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

[cjsjeep]

Yes unresponsive mic icon. Everything else works, music, nav. I used the microphone that came with the Pioneer deck. Have made several calls on B/T w/ same mic and worked fine.

 

[cjsjeep]

Do you mean that the screen is non-responsive when you press the microphone icon (like it's grayed-out)? I'm going to ask a silly question: Do you have the external microphone wired properly?

Also tested w/ HTC and had no problems. Any ideas? The lack of functionality with S5's almost negates the entire purchase.

 

[demon09]

I don't have Android Auto yet so this is just a blind guess, but I wonder if it is an issue with S Voice on the S5 (I had issues with S Voice when I was using Bluetooth on my old S4, so perhaps that's happening here too?).

 

[cstmstyle]

Any word on when the Kenwood DDX9902S is coming out? Also anyone who did a self install try grounding the unit to something to get around the need to be parked to play a video? Just curious if its possible or if they use the GPS sensor for motion tracking and blank out the screen.

 

[andy o]

The bluetooth comparison is unnecessary and impossible to do because Android Auto uses Bluetooth for phone calls (despite the fact that the phone is connected via USB). So the quality of your phone call is still going to be within the limits of Bluetooth (and of course your overall cellular signal). With that said, the quality on my system is outstanding.

Thanks. That's kinda disappointing. One of the reasons I was willing to put up with having to plug in the phone was that Android now supports audio over USB, maybe audio worked through it as well for Auto. You can still check the difference by making a comparison with the inbuilt mic or a headset, vs. bluetooth though.

As for the nighttime colors in Google Maps, it uses the dark blue background. Streets and objects are very visible. It's a marked improvement over the dark gray. I really have no complaints with the overall experience with Google Maps on Android Auto. It certainly behaves every bit as good (and often better) than my phone did on its own.

Thanks, this is encouraging. It's one of the several outstanding issues I got with Maps, the other big one being that the arrow still jumps sometimes on adjacent parallel roads, and reroutes.

 

[Chris Lindley1]

Having a problem with Android Auto. I have everything set up but cannot use the microphone button on screen to allow me to use voice commands. I have tried all I know to try. Any suggestions?

 

[cjsjeep]

What model phone are you using? Galaxy S5 by chance?

 

[Chris Lindley1]

Anyone else having issues with Google voice command on Android Auto app? I'm using a Verizon Galaxy S5 w/ Lollipop 5.0. Android Auto loads on the Pioneer deck and the microphone comes up, however nothing happens on the deck with you press the mic icon. Buddy of mine has an HTC on Sprint and and voice command works fine.

 

[Chris Lindley1]

Galaxy S5 with Lollipop 5. Looks like we're in the same boat..

 

[Insp_Gadget]

Hmmm, anyone figured out how to adjust the volume of the Google Now voice on Android Auto? Particularly in Google Maps during navigation? It's pretty loud and doesn't respond to volume controls like the head unit's built-in navigation voice does. All you seem to be able to do is turn her on or off.

 

[hansjs]

Hmmm, anyone figured out how to adjust the volume of the Google Now voice on Android Auto? Particularly in Google Maps during navigation? It's pretty loud and doesn't respond to volume controls like the head unit's built-in navigation voice does. All you seem to be able to do is turn her on or off.

When you adjust the main volume, on the far right at the bottom, a separate notification volume is available to be adjusted. You have to click your main volume up or down to see it.

 

[hansjs]

Galaxy S5 with Lollipop 5. Looks like we're in the same boat..

I also have an S5 running Lollipop, Same issue, no voice functionality.The microphone works fine for phone calls, but the voice icon does nothing. Pretty frustrating, as this cuts out a large chunk of what I bought this for.

 

[npaladin-2000]

Does Waze work with AndroidAuto yet?

 

[Jared Mayfield]

I have a pioneer unit that looks identical to this one, but had it before android auto existed. I contacted pioneer Australia but they say they are not updating the unit, pretty disappointing for a $1200 unit that was last years flagship. Is it possible that someone with more knowledge could make older units that pioneer are abandoning work with android auto?

