Hi, I am looking to buy a new double-din head unit for my car. I was wondering what the best way to mirror my s6 edge to my car and basically controlling the phone through the head unit using touchscreen? i want to be able to use google maps on my head unit. Should I be looking for a head unit that is mirrorlink ready or am i looking for a head unit that is compatible with chromecast (Pioneer's appradio from what i've read)?
Welcome @hackaveli, you may want to take a look at this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2451980
There aren't going to be many options to control too much of the phone via the head unit, unless you're talking just using BT to control synced things like the phone, and streaming radio. AppRadio aside - if you do find android-based head units, or at least head units with app capability, that are wifi capable, and if you have a hotspot feature on your phone, you could do that, tether the head unit to your phone to access the data for your Google Maps and whatnot.
All that aside, I had a 3-series that I put exactly that kind of aftermarket head unit into. And after the initial play factor wore off in a month, I used exactly one of the fancy options on the head unit - Pandora. I would tether my phone, and start the app. And that would've been just as easy to bluetooth the phone to the HU for sound instead of running it from the unit itself. I just found that it was much easier to just do maps on my phone (my mount was vent-mounted so perfect viewing angle and reach), as well as any other things that I THOUGHT I wanted all those goodies on the head unit for. So obviously your mileage may vary on that.
Related
I would assume that the Pioneer NEX units will be receiving Android Auto, but those are really bloated, expensive systems that do way more than I want, and almost all of them have resistive screens.
There is currently an Alpine CarPlay head unit that seems very nice, and has exactly what I would want (except it's CarPlay). I hope they make this sucker into an Android Auto head unit when it's available.
What would be even more awesome is if it enabled whatever system (CarPlay, Android Auto) based on what was plugged in, so you and your SO could have different phones.
Anyone know any other head units that may be on the way?
You might want to check out a chinese Android head unit. They aren't exactly android auto and have their drawbacks on both the hard- and software side but they are available to buy now and are often sold dirt cheap, compared to the prices established brands will probably charge for upcoming android auto devices
Parrot RNB
Check out the first description of the Parrot RNB posted over at the Connected Car forum here. Just announced at '15 CES. It is a double-DIN, Lollipop head unit that is compatible with both Apple and Android systems, gps, OBDII (!).
Here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2449005
I have a Kenwood ddx9902S and could not be happier.
dcdttu said:
I would assume that the Pioneer NEX units will be receiving Android Auto, but those are really bloated, expensive systems that do way more than I want, and almost all of them have resistive screens.
There is currently an Alpine CarPlay head unit that seems very nice, and has exactly what I would want (except it's CarPlay). I hope they make this sucker into an Android Auto head unit when it's available.
What would be even more awesome is if it enabled whatever system (CarPlay, Android Auto) based on what was plugged in, so you and your SO could have different phones.
Anyone know any other head units that may be on the way?
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BPryde said:
I have a Kenwood ddx9902S and could not be happier.
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I had the 9702s and it had several issues. Ever since my phone updated to 6.0.1 (a Nexus 6P), the audio coming out of it (spotify or GPM) was very quiet. Nothing I did fixed it. Also, when using Android Auto, once an overlay sound (notification, Google Voice Search) happened, the audio would have this audible static in it during bassy notes, only fixed by rebooting the head unit.
I even got a replacement head unit and it had the same issues.
I ended up getting a Joying Android 4.4.4 head unit instead of Android Auto. So far I am really impressed. The screen is really good, the sound is great, and it's got full Android as the head unit's OS.
Hello all, I had a Son XAV-601BT, which was supposed to be a very promising and awesome android headunit, but ended up being a dud because mirrorlink doesn't work well, etc, I can only connect my phone with bluetooth and play music through it. I just got a Nissan Titan and want to up my in car experience. I had a good bit of audio equipment I took out of my old 240sx and was going to reuse it, which included the 601BT, 2 kicker amps (one for the sub, another 4 channel for speakers), and polk audio speakers, but the headunit is basically.. meh.
I was wondering what would be the ideal route to go to get the best experience. I know they have head units that have all the android auto stuff built in, but since I already have a nice amp I can use to drive the speakers, would I be better off just using a tablet and getting things connected up that way? I would like to be able to utilize good quality voice for commands and phone calls, but I am not sure if using a tablet for that would work (using the phones capabilities through the tablet to make calls and texts via bluetooth or some other way.)
If anyone has any recommendations on how I can have a nice sized mounted capacitive screen to control my audio (spotify), navigation, and be able to use voice commands (though I could technically just make them through my watch as I have been), I would love to hear some suggestions. If the best route to go would be an actual android auto headunit, then so be it, but I would like to know if alternatives can do this.
See my sig for Headunit app for Android Auto. Nexus tablets are working well with it.
Tablet solution likely takes some time to get it the way you want it, but it makes it very customizable and can be done cheaply-ish.
There are 2 popular lines of $300 Chinese HUs discussed on XDA. They are best described as... the Chinese stuff you find on EBay/Alibaba etc. Source is available but the latest Newsmy is still stuck on Android 4.4.
Or for $500-2k get a Pioneer or Kenwood Android Auto 4100/6100/7100NEX. There's a custom ROM just come out for some Pioneers, but it will take time to mature.
Awesome, thanks for the info. I really appreciate it. I was looking in to some of the interesting setups people have, such as using an Arduino with an IR transmitter that you connect to the tablet, so you can use a standard smaller headunit, hide it in the dash to connect to the speakers and control the volume, and the tablet can be mounted nice, and when you hit the volume etc on the tablet it makes the Arduino blast the IR to the head unit, and it makes the volume go up as if you pressed the button (or in this case, the remote)
That might work well with a head unit app or something similar. I will download the APK's you linked and check them out!
I would like some recommendations for a double din head unit. I wanted to have nav, rear view cam support, aux and 4G/WiFi.
I was going to make my own system with a raspberry pi, but after pricing stuff out I'm gonna be looking at a similar price of $200+. So I would rather just buy an android head unit since that's the OS I want to use anyway and it's still not that smooth on a rasperry pi. Although Google is going to offically suport it soon.
Thanks
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Check on Crutchfield.com. I've only seen one unit that runs wifi(its alot more the $200), and havent seen one that runs cell band
Check out 'Joying'. You will have it in a few days.
If they have a package for your car then she is plug&play. Many of the units are the same but come with different stuff so the price changes. Some have volume knobs - do get that.
Joying... (can't post links so you have to type in)
carjoying-dot-com
I personally got this setup for my Nissan Frontier truck...
and i now have the 5.1 update hardware to update from kitkat. You might want to ask for the 5.1 models.
Yeah after I have been looking around the joying is probably what I'm gonna go with.
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The unit I got was the 'JY-NQ128'.
If you search for it on the joying site you will see it is set up for Nissan cars/trucks meaning they include plug and play cables for that vehicle so it's working in minutes.
That part number also comes with backup camera, gps stuff, etc. It has a volume knob on the top. Some other packages will have the same unit at a different price but come with say an OBD2 dongle and a volume button in the middle or no buttons or no navigation. Some have a DVD player.
A note about navigation... You have to ask for it. They will then send you a link for the 'IGO' software and maps. You install it on the blank SD card they include. IGO is kinda a standard I think but you can also use Google maps, Here, Waze, whatever you like. In settings you just set the nav button to whatever.
You can buy cables, backup camera, etc from their site if they don't have a package for your car.
I have bad ears so can't be trusted on its ability to play music but seems to work fine. I bought it mostly for its backup camera, navigation and of course the powerful Android system. My calendar is on there, email, etc.
Nice unit 1024x600 screen too.
daveEM said:
The unit I got was the 'JY-NQ128'.
If you search for it on the joying site you will see it is set up for Nissan cars/trucks meaning they include plug and play cables for that vehicle so it's working in minutes.
That part number also comes with backup camera, gps stuff, etc. It has a volume knob on the top. Some other packages will have the same unit at a different price but come with say an OBD2 dongle and a volume button in the middle or no buttons or no navigation. Some have a DVD player.
A note about navigation... You have to ask for it. They will then send you a link for the 'IGO' software and maps. You install it on the blank SD card they include. IGO is kinda a standard I think but you can also use Google maps, Here, Waze, whatever you like. In settings you just set the nav button to whatever.
You can buy cables, backup camera, etc from their site if they don't have a package for your car.
I have bad ears so can't be trusted on its ability to play music but seems to work fine. I bought it mostly for its backup camera, navigation and of course the powerful Android system. My calendar is on there, email, etc.
Nice unit 1024x600 screen too.
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Click to collapse
Does your unit have android auto Capabilites?
lbus9168 said:
Does your unit have android auto Capabilites?
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Not sure. I've not researched Android Auto but I suspect it is totally limited (AA).
My unit is full blown Android. You have to be careful here. For example streaming a movie while driving is possible. It is initially shut off in settings but you can turn it on.
The unit is like a Nexus phone. No limitations.
daveEM said:
Not sure. I've not researched Android Auto but I suspect it is totally limited (AA).
My unit is full blown Android. You have to be careful here. For example streaming a movie while driving is possible. It is initially shut off in settings but you can turn it on.
The unit is like a Nexus phone. No limitations.
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Click to collapse
I think the biggest thing im looking for is a nice driving friendly UI, with good navigation. Android auto ticks all my requirements.
How about “Pumpkin”?
Android 5.1 Lollipop Stereo https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pumpkin-UNIVERSAL-Mirror-link-Bluetooth/dp/B0197X0IKM
Just bought a used 2007 Toyota Solara SLE convertible (with JBL 7 speaker system), and looking to replace stereo. I've read up on here and elsewhere about some of this, but still have some Q's before moving forward.
Main needs:
Spotify (strongly prefer NOT to use bluetooth due to audio compression)
GPS (The larger the screen, the better for this)
Theft-resistant (Either looks not worth stealing, has removable face without wearing out connectors, is built-in and looks hard to steal, etc)
I'll drill down on the details in a bit, but I'd like a little perspective first on reasons why it would matter if I go with a dedicated head unit, or possibly get the fiddly bits and hook them up myself to do something like a slide-mounted Samsung tablet that I can easily pop in and out.
1) Is there some reason in general why one path is better than the other?
2) If I go DIY route, I've been reading up that Android Auto is not available for tablets without data (wifi only versions). Can't tell if that info is outdated, or still true. I see a few mentions of 3rd party workarounds, but not much info on how they are working.
3) I'd really prefer a larger readout as I use GPS heavily on a regular basis. The detachable ones I see for 10.1 screens from Joying, etc look to have connectors NOT designed for daily plug/unplug. Do these hold up?
4) Is it better for theftproofing to have a removable face, or something smaller that fits in the double din and looks harder to steal?
5) If I do the DIY route, does the audio come out of the tablet via usb and need a d/a, or out of the phones jack?
5) There seems to be info out there for DIY to get the steering controls working, car info like tire pressure, temp, etc. If I then already have the amp, and can work out the audio, and get info to and from via bluetooth with my phone or using my phone as hotspot, that's all bases covered, right? Is there anything I'm missing that CAN'T be done this way and would be better off just getting head unit?
6) Are the dedicated head units less updatable or anything like that than something like a samsung tablet?
7) Is there an issue with my 7 speaker system? Haven't checked, but I'm under the impression from some conversations I've had that there's a 7 speaker dedicated amp currently in place (not part of existing head unit). I read something about certain versions of AA not supporting subs. Not sure what that means. If I'm replacing head unit with full DIY rig, can't I just sent audio to the amp, and it splits from there, or does processing and separate out for sub need to somehow happen prior to the amp?
FYI: Asking in part because I'm thinking about getting a tablet anyway, and might as well have dual use if possible. Also, I'm considering idea also of leaving the stock stereo as is (has BT for voice, but not audio streaming), and rigging a detachable dock for tablet that then feeds audio via the aux input. I guess if I go this third route, I'd store music on it locally, and use it's wifi with my android phone as mobile hotspot to get new tracks, access map data, etc.
Thoughts on why one path is better?
Too many q's?
Available info in another thread? (I've searched and read all I could find)
Better in another subforum? (Connected car maybe?)
Thank you for the questions it is helping me do more research.
If any one can answer part of a question please chime in.
1. Android tablets (Samsung, LG) over Chinese (KLYDE, Joying, etc) units:
- better screen - even an old Galaxy Tab3 has a screen 10x better than any chinese in-car unit.
- cleaner Android implementations - chinese units suffer from poor system implementation that generates lots o0f issues with Bluetooth audio quality, OBDII pairing, WiFi and 3G/4G compatibility
- software upgradable - again, my Samsung Galaxy Tab3 from 2013 runs Nougat. My Klyde in-car unit runs Lollipop
- better RAM, usually
- more flexible in implementation
Chinese (KLYDE, Joying, etc) units over Android tablets (Samsung, LG):
-easier to install
-FM radio
-some level of integration with the car's systems
2. Since version 2.1 Android Auto is a standalone app so it will run on WiFi only units
3. No idea. But if I were to take the DIY road, instead of removing the tablet I'd have a fake panel to cover the screen, with the front part of a cheap stereo.
4. It depends on your preferences. Audio will be much better if run through an external d/a converter but you can start with getting the signal from the headphone jack and add a converter later.
