[Q] Moto X, Touchless Control, and UCOnnect hands-free. - Moto X Q&A

So, this may have been brought up already, I did try to search, but didnt come up with much.
So, i bought a Moto X, even after hearing the lenovo/google news. I figure that they cant ruin the device quickly enough to justify second-guessing my long and painstaking decision process.
Anyway, touchless control is pretty awesome. Ive been tinkering with it since i got it. I'm a long time android user, and have been using google now for some time. The problem is this.
I drive a 2013 Jeep, with a UConnect bluetooth hands-free system. It works for what its supposed to work for, i can make calls, stream audio, all is well. In fact its working better than it did on my old GNex. However, once I connect my motox to UConnect (that is, i get in, turn on the Jeep, and bluetooth associates), touchless control becomes unresponsive. In fact, it seems that even if i try to manually initiate a voice search, google now cant hear me. I can use the voice input for the keyboard, just not voice commands. It's almost like as soon as i'm paired to a bluetooth input, google now voice input/touchless control get turned off. Which to me seems odd.
I tried looking around in my settings, i cant seem to find a setting that tells the phone to do this. It just doesnt work.
Also, if i turn off bluetooth while the Jeep is still running, touchless/voice input starts working again.
I havent tried pairing it to another bluetooth headset to see if it does it then too, i'll update this thread once i've had a chance to try that.
Is this something others are experiencing? Is it supposed to do this for some safety feature, and I dont know it?
Thanks!

I don't have a vehicle with bluetooth, you may have better luck posting your question in the "Question and Answer" area.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-x/moto-x-qa
Good luck with finding a fix!

Apparently the various signs and warnings telling me to post questions in the q&a section dont apply to me.
Thanks, I'll post over there.
Mods, feel free to lock/delete/destroy with fire this thread.

Related

[Q] Touchless Control and UConnect hands-free system.

So, this may have been brought up already, I did try to search, but didnt come up with much.
So, i bought a Moto X, even after hearing the lenovo/google news. I figure that they cant ruin the device quickly enough to justify second-guessing my long and painstaking decision process.
Anyway, touchless control is pretty awesome. Ive been tinkering with it since i got it. I'm a long time android user, and have been using google now for some time. The problem is this.
I drive a 2013 Jeep, with a UConnect bluetooth hands-free system. It works for what its supposed to work for, i can make calls, stream audio, all is well. In fact its working better than it did on my old GNex. However, once I connect my motox to UConnect (that is, i get in, turn on the Jeep, and bluetooth associates), touchless control becomes unresponsive. In fact, it seems that even if i try to manually initiate a voice search, google now cant hear me. I can use the voice input for the keyboard, just not voice commands. It's almost like as soon as i'm paired to a bluetooth input, google now voice input/touchless control get turned off. Which to me seems odd.
I tried looking around in my settings, i cant seem to find a setting that tells the phone to do this. It just doesnt work.
Also, if i turn off bluetooth while the Jeep is still running, touchless/voice input starts working again.
I havent tried pairing it to another bluetooth headset to see if it does it then too, i'll update this thread once i've had a chance to try that.
Is this something others are experiencing? Is it supposed to do this for some safety feature, and I dont know it?
Thanks!
Google Now>Settings>Voice>Bluetooth Headset
Solutions Etcetera said:
Google Now>Settings>Voice>Bluetooth Headset
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks! Just changed the setting. I'll give it a shot as soon as im back in my Jeep!
Ok, results.
I found the Bluetooth headset option was turned off by default. I turned it on. Last night I had a chance to fiddle with it on my way home. At first it didn't work. So i went back into the Google now settings and turned the option back off, and..... It started working! I have no idea why. I'm actually back in the same config I started with, but now it's working. Weird.
Gotta love android...
Solutions Etcetera said:
Gotta love android...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do love android! But yea, i agree. Some weird stuff here.
gangrif said:
I do love android! But yea, i agree. Some weird stuff here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The other day I had a Bluetooth headset on listening to a podcast via Pocketcasts and when I used Google Now, sometimes the response would play over the phone's speaker, and other times over the headset.
Pretty clear Android still hasn't gotten Bluetooth right. )c:
Solutions Etcetera said:
Pretty clear Android still hasn't gotten Bluetooth right. )c:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah, ain't that the truth! I couldn't get a Moto X to pair with my Lexus when an iPhone 5 can.

