Android Auto

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Dec 4, 2020 | 09:07 PM

Thread Starter

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Joined: Aug 2000

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From: Spring Texas

Android Auto

I am guessing I will need my flamesuit on, but I will ask anyway. What does Android Auto bring to the table? I have tried to use it a couple of times but really couldn't see the bother. Enlighten me.

Dec 4, 2020 | 09:21 PM

GPFboyJS

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Joined: Dec 2020

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From: Sandy Springs, GA

Personal preference! The major advantage I use it for is the Navigation / Maps. It's Google Maps, they are more of the standard now than any of the previous nav systems out there for maps.

That is the only thing I use it for and if I am not navigating somewhere, I typically just use the built in infotainment system and leave the phone to be what it is, a phone!

Dec 5, 2020 | 01:55 AM

bluan

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Joined: Sep 2019

Posts: 707

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From: Seattle, WA

Quote:

Originally Posted by CP

I am guessing I will need my flamesuit on, but I will ask anyway. What does Android Auto bring to the table? I have tried to use it a couple of times but really couldn't see the bother. Enlighten me.

Good question, CP! Some info for ya...

From Google search:

"Android Auto brings the most useful apps to your phone screen or your compatible car display in a format that makes it easy for you to keep your main focus on driving. You can control features like navigation and maps, calls and text messages, and music."

"The biggest advantage of Android Auto is that the apps (and navigation maps) are updated regularly to embrace new developments and data. Even brand new roads are included in mapping and apps such as Waze can even warn of speed traps and potholes."

"Enter Android Auto, Google's solution for extending the Android experience to a car dashboard. Once you connect an Android phone to an Android Auto-equipped vehicle, a few key apps — including, of course, Google Maps — will appear on your dashboard, optimized for the car's hardware."

"You can use Android Auto to get voice-guided navigation, estimated arrival times, live traffic information, lane guidance, and more with Google Maps. Tell Android Auto where you'd like to go. ... "Navigate to work."

"If that's not enough, you can play videos and movies in Android Auto as well. Android Auto takes the features you love about your Android-powered smartphone and puts them directly in your car's dashboard."

And from this article: https://www.androidauthority.com/bes...o-apps-974891/ ...

"There are a variety of apps to customize the experience and you really can do almost anything you want with it except watch videos. We can help you customize your experience with the best Android Auto apps for Android!

Since my car is still in the repair shop, I haven't tried to connect my phone to Android Auto in the car and try these above. In my other cars where there's no Android Auto but GPS maps navigations, I always use my phone for navigation, simply because Google Maps is much better in updated roads and traffic conditions, plus it can accept voice command for starting navigation. But based on the info above, it sounds like I can use the display in C8 for these, so won't need to add a phone stand in the car for looking at the phone screen for navigation using Google Maps. So I'd definitely try that, and if it works as what's being said above, then just looking at Google Maps on car's big display screen alone is worth it.

Watching movies? That's crazy if you are driving

Last edited by bluan; Dec 5, 2020 at 01:57 AM.

Dec 5, 2020 | 02:44 AM

EasyLivin

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From: Sunny Florida

I like the WAZE, Spotify and iHeart apps but they should add a mode that gives you an interactive mirror of your phone so you can use all of your apps... The voice commands are great too... Just press the button and say "Play "EasyLivin by Uriah Heep on Spotify"

Dec 5, 2020 | 09:26 AM

rrsperry

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I use it just for the Google voice recognition. Sadly, by C7 voice command thinks I'm speaking Martian. The "Ok Google" never has any problems.

Waze is FAR better than the factory nav, (provided you live in a area when there are a lot of people using it.) (I do).

In my C7, Google Music, (now YouTube music) was iffy and glitchy. Besides, I have XM., a loaded 160G Ipod, and a 64G USB stick. Now if only they would recognise FLAC or some other HD audio extensions... But alas, we're stuck with crappy MP3, or MP4a, AAC, and wma... A real shame...

Dec 5, 2020 | 10:58 AM

~~ArmchairArchitect~~

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From: Philadelphia PA (Birthplace of the USA, UNESCO World Heritage City)

What it does is make your C8's infotainment less obsolete over time/over the years, as you can always mirror what's on your up to date Android device. Also way more apps than what's in the stock head unit/infotainment.

Last edited by ArmchairArchitect; Dec 5, 2020 at 10:58 AM.

Dec 7, 2020 | 02:03 PM

Zormecteon

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Joined: Sep 2020

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From: Kelso, Wa

Curious.. I use JBV1 with my Valentine Radar. Will it work with Android Auto? .. (I don't have the car yet.. maybe by summer.

Dec 7, 2020 | 03:04 PM

RKCRLR

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From: Garden Valley CA

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zormecteon

Curious.. I use JBV1 with my Valentine Radar. Will it work with Android Auto? .. (I don't have the car yet.. maybe by summer.

Not without some hacking.
I posted a thread here requesting the author to consider it:
https://www.rdforum.org/threads/93581/
Summary is it doesn't fit into one of the allowable categories for Android Auto apps. Additionally, many of the hard-core user feel you are better off with a dedicated screen for JBV1.

There are apps that hack AA to allow any app to be used with AA. See this thread (they're in the middle of a migration so all posts aren't currently visible):
https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/m...hread.3734180/
One of the big problems is they require rooting your phone. I don't want to root my main phone but I'm considering repurposing an old phone as a dedicated AA device.