Database Develop

[APP][2.1+][BETA] Touch Pilot - Control your flight sim from your tablet!

Hello fellow sim pilots. I'd like to announce that my brand new company, Touch Pilot, is looking for beta testers for our new tablet app. The app allows you to adjust your throttle, mixture, prop, landing gear, flaps, and more with just a tap. Now you don't have to remember all those keyboard commands. It works with any simulator or game running on a Windows PC. It especially works with FSX. It works by emulating a joystick on your PC, and transmits your inputs over WiFi. You map the controls just like you would on a regular joystick. There's a server component that you run on your PC, and of course the tablet app that runs on an iPad or Android tablet. You can sign up for the beta by visiting the link below. Looking forward to hearing your feedback!
http://gettouchpilot.com
Cheers,
Ben @ TP

here's a new background we're trying out. what do you think?

Interesting project! I'm not a flight sim fan but would be cool to see how models like this would be able to interact with other games.

CaveManDave said:
Interesting project! I'm not a flight sim fan but would be cool to see how models like this would be able to interact with other games.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks dave! we have more apps coming soon that will work with other types of games, like driving games.

we need more android testers, so we're opening the beta up to all android users. if you have an android tablet, just email me at ben at touchpilot dot net. tell me what tablet you have, which version of windows you use (including 32 vs 64 bit) and what sims you fly. thanks!

Interesting concept indeed!
I would like to see an option to control flightsim through usb connection also (I use wifi only with my laptop) if there isn't too much extra work.
Also, are you going to support just tablets? UI for phones would be great!

Ben74 said:
thanks dave! we have more apps coming soon that will work with other types of games, like driving games.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i would like to see one soon
ill try this out tonight

mikpel said:
Interesting concept indeed!
I would like to see an option to control flightsim through usb connection also (I use wifi only with my laptop) if there isn't too much extra work.
Also, are you going to support just tablets? UI for phones would be great!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hi. sorry, usb connections are not in our plans. i feel it would be too much work and would cause too many support issues to deal with. all that for a feature that 1% of our users might actually use.
we might create a version for phones. some buttons would have to be removed to make it all fit.

btw, Touch Pilot One is now available on the iTunes AppStore, Google Play, and Amazon!

[Q] android auto compatible apps?

Is there any resource for finding a list of "android auto" compatible apps? I should (hopefully) be getting a 8100NEX tomorrow (to use with my nexus6.) However, I can't seem to find a current list of compatible apps. For example, I'd like to find a music player (not Google's play music - the 1000 track playlist limit is too... limiting) that'd work with it.
Thanks
Gary

https://play.google.com/store/apps/collection/promotion_3001303_android_auto_all
I emailed Doubletwist asking if they are going to have an Android Auto update and they haven't responded.

garyd9 said:
Is there any resource for finding a list of "android auto" compatible apps? I should (hopefully) be getting a 8100NEX tomorrow (to use with my nexus6.) However, I can't seem to find a current list of compatible apps. For example, I'd like to find a music player (not Google's play music - the 1000 track playlist limit is too... limiting) that'd work with it.
Thanks
Gary
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://www.android.com/auto/
There is a list of compatible apps.

Skynx72 said:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/collection/promotion_3001303_android_auto_all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you - that was exactly what I was looking for. (It's a short list, isn't it? ugh..)
MarcJ1904 said:
http://www.android.com/auto/There is a list of compatible apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Honestly, this looks more like an advertisement for android auto than a "live" (and updated) list. I appreciate the reply nevertheless.
Take care
Gary

I hope so, but for example: WhatsApp, Facebook and so on I can´t use with Android Auto and I would think these apps are the apps with the fastest update rate.

garyd9 said:
Is there any resource for finding a list of "android auto" compatible apps? I should (hopefully) be getting a 8100NEX tomorrow (to use with my nexus6.) However, I can't seem to find a current list of compatible apps. For example, I'd like to find a music player (not Google's play music - the 1000 track playlist limit is too... limiting) that'd work with it.
Thanks
Gary
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Gary. Try going to appradioworld.com and click on the app tab. You'll find a list for android and apple that is stated to be continually updated.
John

garyd9 said:
Thank you - that was exactly what I was looking for. (It's a short list, isn't it? ugh..)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Only messaging and audio playback apps. Mainly because (according to the developer docs) these are the only API's currently available to developers. This will undoubtedly be expanded on; there is another category of apps (car related) that no API's exist for at this point.
But how long will it take? If you compare it to Wear, probably the better part of a year. And it seems Wear was much more finished in the first place. This is a little disturbing. No one buys the initial run of Auto compatible units because Auto is so unfinished, and manufacturers loose interest. Hopefully, that will not be the case, but I for one am on the fence for now.

http://www.appradioworld.com/2015/04/samsung-galaxy-s6-not-compatible-with.html#more
They say the HTC One M8 is compatible with Android Auto, but my HTC One M8 doesn´t work

MarcJ1904 said:
http://www.appradioworld.com/2015/04/samsung-galaxy-s6-not-compatible-with.html#more
They say the HTC One M8 is compatible with Android Auto, but my HTC One M8 doesn´t work
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
...and this relates to the thread topic how?

garyd9 said:
Is there any resource for finding a list of "android auto" compatible apps?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The lastest release of the Android Auto app has a link to the available apps.