[Q] Bluetooth headset issue

Hi,
I've bought a "Jabra Stealth" headset and I'm unable to launch Google Now on my Nexus 6 (Android stock 5.0.1, FrancoKernel r8) with the dedicated button although it's a built-in feature of the headset. I assume that this is an issue of compatibility with Android 5.0. Jabra has answered me that I didn't configure vocal commands well but that's false. Has someone encountered the same problem and has a solution for it?
Thanks
xof9999 said:
Hi,
I've bought a "Jabra Stealth" headset and I'm unable to launch Google Now on my Nexus 6 (Android stock 5.0.1, FrancoKernel r8) with the dedicated button although it's a built-in feature of the headset. I assume that this is an issue of compatibility with Android 5.0. Jabra has answered me that I didn't configure vocal commands well but that's false. Has someone encountered the same problem and has a solution for it?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a similar issue. I use a Plantronics Voyager Legend. A couple of issues:
1) press and hold of the action button will bring up "voice dialer" instead of "google now". I dont know if you've ever tried to use voice dialer, but i think its more or less deprecated since the nexus 1 was the new kid on the block.
There is an app for bluetooth on the app store that lets you choose what to launch with that button. however, it didnt work that well for me. lots of lag and it blended together with other bluetooth related issues.
2) Bluetooth never seems to "turn off". I have a smart sensor enabled headset. IE the phone should know if i have the headset on or not, and pipe phone calls and notifications and ringtones to the speaker if i dont have it on and to the headset if i do. instead, the phone constantly pipes EVERYTHING to the bluetooth headset. no fix yet.
3) phone connection to my car's bluetooth makes my audiobook start playing. I have no idea why. it is not a setting in the audiobook app. Seems that the fix is to disable streaming media over bluetooth (contacts/messages only)
From what ive witnessed with issues regarding audio, screen brightness, bluetooth, this is yet another half-baked google product with little to no attempt at a proper follow through. just a crap device rushed to market with tons of potential and a complete crap OS and barely any thought or usability effort put into anything except the home screen.
I also have the N6 with the P Legend. I am having issues where the caller can barely hear me. Do you know if you have this issue at all?
shrimants said:
I have a similar issue. I use a Plantronics Voyager Legend. A couple of issues:
1) press and hold of the action button will bring up "voice dialer" instead of "google now". I dont know if you've ever tried to use voice dialer, but i think its more or less deprecated since the nexus 1 was the new kid on the block.
There is an app for bluetooth on the app store that lets you choose what to launch with that button. however, it didnt work that well for me. lots of lag and it blended together with other bluetooth related issues.
2) Bluetooth never seems to "turn off". I have a smart sensor enabled headset. IE the phone should know if i have the headset on or not, and pipe phone calls and notifications and ringtones to the speaker if i dont have it on and to the headset if i do. instead, the phone constantly pipes EVERYTHING to the bluetooth headset. no fix yet.
3) phone connection to my car's bluetooth makes my audiobook start playing. I have no idea why. it is not a setting in the audiobook app. Seems that the fix is to disable streaming media over bluetooth (contacts/messages only)
From what ive witnessed with issues regarding audio, screen brightness, bluetooth, this is yet another half-baked google product with little to no attempt at a proper follow through. just a crap device rushed to market with tons of potential and a complete crap OS and barely any thought or usability effort put into anything except the home screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When the caller can barely hear you, check your phone. Sometimes, even though my headset is on, the phone doesn't care and attempts to use the phones speaker or mic.
shrimants said:
When the caller can barely hear you, check your phone. Sometimes, even though my headset is on, the phone doesn't care and attempts to use the phones speaker or mic.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's my current issue...
I can answer the calls with either my truck or ear piece, but both will randomly not have audio. The phone says it's connected BT, but I have to switch the source to speaker or handset and then click back over to BT. The whole time while I'm begging the person on the other end not to hang up and to hold on a second. Not bad when I'm at my desk with earpiece....let's just say it's a bit more nerve-racking on the highway.
scap99 said:
That's my current issue...
I can answer the calls with either my truck or ear piece, but both will randomly not have audio. The phone says it's connected BT, but I have to switch the source to speaker or handset and then click back over to BT. The whole time while I'm begging the person on the other end not to hang up and to hold on a second. Not bad when I'm at my desk with earpiece....let's just say it's a bit more nerve-racking on the highway.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here. Also have a problem where, when on a call, an incoming call will kill bluetooth. This makes it unusable in my car as it becomes a real safety issue. I have to turn off BT and use the speakerphone which luckily is good enough for the job. Even switching the source and switching back doesn't always work for me.
I regret not sending the phone back for this problem. I'm waiting on v5.1 this month as rumored, hoping that will solve the problem. May just go back to my Lumina 925.
Has anyone tried going into Google settings app -> Search & Now -> Voice and turn on Bluetooth Headset (records audion through bluetooth headset if available).
I have Nexus 5 and Jabra Stealth and I had the same problem. I could solve it thanks to these indications: hackerspace.kinja.com/reassign-your-bluetooth-phone-button-to-open-google-n-1507391132
Same issue with calls not having audio through the car Bluetooth unless I switch to speaker/handset then back. I guess Marshmellow really messed up Bluetooth on a lot of people's phones not just us. Tried different rooms(AOSP, CM, stock) no help even tried updating the radio which helped Bluetooth crashing completely and requiring a restart but the phone issues remain.

