Google Is Making Android Auto Available In Any Car (techcrunch.com) 50
An anonymous reader quotes a report from TechCrunch: Earlier this year, Google announced its plans to bring Android Auto, its phone-centric in-car infotainment platform, "to every car" by launching it as a stand-alone Android app, too. It's taken a while, but the company today launched an update to the Android Auto app for -- well -- Android that makes good on this promise. Even if your car isn't Android Auto compatible, you can now get all the benefits of Android Auto without the cost of a new mid-size sedan. Android Auto on the phone provides you with a simplified interface that combines directions, music, and incoming messages into a relatively distraction free experience. That's essentially the same interface you would see on an in-car display with Android Auto support. Android Auto works with popular apps like Spotify, Pandora, Google Maps and others. Like all things Google, the app will also soon let you use "Ok Google" commands to use directions, send messages and control your music. What's more is that the app will automatically boot-up when the phone connects to your car's Bluetooth network. It's compatible with smartphones running Android 5.0 and newer and will be available to users in more than 30 countries over the course of the next few days.
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My car has a built in navigation unit, and all my phones are already recognizable by it. Whenever I start the car, the phone I carry is automatically recognized by Bluetooth, so that if I get called, I answer via the car system and speak via the unit. So what exactly does Android Auto give me? Does it project Google Maps onto the navigation unit regardless of whether the car supports it or not? I looked at the app, and honestly, I don't need it to browse any music collection (I have a separate iPod tou
Bad comment on Play Store (Score:1)
I was hoping it could read text messages. It may, but ...
There are a lot of disappointed users on the play store :
https://play.google.com/store/... [google.com]
It's rated 3.3 at the time of writing. I will wait a bit before trying myself !
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OBD II? (Score:2)
Anyone know if this will integrate with Bluetooth OBD II readers? I did RTFA...well, I searched TFA, and didn't see anything one way or another.
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No, since OBD 2 really isn't a consumer standard, especially the output from OBD2 readers (which can vary)
Are there any vehicles today which don't report all the basic OBD-II parameters in clear, understandable ways? I know that this used to be a big problem with some manufacturers doing weird things, like very strange RPM coding on powerstrokes, but shouldn't you be able to talk to basically any PCM today and get all the basic values? And, of course, trouble codes. The trouble codes for the mandatory OBD-II trip monitors are mandated in the spec. Manufacturer-specific trouble codes exist, but even on an Audi f
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I have not used one in a while, but my biggest beefs with any obd II system that yuo want to use in care are: 1. Size, even small ones tend to protrude under the dash where I hit it with my leg. I am an average height guy. 2. Battery drain, the OBD2 port has an always on power line, and leaving the reader in can really take a car battery down.
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1. Size, even small ones tend to protrude under the dash where I hit it with my leg. I am an average height guy.
Dash? Every car I have had had the OBD2 port in bottom of the centre console. Though I guess those sleek looking large sedans don't have space for it there.
2. Battery drain, the OBD2 port has an always on power line, and leaving the reader in can really take a car battery down.
This is a complete and total non issue. These devices draw less power than the rest of the things on standby in your car. I never unplug mine, even when I was overseas for 2 months, I got back and my 5 year old battery was still fine. Just remember how insanely big a car battery is compared to a small low power device like this.
Giggity (Score:1)
I want Google in my car about as much as I want a Trump presidency.
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Groovy (Score:2)
I have an older Audi without navigation. The navigation data hasn't been updated for something like a decade, so there's little point in swapping it in. I just want to use Android. I actually plan to install something permanently or in a dock, probably a tablet, and make it a "keyboard" (using Arduino or similar) to provide some nicer controls. Now, let's see how many years this project takes me :p
Could take 20 minutes to swap your head unit for (Score:2)
They make head units ("radios") with Android Auto, and an adapter cable for your car, so you *could* have a very nice installation done in about 20 minutes. My brother who does auto electronics for a living says the aftermarket Android Auto units are really great.
If you want to spend more time, you can also hook them up to your obd2 or whatever other sites for extra features.
Re: Could take 20 minutes to swap your head unit f (Score:2)
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They make head units ("radios") with Android Auto,
Yes.
and an adapter cable for your car,
No. Not for my car. For my car without the Bose sound system, a configuration which was not even available in North America, yes.
so you *could* have a very nice installation done in about 20 minutes.
No. Absolutely not. In order to have a "Very nice" installation with another head unit, I would have to spend many hours and dollars doing custom work, bypassing amplifiers, replacing speakers, running wires, et cetera. And having done all that, I'd still have to buy equipment or hire someone with the equipment to come in and balance my sound stage, not having to do which is t
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You should definitely spend several more paragraphs telling us how small your penis is and how you compensate by having such a cool sound system in your car.
If that's what you took away from that, your reading comprehension skills are equal to a Trump voter.
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What car model/year?
I assume you have already checked on Crutchfield?