Where can I get the latest version? In Germany the app isn´t available in the Playstore.

MarcJ1904 said:
Where can I get the latest version? In Germany the app isn´t available in the Playstore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Best place for all Google APKs: http://www.apkmirror.com/apk/google-inc/android-auto/
Install manually and it should work, but keep it up to date.
I had a problem where AA refused to start because there was a newer version on Play. But it wouldn't download due to my country not being whitelisted. Some day it might refuse to work at all without the right parameters.
This could happen in the middle of a trip, or at least after a car restart.
Of course almost everyone had fun recently with an accidental development release that showed numbers and emails all over the screen.

Hello,
thanks for the link.
When I try to take a look which apps are supported the result is "No result." (Germany, also with United States VPN)
Perhaps you can post a list of the supported apps?

Facebook will never be allowed on Android Auto.
MarcJ1904 said:
I hope so, but for example: WhatsApp, Facebook and so on I can´t use with Android Auto and I would think these apps are the apps with the fastest update rate.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Android Auto is designed to Auto safety guidelines that are very strict. Facebook is not something someone should be using in a car.

What is the diffrence between Facebook and WhatsApp and ICQ what is supported?!

MarcJ1904 said:
What is the diffrence between Facebook and WhatsApp and ICQ what is supported?!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Android Auto supports "Messaging" (and "Media").
So if Facebook could do an app or extension limited to text messaging with text to speech and speech to text, then AA could support that I guess.
No looking at pictures/videos or posting them or doing text on screen for sure.
But the app would have to be approved by Google, for distraction, and whatever else suits their business goals.

I wish Waze was supported. I would rather use it than Google Maps.

Linux head unit

Hi, this is probably in the wrong section.
Does anyone manufacture a head unit running Linux, something for which I can just download a debian ARM iso and install from a usb stick/sd card? From what I can find it seems not to be the case. Why not? Why is android so prevalent?
I also have a question. I just bought an E46 with an eonon GA5150 which is MTCB-KLD-v2.30. I updated from 4.2.2 to 4.4.4 with Malaysk's ROM, but not the MCU, and now audio doesn't work at all. How should I begin to troubleshoot this issue?
Thanks, to a community I should have joined many years ago.

Answer to the first question is...um...well Android is running a Linux kernal...so...you can make the case it's running Linux (or a forky version at least).
As far as running Debian ARM on the typical SoC in these head units, I think it's very likely possible...if you are willing to write the drivers or chase them down (if they exist). And configure the system...it's not a super mountain to climb, but I doubt it's something that already exist. At least in binary format that you could put on an a USB key and install.
In fact, you would have to create a custom Debian build, most likely, and use a bootloader that is normally setup for Android (guessing on that one) to install it. There is no technical reason it should not work, just no one has bothered to do it. We already have Android, what does Debian Linux buy us?
Why run Android? Well, it's because that's where the focus of the development effort is for the kinds of apps you would most likely want to use in a car. My opinion is that's why these head units exist in the first place. The vast number of really good (and admittedly incredible number of poor) apps already exist...let's tap into them!
If you really want to run Linux in the car for some reason or another, there are other options out there...might look for "carputers" or "car PCs". I think a lot of folks who are determined to run Open Source car computers are now running Raspberry Pi (or similar) SBCs..seems to be a lot of that type of projects on Google, when you do a search.
On the second question...about your head unit's ROM issues, I defer to the experts on here.

fortune80211 said:
Hi, this is probably in the wrong section.
Does anyone manufacture a head unit running Linux, something for which I can just download a debian ARM iso and install from a usb stick/sd card? From what I can find it seems not to be the case. Why not? Why is android so prevalent?
I also have a question. I just bought an E46 with an eonon GA5150 which is MTCB-KLD-v2.30. I updated from 4.2.2 to 4.4.4 with Malaysk's ROM, but not the MCU, and now audio doesn't work at all. How should I begin to troubleshoot this issue?
Thanks, to a community I should have joined many years ago.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, @tbd2k2 is right - Android IS Linux, albeit one that uses a very old Linux kernel (google is trying to rectify this but its gonna take years).
There are versions of Ubuntu (Debian based) that run on RK3188 devices, so I m sure someone who is experienced enough could make an Ubuntu ROM for MTCB/C units, but it would involve making all the MTC apps work with it too.

