New update! (4.0.8)

[richtea999]

@Ton-Verkleij said in New update! (4.0.8):

@Corjan-Meijerink
Hello,

I would like to see the operation of the app completely independant from the smartphone, making it a real standalone app on Android whereas using it on Android auto I do not have to use smartphone at all.

I'm pretty sure Android Auto needs a smartphone to work. How were you hoping to install the app? (unless your vehicle's head unit is really a smartphone/tablet in disguise)

[Ton Verkleij]

@richtea999 I will be using the app via Android Auto on the Chigee IO5-lite device.

https://www.chigee.com/collections/aio-5-lite/products/aio5-lite

[Con Hennekens]

@Ton-Verkleij, how is using the app via Android Auto ever going to be smartphone independant...?

[richtea999]

@Ton-Verkleij The Chigee looks good, Ton, but only for certain predefined features. It does have a GPS module, so in theory it might be possible for MRA to supply Chigee with a build that runs standalone, but to be honest, it's a market of 1 versus 20k different models of Android devices.

You're asking for the Chigee to be become a satnav as well as everything else, but all the satnav downsides would come with that, i.e.:

• infrequent updates to functionality, if any
• you're tied in to Chigee's satnav design - no swapping devices
• when it busts you have to buy another one, which will include paying for the new satnav 'module' again.

[Dae 0]

@Con-Hennekens said in New update! (4.0.8):

@Ton-Verkleij, how is using the app via Android Auto ever going to be smartphone independant...?

Maybe Ton is confusing Android Auto with Android Automotive.

My car, a Polestar, runs Android Automotive and doesn’t offer Android Auto. You install the apps on the car, not your phone. Since the car doesn’t so Android Auto, you can’t use MRA unless you’re an iPhone user (the car does support CarPlay).

[Con Hennekens]

@Dae-0, A dedicated Android native head-end for motorbikes would be really great. But if the AIO can install apps, they do a really great job hiding that info on their website ;-). Integration with dashcams is great though!

[Corjan Meijerink]

@Dae-0 interesting! So does Android Automotive include the Play Store? If so, you should still be able to download our app, right?

[Dae 0]

@Corjan-Meijerink said in New update! (4.0.8):

@Dae-0 interesting! So does Android Automotive include the Play Store? If so, you should still be able to download our app, right?

Yes, but no!

You get the Play Store and that’s how you install the app in the car. The app has to be written to support Android Automotive though. I’m lead to believe that it’s not much effort, but many apps aren’t written to support it simply because the developers are unaware of its existence. The naming is too similar to Android Auto, leading to confusion.

My car comes with Google Maps, Spotify, Chrome Browser and a few others installed as standard. The Google maps also integrates into the car so it displays the map on the dashboard (speedo), navigates to a charger if you don’t have enough charge to reach your destination, and ensures the battery is at optimum temperature for max charging speed if you select a charger as a destination or waypoint.

[Con Hennekens]

@Corjan-Meijerink, that's already quite possible in cars, but have not seen one for motorbikes.

Check this: https://www.joyingauto.eu/joying-android-10-double-din-head-unit-replacement-7-inch-dsp-radio.html

They also sell car-specific packages for many cars, inlcusing CANBUS and steering wheel controls. These have DSP for great sound too! There are lots of positive reviews on youtube. AND they don't cost a fortune

[Corjan Meijerink]

@Dae-0 Thanks a lot for pointing this out to us!
Honestly, much appreciated! Cannot however make any promises to when we will look into this with more detail.

[Dae 0]

@Corjan-Meijerink said in New update! (4.0.8):

@Dae-0 Thanks a lot for pointing this out to us!
Honestly, much appreciated! Cannot however make any promises to when we will look into this with more detail.

No problem. It’s not just Polestar that use Android Automotive. I know the Renault Megane and latest Volvos also use it. There are others but I’m having a memory problem

[Con Hennekens]

@Dae-0, I just noticed this mention in the specs of the AIO-5-Lite device:

Operating System: CGOS(Linux)

So definitely no Android Play Store

[Ton Verkleij]

@richtea999 I know, I use the apps on Android Auto, and MyRouteApp is one of them. And the Chigee has Android Auto so I can use MyrouteApp on there too.

The thing is that whenever I want to change something in the app on Android Auto my Smartphone wakes up and I have to set the changes on there, which is very annoying.

So MyrouteApp on Android Auto is not a standalone app but leans on functionality on the smartphone. TomTomGo does run as a standalone app on Android Auto.

[Ton Verkleij]

@Corjan-Meijerink My car is able to run Android Auto, whenever you connect the smartphone to the usb port it automatically starts it up. For wireless connection I use the AA-Wireless dongle. You intall it once and then it makes a wireless connection autimatically. The apps that are Android Auto proof automatically appear in the home screen.

The Chigee IO5-lite device does the same thing. So all the Android Auto approved apps are visible on the device, including myrouteapp.

[Edwin_M]

@Dae-0 @Corjan-Meijerink volvo xc40, same issue.
Android Auto is not Supported. It's android automotive

[richtea999]

@Corjan-Meijerink said in New update! (4.0.8):

@Dae-0 Thanks a lot for pointing this out to us!
Honestly, much appreciated! Cannot however make any promises to when we will look into this with more detail.

Its been around since 2017.

110 apps in total, and most are quite average:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/streamchild/explore_all_apps_aae

And a supported car list:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Android_Automotive

I think that makes it pretty niche, which is why very few people know it exists.

[M. Schrijver]

Android Auto and Android Automotive are 2 complete different systems. Android Auto runs on your smartphone and Android Automotive is a standalone device/package. Volvo did make the choice not to support Android Auto on Android Automotive.

The Chigee is developed as an Apple Carplay and Android Auto head unit. That's why there is no Play Store. Because Chigee is a Apple Carplay and Android Auto headunit. In theory it does not need any updates. Because it does not run any apps. In theory it runs forever.

@Con-Hennekens
The Android head unit you mentioned is just a kind of tablet in caraudio formfactor made in China for Aliexpress type shops. With all the free disadvantages you could expect. Like no support and no updates.
It has still Android 10 while Android 14 is the current version on new smartphones. If i'm not mistaken, most apps requires at least Android 8. It is a matter of a few years when apps slowly stop working on this device.

[Con Hennekens]

@M-Schrijver said in New update! (4.0.8):

The Android head unit you mentioned is just a kind of tablet in caraudio formfactor made in China for Aliexpress type shops.

That's exactly the great thing about it. No extra layer of complexity like you get with AA and Carplay. Joying is indeed a Chinese brand, but definitely one of the more serious ones. So it has many advantages, and a few disadvantages as well indeed. Since the amount of devices is A LOT less compared to phones, it is not really feasible to keep them up with the latest Android versions. They have Android 12 units too, and I prefer that FAR above any AA/CP device. It would be great if LineageOS would embrace that market. Or if Joying left the software development to them, so we could get an open platform with updates.