[Q] GPS & GSP Notifying tracker feasablilty - Android Studio

Hi. Reality check please!
...guess who knows nothing about Apps
I'm looking into GPS/GSM Trackers for my motorcycle (anti-thift jobs).
I think the arduino route would work but using a cheap phone would be better (built in GPS, GSM, Battery, IP Rating, & small form factor)
Basically, I'd like an app that would monitor the GPS location every N minutes (depending on battery longevity) and send a text or email to my personal phone when the phone is moved, or maybe toggle on the GPS when the accelerometer is activated and then start tracking its location and notify me when it's moved. I commute daily and getting a text every time I move the bike would be a nuisance, so I'd wire the phone to an in car charger that comes on only when the ignition is on, and set the app up such that it would only monitor the GPS / accelerometer when the ignition is off (i.e. when the phone isn't charging)
I absolutely haven't the foggiest notion how these apps are built. However, I'm a fan of DIY projects! Is this project/app something that would be completely unfeasible for a beginner, or is it something I could learn to build? If it is something that would take an advanced dev to build, name your price & i'll consider it. There are good commercial units available for around the $150 mark, so I'd like to keep the total cost (Phone, App, Charging, mounting) below that.

Related

Getting a New Car: Which Is MOST Kaiser-Friendly?

Ok, I think this is a new subject:
I am getting ready to buy/lease a new car in the next couple of months. Would like everyone's opinion/advice.
1. Which cars have bluetooth built-in that work with Kaiser over the speakers for both music and for phone?
2. Which cars work with bluetooth for voice-dialing (i.e. have some sort of microphone built-in)?
3. Which cars have the best PLACEMENT options for the Kaiser for GPS navigation (i.e. best line of sight for where the Kaiser would sit to be viewable)?
ONLY REQUIREMENTS: Cars have to be less that $50,000 (ouch!) and options to enable #1, 2, or 3 CANNOT require physically changing anything in the car (it may be leased, instead of bought).
Your wisdom is GREATLY anticipated.
You are planning on making a $50,000 purchasing decision based on a piece of equipment worth about $500?
Not that you don't have some valid questions... but realize how ludicrous the concept is.
There are plenty of cars out there (well below $50K) that have integrated bluetooth and GPS (and other voice activated things like music) so that using your phone (which is a poor option in comparison to dedicated solutions) should not even be necessary.
Buy a car based on the cars functionality...not whether you can plug in an easily expendable device!
freddiemac1 said:
Ok, I think this is a new subject:
I am getting ready to buy/lease a new car in the next couple of months. Would like everyone's opinion/advice.
1. Which cars have bluetooth built-in that work with Kaiser over the speakers for both music and for phone?
2. Which cars work with bluetooth for voice-dialing (i.e. have some sort of microphone built-in)?
3. Which cars have the best PLACEMENT options for the Kaiser for GPS navigation (i.e. best line of sight for where the Kaiser would sit to be viewable)?
ONLY REQUIREMENTS: Cars have to be less that $50,000 (ouch!) and options to enable #1, 2, or 3 CANNOT require physically changing anything in the car (it may be leased, instead of bought).
Your wisdom is GREATLY anticipated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lincoln MKS? Great car & I *believe* the Sync/ Navigation does what you ask.
bengalih said:
You are planning on making a $50,000 purchasing decision based on a piece of equipment worth about $500?
Not that you don't have some valid questions... but realize how ludicrous the concept is.
There are plenty of cars out there (well below $50K) that have integrated bluetooth and GPS (and other voice activated things like music) so that using your phone (which is a poor option in comparison to dedicated solutions) should not even be necessary.
Buy a car based on the cars functionality...not whether you can plug in an easily expendable device!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
^^^ What he said +1
freddiemac1 said:
Ok, I think this is a new subject:
I am getting ready to buy/lease a new car in the next couple of months. Would like everyone's opinion/advice.
1. Which cars have bluetooth built-in that work with Kaiser over the speakers for both music and for phone?
2. Which cars work with bluetooth for voice-dialing (i.e. have some sort of microphone built-in)?
3. Which cars have the best PLACEMENT options for the Kaiser for GPS navigation (i.e. best line of sight for where the Kaiser would sit to be viewable)?
ONLY REQUIREMENTS: Cars have to be less that $50,000 (ouch!) and options to enable #1, 2, or 3 CANNOT require physically changing anything in the car (it may be leased, instead of bought).
Your wisdom is GREATLY anticipated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm... just wanted to point out a few things to consider:
1. The life-cycle of your vehicle should extend well beyond your phone.
2. For a $50,000 vehicle, it will hopefully have a GPS navigation built-in.
In any case, if the BT compatibility is that high on your priority list... test it out when you test drive the vehicle. I don't think the dealership will mind, and if they do - pull off the side of the road during your test drive and configure. The Internet is a wealth of information for manuals and procedures to configure without the help of the dealership.
Good luck with your choice, and let us know your selection.
Thanks, guys....for the reality check
I am NOT basing my decision on this question...but it is a factor as to which cars are worth looking at that HAVE these features. I chose $50K as an arbitrary number because I can't even think of anything more expensive that will do these things.
My real question is which cars out there play well and integrate well with our device (or future devices)?
Many factors (for me) go into a purchase/lease decision:
-safety ratings
-fuel economy
-comfort
-cost
-style
and one of them has to do with bluetooth integration...
For example, I know that the Toyota Prius has bluetooth integration. How is it? Are there others that do? What are your experiences with it?
So...while I really and honestly appreciate the "get real" advice - which is sound - if someone(s) could comment on the specific questions, it would help as I begin my search.
I have a ford edge with nav and sync. Phone syncs quickly and works well. I can push music over the bluetooth through it, it downloads my phonebook so I can hands free voice dial. The only thing the phone doesn't support in sync is reading text messages over it. Some issues I have run into since I upgraded to 6.1 though is after I pair it, then get out, it likes to set my ringer to silent, but not all the time. I Don't use phone for nav, I have found the screen too small to see clearly when driving and it eats the battery. I hope this helps.