[Q] Moto Voice activating when connecting to car Bluetooth (Turbo)

Anyone else experience this? I have a 2011 VW GTI and everytime I start my car, the phone connects to Bluetooth without issue but the blue Moto Voice screen pops up as if I said my catch phrase to activate it, but I didnt. Very odd. I have tried toggling Moto Voice in accessibility options with no luck. I did a search here and over at the OTHER forum with no luck. Disabling Moto Voice altogether I guess is a fix, but I actually use it so I don't exactly want to do that.
tluley51 said:
Anyone else experience this? I have a 2011 VW GTI and everytime I start my car, the phone connects to Bluetooth without issue but the blue Moto Voice screen pops up as if I said my catch phrase to activate it, but I didnt. Very odd. I have tried toggling Moto Voice in accessibility options with no luck. I did a search here and over at the OTHER forum with no luck. Disabling Moto Voice altogether I guess is a fix, but I actually use it so I don't exactly want to do that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check the settings on your stereo. I've seen aftermarket stereos that have an option for something like that so there's no reason a stock stereo couldn't. It is usually in the voice command settings. You could also try turning all of the settings off in Moto Connect>Settings>Assist>Driving
Sent from my XT1254 using XDA Free mobile app
I was having this issue in my Elantra, though it wasn't always as soon as bluetooth connected. The Moto Voice screen would also pop up randomly while I was driving. I think it might have been related to picking up sounds from the stereo, even though the music sounded nothing like the phrase. I ended up having to switch it off because it was getting so annoying. I have changed my phrase to see if that helps, I haven't had a chance to test it out yet.
I was having the same issue. Moto voice would activate as soon as my car connected. I simply disabled moto voice since I don't use it all that much. Still wish there was a fix for it.
Me three: random Moto Voice activations when connected to my 2011 Toyota Sienna Bluetooth. Did not find a solution & turned Moto Voice off.

