Google Pixel's Now Playing Feature May Soon Show Album Covers

Ever since Google introduced the Now Playing feature on Pixel 2 devices, it's been a handy tool for identifying songs playing nearby without needing to open an app. However, the feature has been a bit bare-bones, only displaying song names and artists. Recently, some code changes hint that Google might finally add album art to the history page, making it more visually appealing. Here's how Now Playing works: Your Pixel phone has a special database of song fingerprints. When it hears music, it wakes up to record a snippet and matches it to the database. The song info then pops up on your lock screen. Despite being a fan favorite, the feature hasn't seen updates in years.

The history page in Settings currently shows a list of recognized songs with a generic note icon. Google owns YouTube Music, so it's surprising that album art hasn't been added sooner. Now, it seems like that might change. A code update suggests that Now Playing could start downloading album art from YouTube Music or Google Search. This isn't just about looks; it also makes the history page more useful. With album art, you'll have a clearer picture of the songs Now Playing has recognized. Plus, it brings Now Playing more in line with other music recognition apps. Interestingly, the code mentions a future subdomain change for downloads, possibly indicating a launch timeline. But the date listed is over a year away, which might be a disappointment for eager Pixel users. For now, we can only wait and see if Google rolls out this update soon.

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