Hi All,
Does anybody know if you can pair a smart watch without the use of android wear application? I would like to be able to connect and communicate to a smartphone or a Unix OS over standard Bluetooth (without android wear).
Thanks in advance.
I imagine it's possible, but no idea how it would work. From what I understand all the custom apps use Android Wear as a base anyway.
Back when the android wear fun started, there where an app called BeeLink, but it was pulled from play store, I don't know why.
It was really cool
And there are Wear App to receive notification via BT from an iPhone, so it mean that it can receive data from any device wit BT transmission
Related
Is there any way to get mirrorlink working on the Nexus 6?
Not sure what mirrorlink is. Do you mean Miracast? If so, I don't believe it works. Chromecast works great for screen mirroring your Nexus 6 to a HDTV.
Found this searching for compatibility... One application for MirrorLink for those that didn't know is Pioneer head units like the AppRadio so you can mirror your phone's screen onto it...
any luck?
Is MIrrorlink compatible with the nexus 6? If so, anybody know how to enable it?
My understanding....
spillytime said:
Is MIrrorlink compatible with the nexus 6? If so, anybody know how to enable it?
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From what I have been told neither Mirrorlink nor AppRadio are compatible with Lollipop in general and the nexus 6 specifically. Your only option at this point is Android Auto which works well if you have the supporting HU from Pioneer. However, at this time, not many developers have made their applications compatible with it. When the 2016 car models start rolling out with AA preinstalled in their HU, then I believe we will see a flood of apps moving into the platform.
Google needs to start supporting MirrorLink on Nexus phones. I have a Nexus 6 and the Pioneer AVH-4100NEX.
Android Auto has been a horrible experience so far. It worked at first, for a couple of months, and then I don't know why (Android update maybe?) but suddenly it stopped working and hasn't worked since.
Even when it did work, there were some VERY annoying things:
1) if your phone is plugged into the USB cable, Android Auto launches, and as long as you're still plugged in I couldn't find any way to temporarily get out of Android Auto (such as if I want to check my email or some other app on the phone). Or if I want to listen to a YouTube video (or watch it from my phone, lets say I'm the passenger ok?), then I'd have to un-plug the USB which means my phone isn't charging.
2) The other really annoying thing is that Android Auto limits developers in how many screen clicks user would need to do to get to content (including, clicking the down arrow to browse through a long list). Where this is a problem for me for example, is my Spotify playlists. Android Auto will only display about 10 or so of my playlists.
So I find myself disconnecting the phone from the cable and just streaming over bluetooth.
In fact at first I was really upset that my phone was no longer launching Android Auto at all and stopped working with my Pioneer AVH-4100NEX, but now that I am just able to leave the phone charging all the time and have full access to my phone apps, all my spotify playlists, and am just streaming over bluetooth I'm not really sure I want to fix Android Auto.
What I really want at this point is to just MIRROR my phone screen to my head unit. This way no matter what I want to watch or listen to, it doesn't matter if "Android Auto" supports it or not. I can put on YouTube videos, or anything I want.
So this gets me back to Mirror Link, I don't know why Google or Motorola is not supporting it, MirrorLink from what I've seen should be another viable option for Android users (and for now I think a better option than Android Auto)
I'll be posting this reply as a separate topic as well, here and in Google's forums because it needs some attention.
Thanks
Ill repost this here as well
You have to take into account the many laws in different places concerning cell phones and driving. In some places you can get a ticket just for having your phone in your hand while driving. And now they are cracking down even harder on it. Also some OEM have been known to block some cars from working with devices like that. It was found that one samsung device had a list built into the OS that blocked a number of different cars from working with Android Auto. This I can only assume came from the Car manufacturer.
If I had a nickel for all the distracted drivers around me, well, I'd have a lot of nickels!
I'm thinking it may be possible to make an app that mirrors what is shown on the phone screen to the car headunit by emulating the Android Auto communication protocol. Touches on the headunit screen could be transmitted back to the phone for interaction with the apps. Most of what Android Auto does is screen display over USB and some touchscreen interaction with the user so it may not be hard to get some of the features.
Does this already exist? If not, do we know if anyone is working on this?
Yes, this is possible.
I am not aware of anyone planning to do this. Google would surely ban an app on Play that does this, as they did with my AA Headunit app. So, along with IMO little demand for this, there is little financial incentive to do this.
I've considered doing this myself, but I'm concentrating on my Headunit app at this time.
Most people with Android Auto compatible HUs will IMO want to use AA (or Apple Carplay if iPhone), rather than mirroring over AA protocol. If they want true mirroring, there are open protocols for this.
(One exception might be for cars with factory AA compatible HUs, if those HUs do not support mirroring.)
I think devs may be more friendly to using open mirroring protocols, rather than using a secret, undocumented protocol that will get the apps booted from Google Play.
mikereidis said:
(One exception might be for cars with factory AA compatible HUs, if those HUs do not support mirroring.)
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Click to collapse
This is specifically what I'm thinking about. Maybe I want to look up yelp reviews, watch a youtube video, or browse the web on my car headunit while parked when the headunit does not specifically support streaming other than android auto. There is some added value to having a car with an android auto capable headunit if there is a way to do things not supported by google/the car manufacturers.
If the protocol is simple enough, this may be possible with a rooted device. Since it sounds like android auto is pretty much video/audio streaming over USB, this may not be hard to do.