[Q] Bluetooth Connection Issue (Redux)

Hey All,
I've done a quick and dirty search for this problem, but I haven't found anything that's exactly the same.
I have an XT1060, Dev Ed, on KK 4.4.4, and I'm just wondering, am I the only one who cannot get my bluetooth radio to hook up to paired devices easily?
The problem is, I always have to ask to connect manually; this is a bit of a pain, especially after turning off my car, say, for a few seconds. Oh, it'll connect, but sometimes it takes 10-15 tries before that connection is made, and even then, it's often after I have to disconnect then attempt to reconnect a few times because it doesn't connect both the phone and media modes.
I have done the unpair/re-pair thing a couple of times, but nothing changes.
I had an HTC phone before this, and it'd reconnect automagically to my cars BT server, so I suspect it's nothing to do with the car's BT radio. I really miss that...
Thanks for any suggestions anyone might have in how to remedy this. Fwiw, I'm willing to go through a diagnostic procedure if someone would clue me in to just how to do that.
cheers,
john
I've had issues with the bluetooth and pairing. When I was on 4.2.2 (I think..) it wouldn't connect automatically at all, and I used an app to connect for me. I have a Chevrolet Cobalt and it wouldn't connect to my built in bluetooth for calls or a small bluetooth dongle that I use for playing music through the AUX input on the stock radio.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.myklos.btautoconnect&hl=en
Once I was on 4.4.2 it seemed to work much better. I have no real issues now on 4.4.4. The only time I notice it not really working right is when I try to connect to the bluetooth speaker in our bathroom at home. If I turn the speaker on, it almost always connects to my girlfriends phone nearly instantly, even though I open the bluetooth menu and tap the paired device to manually initiate right when I turn on the speaker. It usually takes me a few tries to get mine to connect before hers, or I ask her to shut her bluetooth off for a moment while I connect. She uses the speaker every day because she leaves for work after me, so it only happens to me 1-2 times per month on the off chance that I want to listen to music or a baseball game in the shower, so it never really bothered me much.
I think the bluetooth radio in this phone could be better.. I never had any similar issues with my Droid X or Moto Razr Maxx so I'm not sure what the deal is...
Edit: forgot to mention I also have an XT1060, but not dev edition. My bootloader is unlocked and I am rooted, but using the official 4.4.4 VZW rom with Xposed.
I have never had any issues pairing Bluetooth - on either my car or moto 360 watch (even simultaneously).
However, I have noticed that the Bluetooth connects much quicker on custom ROMs when compared to stock.
I think tour connection issue may be a setting or rogue app related.
Sent from my Moto X using XDA Free mobile app
Thanks to both of you for your replies!
Fwiw, things have not gotten any better since I posted my question. I'm getting more accustomed to it, though.
As for the possibility of a rogue app, yes I suppose so, but short of uninstalling everything, and adding them one by one and trying to connect to something via BT, how can someone go about debugging such a thing?
cheers,
john
jrredho said:
Thanks to both of you for your replies!
Fwiw, things have not gotten any better since I posted my question. I'm getting more accustomed to it, though.
As for the possibility of a rogue app, yes I suppose so, but short of uninstalling everything, and adding them one by one and trying to connect to something via BT, how can someone go about debugging such a thing?
cheers,
john
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You may need to delete the profile for the Bluetooth pairing in your car. Could be a conflict there.
Otherwise, try looking at your Bluetooth settings on the phone.
Sent from my Moto X using XDA Free mobile app
jrredho said:
...
I have an XT1060, Dev Ed, on KK 4.4.4, and I'm just wondering, am I the only one who cannot get my bluetooth radio to hook up to paired devices easily?
The problem is, I always have to ask to connect manually; this is a bit of a pain, especially after turning off my car, say, for a few seconds. Oh, it'll connect, but sometimes it takes 10-15 tries before that connection is made, and even then, it's often after I have to disconnect then attempt to reconnect a few times because it doesn't connect both the phone and media modes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is it *ALL* bluetooth devices, or just the car? What model and year car? Are you connecting to the Hands Free profile, Headset Profile, or doing something like A2DP for music streaming?
How long have you had the phone, how long has this been a problem? Has the symptom ever changed?
Keep in mind, just because your HTC phone connected to the car just fine, doesn't mean the car could not be the issue. While the Bluetooth profiles and protocols should be "standard" I've seen many issues of interoperability issues between bluetooth devices over the years. Especially with car kits.
KidJoe said:
Is it *ALL* bluetooth devices, or just the car? What model and year car? Are you connecting to the Hands Free profile, Headset Profile, or doing something like A2DP for music streaming?
How long have you had the phone, how long has this been a problem? Has the symptom ever changed?
Keep in mind, just because your HTC phone connected to the car just fine, doesn't mean the car could not be the issue. While the Bluetooth profiles and protocols should be "standard" I've seen many issues of interoperability issues between bluetooth devices over the years. Especially with car kits.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Guys, thanks for staying with me on this. One thing I've definitely learned is that the bluetooth thing is something I'm pretty ignorant on. I can see that I'm going to have to study it a bit before too long. Gad, that HTC spoiled me rotten---at least in that way.
I haven't tried the phone with any other BT devices. This is mostly because I don't own but two, the car and a travel speaker, and I haven't had the speaker out of its case since I scored the phone six or eight weeks ago. Also, I did some housecleaning, so I have only a small fraction, maybe 20%, of the same apps on the MotoX that I had on the HTC. I have no apps on the MotoX that I didn't have on the latter.
As for some of the car-related suggestions, it's a 2015 Subaru Forester Premium 2.5i, which is really only level up from the base model of that line. I can't find that there is a bluetooth profile setting in the car that I can change; I think that it's too basic. The relevant user manual simply states the following:
Media format
Bluetooth audio devices cannot be
connected if they are not compatible with
the following Bluetooth® profiles.
. A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution
Profile)
. AVRCP (Audio/Video Remote Control
Profile)
I don't even know what either of those mean!
Anyway, what I did do is go to the phone settings, and uncheck the Media box that shows up once the car's BT server is detected. Then I try to connect with the Phone box checked. It'll still fail to connect several times, but (a) it doesn't take as long to fail to connect, (b) it doesn't take as many tries (it seems) to make the connection, and (c) when it fails, it fails totally, so I don't have to disconnect from 'Media-only Connected (No Phone)' connection. That makes it easier I suppose. Then once the connection is established, it's a simple matter to go back to settings, and check the Media box. That add-on connection happens pretty quickly, but the process is still a little overwrought, imo.
Of course, KidJoe, up until you mentioned a Headset Profile, I didn't know one existed. But when I try to play music on my phone using PowerAmp, well, the app doesn't hook up to the BT anyway. That's a key difference between the HTC and the MotoX. In PowerAmp, I have "Play over Bluetooth on Detection" selected. The headset isn't being detected at all. So maybe that goes some distance to explaining what I'm encountering.
Again thanks to both of guys for hanging in there with me! I'll keep trudging "onward through the fog," as it were...
cheers,
john
A2DP and AVRC are used for Bluetooth Stereo audio streaming (like playing Pandora on your phone via your car stereo). Not phone calls.
For phone calls, usually a Headset or Handsfree profiles are used, and sometimes BT Phone Book Access (so you can see your phone's contact names/numbers on the car's screen).
I've run into compatibility issues between some phones and some Headset/Handfree devices (mostly cars, but a few bluetooth headsets too). Often times when this happens, you're stuck. Each side will blame the other (i.e. Moto will blame the Subaru car stereo, and Subaru will blame the phone).
I have had issues re-connecting to my car (a 2011 Saab 9-4x with Bose/Nav), IF I had my Moto S11 Flex HD headset connected to my Moto X before I got in the car (even if the S11 was powered off/disconnected from the X before I started the car). Usually toggling the X's bluetooth off/on, and sometimes worst case rebooting the phone, has always fixed it.. Another time I had troubles connecting to my Saab's car kit was when my wife was using her phone to stream audio. The next time I got in the car, I had to manually connect my phone. The car always tries to connect to the the last phone used, so it was looking for my wifes and it took a while before it timed out. When it did time out, it didn't look for mine.
Since you have a 2015 Subaru, I would consider visiting your car dealer, ask them to help with pairing the phone properly, and making sure its working right. See what they have to say.
My bluetooth in my car stopped pairing the other day, and it turns out it was an app that updated and requested permissions related to bluetooth. I didn't notice them because it's an app I trust so I accepted the new permissions without really looking at it.
I used App Settings (Xposed module) to disable the permissions and my bluetooth works fine again.
I could still pair with things if I went to the bluetooth paired device list and manually tapped on the device I wanted to connect with, but it would not pair automatically (like when I got in my car). Once I disabled that permission, it started working again without issue.
May be worth a look through your installed apps to see if anything has access to bluetooth and may be interfering.
Hey All,
Thanks again for the continued help!
It's true, I didn't do any research on app interference before I posted this thread topic, but since a couple of you have brought it up, I decided to do a little research. I installed a permissions app, and took a look at the permissions that allows an app to automatically seek out, and pair with, Bluetooth servers. I have to admit, I got some surprises there. (Who would've thought that Beautiful Widgets needed that permission; it is now gone.)
Anyway, most of the remaining apps are either system/Moto-related, or ones I would really like to keep. I'll report back on what I learn. If there are other permissions that I need to reference besides the two pairing-connecting to Bluetooth ones please let me know...
cheers,
john

