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[Review] Co-pilot on Nexus 7 Works great

I really liked the idea of using the Nexus 7 as a Satnav in the car, as the screen makes everything much easier to read than on my Galaxy Nexus. I know that you are able to use Google Navigation on the Nexus 7 if you tether to a 3G device (or MiFi) or as long as you setup your trip before leaving while you have WiFi. It just seemed a little limiting though (but yes, I did only pay £199 for the deice so i am not complaining).
I decided to purchase Co-Pilot from Play Store (I tried a bunch, and I just liked the way Co-Pilot looks / feels / works - to me it seems the closest to my trusty Garmin Satnav (which I recenly sold) ). I have used it quite a bit on my Galaxy Nexus and it works great, so I ran it on my Nexus 7 and it works just as great and looks amazing with the 7 inch screen.
What I like -
- Volume of the voice prompts is fine (much louder than Galaxy Nexus)
- Navigation algorithms seem to be on par with Garmin / Google
- Traffic rerouting is pretty good
- Alternative routes and detours are possible
- Rerouting (when I take a wrong turn or think I know better than the Satnav) is quick
- Maps are up to date and graphics are clear
- auto rotates very nicely
What I don't like -
- Nothing so far
I decided against getting a dash / windscreen mount for the Nexus 7, as I found by luck that the Nexus 7, in its case, fits perfectly on the center console in my car, at exactly the right angle for me to not get glare / reflection. The only issue with this location is it is right under the cup holder in the car, so if I have a REALLY cold drink, or leaky coffee cup in there, it could drip condensation onto the Nexus 7.
I've included some shots of the Nexus 7 doing it's navigation thing in the car this morning.
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Interesting.
So from your screenshots, I assume this is without an active data connection (WiFi via tether or hotspot)? And the navigation is responsive using the GPS alone?
Doesn't Google Maps allow you cache map regions locally? Are the benefits over that the convenience of not having to or not being limited by it?

should work fine... Other than the fact if you put too much trust in CoPilot, you'll end up in Egypt but you were wanting to go to London.
If you go read their forums, you'll see folks complaining every day about really odd routing, old maps, etc.

GrendelJapan said:
Interesting.
So from your screenshots, I assume this is without an active data connection (WiFi via tether or hotspot)? And the navigation is responsive using the GPS alone?
Doesn't Google Maps allow you cache map regions locally? Are the benefits over that the convenience of not having to or not being limited by it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct. Co-pilot does not need an internet connection, as all mapes are stored locally on device and navigation is calculated on device. If you use the Traffic Updates option in Co-pilot, then you need an active data connection to get traffic updates.
Google maps lets you download some maps to the device, but those can only be used in Google Maps and are not used by Google Navigation. Apparently, Google Navigation downloads all the stuff it needs when you setup the trip, and only needs data connection if you go off course, or need to reroute.

Custom Nook Color Magnetic Car Mount Into a Double-DIN Slot

The main reason for this project was to use my Nook Color as a high fidelity music player in my car ('95 Honda Accord).
The Nook is capable of USB Hosting with the following setup:
ParanoidAndroid-1.6 (CM9) (USB Host support only works with 2.6.32 kernel at this moment)
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1761257
Nook Color Tweaks (Toggle USB Host Mode)
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dalingrin.nookcolortweaks&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwyLDEsImNvbS5kYWxpbmdyaW4ubm9va2NvbG9ydHdlYWtzIl0.
USB Host Support & Development
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1459892
With this ability, an external USB DAC can be used to achieve high fidelity audio (bit-perfect?).
My modest setup:
Nook Color -> OTG USB cable -> USB hub (powered or un-powered) -> External USB DAC (Calyx Audio - Coffee)
-> Preamp (Clarion EQS746) -> Amp (Pioneer GM-6500F) -> Speakers (Front: Boston Acoustics RC41; Rear: NX67)
The objective of the mount design was to secure the Nook under moderate driving conditions and be easily removable.
The materials that were used to put the mount together are: vinyl laminates, super glue, silicon sealant, and neodymium magnets.
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Thank you to all the xda developers that made this possible!

Heck, I'll be the first to say it...that's pretty outstanding.
Does this require a connection to the internet (via a tethered smartphone or something similar)?
I might be interested in doing something like this...if only the NC had GPS built in ...I suppose BT is always an option to pull in GPS data
EDIT: For clarity and RTFOP

tomg09 said:
Heck, I'll be the first to say it...that's pretty outstanding.
Does this require a connection to the internet (via a tethered smartphone or something similar)?
I might be interested in doing something like this...if only the NC had GPS built in ...I suppose BT is always an option to pull in GPS data
EDIT: For clarity and RTFOP
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This setup does not require internet access. It can access the internet by tethering with my phone. At this point, I'm using it mostly for lossless audio (FLAC) playback from a microSD card. Most of my compressed audio files are in the cloud with Google Play Music.
About GPS, I have a bluetooth GPS receiver (Holux GPSlim240). I tested it and it works, but the signal range from the Nook is too short (inches). It's not practical to use.

OMG.
That is by far the best car mount project I have seen. What a great way to extend the life of the machine.
I was able to extend the range of the bluetooth with a dongle, but I suppose your USB is already working overtime. Amazing. Newsworthy button pressed.