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.

Alternate Thought: Why not build in the mini android pc into the car

I know I'm missing something about AA, but let me ask this newbie question anyway. Oh silly me ..... what is/are the advantages of AA ..... what if users like me are happy with our car sound and video system but just want a Google centric pc and display in the car. You can buy Android mini pc like Minix, Tronsmart and others for around $200 USD or less. 16:9 HD displays with usb touchscreens have dropped in price, so mount one instead of the Garmin type Navi screens.
Yes, for connectivity you do need a wireless technology bridge from LTE to cat5 wired. But really (!), for $500 or less you get great Android system built into your car and you get to operate your sound system seperately. You can mirror or even 'sidesync' between car pc and phablet/phone if you want. Heck, with those smart TV type boxes you can watch all kinds of stuff. With a little thinking, you can connect audio into your existing sound system. You can use any number of ODBII devices to connect to your car's port and run the Torque app on your car Android pc to have all kinds of car diagnostics and live meters. You have almost the entire Google ecosystem available like any other device (almost).
What does Android Auto get you?
I apologize for asking such a seemingly silly question. Why does everything have to become so complicated and expensive?
The promise of Android Auto and its current reality don't quite match up yet but it is very early and I think it is a matter of time.
AA (and CarPlay) is meant to surface the most important functions of your smartphone and provide a more integrated and less distracting way of interacting with those functions. More integrated in terms of working with steering wheel functions (e.g. volume, next/prev, voice command, etc) and current media playback (e.g. pausing or muting existing audio to deliver turn-by-turn instructions). Less distracting in terms of simplified UI with less touching/typing required and more dependence on voice commands. It also eliminates non-essential notifications while driving (I don't need to see the latest Instagram post until I am parked thanks).
I think it also showcases to auto OEMs what is possible with some good design thinking. I own a 2014 VW with the most unintuitive, cumbersome, slow, frustrating navigation you could imagine. An Android Auto head unit that provides an excellent Google Maps nav experience is light years ahead of a system like that.
Dropping in a smartphone Android interface into a dashboard misses much of what AA is meant to deliver. It may be somewhat more integrated but it is no less distracting.
SCKoman said:
I know I'm missing something about AA, but let me ask this newbie question anyway. Oh silly me ..... what is/are the advantages of AA ..... what if users like me are happy with our car sound and video system but just want a Google centric pc and display in the car. You can buy Android mini pc like Minix, Tronsmart and others for around $200 USD or less. 16:9 HD displays with usb touchscreens have dropped in price, so mount one instead of the Garmin type Navi screens.
Yes, for connectivity you do need a wireless technology bridge from LTE to cat5 wired. But really (!), for $500 or less you get great Android system built into your car and you get to operate your sound system seperately. You can mirror or even 'sidesync' between car pc and phablet/phone if you want. Heck, with those smart TV type boxes you can watch all kinds of stuff. With a little thinking, you can connect audio into your existing sound system. You can use any number of ODBII devices to connect to your car's port and run the Torque app on your car Android pc to have all kinds of car diagnostics and live meters. You have almost the entire Google ecosystem available like any other device (almost).
What does Android Auto get you?
I apologize for asking such a seemingly silly question. Why does everything have to become so complicated and expensive?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your "build your own Android mini-PC" idea will seem VERY complicated to "regular people".
Regular people can buy a new car with AA HU installed, and simply plug their stock Android phone in. Or buy an aftermarket HU and have any of thousands of shops install it for you. How may shops will build, configure and install a custom mini-PC ? Mp3car.com MAY do it for $10,000.00 or more I guess... (See their website for custom work.)
Android Auto, after a few years of fixes and new apps supporting it, will hopefully provide a "just works" solution.
Android/computing enthusiasts may prefer to build their own systems and spend many hours tinkering etc. Or they may just want a "just works" solution here too.
Different audiences, different requirements.
Good points .... marketing savvy ... I like.

