Android Auto: improvements

[MaFo-28]

The general idea is to equip Tempus with the best possible Android Auto interface.

Since it's an interface we use while driving, it needs to be simple.
Items and functions should be accessible with minimal effort, without requiring excessive reading, and everything should be predictable.
And we shouldn't have to touch our phone to use this interface.

However, Android Auto is very limited!
There's a maximum number of tabs, as well as a limit on icon size. There's no short or long press detection, and no swipe functionality.
There are only two slots for custom functions in the player.
Queue manipulation is very limited.

This is what led to the redesign of the Android Auto interface, available since version 4.12.0.

Since I use Tempus almost exclusively in my car, I see potential improvements, and my preferences and expectations are also changing.

I'm currently working on several improvements:

• Search results now display as grid or list, depending on the album display preference
  => Development complete, testing underway
• Modified the artists function to display artists instead of the current function which displays all albums sorted by artist
  => Selection based on preference, development complete, testing underway
• Adding "one-click play": when you click on an album or playlist, the content is queued and playback starts immediately
  => Selection based on preference, development complete, testing underway

Backlog:

• Adding a "Made For You" function
  => [Feature Request] - "Instant Mix" for Android Auto #448
• Adding an "Instant Mix" or "Radio" album, with specific artwork, to an artist's album page if they have at least two albums
  => [Feature Request] - On Android Auto, add access to instant mix seeded by songs and artists #499
  => Feasibility to be confirmed
• Adding two items to the beginning of an album or playlist's tracks list: "Play" and "Add Next". The first option sends all the content, replacing the queue; the second sends it to the end of the queue.
  => Feasibility to be confirmed

Following all this, we'll can look at the player's custom functions to see what we can do.
Such as adding an "Instant Mix" function, for example, which seems feasible : #499 and/or #134
A 1-5 star rating might be achievable, but what's the point since it's not used with Android Auto? #305
However, performing complex queue manipulations doesn't seem possible.

This post isn't meant to discourage contributions, quite the opposite, but rather to avoid working on identical topics without coordination.
It also allows Android Auto users to know where we stand and what features are coming.

[MaFo-28]

News from early April:

Thanks to Jorilx for adding the 'genres' page/function #505

PRs #497 and #514 need to be merged so that we can continue improving the AA UI:

• Search results now display as grid or list, depending on the albums display settings
  => Development complete, testing underway
  => PR to be written
• Modified the artists function to display artists instead of the current function which displays all albums sorted by artist
  => Display based on settings, development complete, testing underway
  => Feasibility verified for adding an "Instant Mix" album. [Feature Request] - On Android Auto, add access to instant mix seeded by songs and artists #499
  => feat: Improved artists display for Android Auto #512 is paused pending
• Adding "one-click play": when you click on an album or playlist, the content is queued and playback starts immediately
  => Action based on settings, development needs improvement

[MaFo-28]

A view of Instant Mix: