[SirBrass]

Originally Posted by Skorov

For things like, say... map calculations, does it use the guest device's processor or AppRadio's? In general, is the speed limited by the guest device's CPU?

I'll try to find a local unit and have a play. =)

Thanks

For nav, your android OS can make use of the AppRadio 2's GPS antenna. Go into your system settings >> Developer Options and turn on "use mock locations", to allow Gmaps to use the HU's MUCH better GPS reciever.

Yes, speed is limited by the phone's processor, as the App Radio 2 basically acts as a mirroring display/audio receiver/touch screen input device hosted by the android device.

The AR3, though, now adds in aux input, bt audio, and the ability to play discs. However, ARLiberator is not yet working for AR3 (last I checked, which has been a while), but the developer is making best effort to get it working.

Essentially what ARLiberator does is mimic the pioneer umbrella app to the HU, so as far as the HU knows, the android device it is connected to has the pioneer umbrella app (this is why you should NOT have the pioneer umbrella app installed if you want to use AR Liberator and vice versa), and that is what it is talking to.

I ran the AR2 in my STI and WRX and it was great, but had some issues:

sometimes BT did NOT want to sync up and it required the HU to be totally shut down (requiring the car to be cycled on and off as the HU doesn't have a power button) and restarted, and the phone to be disconnected/connected again for the connection to sync.

Also, do NOT use any cheap knockoff MHL adapters if you're using a Samsung unit. You will get the dreaded snow often. Also, a loose HDMI connection will have the same result. When this device works, it's great. Just set the HU's equalizer to flat and do EQ adjustment on the android device (power amp is FAR more powerful and adjustable in the EQ department than the 5 band that comes on pioneer's HU) for best audio.

With those caveats, it's a great device. Also, contrast, brightness, etc. for backup camera image is excellent, as the HU has adjustments for both day and night modes as controlled by the dimmer wire. In some instances, I could see better with my backup camera than I could with my bare eyes, as the license plate lamp was providing the necessary light input for the camera to see other objects behind me, whereas I could not looking out the back window.

I'm not sure if the AR3's hardware improved as regards to bt connectivity reliability, though. I sure hope so.

Also, video output through the HU via ARLiberator doesn't get blocked by the video override, since it's playing via the android device and the HU doesn't know any better. YT controls through are as if you were connected to a TV, and you need to use the phone to control YT (or make a guess as to where the buttons are, as the screen will still send touch commands to the phone as if it were a mirrored display and not a secondary display device).

I HIGHLY recommend running your audio out through the pre-outs to an amp, and not through the speaker level outs. This unit's audio out is nothing to gloat about. It's decent for factory speakers, but not for anything aftermarket. You owe it to yourself to put the good audio through the pre-outs into amps.