Android Auto and the Nexus 6.

I thought it may be interesting to have a thread where Nexus 6 users with the supporting hardware systems could post: Tips, How to's, experience, etc. about the Android Auto APK and Nexus 6 devices. Please feel free to enlighten all who enter. :good:
Android auto is just a remote display and sound, isn't it? I don't find it particularly interesting since it *depends* on the phone for the "android" aspect. It is a much better option to install an Android HU in the car, then it isn't functionally dependent on the phone.
Not sure if you're asking or telling.
doitright said:
Android auto is just a remote display and sound, isn't it? I don't find it particularly interesting since it *depends* on the phone for the "android" aspect. It is a much better option to install an Android HU in the car, then it isn't functionally dependent on the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is a mobile application for using your phone in a car. It displays on the cars touch screen and is controlled by voice commands. It only uses the bluetooth stack for phone calls, all other sound and video comes from the phones usb port. This equates to better audio and clear, crisp video. By the way, it only works on the latest Android HU.
i've been using it with my Pioneer 4100-NEX, it works quite well. i wish you could swipe away cards and have more notifications push though (ie, sms and hangouts come through, but not facebook messenger)
all in all i'm pretty happy with it, it's fast, simple, pretty and i've been pleasantly surprised with how responsive the resistive screen on the HU is.
vvveith said:
It is a mobile application
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No. Its an interface.
for using your phone in a car. It displays on the cars touch screen and is controlled by voice commands. It only uses the bluetooth stack for phone calls, all other sound and video comes from the phones usb port. This equates to better audio and clear, crisp video.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Translate to what I said.
By the way, it only works on the latest Android HU.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
HU does *not* require android to work with android auto.
If you want to try out Android Auto you can sign up for the beta of the app called AutoMate. First you'll need to join the beta group in Google+. Next you'll have to agree to be a beta tester with google play. Then you'll finally be able to download the app. I have been using the app for a couple of days now and I personally think that it is great. Its just like Android Auto, at least from what i've seen in all of the android auto demos. I have a pretty good car mount that can fit the nexus 6 so when I took a 4 hour trip this weekend everything worked flawlessly. The best part is that you've already got a giant 6 inch capacitive screen, why not use it instead of paying at least $800 for the cheap resistive screen version of the pioneer head units.
I have a pretty interesting issue where my Android Wear watch (Moto 360) is being CONSTANTLY pinged by my Nexus 6 while plugged into Android Auto. For the life of me, I can't figure out why. Maps is the only app I use regularly in Android Auto and I have it muted on Android Wear...yet, it's draining my Moto 360 battery QUICKLY every time I plug in. It's the strangest thing. I've had to start putting my 360 into Airplane mode to avoid problems while driving. As soon as I unplug the Nexus from my Android Auto HU, I then have to reconnect my 360 in the Android Wear app...or else it won't reconnect and continues to drain battery.
Seriously the weirdest thing.
yeah I have the pioneer 4100nex and originally was using a Moto G and it works great and then I preorderd the ATT galaxy S6 Edge and received it on tuesday, well the S6 edge doesn't work with the Android Auto, so I returned it and just bought google play edition Nexus 6 64gb, and works perfect, I really like the google navigation, reads texts and you can voice reply to the texts,you can play your google music, I`m very happy with it.:good:
That is not the purpose of this thread.
blakedunc235 said:
