Now Playing on Google Pixel smartphones is a worthy addition that helps users detect music that’s playing around them, even without a manual trigger. However, as frequent users will tell you, it’s not always reliable.
Setting that aside, Google has been working on bringing some key improvements to the feature, including a dedicated Quick Settings tile for easier access away from the lock screen. We’re now gaining new info on Now Playing’s potential evolution on the lock screen.
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Never forget that song you heard ever again
While going through a recent Android System Intelligence update, the folks over at Android Authority caught a glimpse at how Google intends to bring Now Playing’s album artwork to the lock screen. As you would imagine, it takes more space than the existing text-only layout, though it’s certainly a step up from a visual perspective.
A much-needed upgrade to Now Playing
Now Playing’s text-only interface (left); The updated interface with album art and Favorite button (middle and right) [via Android Authority]
Screenshots show the extent of the album artwork’s width on the screen, while there’s also a shortcut for Favorites towards the right-hand side of this field. As for its behavior, Android Authority reports that Now Playing will default to the text-only interface, while tapping the identified song once will activate the album artwork.
This is a good way to ensure people who are adjusted to the existing system of Now Playing don’t lose that old behavior. However, it’s a bit of a bummer for some Pixel owners (like me) who are accustomed to the current interface, wherein a single tap of the identified song redirects users to their Now Playing history.
It’s unclear whether this evolution of Now Playing will allow users to alternate between the text-only version and the one with album artwork, as things can get a bit cramped on the lock screen. Nevertheless, given how Now Playing has remained largely unchanged over the past couple of years, a visual overhaul like this could ensure more people use it.
In a separate report over the past few days, Android Authority uncovered another potential update to Now Playing, courtesy of Android Canary, featuring a dedicated lock screen shortcut. So it looks like Now Playing is in for a couple of key improvements, although exactly when (or if) these features will go live is unknown.
What do you make of these potential upgrades to Pixel’s Now Playing?