Probably 2 main differences:
Android tablet wont have good amplifier. Not so good sound, you must install many apps from yourself (this is good and bad), no radio probably or bad radio. You must also connect an antenna for the radio if the tablet has one.
You must also do some modding by yourself, connection for power etc. Probably use tasker for some things, search in youtube and other places for suitable script. Xposed, app settings will help for making many apps more car like.
Search for car launcher etc.
I am writing this as i have installed in past, not tablet but mobile phone (an old galaxy s2) in a Fiat punto. So i have done those im Writting for.
If you give time and efford at the end it could be better the result compaired with a dedicated one.
The dedicated one has the benefit of don't search at all. Just install, plug and play. Probably better sound.
If it has android, you can make many things with this. Probably most as the tablet i wrote before.
If it only has android auto you can do only basic things..
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Ok, I had both approaches with 2 different chinese units and one Zenpad.
- 1st Chinese unit, piece of .... so I almost smashed it with a hammer in a fury rage, so got it sold after 3 month, conclusion stay away from XTRONS!
-2nd I had a Zenpad built into my dash, lucky enough for me my dash was big enough to easily fit in an 8" tablet. I bought a mechless Sony car radio, which is much smaller than a normal unit and I hid it behind the tablet, steering wheel remote control still worked, so I could control the radio from the steering wheel, but never needed anything else than adjusting the volume. I did not use FM radio at all. See attached picture. This has a few potential problems, most probably you won't be able to charge the device & use the usb port at the same time, you will need a custom kernel for that or a USB-C tablet. Also its much more difficult to fit it in properly, when the system freeze or crash and you need to hard reset it, it can be painful, however overall I was very pleased with my setup. Since you cannot use the tablet for the bluetooth hands free I still needed to use a Himbox HB001. TIP: The install was done with the help of a 6mm acrylic sheet, which I cut to size using a jigsaw.
-3rd changed the car and couldn't do the same thing in the new car so I bit the bullet and bought another chinese unit, this time I went to an Intel based one. So far so good, I have only done about 1000 miles with it but it looks to work OK, boot up is really quick, bluetooth A2DP quality is good (not like the crap XTRONS), handsfree quality seems decent, but I need more feedback from others on this, I hear them clearly the question is how good they can hear me, so I can recommend the unit: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/301955449854
And now to the Android Auto question, they run on all of them, just use my app: https://forum.xda-developers.com/ge...ndroid-4-1-headunit-reloaded-android-t3432348
I am thinking about replacing my car stereo with an android head unit.
I have been reading the forum but do have some open questions:
1. How good are these head units?
2. Most head units seem to run older versions of android so I am concerned that the playstore and apps are not going to be supported for much longer. Which headunits are somewhat modern (good specs) with good developer support. I assume there are no treble supported headunits yet?
3. My primary use case for an android headunit are:
- listen to podcasts (PocketCasts?)
- GPS navigations (Google Maps or Waze)
- see my reverse camera when backing up
- listen to music (Pandora, Spotify, youtube, or stored music)
- listen to the radio (probably nice to have)
4. I am planning to get a dashcam and I saw that some headunits integrate with dashcam + reversing camera
5. Would be nice to be able to use a Bluetooth or something remote on the steering wheel. Ideally something discreet/small that can be glued to the back of the steering wheel ...
6. I am not planning to install a separate SIM card in the head unit (thanks ridiculous carrier prices in the US). How successful have people been getting their headunit to rely on Wifi at home and tethering to the phone when driving.
7. I saw some threads about headunits "sleeping" when the car is off - I drive an electric car, so I definitely want the unit to be OFF when the car is off. Don't care if it takes 10-30 seconds to boot.
8. Any recommendations for single DIN headunits that match the above requirements/use case? Don't need or want a gigantic screen and certainly do not want a motorized screen ... there seem to be some nice headunits where a 7" screen is mounted to a single DIN unit and the screen can be moved up and down depending on where you need it in the car.
You are actually considering an Android head unit, not Android Auto.
This is Android Auto:
https://www.android.com/auto/
Android headunits have several dedicated sections here:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/android-auto/android-head-units
https://forum.xda-developers.com/android-auto/mtcb-android-head-units-qa - for older units running Android 4.4 or 5.1
https://forum.xda-developers.com/android-auto/mtcd-discussion-questions-development - for newer units
Since you do not seem familiar with Android headunits and their specifics I strongly advise against gambling on Chinese units. Getting an Android Auto/Car Play compatible unit from an established manufacturer (the Sony XAV AX-100 seems pretty popular) would be a much safer option at similar price.