Thank you
What exactly are the mtc apps? What are they needed for? (Do you have a link I can read?) What kind of drivers would I need to write and how would I find what they are if I were to attempt something like this myself?
The reason I ask is that it seems to me that it's very difficult to update software on these head units. It takes a very specialised piece of software and it's impossible to keep up to date.
If these head units were just generic arm PCs then people could install whatever they wanted. I agree that most people would want to install android, but even then the situation would be simpler. Aren't these head units just 12V DC in, audio and video out with additional drivers for GPS, WiFi etc?.

fortune80211 said:
Thank you
What exactly are the mtc apps? What are they needed for? (Do you have a link I can read?) What kind of drivers would I need to write and how would I find what they are if I were to attempt something like this myself?
The reason I ask is that it seems to me that it's very difficult to update software on these head units. It takes a very specialised piece of software and it's impossible to keep up to date.
If these head units were just generic arm PCs then people could install whatever they wanted. I agree that most people would want to install android, but even then the situation would be simpler. Aren't these head units just 12V DC in, audio and video out with additional drivers for GPS, WiFi etc?.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Read the wiki in my signature, it will answer all your questions.
"Very difficult to update" ? - what makes you think that ? - its as easy as you like - put update on sd card go to settings/updates hit "update", or hold down power and reset, release reset, release power to get into recovery and install update by clicking on it, very easy.

Sorry, I didn't mean in that sense.
I mean that if you want to run something obscure, it's not possible. If you want to run an app that only runs on later versions of android, it's not possible. The actual installation is as easy as can be, but you are limited to a small selection of android ROMs.
I realise that it's the way it is for a reason and I'm very grateful to the community of developers here who have contributed so much. I'm just looking for something different and wouldn't mind a project for myself.
Thanks
EDIT: Also, recently Linux operating systems (Ubuntu), and even windows are moving toward touchscreens. There's a huge amount of present and future development effort we could tap into if our hardware was compatible.

I have been a Unix/Linux IT professional for more than 25 years, and it also happens that electronics is my hobby, and I have build many things in recent years powered by Linux using the great new small boards such as Rasbperry Pi's, Beaglebone, Orange, etc.. including weather stations, wall clocks/electronic displays, radio receivers, etc.
BUT, Even I would not use a generic Linux system in place of these purpose built android devices. Using android which has a wealth of high quality apps dedicated to mobile device use for GPS, Maps, media, etc is infinitely more practical.

fortune80211 said:
Sorry, I didn't mean in that sense.
I mean that if you want to run something obscure, it's not possible. If you want to run an app that only runs on later versions of android, it's not possible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you talking about apps not showing up in the Playstore or not installing when sideloaded ?
fortune80211 said:
The actual installation is as easy as can be, but you are limited to a small selection of android ROMs.
I realise that it's the way it is for a reason and I'm very grateful to the community of developers here who have contributed so much. I'm just looking for something different and wouldn't mind a project for myself.
EDIT: Also, recently Linux operating systems (Ubuntu), and even windows are moving toward touchscreens. There's a huge amount of present and future development effort we could tap into if our hardware was compatible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
nixfu said:
I have been a Unix/Linux IT professional for more than 25 years, and it also happens that electronics is my hobby, and I have build many things in recent years powered by Linux using the great new small boards such as Rasbperry Pi's, Beaglebone, Orange, etc.. including weather stations, wall clocks/electronic displays, radio receivers, etc.
BUT, Even I would not use a generic Linux system in place of these purpose built android devices. Using android which has a wealth of high quality apps dedicated to mobile device use for GPS, Maps, media, etc is infinitely more practical.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I ve been using Ubuntu since 2009 and I ve been following the development of Ubuntu Touch for phones/tablets for a while as well - I d love it but until someone gets ART running on Ubuntu Touch so you can use Touch apps (which can also run on Ubuntu desktops) AND Android apps, I wont be using it (and I dont think many others will either) for precisely the reason that @nixfu says - I dont wanna loose access to all the apps available for android.

nixfu said:
I have been a Unix/Linux IT professional for more than 25 years, and it also happens that electronics is my hobby, and I have build many things in recent years powered by Linux using the great new small boards such as Rasbperry Pi's, Beaglebone, Orange, etc.. including weather stations, wall clocks/electronic displays, radio receivers, etc.
BUT, Even I would not use a generic Linux system in place of these purpose built android devices. Using android which has a wealth of high quality apps dedicated to mobile device use for GPS, Maps, media, etc is infinitely more practical.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Look at this one: https://www.stepstone.de/stellenang...d-Unit-f-m-Ulm-BMW-Group--4333376-inline.html
BMW is obviously trying to work on exactly that; trying to professionally use Linux for Car Entertainment

