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

[Insp_Gadget]

I'm sorry folks. I didn't mean to hijack the thread with this Google Voice issue, but trying to use Android Auto brought the issue to the front for me. I'm thinking that people that are saying it's working fine aren't really seeing what their friends are getting on the other end.

 

[Insp_Gadget]

Ha no man I can tell you know your stuff.
Remember you're talking to the ***** that took his whole dash apart rather than wait a day to get an SD card for the firmware update.

Haha! I wasn't going to say anything about that! I thought it was nuts, but I'm not one to judge.

Hmmm, this is new: http://phandroid.com/2015/03/17/ok-google-send-hangouts-message/

I wonder if that will work with Android Auto. I'll have to check on that. (But tomorrow. I'm tired.) Haha!

Thanks for trying to help.

 

[urgan]

I bought one recently and am going to install in my car it this weekend.

Unfortunately I didn't realize until after I bought it that Android 5.0 would be a requirement. That means I also had to buy a new phone. Unfortunately there are only maybe a dozen phones which run 5.0 at the moment, none of which I want. I like small unlocked flagship phones, something which practically doesn't exist. I'd get a Nexus but the only option is a 6, which is way too big and expensive. Does anyone have any other suggestions which are known to work with the unit for ~ $300, unlocked no contract?

 

[Insp_Gadget]

I bought one recently and am going to install in my car it this weekend.

Unfortunately I didn't realize until after I bought it that Android 5.0 would be a requirement. That means I also had to buy a new phone. Unfortunately there are only maybe a dozen phones which run 5.0 at the moment, none of which I want. I like small unlocked flagship phones, something which practically doesn't exist. I'd get a Nexus but the only option is a 6, which is way too big and expensive. Does anyone have any other suggestions which are known to work with the unit for ~ $300, unlocked no contract?

Doesn't the Moto G have 5.0 now? That's a relatively cheap phone that you can use as a "burner" until what you want becomes available. I see no reason why it wouldn't work.

 

[urgan]

Yay I manged to score a 2013 Moto X developer edition for under $300 new! It's not lollipop yet but they're soak testing. It should hold me over for a while.

 

[godawgs]

Picked up a 7100 today. Have to agree with how slow some of the interface is with one of my phones. The other, Nexus 5, it works much better. However, playing music using Google Music sucks. Sound is fine, the interface is very cumbersome. You also have the ability to use TuneIn Radio but when I get to a local city to search the stations it only gives me the bottom of the dial, like 88.7 thru 90.5. Nothing else. Then if you try to listen to one of those it says it's locked for your safety.

The jury is still out if it's worth paying for this versus my 6000NEX.

 

[Chris Lindley1]

Update on S5 running Lollipop 5.0. Just updated to new 1.3 firmware for 4100NEX which supposedly addresses compatibility with more phones. (FYI- the update link on Pioneer page shows 4100NEX but when downloaded the folder shows 5100NEX. Didn't catch this before update, but thankfully it works fine. Not sure what happened on Pioneer's end.) I can now access the voice feature through "ok google". Microphone icon on screen is still useless. VERY frustrating.......how could pioneer miss the Galaxy S5????

 

[cwolfey]

Same here S5, voice icon doesn't work.
Have tried to delete everything and start over, disabled Svoice.
Also related is the speak text button on messages doesn't work.

Calling pioneer again today

 

[cwolfey]

How about this? For those that have it working...do you notice "car mode" is also active?
Could this be another S5 feature conflicting?

 

[godawgs]

I wouldn't be so quick to blame Pioneer for the S5 Voice issue. If it works fine on other phones then it may be a Samsung issue not playing nice with others. They have been known to do that in the past. In fact they do it with S Beam. Everyone has the technology, Samsung only works with their phones using Wi-Fi radio. You can only do it thru bluetooth to other phones which is much slower.

 

[Insp_Gadget]

How about this? For those that have it working...do you notice "car mode" is also active?
Could this be another S5 feature conflicting?

I would think that car mode should be active while connected. I notice it activating on my Nexus 5 just before the Android Auto splash screen takes over.

 

[cwolfey]

I would think that car mode should be active while connected. I notice it activating on my Nexus 5 just before the Android Auto splash screen takes over.

Thank you for checking ok I thought so.

