Android Auto is getting an update later this summer

"KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time" (kngt)
05/08/2019 at 10:25 • Filed to: android auto, android, Apple CarPlay, Infotainment systems, infotainment

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I love Android Auto even in the current version. Will try to post my personal experience with the new one when it comes out.

In somewhat related news, you may have to pay for Apple Carplay in the new Supra because BMW. Guess I’m not going to buy one after all...

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DISCUSSION (20)

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
05/08/2019 at 10:30

Are they going to make Android Auto actually work this time, or this is just another fancy redesign? I have never had a good experience with Android Auto. It was so horrid, that I switched to an iPhone and haven’t looked back.

BMW charging for CarPlay is asinine and hilariously customer hostile. Meanwhile Lexus is rolling out a retroactive update that enables CarPlay and Amazon Alexa in their current generation infotainment systems for cars built before CarPlay was standard. So for at most $199+tax, you can add CarPlay to a qualifying Lexus, even without Nav, that would remain in the car forever.

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
05/08/2019 at 10:33

What problems have you had with Android Auto? I use it in my wife’s Kia and outside of being slow to start up like 25% of the time it works great with voice controls- especially navigation, pulls up Pandora/Spotify/Google Music and reads my messages. I do plug it in though, not Bluetooth connection only.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
05/08/2019 at 10:35

My experiences with Android auto have been mostly positive when it worked, but sometimes it was infuriatingly buggy, I hope this update works well! And it hope it works on the aftermarket box for my Audi.

jimz > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
05/08/2019 at 10:42

I dislike the current AA interface, but with these changes I might pick up a cheap second hand handset and try it out when it’s released.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
05/08/2019 at 10:44

Had a OnePus 5 and my 16 GTI. After every AA update, I had to uninstall the app, download it again, and re-enable the correct permissions before it would work properly -being able to verbally text is the entire point of an app like this. Fuck you Google; you write the fucking software, make it work out of the box, assholes.

And then, when I tried to use it -even after making sure it would let me send text replies- I had to be sure to start music playing before I asked for directions. Otherwise my volume controls would only adjust the Google Assistant volume, not my music. I could see music was playing, as the counter was moving, but there was zero audio output if I didn’t follow this asinine process.

So I noped the fuck out and got an iPhone and I haven’t had hardly any issues at all. I was always wired in for AA. OnePlus makes a good OS, it might as well be stock it is so clean. My cables were good. So it was either a one-off issue with my phone, or the GTI has a terrible AA implementation.

CarPlay is utterly fantastic and I cannot wait to have it updated on my 18 NX300. Which is what I am working doing at this very moment.

jimz > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
05/08/2019 at 10:46

speaking for myself:

- I didn’t like the media interface at all. instead of separate apps launched from the home screen like CarPlay, playing podcasts or whatever through Google Play required a few menu levels.

- the google music app absolutely refused to play music on demand which was stored on my phone. it insisted on searching Google Play Music instead. if I tried to disable that (by selecting “downloaded only”) it would refuse to download new podcast episodes. I’m not the only one irritated by this; I started a thread in the AA google group and there were plenty of others with the same gripe.

- the colors they chose for the Maps app were horrible, the contrast was incredibly poor and it was almost impossible to make out the roads from the background on my screen.

I mused that it seemed like the current version of AA was designed by people who don’t drive cars.

B/Xmrrmvr > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
05/08/2019 at 11:07

I’ve never had issues in Hyundai or Kia’s, but I never got my phone to connect to the Cadillac CTS I last rented. Tbf my phone was rooted but that was never an issue with Android Auto before.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
05/08/2019 at 11:11

I used Android Auto for the first time last week. I was mostly impressed but my music app didn’t integrate well. Not sure if it was the app or Android auto itself but there was no way to access my full music library. I could see recently played tracks, personal top tracks, playlists, and do pandora style music stations but couldn’t just shuffle all my music like I normally do when I drive.

HammerheadFistpunch > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
05/08/2019 at 11:15

Ive never used AU, does it currently allow me to use any app on my phone? i.e. a 3rd party map software?

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
05/08/2019 at 11:17

AandroidA uto is super sketchy when dealing with power-savin g settin gs and backgrounded media apps. Roughly half the time I have to exit AA on the phone, re-focus to my podcast app, choose and start a podcast on the phone screen, and magically the mediainfo and controls will show up on the car’s screen. If the podcast app is backgrounded or, godforbid, closed, AA simply complains that “Pocket Cast does not seem to be working right now" and also won't allow my launch other media apps like spotify. Google maps works fine, with the regular caveat about terrible contrast, voice recognition for text response is faster than it was on sync, but the accuracy seems lower. I rate it a solid "meh".

Discerning > HammerheadFistpunch
05/08/2019 at 11:24

Android Auto let’s me use Waze, though I don’t want to. It should let you select the map type when you click on the map logo.

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > HammerheadFistpunch
05/08/2019 at 11:25

Not any app. Only these:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/collection/promotion_3001303_android_auto_all

I use Google Maps, and Waze is an option.

HammerheadFistpunch > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
05/08/2019 at 11:34

Ah, I want to use this on a main screen. Its an EXCELLENT offline map tool, and I currently use my phone, but it would be worth upgrading my head unit to be able to use that on my main screen. I need 3 screens at any given time when I’m off-road. Phone stuff, Torque PRO and Backcountry navigator. Though with AU I could consolidated phone stuff and BCNAV and be happy.

facw > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
05/08/2019 at 11:37

I just use the Android Auto app on my phone, and I like it but it can be infuriatingly slow, and somehow voice commands seem to work less well than just using google assistant.

His Stigness > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
05/08/2019 at 11:47

That sounds like an issue inherent in the phone. Remember, Android Auto is relying on the phone to run and is just mirroring, essentially, what's on your phone to the car. Sure, there are times where it's the car, as in my e-Golfs. I've had to reset the radio a few times to get it to work, but even then I don't blame android auto.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > His Stigness
05/08/2019 at 12:45

Fuck Google for making shitty software. I should never have to be asked for permission for the app to function fully.

Under_Score > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
05/08/2019 at 12:55

I’m usually a proponent of these fancy new technologies (smart key, backup cameras), but I really don’t understand CarPlay and why it’s such a big deal that Edmunds lists it as a “low” for the Highlander. I can play music off of my phone via my radio without needing a cord. Navigation? Apple Maps lady tells me where to turn, and my watch vibrates my wrist.

His Stigness > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
05/08/2019 at 14:17

Dude, calm down. As I said, it’s not Google’s fault it’s slow, the phone is the one running it.

And Android has had permissions for many generations, and it’s their for your protection. Without your input and implicit approval of permissions for your device ANY app could hijack your phone and read all of your sensitive information and track you.

But if that what you want so the app “works” then you go right ahead.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > His Stigness
05/08/2019 at 14:38

No.

Google should have a single initial permission request that enables everything necessary for the app to fully function. Anything else is shitty software design.

That is precisely why I switched to an iPhone. Apple figured out that everyone just wants this to work immediately.

His Stigness > jimz
05/08/2019 at 18:21

Oh I never thought about getting a second phone to use as a dedicated AA phone. Time for a Pixel 3a!