Android Auto first impressions thread (and ask us anything!)

[twentydeuce]

I don't have enough information on 2014 models of Kenwood that have HDMI smartphone integration that have used this alongside other Bluetooth devices. Or USB devices for that matter. Also note, that I think that on the 2014-later Kenwood units with this HDMI/MHL integration, some newer phones like the Samsung Galaxy S6, which omits MHL, may not work at all for mirroring. The phone you use must have MHL to HDMI output. Not quite sure if the audio connection is also handled through HDMI in this situation. I know that phone control is.

So this means that it's not going to mirror phones in the future? Whats the point of it then? I have an S5 so I know it will for now, but I expect it all to work as new phones come out and hardware is changed.

 

[twentydeuce]

I called Kenwood and in the future, the mirroring is done wirelessly, including the S6.

 

[Dr Claw]

Those with Pioneer head units: I think there is a shortcut for the "Mic Icon" on the screen. If you longpress the "Home" button while in Android Auto, the voice prompt for Google comes up.

 

[mhettrich]

Those with Pioneer head units: I think there is a shortcut for the "Mic Icon" on the screen. If you longpress the "Home" button while in Android Auto, the voice prompt for Google comes up.

Yeah, I've noticed this too. Works well.

 

[ireknole]

I'm sorry if this has already been asked, but can you run a pioneer app (like Pandora) in the background and still have Google maps up in Android auto? Also, does it run Pandora through Bluetooth or USB?

I don't use Pandora much, but it's a nice change from my other music apps. I'm bummed that they were taken off the compatible apps list.

 

[posman53]

I'm sorry if this has already been asked, but can you run a pioneer app (like Pandora) in the background and still have Google maps up in Android auto? Also, does it run Pandora through Bluetooth or USB?

I don't use Pandora much, but it's a nice change from my other music apps. I'm bummed that they were taken off the compatible apps list.

Nope. Pandora can't be run at the same time as Android Auto. Pandora runs on Bluetooth.

 

[ireknole]

Nope. Pandora can't be run at the same time as Android Auto. Pandora runs on Bluetooth.

Thanks

 

[Dr Claw]

Recently, I had to ship my 8100NEX back for a replacement due to some of the front buttons going wacky on me. Been an interesting week and 1/2...

anyway, I got everything back today and in such, I had to set up Android Auto again on the new unit. I have to say how much I hate the "must be parked" requirement to set things up. I had to pull the stereo a second time to ensure the brake wire was grounded just to get everything to go. This is being "overly careful" IMO. I wish there was more insight into what AA is using to detect "parked" status.

 

[justeric78]

If it bothers you I would take it to an installer as mine was able to bypass that pretty easily. I get an error every now and then in maps about not interacting with it while driving but I do not think there is a fix for that since it is seeing that you are moving via GPS.

 

[justeric78]

I have a quick question for you all on Spotify. I have, a few times, tried to get it to play a song via the voice command. I think out of the three or four times I have done it I got it to work once. The rest of the time it will just hang indefinitely or sometimes even kill Spotify all together. When it hung the last time I got into the phone and looked to see what it was doing and it seemed to be doing some kind of search or sitting on the results screen from doing that search. I am guessing the one time it worked was because there was only one matching song. I would think it would either show the options I have for the search on the screen or even just start playing the first song on the list. Has anyone else experienced this and if so has anyone had a better experience then I and what have you done differently?

 

[mikereidis]

I wish there was more insight into what AA is using to detect "parked" status.

AA seems to rely on the HU for what the AA protocol calls SENSOR_TYPE_DRIVING_STATUS. HU decides what it uses for that.

AFAICT grounding the green wire satisfies this. At one point I had to break and remake the connection, but that was for USB Mirrorlink (?) and not AA.

My 4100NEX is not car mounted though. I think some have reported they need parking brake engaged PLUS gear in Park PLUS engine running (or not running, I forget.)

HU might also support SENSOR_TYPE_GEAR to see if it's in Neutral or Park, but I don't know if it's used. My Headunit app only reports 1 sensor: Driving Status, and it works fine always reporting Parked.

In theory, Android device or HU could use GPS, accelerometer, etc to detect motion, but I don't think it does now.

 

[anon(9446079)]

I have a quick question for you all on Spotify. I have, a few times, tried to get it to play a song via the voice command. I think out of the three or four times I have done it I got it to work once. The rest of the time it will just hang indefinitely or sometimes even kill Spotify all together. When it hung the last time I got into the phone and looked to see what it was doing and it seemed to be doing some kind of search or sitting on the results screen from doing that search. I am guessing the one time it worked was because there was only one matching song. I would think it would either show the options I have for the search on the screen or even just start playing the first song on the list. Has anyone else experienced this and if so has anyone had a better experience then I and what have you done differently?

Hi!
I have exactly the same issue and I it seems like that we are the only ones

I posted this thread weeks ago:
http://forums.androidcentral.com/an...me-spotify-problems-voice-commands-lists.html

 

[chomorro]

I haven't tried voice search. But spotify hangs all the time ...... I wish I could use pandora instead.

 

[SuperTongue]

A few questions for those that own it (sorry if any of these have been asked already):

-Does the 4100NEX support backup cameras? To be more specific, my 2013 Honda Civic has one installed from the factory, so I'd like to use the larger screen if I can. And if it does support backup cameras and I'm using AA, will it just switch to the backup camera when I put the car in reverse then switch back once it is in drive/park/etc?

-Would it be worth it to wait for a USB Type-C supporting headunit? I'll likely end up with the next Nexus phone (which I'd be surprised to see not having USB Type-C). Would it beneficial to wait?

-How's the audio? Bluetooth audio, for me, has ranged from terrible to okay between all of my different phones over the past two years. I imagine since music is pushed over USB and not Bluetooth it would be better.

-Does anyone have experience with BestBuy installs? While I've done radio installs before, they weren't exactly on newer cars. I wouldn't mind paying an extra $150~ to have it installed properly but I also wouldn't want to drop that on a botched installation. Also - do they provide the necessary trim pieces and wiring (obviously for $) when doing the installs or would I need to buy that elsewhere?

-Anyone with a 2013+ Civic who has one installed? Worth a shot asking to see how it turned out.

Thanks to anyone who helps out!

 

[Pedrore]

It's hit or miss with me and Spotify voice commands. I have had it work when asking for a playlist, but then not come up with anything when I ask for an artist or song. For example, if I say "Play 38 Special on Spotify" (don't judge me ) it responds with "Playing 38 Special on Spotify" and displays "getting selection" on the Spotify display but it never plays.

 

[VincentVV]

A few questions for those that own it (sorry if any of these have been asked already):

-Does the 4100NEX support backup cameras? To be more specific, my 2013 Honda Civic has one installed from the factory, so I'd like to use the larger screen if I can. And if it does support backup cameras and I'm using AA, will it just switch to the backup camera when I put the car in reverse then switch back once it is in drive/park/etc?

-Would it be worth it to wait for a USB Type-C supporting headunit? I'll likely end up with the next Nexus phone (which I'd be surprised to see not having USB Type-C). Would it beneficial to wait?

-How's the audio? Bluetooth audio, for me, has ranged from terrible to okay between all of my different phones over the past two years. I imagine since music is pushed over USB and not Bluetooth it would be better.

-Does anyone have experience with BestBuy installs? While I've done radio installs before, they weren't exactly on newer cars. I wouldn't mind paying an extra $150~ to have it installed properly but I also wouldn't want to drop that on a botched installation. Also - do they provide the necessary trim pieces and wiring (obviously for $) when doing the installs or would I need to buy that elsewhere?

-Anyone with a 2013+ Civic who has one installed? Worth a shot asking to see how it turned out.

Thanks to anyone who helps out!

Yes, Yes and Yes, support for backup camera, best buy does a good job if the tech knows his business.

 

[Pedrore]

As far as USB Type C goes, I have standard USB extensions running from the headunit to a cubby in my console, so I can plug any USB flavor of the day into that including Type C. I don't think there's any benefit to waiting for native Type C from the headunit itself.

 

[mikereidis]

-Would it be worth it to wait for a USB Type-C supporting headunit? I'll likely end up with the next Nexus phone (which I'd be surprised to see not having USB Type-C). Would it beneficial to wait?

-How's the audio? Bluetooth audio, for me, has ranged from terrible to okay between all of my different phones over the past two years. I imagine since music is pushed over USB and not Bluetooth it would be better.

I wouldn't wait for USB C. Android Auto still has many problems, so consider waiting 6-12 months for 2nd gen HUs if not in a rush. Next gen may have Android Auto over Wifi.

Some phones push audio over Bluetooth and turn it right back on if you try to turn off, like my stock HTC One M8. Some phones will push audio over USB if BT is off. I doubt there is a list anywhere of which phones and system software releases are which.

 

[SuperTongue]

I wouldn't wait for USB C. Android Auto still has many problems, so consider waiting 6-12 months for 2nd gen HUs if not in a rush. Next gen may have Android Auto over Wifi.

Some phones push audio over Bluetooth and turn it right back on if you try to turn off, like my stock HTC One M8. Some phones will push audio over USB if BT is off. I doubt there is a list anywhere of which phones and system software releases are which.

Thanks everyone!

Odd that the phones won't just be forced to push audio over USB - seems like it would be the better choice. I remember Phil saying on a podcast that it pushes call audio over BT and playback audio over USB so that it can manage the sound correctly.

As for when to get the HU, I would love to get it in the next couple of months but now I'm a bit unsure. Considering Pioneer is the only company with a HU actually available, I can't see second-gen Android Auto HUs coming out until closer to that 12-month point. Currently looking at the NEX-4100, and liked it in-store at BestBuy.

Decisions, decisions....

 

[Pedrore]

How's the audio?

With an Android Lollipop phone plugged into an Android Auto-compatible headunit, the native USB audio support from the phone will transmit digital audio to the DAC of the headunit for conversion to audio, so media playback is far superior to audio pushed over Bluetooth. Bluetooth is still used for the audio of phone calls but still sounds good.