A Reddit thread dedicated to the issue has amassed over 130 comments, with users expressing their frustration. Some have even reported switching to alternative navigation apps like Waze, citing the “Search monstrosity” as the primary reason. It’s worth noting that this change might go unnoticed by some users. Those who primarily navigate to pre-determined destinations with Android Auto, where the search box disappears, or those who don’t actively use the map while driving, may not be affected.
Android Auto Update: when screen size… matters
The problem is worse on smaller screens. The Reddit post shows a small screen. Newer cars often have bigger screens, giving Google Maps more space. But people with smaller screens in older cars are more affected by the change.
It seems Google forgot about users with smaller screens, focusing on larger, newer screens. This update shows how hard it is to design interfaces for many different screen sizes. It also makes us think about how easy it is for everyone to use older technology.
In short, the recent Google Maps update for Android Auto has caused problems. The big search bar makes it hard to see the map, which is frustrating and could be dangerous. Google will likely fix it, but this shows why user feedback and testing are important when making software. Software needs to work well on different devices.
