CES 2023: Google adds support for Spotify Connect to bolster Android 13 media switcher

Google announced at the ongoing CES 2023 show that it is adding support for Spotify Connect to Android 13’s Media Switcher. This feature is similar to what Android 13 Media Switcher users could already do with YouTube Music. and YouTube. Users will soon be able to easily switch music from their phone or tablet to Spotify Connect-enabled devices using Android 13’s audio output switcher. “With Android 13, we’ve introduced an updated media player on the lock screen and notification section of your Android phone that lets you quickly select which built-in Bluetooth or Chromecast-enabled devices to play your content on,” Google said in a blog post.

The search giant said choosing and switching devices to listen to music can take time, which Google has tried to solve for Spotify users. The availability date was listed as “this year” in the ad.

Initially, the player could only switch audio output between Bluetooth devices. Chromecast support was added to YouTube Music last month. Developers need to update their media apps to support it, and Google today also confirmed the feature’s availability for the main YouTube app. In addition to making it easier to switch the output, Google is “developing a way for your audio content to move with you throughout the day” as part of the cross-device SDK.

The multi-device SDK makes it easier for developers to develop compatible apps on multiple devices. By combining different connectivity technologies in a single toolkit, the SDK makes it easy to develop multi-device experiences.

In practice, this amounts to receiving audio switching alerts for a pair of Bluetooth headphones used on multiple devices associated with the same account. Google is working with YouTube Music and Spotify “to use these notifications to help users enjoy the content they stream, on the most optimal device available to them.”

According to Google, these features are enabled by a “three-layered technology stack that recognizes your proximity to another device and the context in which you’re using it, to bring you a new level of convenience and ease of use.”

The first layer detects devices that are physically nearby using wireless technologies such as Bluetooth Low Energy, Wi-Fi, and ultra-wideband (UWB). The second layer includes nearby device discovery and contextual capabilities that determine which device to use based on its current activity. Finally, with cross-device intelligence, the third layer understands and adjusts actions based on how one interacts with their devices.