Now Playing is one of the Pixel’s oldest features and Google is getting ready to give it a big app “upgrade.”
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.
At the moment, the background song identification feature is powered by Android System Intelligence, which is also responsible for Live Caption, Smart Text Selection, and other features. The interface is quite old with its two-tab layout for History and Favorites.
Now Playing is soon becoming a “dedicated app.” Version B.21 of Android System Intelligence includes strings describing this “upgrade.”
Go to play store
Download the new Now Playing app
Now Playing has a new home. Your settings, song history, and other features can be found in the dedicated app.
You’ll be directed to the Play Store for the install. We know what the new icon looks like thanks to the stub already found on Pixel devices. The app will be: com.google.android.apps.pixel.nowplaying.
This approach will hopefully allow Google to introduce more features for Now Playing, just like when Weather became a dedicated Pixel app. A modern design would go a long way, while we badly need Now Playing history to be synced over when switching devices.
As for when this could launch, the next Feature Drop in March would be a good candidate.
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