Re: Groovy (Score:2)
Now, let's see how many years this project takes me
Probably even longer than it's been since you looked at aftermarket car stereos... they come with HDMI inputs now, thus allowing you to use virtually any modern device while skipping all the reinventing-the-wheel shit...
Lies. (Score:2)
Can't install this on either my phone or car tablet.
And why can't I see who's ringing and answer my phone from my tablet? They are both connected to my cars audio, and to each other...
Limits of bluetooth and tablets (Score:2)
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That's b'cos Bluetooth is a 1:1 connection protocol, not a multiplexed connection: you can only have one device connected to another at any time. Aside from that, tablets typically don't come w/ a separate phone connection, just data, which is why even the messaging apps on the phone don't worrk
So my wireless mouse and my wireless keyboard and my wireless headphones don't work at the same time? Damn that must have been some powerful drugs i been takin'.
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Your wireless mouse and keyboards don't use Bluetooth: they use an IRDA style wireless that connects a mouse/keyboard w/ a USB dongle, which goes into one of the 4 (or whatever) USB ports on your computer. It's like having a USB keyboard and USB mouse, sans the wires. Bluetooth is not the standard used here to connect one w/ the other.
Any Bluetooth peripheral will have a single connection w/ a Bluetooth host. If your computer's Bluetooth is connected to a Bluetooth keyboard (not a USB wireless one), th
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Your wireless mouse and keyboards don't use Bluetooth: they use an IRDA style wireless that connects a mouse/keyboard w/ a USB dongle, which goes into one of the 4 (or whatever) USB ports on your computer. It's like having a USB keyboard and USB mouse, sans the wires. Bluetooth is not the standard used here to connect one w/ the other.
I'm sitting here listening to Jackie Blue by the Ozark Mountain Daredevils on my Logitech bluetooth Headset, while simultaneously typing to you on a logitech K480 bluetooth Keyboard and using an Apple magic mouse and I even tried moving the mouse with no effect on either the keyboard or headset all operating simultaneously.
The K480 does have a USB plug-in, if I want it, but its sitting in a recess in the headset, not in use. That's a different technology and for devices that have USB and not Bluetooth.
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Relationship between bluetooth hosts and bluetooth peripherals is 1:many. Not many:many. One computer, multiple devices (a headset, a mouse, a keyboard). But one device (say a mouse) can only connect to one computer at a time (typically).
Also, getting phones and tablets to output audio to more than one output device isn't easy to configure.
Also, and this one is a bit fuzzier but I seem to recall having trouble using older bluetooth headsets to listen to music on my Blackberry (back when Blackberrys were
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> That's b'cos Bluetooth is a 1:1 connection protocol, not a multiplexed connection
definitely not true, I personally use my phone to connect to a Bluetooth OBD-II device, Bluetooth radar detector, and stream music to the car via bluetooth at the same time daily on my android phone. I can hear the radar detector app through my BT headset on my motorcycle with music playing as well, so definitely all work at the same time.
Devices do have to have unique UUID (so not from the same manufacture) and you can h
incoming messages? distraction free? (Score:2)
Sorry, your fucking texts and updates from the Book of Faces isn't necessary for you to see immediately while driving, and absolutely doesn't belong in the set of functions called "relatively distraction free." Especially if you're fucking about with a phone to see it, while either holding it up, or worrying about it falling out of the cheap shit window mount that constantly falls off because you didn't bother cleaning the windshield before sticking the suction cup on.
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Fix your Navigation app first, then we'll talk (Score:2)
Brought to you by a company that for almost a decade ignores its users' please to make the "avoid tolls" option in its navigation app sticky.
curso NR 10 (Score:1)
Still may run afoul of the law? (Score:3)
The problem I have with putting any of these auto services directly on a phone is that the hands-free/no texting laws the police try to enforce may snare you.
The cops are usually just trying to keep any eye out for anyone driving along who picks up a cellphone and holds it in their hand. That's why the navigation systems, Apple Car Play, and Android Auto on an in-dash stereo have value. It ensures the interface is actually part of the vehicle, on the dash.
You can argue that this is stupid, etc. But good luck getting out of the next "texting while driving" ticket by arguing with the cop that all you were actually doing was pressing a key to skip to the next song on your stereo from your phone.
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Yes, it just replicates it and by any kind of logic, seems like it should change nothing. BUT, how do you think law enforcement is enforcing the laws demanding people use phones hands-free?
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pressing a key to skip to the next song
If that's what you're doing then you're using it wrong. Not in the Apple sense, but literally using it wrong.
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Personally, I hit the next song button on my steering wheel, but I have a car made in the last decade...
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Uh...the fact that you no longer need to buy the Panasonic aftermarket stereo...
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Yes, according to Crutchfield, your 1999 Accord is supported by 9 different Android Auto head units, plus a plethora of phones.
The cheapest one is $599:
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_1... [crutchfield.com]
But, yes, I would replace the clutch and backer plate first, though perhaps a new car is in order?
Doo dads (Score:1)
Why don't you have any money? Buying doo dads. Crap like this. You don't NEED it.