Now Playing is a Google Pixel-exclusive feature that helps you identify songs playing in the background. It’s one of those features that has made Shazam obsolete, at least in my case. Now Playing functions as part of Android System Intelligence and isn’t a full-blown app. This has limited Google’s ability to upgrade it or add more functionality.
In July last year, we learned that Google may be changing that by potentially making Now Playing a standalone app. A fresh revelation by 9to5Google offers more credence to this notion. Strings and text found in version B.21 of Android System Intelligence indicate a major change is coming, specifically referencing the launch of an app.
Some of the text uncovered within Android System Intelligence leaves no ambiguity about the change. “Now Playing has a new home. Your settings, song history, and other features can be found in the dedicated app,” it reads.
The string below mentions redirecting users to the Play Store to download the app:
<string name=”now_playing_upgrade_notification_action”>Go to play store</string>9to5 also managed to get a hold of the app’s package name: com.google.android.apps.pixel.nowplaying.
The Now Playing app could be here imminently
This Now Playing app will also get a brand-new icon, which looks different from the existing icon, as seen on the Now Playing history home screen widget. Thanks to Android Authority’s reporting from July last year, we already know what this updated Now Playing icon looks like, and Google appears to be sticking with this choice for the app’s launch.
Speaking of the launch, 9to5Google predicts that the Now Playing app could arrive as early as next month with the Pixel Feature Drop and the Android 16 QPR3 update.
The expected launch date is an estimate at this point, with no confirmation coming from Google. But given how far this app has progressed in its development, it doesn’t look like Google wants to keep it under wraps for long.
Making Now Playing a standalone app should enable more frequent updates and help add new functionality. As 9to5 points out, this change could also enable Google to make history syncable across Android devices, rather than being limited to the device where the songs were originally identified. However, there’s no evidence to suggest this function will be implemented in the upcoming app.
While Now Playing gets the job done right now, there’s certainly room for improvement considering the issues we’ve seen in the past.
What else would you like to see in this dedicated Now Playing app?