I've pulled apart the system image for the 2016 and 2017 Kenwood units and it's just a QT app on top of the Linux kernel.
Sony's XAV-AX100 is the same and i'm pretty sure the new Pioneers are the same now they've dumped Android.
Once you stop them booting into the GUI app and get a console, you've got a Linux system with good enough hardware to play with.
All three also have sites where you can get the code for things like the kernel that they have to make available.

leonkernan said:
I've pulled apart the system image for the 2016 and 2017 Kenwood units and it's just a QT app on top of the Linux kernel.
Sony's XAV-AX100 is the same and i'm pretty sure the new Pioneers are the same now they've dumped Android.
Once you stop them booting into the GUI app and get a console, you've got a Linux system with good enough hardware to play with.
All three also have sites where you can get the code for things like the kernel that they have to make available.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds great, I guess you could even run Android apps on them as you can do that on a Linux desktop.

Google search i-carus (raspberry pi based)
Give that a go

Fire tablet converted to Head Unit via flashing ROM - possible?

Hello all,
I have not found a thread/ROM about this, so I guess it is not possible. or is it?
It seems like it "should" be possible, but maybe the Head Units have some special hardware code that makes it impossible?
Thanks,
Mark.

Google "nexus 7 car stereo" for thousands of ideas.

CZ Eddie said:
Google "nexus 7 car stereo" for thousands of ideas.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, but I don't think I've made myself clear... there is a HUGE difference between installing the Android Auto app on a tablet and a built-in Android Auto device.
Everything I have seen by searching has been a tablet or phone with an app... The Android Auto app is going to be killed off very soon, and certain functionality will be developed only for the built in devices.
My question is whether a tablet can be hacked so GOOGLE sees your tablet as a built-in device, and will issue it with updates etc.
tx
Mark

Even the chinese HU don't use android auto they have some other app that does the same and most people don't use it. In the end the concept of mirroring isn't that practical and there's too many hurdles such as apps have to be enabled for it...

nic2k said:
Even the chinese HU don't use android auto they have some other app that does the same and most people don't use it. In the end the concept of mirroring isn't that practical and there's too many hurdles such as apps have to be enabled for it...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So better to use a 3rd party app then I guess. Tx

Serious Debate Question: Run OpenAuto Pro on RasPi or LineageOS on RasPi as Car Head unit?

So I am stuck in a dilemma. Ive switched roms so many times I still don't know which way to go.
I want to us Android Auto. But I want to natively run my Uber/Lyft driver apps on the main screen. I dont want to involve the use of a typical phone or tablet. I have 2 Raspberry Pi's. An 8gb and a 2gb. I have a Sim7600G-H cell/gps module. I have 2 mcp2515 can modules on the spi bus.
I have 10" screen and a 4" screen.
Ah, but it gets better. I also have a number of arduinos in the equation too. These will control lights and servos. All custom programmed in python to operate over i2c.
I think im sticking with the Open Auto Pro method as my main screen. But i'm not sure. I love the car launcher apps that are available on android so they would look cool as the main screen too. Not sold on Kodi as a launcher option.
So I open the floor to debate. Android as a main app and run linux as secondary? Or run Open Auto Pro (linux) as main and android (LineageOS or OmniRom) as secondary?

same question in my head because of another reason:
I have a carplay-dongle and bought Pi4 to use it. I can use it with LineageOS or openauto pro. I tried with an android-tablet but had some problems and decided to do it with raspberry.
Both of them has similar functions:
Integrated music player
Display OBD-II data
Plugin CarPlay Autobox for OpenAuto Pro
Navigation with Android Auto™ head unit emulation
Multi-langugage support
Benefits of LineageOS:
is free and you will get free updates all time.
Your android-apk will also updated all time.
Android developed and optimised for light hardware. A PI4 4GB will a really good hardware-base.
Openauto Pro:
It is developed as a car head unit. User interface, community, supports... All of them for same purpose. If you have a specific problem like wheel-controller or power on-off etc... It is easier than only-android. You can run not only apk's, also linux packages.
You get free-updates only one year. You have to buy Carplay-Plugin separately. Maybe this plugin will not works next year with IOS-16. I don't know, if I get a free update or not.
Other issue of it cpu-memory usage: Debian-OS is developed for a Desktop-PC and a Pi4-4GB is a thin hardware for this os.
My Wish-List:
DAB-Radio support
TSR (Traffic sign recognisition)
Lane Assistant
Both system does not have a built in solution for FM-Radio, TSR or Lane Assistent. But you can use Android-Apps on both systems.
I will try first with LineageOS and maybe some android-apps too. If it is not enought, I can buy Openauto and use bought apps on it too.