- A recent code dive has discovered strings within the latest Android Auto app that suggest radio controls could be coming to the platform in the future.
- The new feature isn’t live or even confirmed, but the strings indicate you’ll be able to control AM, FM, HD Radio, and DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting).
- We currently don’t know much about what the radio UI will look like, how it will work, or when we might see it. The feature isn’t actually present right now, beyond the few strings found in the code dive.
Android Auto is a great way to use Auto-optimized apps on the move. You can use Google Maps, stream music services, listen to podcasts, and even access basic information like the weather, all from your car’s radio. Ironically, the only function it has yet to offer is the ability to play back AM, FM, and HD radio channels. This may soon be changing, as evidenced by 9to5Google’s recent code dive into the Android Auto app.
While the feature isn’t live or even officially announced yet, a series of strings were found in the Android Auto v12.3 and v12.4 apps that hint at Car Radio controls. The strings specifically mention AM, FM, HD Radio, and DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting). There’s no mention of satellite radio, so it’s possible that Sirius XM won’t be one of the options, though it’s already possible to use an app for that anyway.