How a developer can get money doing this is another question. This certainly would be something you could not sell in the play store. I'd certainly donate for a good app but I know that is a difficult way to make money unless you have a large audience.
communication between Auto and phone
Is anyone still working this?
I am interested in knowing how the communications between Android Auto and phone is? Communications seems complete gibberish. Are they using any particular Android protocol for communication?
Hi to all,
I use Android Auto on my phone everyday. I have an old car and I would like to have a head unit that support Android auto so I only have to connect my phone, but besides the comercial ones from Pioneers and the such, the Android units like Xtron, Ownice,etc has the capability?
I have read a lot, but there is no definite answer.
Thanks in advance
ezmendriz said:
Hi to all,
I use Android Auto on my phone everyday. I have an old car and I would like to have a head unit that support Android auto so I only have to connect my phone, but besides the comercial ones from Pioneers and the such, the Android units like Xtron, Ownice,etc has the capability?
I have read a lot, but there is no definite answer.
Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can DIY with this https://forum.xda-developers.com/an...elease-openauto-source-androidautotm-t3748563
Yes I can, but I am not the only one using the car. I want to maintain the radio functionality and integration. That is why I prefer to replace the headunit for something better that supports androidauto when I use the car.
ezmendriz said:
Yes I can, but I am not the only one using the car. I want to maintain the radio functionality and integration. That is why I prefer to replace the headunit for something better that supports androidauto when I use the car.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The MTCD headunits can run the Headunit Reloaded app which enables Android Auto..
leonkernan said:
The MTCD headunits can run the Headunit Reloaded app which enables Android Auto..
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Click to collapse
if you already have a pure android HU, what is the point of android auto? AA only makes sense on OEM or non-android-based HUs. It's very limited, unless you hack it to run AAmirror.
Hisma said:
if you already have a pure android HU, what is the point of android auto? AA only makes sense on OEM or non-android-based HUs. It's very limited, unless you hack it to run AAmirror.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is easier just to enter the car and connect a cable to obtain the integration over the same unit and configuration like calendar, contact and messages. AndroidAuto give me all that I need in a day to day.
Evidently, these units need internet in order to give must of its features, the options are to give internet to the unit somehow with the same phone with the hotspot or cable. Obviously the easier is to it have its own sim card, but that will means another line that will be underused.
Hi
Sorry these are probably stupid questions, but I'm having such a hard time finding answers for them.
Is Android Auto a proprietary system that only works with Google's software?
If I have a rooted LineageOS phone without Gapps, will I be able to connect my phone to a car with Android Auto?
Is Android Auto just an app that runs on a smartphone? Then I would guess I should be able to get any app to display on the car's screen? Based on search results I'm assuming that's not so easy, or maybe not possible at all. Then what's the technical limitation preventing me from displaying whatever I want on the head unit and getting input from it? Is there encryption involved?
Thanks in advance.
AA is a client-server app. The head unit of your car should be compatible with it, that is, it should be manufactured to support AA. From the phone's point of view, the AA app should be installed from Google Play store, if the OS is less or equal to Android 9, or it is built-in the OS from Android 10. I do not know if AA could work in your OS, but you can try. Download the AA apk from apkmirror and try installing it. If you do not have a car with an AA compatible head unit, then don't even think to try.
Not all apps in Google store are compatible with AA, they have to be built to work in AA.
In principle, what AA does, is mirroring your phone's display on your car's infotainment display.
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Thanks. By client-server do you mean phone-car or phone-car-internet?
I'm less concerned right now whether I can get the apk working or not, and more whether I'll be able to develop on it in the future.
Is the Android Auto app open source? Where is the source code?
Basically what I'm asking is "Can I develop my own software to run on my phone and interact with the car's infotainment system without using any proprietary software?"
My car doesn't have Android Auto. I'm trying to decide whether my next car should have it, or whether it's going to be doomed to be obsolete 3 years after I buy it and I should just get an older model without Android Auto.
The client is your phone and the server is the head unit supporting AA. If internet is used by the apps, then you'll need an internet connection also, but AA itself does not require internet. The only thing it does is mirroring.
If your car does not support AA, then your only option is to replace / install the head unit with one that supports AA.
As far as I understand, AA is open source: https://source.android.com/devices/automotive/start/what_automotive
So you will be able to develop apps that will run on AA too. But you will still need the support on car's head unit. AA works wired (usb cable connecting your phone with the head unit) or, in the newly-released Android 11, wireless, provided that the head unit supports it. It should work wireless in Android 9 and 10 also, but only with certain Google or Samsung devices.
This is AA users forum: https://support.google.com/androidauto/community?hl=en
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Hello,
I have the same situation: LineageOS (Android 11), no GApps, no google services, no Google Account, No Google playstore.
When I understand you right, I only need the Android Auto apk. (and of course some apps, that support Android Auto, like Mapfactor navigator, Spotify...)
The Android Auto app (which mirrors the GUI of my user app to the Cars display) doesnt need neither a mobile data connection nor any of the Googel services (google push and so on).
Can someone confirm this?
Hi guys,
So, the point of the question would be to somehow use the watch with an iPhone.
Can’t use the Galaxy Watch iOS app (or at least not the latest version of it). So I was thinking since the watch runs Wear OS, if there’s a way to flash stock Wear OS to maybe make it run with Google’s Wear OS app for iOS. Cause right now, there’s no way to use the watch for anything other than calls. And even that is a stretch.
I know Samsung watches were always more limited on iOS than Android, but this is seems a bit too much for me.
So…is there a way?