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[Insp_Gadget]

I have a pioneer unit that looks identical to this one, but had it before android auto existed. I contacted pioneer Australia but they say they are not updating the unit, pretty disappointing for a $1200 unit that was last years flagship. Is it possible that someone with more knowledge could make older units that pioneer are abandoning work with android auto?

Posted via the Android Central App

It may be possible, but I wouldn't know how to do it. I imagine one would need to figure out how to pull a copy of the firmware on a Pioneer that supports Android Auto and somehow flash it onto the older unit. The issue I see coming up is what if the hardware isn't really identical? It may look the same on the outside, but who knows what Pioneer changed (or might be required to support Android Auto & Car Play) between last year's models and this year's? You might end up "bricking" an expensive head unit due to incompatibility.

Of course, I can see why Pioneer (and probably others) wouldn't offer a firmware upgrade to add Android Auto (at least not right away). Money. People wouldn't buy the new units if they could upgrade the older ones.

I had needed a new head unit for the last two years, but I waited because I had heard rumblings about Android Auto and Apple Car Play. I knew they were coming, so I didn't buy any of last year's models.

Give it some time. Maybe someone in the aftermarket community will develop a solution for people in your situation.

 

[Jared Mayfield]

Yeah looking at the units there does seem to be a couple of different buttons. I used it to mirror my phone screen when I first got it, but it requires a rooted phone and isn't very smooth connecting. Don't want to brick my expensive head unit might just have to wait a few years and get a new one. Another thing that I've been pondering, will the units that have android auto require constant updates or would the whole setup mainly be updated by the app on the phone? I say that because you don't really want to have to replace a head unit every 3 or so years like phones.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[yocubed]

I have a Google Play Music question: How is the browsing? Are you able to reach your library easily through menus, rather than voice?

Does anyone here also own an iPod? (is that blasphemy here?) Are you able to play this on your Pioneers while also using Google Maps?

I have the 8100NEX and I have an old iPod connected to one of the USB ports and my Nexus 5 to the other. The radio allows me to play my iPod and then use Google maps and Android auto. If you don't have your iPod playing before starting android auto you have to exit android auto back to pioneer's main menu and then you can select any source you have connected. Hope this helps

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[Barry_Crawford]

By default the S5 uses Samsung's S Voice. Holding down the home button on your phone for a second or two probably activates S Voice. If that's the case try disabling S Voice on your phone and then see if the voice icon on your steering wheel works properly with Android Auto.

You can Google for "disable S Voice on S5" and read the Android Central article from 4/11/14.

Disabling S Voice will also make your home button faster on your phone.

 

[hansjs]

By default the S5 uses Samsung's S Voice. Holding down the home button on your phone for a second or two probably activates S Voice. If that's the case try disabling S Voice on your phone and then see if the voice icon on your steering wheel works properly with Android Auto.

You can Google for "disable S Voice on S5" and read the Android Central article from 4/11/14.

Disabling S Voice will also make your home button faster on your phone.

I tried this last night. Disabling S Voice on the S5 does not fix the voice icon not working problem. I tried disabling using the methods described online (unchecking the "open with home key" box), as well as going into application settings and disabling the app there. I do not have steering wheel controls (Pioneer 4100NEX head unit), so I would need that icon to work for any voice controls.

 

[cjsjeep]

I tried this last night. Disabling S Voice on the S5 does not fix the voice icon not working problem. I tried disabling using the methods described online (unchecking the "open with home key" box), as well as going into application settings and disabling the app there. I do not have steering wheel controls (Pioneer 4100NEX head unit), so I would need that icon to work for any voice controls.

Same here. Disabled S Voice and have same issue. I have an issue ticket in with Google. If they respond this week I'll be sure to post the fix. I'd have to imagine they're getting a lot of complaints about the lack of functionality with S5 models so I wouldn't doubt if a fix is right around the corner, assuming the code issue is with the app and not the phone. If the issue sits with the phone then who knows when it will be addressed.