Recently I started to experiment with AA, and I like the idea of being able to operate my podcast and music player on my car's entertainment screen. But, on the other hand, I deliberately I choose LOS once, because I don't want to have too many GAPPS on my phone. So, having to install all the GAPPS that are required to make AA work, doesn't really thrill me.
Would it be possible to fool AA with some fake GAPPS that do nothing more than to resolve the dependencies, so that AA will connect to the car without the need to install Google Maps, for instant? The main goal for this would be making apps like music players controllable on the car's entertainment screen.
I am neither a programmer nor a developer, so this idea might look very naive to you. But yet, it would be interesting to hear what you think of it.
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I would really like to see a developer merge the music app with co-pilot and make some type of car PC ui. I just got the multifunction adapter and I have to say that I have found the best use of my phone yet. I don't really have to worry about battery life or cd's. I know its kind of a huge task to undertake but I really think that this would appeal to a lot of people
Well, Android is a multitasking OS, a full merge of the multiple programs isn't needed as the two programs can coexist without issue. Is there some issue with the audio subsystem not allowing the copilot instructions to play if the audio is playing or not allowing the audio to play when copilot is running? If this issue exists, then it wouldn't be in the copilot or media app where the change needs to be made, but in the android audio subsystems.
And FYI: it isn't possible for "some developer" to make modifications like this to copilot, since it is CLOSED SOURCE. Any new features to copilot would have to be added by ALK themselves.
So every time I want to load some playlist or folder through my AA music player (Cloudplayer), after 3-4 taps I get this message and I can't do anything other than actually stop the car (not always possible or advisable anyway) for it to receive commands. Voice search within the music player is clearly not working (it can't browse folders or playlists) so it makes the whole experience of using my phone for music streaming super annoying, especially on longer journeys.
Are there any ways to bypass this on a non-rootable phone (P20 Pro)? I mean thanks Google for thinking about safety but I need to do more screen tapping to set the aircon how I want it or browse trip details than I am allowed to tap on the AA app...
I don't have the phone you have, but have a Pioneer unit running Android Auto, and for me the lockout was part of the reason why I decided to stop using AA.
As far as I know with Android Auto, your request is not possible.
Your only option is to just not use AA and use something else.
In my case, I've just ordered a different headunit. But you may get away with just using different apps on your phone and avoid AA altogether.
Hello everybody.
For some time now I have the new Chromecast with Google TV and I would like to share my feelings on certain aspects that disappointed me and which scare me for the future of Android TV.
Android TV has always been a more closed system than Android but I have the impression with this new device that it is even more the case and that Google is trying to lock its system even more.
On the new device, if you want to install applications that are not on the play store, you must activate the options for developers, then start again several times to install these applications (it does not necessarily work the first time ).
I also noticed that a lot of Android apps didn't do image rotation or stretching and displayed vertically like a smartphone but with parts of the image cut off. Some Android apps are therefore not even usable now on the new Chromecast. I searched this new Chromecast for a setting that would help me display its Android apps properly but couldn't find anything.
Is there a setting to properly display its applications there? Are these only corrections that will be made in the next updates or is it, as I think, a desire by Google to limit Android TV more and more to Android TV applications?
Thank you for your many responses.
The orientation issue may have something to do with how the Android TV device is identifying itself. That could get fixed in a new release. Haven't dug in enough to know that yet. I haven't had any trouble installing stuff via side loading.
As for being locked down, Android TV certified devices are way more locked down than AOSP or even phones. I wish they'd put the Android TV portions (or even just the casting stack) into AOSP, but that ship has long sailed.
Averix said:
The orientation issue may have something to do with how the Android TV device is identifying itself. That could get fixed in a new release. Haven't dug in enough to know that yet. I haven't had any trouble installing stuff via side loading.
As for being locked down, Android TV certified devices are way more locked down than AOSP or even phones. I wish they'd put the Android TV portions (or even just the casting stack) into AOSP, but that ship has long sailed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok so you had no problem with Android applications. I may have had no luck with apps that started badly. Perhaps it is not Google's desire to prevent or complicate the use of applications that are not from the Android TV Play Store.
We will see if other users have this problem.
I too would have loved to have the cast on Android box.
Do you know of an application that allows you to rotate the image like you can find in the Ugoos box system?
From what I can tell, it is just as open** as my Nvidia Shield. Installing sideloaded apps is just as simple. Apps that do not have manual rotation options can be tricky, or those coded to be used in portrait mode only. Other than that, sideloading works identically. PS, you still need something like Sideload Launcher to launch these sideloaded apps.
