Android MHL/HDMI integration?

[unsurety]

Has anyone tried out any of the MHL compatible receivers? I'm looking at the Kenwood DNN991HD in particular. Would love to be able to control Spotify and Torque from the head unit. If it matters, I'm using a Note 4

From what I've read, AppRadio connection is iffy, and the MHL/HDMI connection is much more fluid.

[toast]

AppRadio will only work for apps written for AppRadio (I don't think Torque is one of the ones Pioneer will be making available).

The MHL/HDMI connection is for video output for the most part, you don't gain control of the phone.

If your Note is rooted there is a hacked version of AppRadio called ARUnchained that works wonderfully. I had it on a Pioneer DVD unit that could do AppRadio (it works on any of the Pioneer NEX units now) and it was fantastic. A little Tasker automation and whenever I connected the MHL cable the home screen would rotate to landscape, the phone would dim to max and a different home launcher would take over. From that point on you didn't need the phone, you used the head unit touchscreen as if it was your phone. You have to be willing to read up on some forums, but I totally think it is worthwhile provided you are savvy enough to be able to root your phone (which these days is a single click endeavor).

[toast]

Just read up on that head unit. The MHL input is definitely only for video in, no control.

For that price I would get the Pioneer AVIC NEX8000 and have full control of the phone (again, providing you can do root-level things on your phone).

[unsurety]

Originally Posted by toast

Just read up on that head unit. The MHL input is definitely only for video in, no control.

For that price I would get the Pioneer AVIC NEX8000 and have full control of the phone (again, providing you can do root-level things on your phone).

So with the MHL input, would audio be wired, or wireless (Bluetooth)?

[toast]

When you use the MHL connection you are outputting the full video from your phone to the head unit with the wire along with audio signals. ARUnchained hacks the bluetooth connection and sends the touch screen commands to your phone via bluetooth.

When you don't feel like hooking up the wire, you still have full control of Pandora and Google Play Music via bluetooth (as well as all the basic stuff like answering the phone using the head unit).

[azian_advanced]

Probably not what you're looking for, but I have an Xperia Z2 currently docked to a Sony MSP-N1BT and it has been working REALLY well for me. Just thought I'd shed some light on a different in-car android alternative.