Rear camera view on PHONE running android auto

Hi guys,
I have thoroughly searched the forum, but I could not find an answer reffering to the use case of the car running android auto on the phone, not on the head unit.
Summary: is there a way to reproduce the rear camera functionality of a headunit running android auto in your phone instead?
I am aware there are video WiFi transimiters, also available apps to go with them, pick a rear camera from amazon and off you go, by launching the app on your phone, you can now see the rear camera.
HOWEVER, if android auto is running I would like this app to launch automatically as I put the rear gear in (hence, enabling current to the camera and having something to look at). For the apps and wifi transmiters, it seems they are built to just be continually run, not only on rear mode. See on youtube "DIY Inexpensive Digital Wireless RV Backup camera- Review EC170 and 903W TrA" (can´t post a link since I am a new user!)
It seems like the apps available are linked to a particular wifi transmitter? Or are they available for any device?
Do you know of an app that as soon as current is given to the rear camera, it will launch the camera app (overriding android auto typical screen, just like it happens in AA headunits with rear camera), and as current is cut from the camera, the app will shut down and let AA continue its business? (all of that without shuting down AA in the first place, just overlaying the camera view).
In case an app like that was not available, how difficult can it be to program? I could potentially be willing to pay.
I am not sure if I explained myself correcty. Let me know if you have any further questions, thanks in avance!
I doubt it. Head units which support cameras do so outside of AA (the camera simply takes the screen away from AA). And they have a wire connected to the backup lights to signal when to switch to the camera. And I'm not aware of any backup cameras which use WiFi or Bluetooth (which doesn't have enough bandwidth anyway) - they're either hardwired or use a proprietary wireless link to a dedicated receiver which connects to the head unit.
So, there are three problems to solve. How does the phone know the car is in reverse? How does the video get to the phone? Even if you found a WiFi backup camera, you'd need to be running a hotspot on the phone, and the time it would take to connect would be unreasonable - head units only take a second or so to display when you start backing up.
Finally, what's the app which ties it all together? Even if there were solutions for the first two, simply buying an AA head unit would be cheaper than paying for an app to be developed. So, why not just buy a head unit? Or even just a backup camera solution with its own screen?

