify Connect device and the media player on Android.

Google is also making it possible for you to take your audio content with you as you go about your day. This will be accomplished via notifications on your devices, allowing you to tap to start listening to a podcast in the car, continue on your phone and headphones, and finish on your TV at home. As you move around, your phone or other devices will send you media notifications asking if you want to move the audio to a nearby device.

Google is working with Spotify to use these notifications to help users enjoy the content they’re streaming on their best device. This notification experience will also be available on YouTube Music.

Designed to be adaptable, open, and compatible with one another, Android and Chrome OS were made to function hand in hand. This trend continues with Android’s three-layer technology stack that understands your proximity to another device and context in how you use it, bringing you a new level of convenience and ease-of-use.

To bridge these devices together, Google has integrated tools like Fast Pair, Nearby Share, Phone Hub, and Chromecast to make switching between devices faster and less cumbersome. Google has also expanded on Android’s rich heritage of customization and AI to bring a range of individualized features, such as seamless audio switching to cross-device copy and paste.

These and other features be found on the latest Chromebooks, such as the ASUS Chromebook Vibe CX34 Flip and the HP Dragonfly Pro Chromebook, both of which were revealed at CES.

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Questions & Answers

What new media player features has Google added recently?

Android 13 introduced a new media player to phone lock screens and notification areas. This allows users to quickly select Bluetooth or Chromecast-enabled devices for content playback. Google is also working with Spotify to facilitate easy switching between Spotify Connect devices.

How will Google enable users to take audio content with them across devices?

Users will receive notifications on their devices, allowing them to tap and move audio. For example, they could start a podcast in the car, continue on their phone, and finish on their TV at home. This feature is also planned for YouTube Music.

Which specific tools does Google use to connect Android and Chrome OS devices?

To bridge these devices, Google has integrated tools such as Fast Pair, Nearby Share, Phone Hub, and Chromecast. This aims to make switching between devices quicker and less cumbersome for users, improving overall convenience.

What are some of the new individualised features mentioned for Android?

Google has expanded Android's customisation and AI capabilities to include features like smooth audio switching and cross-device copy and paste. These, among others, are available on recent Chromebooks unveiled at CES.