I also heard that if you had phone connected to unit before the pioneer update it may not work even after, but that's not true now as I just tried a brand new AVH4100NEX updated first then connected, same issue with phone no response from voice button.

The usb doesn't always respond right away, I need to pull drop down and click connect as media device.
I would really be surprised if anyone has S5 working successful right now with voice

 

[cwolfey]

Pioneer is saying I have to turn off hands free mode in Svoice, there is no option for that, I have even disabled it completely.
Still can't get it to work...

 

[posman53]

I bought the 4100 yesterday, and now am waiting for the dashboard kit for my Equinox to come in and have it installed. One question I have, and I realize it's a noob question is.... will I hear music from a source such as HD radio, and navigation from Maps with Android Auto at the same time? With my stock car audio system, I don't hear the navigation unless I select Bluetooth audio as my source. Thanks in advance.

 

[Insp_Gadget]

I bought the 4100 yesterday, and now am waiting for the dashboard kit for my Equinox to come in and have it installed. One question I have, and I realize it's a noob question is.... will I hear music from a source such as HD radio, and navigation from Maps with Android Auto at the same time? With my stock car audio system, I don't hear the navigation unless I select Bluetooth audio as my source. Thanks in advance.

The sound from Android Auto can play either on top of your other sources or you can have the head unit lower or mute the other sources while Android Auto speaks. That's an option in the head unit's sound preferences (at least it is on the 8100, which also has built-in navigation). For voice actions, Android Auto always mutes the radio so it can clearly hear you when you issue commands.

HD Radio, Satellite, and any of the Android-based audio streaming music services (like Play Music, iHeart radio, etc.) all operate in conjunction with navigation (muting or lowering the music while navigation speaks). This applies whether the Google Maps interface is on-screen or not.

So you shouldn't have to worry about what audio source you're tuned to at any given time.

 

[cardman827]

Hello, I have been following along to learn as much as I could before install and now that i have the 4100 installed I really only have one question. I have never owned any stereo with all these features so forgive my ignorant questions. From what I could tell when you have Android auto running you only have access to the maps and google play music and phone functions? I wanted to be able to navigate and also listen to Pandora but it wont let me chose pandora unless the phone is unplugged from android auto. Aside from that I love it and everything works as I thought it would. I am using a Nexus 6 no usb debugging and google mic works great!

 

[Insp_Gadget]

Hello, I have been following along to learn as much as I could before install and now that i have the 4100 installed I really only have one question. I have never owned any stereo with all these features so forgive my ignorant questions. From what I could tell when you have Android auto running you only have access to the maps and google play music and phone functions? I wanted to be able to navigate and also listen to Pandora but it wont let me chose pandora unless the phone is unplugged from android auto. Aside from that I love it and everything works as I thought it would. I am using a Nexus 6 no usb debugging and google mic works great!

It looks like Pandora and Pioneer's pre-existing relationship has made Pandora (and Pioneer) pretty much ignore the addition of Android Auto, when it comes to using Pandora in conjunction with Android Auto. It appears that Pioneer and Pandora set up a Pandora "app" on the unit's home screen (under the AV menu), but that "app" wants full control of the communication with the attached phone and communicates via a two-way Bluetooth connection with the Pandora app installed on your phone.

When your phone is connected via Android Auto, the head unit turns off access to the built-in Pandora shortcut because Android Auto requires control of the Bluetooth stack. Also, since Pandora didn't make their app Android Auto aware, the app doesn't show up under the "headphones" menu in Android Auto.

So, I don't have a solution for you. Unfortunately, we'll have to wait for Pandora to update their app (assuming their agreements/contracts with the automakers and aftermarket radio companies allow them to).

To be honest, there are better options available. Try iHeart Radio or Spotify. Those are Android Auto aware and do a better job of streaming than Pandora, in my opinion, and don't have Pandora's limitations on track control.

 

[cardman827]

Thanks so much for the reply. After submitting the question I did some more searching and went to the android auto main google page and saw all the apps available. Very excited to try some of them. Downloaded spotify and a few others and will be playing around with them today. I have about 6 hours to play around in the car till I go pick my wife up at the airport then I will have to focus on her for awhile she's been gone a week. Thanks again for your help so glad I found this forum!

 

[Insp_Gadget]

You're welcome. Have fun.

 

[urgan]

On the plus side this means you can use Pandora without needing Android Auto. I lack a phone which has Lollipop for now but I can still use Pandora.