Android Auto add apps

Hi guys,
I have something I don't understand...
In the past I had a jailbreaked iPhone where I could add specific apps that I want in Apple CarPlay.
Don't know why thats not possible with a rooted s10...
I don't want mirroring or all the apps show in AA...
Can someone tell me if this is possible in Andriod Auto?
(Don't want to go back to iPhone... ) :highfive:
Peace!
Mo
Mo
For now the answer is no. If you are on version 4.7xxx this will not allow you to customize your apps on the screen. BUT, in a teardown of 4.7, there are strings that make mention of some new features coming, and that is one of them. So, for now it looks like we have to wait just a little bit longer for this feature to become live in a future release.
The main problem on Android is that any app to be used on AA should be adapted by its developer in order to work in AA. This means that no jailbreak or root won't help to make an app available on AA. I've heard somewhere that it is or it was (at that time) possible to view youtube clips on the car's infotainment screen, but I don't know how. The only apps usable for now on AA are the ones listed when choosing Apps for AA on AA's menu.
Sent from my SM-N975F using Tapatalk
Something I dont understand. Why does anyone even entertain installing android auto - just to read messages ?
It seems that millions of people are ??
Ignoring for a moment any personal blatent data mining of google apps generally.
There seems to be quite a few prerequisites for running it. Besides having a permanent data connection (In a car, and while travelling ??)
Then while nearly every head unit capable of running it, has already many built in apps to do most things like play music / radio, run various navigation programs, play videos etc. which are ignored in favour of what ever 'approved' apps are on our phones and that are heavily restricted.
And all the while after faffing about finding and connecting the usb plug just to make it work. Really ?
So just what are the compelling reasons for using it. I'm genuinly interested.
cleverdicky said:
Something I dont understand. Why does anyone even entertain installing android auto - just to read messages ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If all Android Auto did was read messages and allow Google Assistant through car audio, it would still be really good. But it does a lot more.
cleverdicky said:
There seems to be quite a few prerequisites for running it. Besides having a permanent data connection (In a car, and while travelling ??)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The data connection comes from your phone. It's not built into the car audio, although it could be, I guess.
cleverdicky said:
Then while nearly every head unit capable of running
it, has already many built in apps to do most things like play music / radio, run various navigation programs, play videos etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've never seen a head unit with Tidal or Waze built in, can you link to the one you're talking about?
I have a Sony XAV-AX210 and it doesn't have GPS at all. Furthermore, it's practically unheard of for OEM head units to stay up-to-date with firmware, and they literally charge hundreds of dollars for updated maps for the built-in GPS.
And you're saying that even though I have everything on my phone, I should take the time to make USB sticks of all that stuff? LOL, WUT?
cleverdicky said:
And all the while after faffing about finding and connecting the usb plug just to make it work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That sounds like a problem only you are having. Almost everyone I know plugs their phone in while driving, regardless of having a head unit that will connect to it.
Based on the latest version of CarPlay and Android Auto, I personally think Android Auto is really lacking outside of its map display, and CarPlay is just WAY better, but if you have an Android device, it's nice to have.
I have android auto because it is the only way I can get GPS maps for my truck without paying nearly 900$ for OEM maps. I have all permissions denied for android auto and nearly all Google apps disabled with permissions denied. I use AA mirror to mirror my phone and use osmAND for maps. YouTube vanced for background play of music. Once I get a Bluetooth obd 2 dongle I will use torque as well. My truck is a 2019 Colorado zr2. The sales sticker was misleading in that the truck does have turn by turn voice GPS that is a paid service from on star but didn't come with the maps app. In order to get the maps app for my truck I need to replace the OEM head unit with either after market or gray market device. So far my attempts of side loading a maps app to the head unit have failed.
OK if your stuck with manufaturers head units, especially running win ce, I agree you are limited to what apps you can run.
But you can still mirror your phone to the head unit and run apps you want like waze. Even the cheapest basic chinese headunit can do that.
And whether you use phone or head unit for data collection, you still need a data connection.
Many gps / maps dont need live data to work such as sygic or Igo, and require just occasional connections ( for traffic updates / weather ) but only if wanted. They still work without.
cleverdicky said:
Something I dont understand. Why does anyone even entertain installing android auto - just to read messages ?
It seems that millions of people are ??
Ignoring for a moment any personal blatent data mining of google apps generally.
There seems to be quite a few prerequisites for running it. Besides having a permanent data connection (In a car, and while travelling ??)
Then while nearly every head unit capable of running it, has already many built in apps to do most things like play music / radio, run various navigation programs, play videos etc. which are ignored in favour of what ever 'approved' apps are on our phones and that are heavily restricted.
And all the while after faffing about finding and connecting the usb plug just to make it work. Really ?
So just what are the compelling reasons for using it. I'm genuinly interested.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hiii,
There seems to be quite a few prerequisites for running it. Besides having a permanent data connection (In a car, and while travelling ??)
=》 i have SIM card in my card and unlimited data..
Then while nearly every head unit capable of running it, has already many built in apps to do most things like play music / radio, run various navigation programs, play videos etc. which are ignored in favour of what ever 'approved' apps are on our phones and that are heavily restricted.
=》 true true but you can't watch video ... but I have carstream for that...
So just what are the compelling reasons for using it. I'm genuinely interested
=》 the only reason I need it, is because i want coyote displayed in my 10.1 auto screen and not anymore in my phone... don't want waze
It's so bad that an iPhone has the advantage of adding apps... :crying: :crying:
Grtzzz.

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