If you want to try out Android Auto you can sign up for the beta of the app called AutoMate. First you'll need to join the beta group in Google+. Next you'll have to agree to be a beta tester with google play. Then you'll finally be able to download the app. I have been using the app for a couple of days now and I personally think that it is great. Its just like Android Auto, at least from what i've seen in all of the android auto demos. I have a pretty good car mount that can fit the nexus 6 so when I took a 4 hour trip this weekend everything worked flawlessly. The best part is that you've already got a giant 6 inch capacitive screen, why not use it instead of paying at least $800 for the cheap resistive screen version of the pioneer head units.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I like to believe we all know how to use our phones hands free in a car and need no special app to do that. That's the way most of us have been doing it for the past six years or so since the smartphones came out. A simple bluetooth radio used to give you all you needed paired with your phones screen. But now it's much easier to get into your car, plug your device into your hidden USB port and let it charge with screen off and have a heads up display on your radios big screen while the audio is streamed through USB and the only thing using the bluetooth stack is the phone part of the phone. Sound quality is vastly improved and everything runs so much smoother. Plus the steering wheel controls for answering calls, activating OK google and other voice related options allows you to keep your eyes on the road and your hands upon the wheel.
vvveith said:
I like to believe we all know how to use our phones hands free in a car and need no special app to do that. That's the way most of us have been doing it for the past six years or so since the smartphones came out. A simple bluetooth radio used to give you all you needed paired with your phones screen. But now it's much easier to get into your car, plug your device into your hidden USB port and let it charge with screen off and have a heads up display on your radios big screen while the audio is streamed through USB and the only thing using the bluetooth stack is the phone part of the phone. Sound quality is vastly improved and everything runs so much smoother. Plus the steering wheel controls for answering calls, activating OK google and other voice related options allows you to keep your eyes on the road and your hands upon the wheel.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First if your car already has Bluetooth like mine then you still have all of the same controls as the actual android auto head units. Also just like on my phone it's not like you can just say OK Google with the music playing but if the music isn't at least I can just say OK Google even with the screen off as well and will get a response. More that likely a person will still end up looking at the device or take their hands off of the wheel when giving a command. I mean come on, Google now works but everyone knows that it's still not perfect yet. Even on my phone I still have to type out what I'm saying even if I'm annunciating perfectly just FYI... Bluetooth audio has also vastly improved over the years. I would argue that the average person would not even notice the difference between Bluetooth audio and being playing directly over USB. Also don't say that it runs 'so much smoother' because most of us have seen the videos and they are still laggy and still not as responsive as our phone themselves. I was simply giving an option to people who wanted to try out android auto without having to buy a crappy resistive screen head unit unless you wanted to shell out over $1000 for one. Also is not a heads up display... A heads up display would be something out in the area of where the driver will be looking out of the windshield as to not having to take their eyes off of the road ahead.
Please.
blakedunc235 said:
First if your car already has Bluetooth like mine then you still have all of the same controls as the actual android auto head units. Also just like on my phone it's not like you can just say OK Google with the music playing but if the music isn't at least I can just say OK Google even with the screen off as well and will get a response. More that likely a person will still end up looking at the device or take their hands off of the wheel when giving a command. I mean come on, Google now works but everyone knows that it's still not perfect yet. Even on my phone I still have to type out what I'm saying even if I'm annunciating perfectly just FYI... Bluetooth audio has also vastly improved over the years. I would argue that the average person would not even notice the difference between Bluetooth audio and being playing directly over USB. Also don't say that it runs 'so much smoother' because most of us have seen the videos and they are still laggy and still not as responsive as our phone themselves. I was simply giving an option to people who wanted to try out android auto without having to buy a crappy resistive screen head unit unless you wanted to shell out over $1000 for one. Also is not a heads up display... A heads up display would be something out in the area of where the driver will be looking out of the windshield as to not having to take their eyes off of the road ahead.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please try and understand what I started this thread for. It is for those of us who are using Android Auto with a supporting head unit. Just like back a few months ago, I was using the sync system in my car. I have never had any issues with my voice to text, every once in a while a word would be incorrect, but the more you use it in a quite environment the better your results get. My text messaging reads back my response before it sends and I can either allow it to send or say the message again. I have not had to touch my phone in a car for five years and don't plan on doing anything like that today even with the radios display. The idea of hands free is exactly that, Hands Free. If you don't have the tech to support and help contribute to developing apps that help alleviate the use of hands in the car, this is not the forum thread for you. I don't know what music application you prefer, but the ones I use I pay a premium for because they offer me higher bandwidth and truer sound. And you can immediately here the difference between bluetooth and wired. It's been rumored already that Bluetooth is soon to become extinct and it seems that is the way mobile tech is rolling. BTW, HU the way I was using it my Head Unit not heads up.
The good part is.....
doitright said:
Android auto is just a remote display and sound, isn't it? I don't find it particularly interesting since it *depends* on the phone for the "android" aspect. It is a much better option to install an Android HU in the car, then it isn't functionally dependent on the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That would be the ideal, but very few cars come with a built in cellular connection, I know they are available but this is the inexpensive way to go. What I like the most about it is the ability to put the phone in my center compartment where the USB outlet is hidden, shut the compartment while the phone is charging and still have access to all of my phones functionality straight from the steering wheel. It's wonderful not to have to look at a screen, and if I do glance at the screen to see a turn that might be coming up or what song is playing on a stream, it is big and clear and takes not even a second to see. Luckily, the Navigation in google maps is pretty trustworthy and gives voice commands with plenty of time to spare so it's rare to even have to look at the Map when moving. My next car will have built in cellular service, it was just still to expensive four years ago when I bought my car and my service provider did not have a system in place for plugging in their tech. They do now but I won't be in the market for another car for at least another year. The thing that got me into having a Android Auto supporting HU is my text messaging application and the sync system, would not play nice together anymore because of changes in Lollipop from kit kat. Sync kept crashing the bluetooth sharing feature anytime I received a text. And since I was using that tech for the past four years, there was no way I was going back to having to touch a screen or try and type a text in the car. The developers I work with tried many fixes to see if we could alleviate the problem, but every thing we tried failed. The problem was immediately remedied with the new HU. Now I'm trying to find others that use the same tech, so we can share our experiences and any other useful features we find or help each other with certain problems one might experience. That is what this thread is about. If you have a Android Auto compatible HU and a Nexus device, this is a place to share.

Categories

Resources