This is really cool!
Sent from my NookColor using xda app-developers app

Concept: Android system with multiple inputs and outputs

I'm well behind the curve on Android in the car and I'm not sure this is even the right place for it but I have a concept for a system and I'm not sure whether the current state of the art permits it. But here goes anyway.
The car is exotic and rare: a Renault Avantime. Here's the cockpit:
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You'll note that it's a work of art (may not be to your taste but it's one of those rare beasts; a concept show car that actually went into production). So I don't want to mess with it too much. You'll also note that there's a bump with a Satnav screen (factory system: old VDO/Dayton thing) on top of the dash. There's also a large flap cover forward of the gearshift; that covers a double-DIN hole which was used for the factory CD and satnav controls panel. The factory radio is a headless unit under the seat which runs a dashboard display and steering wheel controls - with a remote for more complex functions.
What I want to install is an Android system with multiple inputs and outputs. The primary display would take the place of the flap forward of the gearshift. The brains of the thing may or may not be integrated into that display.
Inputs would consist of:
- a cabin webcam used for Skype etc.
- a backup camera (no factory fit)
- a forward-looking thermal camera for night vision
The primary touchscreen display would be in front of the gearshift as described. The existing Satnav display would be adapted for a secondary screen (probably not a touchscreen; just a display): normally it would show Google Maps - or some other app for nav data. But it would be selectable via software to display the backup camera view, the thermal camera view, or the Skype display when in a Skype video call.
Obviously the unit would need to be capable of controlling and driving an external AM/FM receiver/amp for that side of the entertainment functionality.
Is any Android system capable of handling these multiple inputs and outputs? The ability to display specific apps on the secondary display is kinda crucial to what I want to do here; are there any general solutions to getting multiple video streams into and out of an Android device? Or would I be better considering a bespoke car PC based on Linux or something? Any suggestions gratefully received.

Advice needed

Hi Everyone,
I am looking for some advice regarding the head unit in my 2019 South African Toyota Fortuner.
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The unit comes with Mirrorlink in it which does not work, confirmed by Toyota SA. I would really like to have Android Auto working on the unti and was thinking of replacing the OEM unit but.
I found a USB Carlinkit which I thought would solve my problem.
This requires an app to be loaded onto the head unit from a USB stick. I tried to load the app onto the head unit using the USB App install option from the menu but it comes up with a error. My radio reads MP3's from the USB Memory stick no problem but when I try to load the Autokit.apk file it comes up with this message.
The head unit appears to be running Android (could be wrong) and it should be able to load apps onto it.
Any ideas what I could be doing wrong or perhaps a head unit that has been crippled?
If so, I would obviously like to uncriple it, any suggestions
Thanks
JohnB

Wondering if
A- The head unit is actually locked to prevent apps being loaded onto it.
B- If so, seems that I can still update the firmware, so if there is another firmware that isn't locked that I could load onto it.
I downloaded the source code from the suppled Denso site but it is way beyond my paygrade

That's a factory headunit, made by Fujitsu-Ten for Toyota. If it support Android Auto, it would be mentioned in the owner's manual. It runs Linux, you're not going to be able to load any Android apps into it.
Toyota has only very recently added Android Auto support to some models. Very few for MY 2019, a few more for 2020.

mike.s said:
That's a factory headunit, made by Fujitsu-Ten for Toyota. If it support Android Auto, it would be mentioned in the owner's manual. It runs Linux, you're not going to be able to load any Android apps into it.
Toyota has only very recently added Android Auto support to some models. Very few for MY 2019, a few more for 2020.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks Mike
That answers my question then.
Pity
JohnB

Seems that the version of linux they are running on is Automotive Grade Linux (AGL) https://www.automotivelinux.org/
is an open source project run by the Linux Foundation with Toyota, Mazda, Subaru, Volkswagen, Ford, Mercedes & Honda as members. Was started in 2016 from what I can see
There is also a wiki at https://wiki.automotivelinux.org/

Bluetooth audio codec setting won't stick

Hi all,
I have a Mi 9 lite and a pair of bluetooth headphones. Both are supposed to support a range of bluetooth audio codecs (1) , but I can't get them to use anything but SBC. Trying to find a solution has been frustrating: across the web there's many people who encounter the problem and some find solutions as well, but none work for me / the Mi 9 lite.
In developer options I can see the alternative codecs (2). I can't change any of them until I connect the bluetooth headphones. When connected I can choose any codec (3) , but after setting the value and leaving the settings page , it switches back to SBC.
- I've tried every suggestion I could find: set with BT on, off, either connected to headphones or not connected , battery saver switched on / off, you name it.
- Some people report that when they switched off dual audio the problem was solved (4). But I can't even find these advanced bluetooth settings, they seem to be a samsung galaxy feature.
- Others simply don't have the problem, they can switch freely as long as their headphones support the codec.
- Some people don't have as many codecs, etc etc.
I've pretty much tried all the suggestions and then some, and I'm out of ideas except for chalking a pentagram on the floor and dancing around it with the phone in the middle .
If you have a suggestions or ideas where to look next I would appreciate hearing from you. If I should provide some additional information I'd be happy to do so.
PS I'm no developer but I've been on the android SDK website and found some posts suggesting that the thing to accomplish would be to edit some config file that has the bluetooth codec priority list. No idea if that is of any use though.
EDIT: Having a great time bouncing around in the SDK and finding out what ADB does. Little idea what I'm doing but I'm getting a little taste of why people like messing around with their devices so much. Would rooting the device allow me to explore the filesystem and see what's in /etc/ and so on? Or is that just the fast lane to Brickville?
Dark background screens are mine, light one shows advanced options others seem to have. Numbers correspond with those above
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Cheers.

any luck with this issue? any discoveries during further investigation? I've run into this problem frequently on many xiaomi devices (and others). from what I understand, just because they show up in that list, doesn't mean they apply to the given paired device capabilities, which ultimately dictate which option will be used. basically, it doesn't mean anything, until the devices are paired, then it is trial and error to see which setting "sticks". very frustrating to say the least.