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.
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Does anyone know if it is possible to send a command to the Android Auto inteface?
For instance. "Play"
Right now if you play music on the phone after connecting to android auto for instance using Tasker, the music will play but the Android Auto interface doesn't pick up that music has started playing. It will notice if you manually click on the Music button at the bottom but until then it has no idea that music started playing.
So. No song info on the main screen. All headunit control buttons don't work.
The Android Auto protocol allows a Headunit to send a Play command and that tends to be triggered by a physical Play button on the HU.
But you still need an Android Auto compatible audio app to actually DO something with a received Play command.
Google COULD choose to allow any normal audio app to work under Android Auto, but they choose not to, IMO because it increases competition for Google's Play Music app.
I think that a third party Android Auto compatible app could act as a "middle-man" between a non AA app and AA. But I'm sure such an app would never be allowed on Play, so there's not much incentive for professional devs to build one. I've considered it, but I'm busy enough.
At the moment, I have an Android 8.0-based Chinese head unit but the quality is poor.
I was considering buying an Android Auto system from Sony or Pioneer.
I use the TuneIn application from the Play Store a lot on my current head unit.
Is it possible to get said application for Android Auto, as it's an Android application, or do they need to have a dedicated Android Auto application?
King Mustard said:
At the moment, I have an Android 8.0-based Chinese head unit but the quality is poor.
I was considering buying an Android Auto system from Sony or Pioneer.
I use the TuneIn application from the Play Store a lot on my current head unit.
Is it possible to get said application for Android Auto, as it's an Android application, or do they need to have a dedicated Android Auto application?
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Have you tried running HUR on the head unit https://forum.xda-developers.com/ge...ndroid-4-1-headunit-reloaded-android-t3432348 ?
kk131 said:
Have you tried running HUR on the head unit https://forum.xda-developers.com/ge...ndroid-4-1-headunit-reloaded-android-t3432348 ?
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Unfortunately, it's the build quality that's poor. The speaker outputs slowly died one-by-one and the included software/hardware combination never allowed a solid 4G connection via. 4G dongle.
Does Android Auto have a seperate application store
Unfortunately, the app is not yet available everywhere around the world. If you live in a region where Android Auto has not become available, you can use VPN to change your Google Play Store region. This will allow you to download and install geo-restricted applications on your Smartphone.
TuneIn Radio is compatible with Android Auto. There's no separate app. If you install and run AA on your phone, you can test it out.
The Play Store has a dedicated section for Android Auto-compatible apps that can be accessed from the pullout menu in the Android Auto app on your phone.
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.
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
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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.
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.