Android Auto 13.0 update is now rolling out, prepares for new ‘Car Media’ feature

Ben Schoon | Oct 5 2024 - 5:30 pm PT

Google is rolling out the next version of Android Auto, version 13.0, which doesn’t bring any user-facing changes, but does continue some work behind the scenes.

About APK Insight: In this “APK Insight” post, we’ve decompiled the latest version of an application that Google uploaded to the Play Store. When we decompile these files (called APKs, in the case of Android apps), we’re able to see various lines of code within that hint at possible future features. Keep in mind that Google may or may not ever ship these features, and our interpretation of what they are may be imperfect. We’ll try to enable those that are closer to being finished, however, to show you how they’ll look in case that they do ship. With that in mind, read on.

Android Auto app updates are usually fairly unimportant, but the latest version has now reached v13.0. What does that mean for you as a user? While updates likely addresses some bug and makes assorted fixes, but there are no user-facing changes from what we can see.

Behind the scenes, though, the update does continue to develop one new feature.

Google has been working through the past few Android Auto versions on control for AM/FM radio as well as local media, and Android Auto v13.0 continues work on this. In the latest update, we spotted strings that refer to the feature as “Car Media” and address how it would work with missing or unavailable media.

<string name=”car_local_media_service_label”>Car Media</string>
<string name=”car_local_media_media_source_unavailable_error”>%1$s is not available.</string>
<string name=”car_local_media_missing_song_name”>Unknown</string>
<string name=”car_local_media_sources_root”>Car Media Sources</string>

It’s still unclear when the feature is coming – it’s still not live in Android Auto 13.0 – but Google continues to develop it behind the scenes.

Previously, icons for the feature were added to the app.