Android TV/Google TV has always been very limited when it comes to customizability. Probably has a lot to do with the fact that Google assumed, and rightly so that, most consumers just want to plug it in and watch stuff, not mess around with it. Do I agree with that? No, I love making devices do things they weren't designed to, but even I have no reason or motivation to root these devices.
** = Equally as locked down.
Have you tried using a sceen rotation app? I use to use a modded spectrum tv app on fire tv and to fix rotation issue you had to use a screen rotation app.
jkbee26 said:
Android TV has always been a more closed system than Android but I have the impression with this new device that it is even more the case and that Google is trying to lock its system even more.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I feel your pain.
That's Google 2020 for you, get ready for Google 2021 and 2022
I am thinking of replacing a fire tv stick 4k with the new Chromecast, hoping to gain bitstreaming audio from 3d party apps. It won't work for me on the amazon device.
I want to continue using wolf launcher and some sideloaded apps, which are not all available on the play store.
How much of free storage is available on the Cromecast?
Hey folks
I bought a Chromecast with Google TV and I am experiencing this same issue. I am trying to use an app which I know it wasn't developed for this device, but I know it works because have it installed on an Android TV. The difference is that on Google TV it opens as portrait and sits in the middle of the screen, where in the Android TV it expands and takes the whole screen. Same thing happens, for example, with Instagram. I've tried a dozen of apps that supposedly force the orientation, but it never worked.
Is there anything that can be done or am I am chasing ghosts?
(p.s. is it worth to post this as a new thread?)
As far as I understand it, AA requires installation of several additional Google services on my phone. When I installed LOS on my Nexus 6, I did this to avoid all these Google services and apps. So I am looking for an alternative to AA, that enables me to use some of my apps on my car's entertainment screen, but without having to install these Google apps. Basically, what I would like the most, is a way to change between different audio streaming apps, e.g. change from the podcast player to the music player, without the need to fiddle on the phone's screen. My car's entertainment system is capable of receiving audio streams from my phone via bluetooth, and I can simply switch to that mode by switching from "radio" to "media". But that will, of course, always start the app that was used before. When I want to stop listening to music and start a podcast instead, I still need to use the phone.
Is there any chance of achieving what I want without all the supplementary and unwanted Google apps?
I'm wondering the same thing, I really like the idea of Android Auto, but despise how deeply integrated into the Google frameworks it is.
I know it would likely be a tremendous amount of work, but it would be awesome to have something like Micro G for Android Auto that is completely de-googled and lets us use alternate voice command frameworks in addition to the features you already mentioned.
The major reason as to why Google gave birth to its Android Auto service was the fact that it made navigation easier and much safer. The native Android Auto app for your cars and your phone has big, bold icons and elements to view without squinting your eyes while driving.
1. Drivemode: Safe Driving
2. Waze
3. HERE WeGo
4. Car Dashdroid
5. Dashlinq – Car Dashboard Launcher
6. AutoMate Car Dashboard
7. Microsoft Cortana
Cogereinfotech said:
The major reason as to why Google gave birth to its Android Auto service was the fact that it made navigation easier and much safer. The native Android Auto app for your cars and your phone has big, bold icons and elements to view without squinting your eyes while driving.
1. Drivemode: Safe Driving
2. Waze
3. HERE WeGo
4. Car Dashdroid
5. Dashlinq – Car Dashboard Launcher
6. AutoMate Car Dashboard
7. Microsoft Cortana
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you may have misunderstood the point of this thread. Those other apps may provide a driving friendly interface on the phone display itself, but DO NOT link with Android Auto compatible head units found in most cars without going through Google's proprietary Android Auto app.
I'm interested in a non-Google app (maybe something like Micro G or even a modded version like YouTube Vanced) that emulates the Android Auto server so it can interact with Android Auto compatible car head units without requiring the Google framework or Gapps to be installed.
Is it possible to create an app or something for a custom rom which can display on a cars Android auto head unit without depending on google services?
I guess no. There are a lot of permissions and functions provided through Google Play Services (like exact GPS position...).
You can easily create an app for music control video playback and even map navigation without the need for Google Play Services.
The main problem is, developers should need to reverse-engineer the Android Auto communication protocol between the phone and the headunit, and then build the video and audio streaming on top of that. This is hard and slow effort, with a constant risk of it being sued to oblivion by Google.
In this case you're better using an Android-based headunit and a headunit launcher with map support, something like AutoMate.