**Google’s New “Earth” Widget Panel Promises Quick, Glanceable Controls for Android Auto**
Google is developing a new widget panel for Android Auto, aiming to bring quick and glanceable controls right to your car’s dashboard. Internally known as “Earth,” this upcoming feature is designed to give users more control over what appears on their Android Auto home screen.
### Android Auto Might Soon Get Phone-Like Widgets
According to recent reports, Google wants Android Auto to feel more like your Android phone. The “Earth” project focuses on incorporating home screen widgets into the Android Auto experience. This would allow you to pin widgets from your favorite apps directly to your car’s dashboard, keeping things like music controls, your calendar, or the weather easily accessible without having to leave the main screen.
It’s a simple yet clever idea: bring your phone’s widgets into your car for a more personalized, convenient interface.
### How Is This Different from Existing Android Auto Features?
Don’t confuse “Earth” with Android Auto’s current Taskbar Widgets — those are small shortcuts that appear at the bottom of the screen. “Earth” widgets will actually be positioned along the side of your screen in a split-layout format.
From the discoveries so far, Android Auto will divide the main screen into two sections:
– The widget panel will take up about a third of the display.
– The remaining two-thirds will display your navigation, apps, and controls.
![Google might soon let you add widgets | Image credit: Android Authority]
### Current Limitations and Performance Issues
Right now, there are a few catches:
– Only one widget can be active at a time. For example, if you add a Clock widget and then switch to Spotify, the clock disappears.
– The reasons behind this limitation are unclear — it might be a safety measure or something Google intends to refine later.
– Performance is currently rough. Some widgets lag, and others fail to load properly.
– Compatibility remains a challenge. Even some of Google’s own widgets don’t behave as expected.
– Layout issues are also present, especially with widgets originally designed for vertical screens that don’t scale well horizontally.
Despite these challenges, “Earth” is still in early development. Google is actively testing, refining, and working toward smoother performance and broader app compatibility in upcoming Android Auto updates.
### More Control and Customization for Users
Every incremental upgrade to Android Auto is a win, and the introduction of widgets is no exception. While you could already run apps like Spotify while keeping Maps open, widgets add a clean and flexible way to manage what’s visible on your screen.
Widgets may take up as much space as a full app, but their streamlined design can enhance usability and provide quicker access to frequently checked information.
At its core, this feature is about giving users more choice. Google appears to be embracing this philosophy more and more with Android Auto.
### What Do Users Think? Would You Use Widgets on Your Android Auto Dashboard?
– Definitely more control is always good.
– Maybe, depends on how smooth it runs.
– Nah, I don’t need extra clutter while driving.
### Android Auto Continues to Outpace Apple CarPlay in Customization
“Earth” is another example of how Android Auto excels in customization compared to Apple’s CarPlay. Android’s platform offers features like syncing your wallpaper between your phone and your car’s display — something CarPlay still lacks.
With the potential addition of widgets, Android Auto is shaping up to become even more flexible and personal. Although “Earth” is just a codename for now, if Google nails the implementation, Android Auto could soon look and feel a lot more like your phone, and less like a static dashboard.
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*Stay tuned for more updates as Google continues to develop this exciting feature for Android Auto.*
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https://www.phonearena.com/news/android-auto-next-update-could-make-multitasking-while-driving-less-risky_id175325
