Android Auto beta hints at weather info for small screens with a raccoon named Jimothy

Google announced a wave of Android Auto upgrades at I/O this year, including better compatibility with different screen sizes. However, in its current form, Android Auto users with smaller head units miss out on core experiences such as weather solely because of screen-size limitations. The new feature appears to be a future remedy.

Digging into the beta, Android Authority found code referencing Jimothy, a raccoon that became a social media sensation in July. When available, users should see a small raccoon moving across the music player interface with a bubble above it displaying the weather. The music player area will also show other elements such as rain, clouds, or sun, depending on the user's location.

The feature is not easy to activate. According to Android Authority, the raccoon and weather-related elements appear only when users switch the device theme in Settings > Theme (Automatic, Light, Dark) or when they turn on Android Auto. The raccoon may also be too small for something as important as a weather alert, and users could miss it entirely. This might mean the feature is not fully ready and Google may need to make adjustments before a wider rollout.

There is no guarantee that Google will make this feature a core part of the app in a future release. Users currently have to rely on third-party solutions or ask Google Gemini or Assistant for weather updates, so an option like this would be a welcome addition. Android Authority also noted that Google appears to be preparing a new green icon for the Android Auto app.