Who's interested in a full Android head unit?

[Reason]

Originally Posted by 2forme

No, bluetooth OBD2 works fine with my phone.

I just called the manufacturer to ask about it. They are going to get back to me either tonight or tomorrow.

Thanks


Yes, Bluetooth obd2 works great with torque on my GB and JB devices.

[2forme]

UPDATE

Just got off the phone. Apparently the unit is only designed to have A2DP bluetooth connectivity. This means no bluetooth keyboards or ELM327s. Only phone connectivity with audio streaming. However "a future update may enable full BT connectivity". I'm going to test out a USB ELM327 shortly. Not sure if this is a deal breaker for any of you.

Also, I'm working out the logistics of the group by with Audiowerks. So that information will be coming very shortly.

[Skorov]

Originally Posted by DKPJester

This Android HU really brought out the nerds. Is there anyone on this thread that doesn't write or design software for a living? I also noticed on the list your profession boards that there are a ton of software/IT people. I wonder what it is about this car.

Haha. Add one more to the list.


@2forme:
I have some questions about the unit (some you may have already answered but I just want to confirm):
1. What is the difference between this unit and other like it? (Rydeen and HiTV iDroid 8000) What's the story here? Do they all use the one supplier and just print their own name on the front?
2. Would there be any issues with regards to the unit's use in Australia? (DVD Region restrictions, GPS, Radio, Bluetooth, etc...)
3. Could you please make a video showing playback from the end of one track to the start of the next. I would like to see how long the pause is between tracks.
4. During playback, are you able to move the seek bar to a specific location? (This is good for when I'm listening to hour long livesets)
5. How many USB ports are there in total?
6. I assume each of the USB ports aren't reserved for a specific purpose. Is it possible to connect a USB hub if more ports are required? Have you tried this?
7. You mentioned WiFi tethering is possible. Is it also possible to stream music from my phone over WiFi?
8. You mentioned iGO comes standard. I haven't had any experience with it. Is it possible to load Australian maps?
9. What are some bugs that you've notices?
10. Is shipping to Australia available for this group buy?

Whoa... That's a lot of questions. Sorry... Haha. I appreciate the time you take to answer them.

Cheers

[2forme]

Originally Posted by Skorov

Haha. Add one more to the list.


@2forme:
I have some questions about the unit (some you may have already answered but I just want to confirm):
1. What is the difference between this unit and other like it? (Rydeen and HiTV iDroid 8000) What's the story here? Do they all use the one supplier and just print their own name on the front?
2. Would there be any issues with regards to the unit's use in Australia? (DVD Region restrictions, GPS, Radio, Bluetooth, etc...)
3. Could you please make a video showing playback from the end of one track to the start of the next. I would like to see how long the pause is between tracks.
4. During playback, are you able to move the seek bar to a specific location? (This is good for when I'm listening to hour long livesets)
5. How many USB ports are there in total?
6. I assume each of the USB ports aren't reserved for a specific purpose. Is it possible to connect a USB hub if more ports are required? Have you tried this?
7. You mentioned WiFi tethering is possible. Is it also possible to stream music from my phone over WiFi?
8. You mentioned iGO comes standard. I haven't had any experience with it. Is it possible to load Australian maps?
9. What are some bugs that you've notices?
10. Is shipping to Australia available for this group buy?

Whoa... That's a lot of questions. Sorry... Haha. I appreciate the time you take to answer them.

Cheers

Ok I'll do my best here:

1) No difference. It's the same unit, just rebadged.
2) I have absolutely no idea. There is a region setting for the dvd player software. I think you guys speak english down there so the language wouldn't be a problem. I'm not aware of any BT issues. The included iGo maps are for North America only, maybe you could get Australian maps from iGo?
3) Playback from one end to another is identical to the video of me switching tracks that I posted earlier. I can still make a video, but it's realistically the same.
4) Yes.
5) 3 USB ports in total (2 in the back, one in front). A usb powered hub can be used on any if more are required.
6) See 5.
7) Yes, I have even streamed youtube videos without interruption over wifi tethering.
8) It has both iGo and Google Maps. I know with Google maps, you'd be all set with Australia (since it uses a data connection and not preloaded maps). Not sure about iGo. You'd have to contact them.
9) Haven't really noticed many bugs with the software that comes with it. There is the bluetooth annoyance that I listed in the prior post, but realistically, how often are you going to connect a BT keyboard to the unit? I don't really drive a whole lot, but if I find anything else, I'll be sure to post it.
10) I'm sure they will ship anywhere, you'll just have to pay for it.

Let me know if you have any other questions!

[Skorov]

Originally Posted by 2forme

Ok I'll do my best here:

1) No difference. It's the same unit, just rebadged.
2) I have absolutely no idea. There is a region setting for the dvd player software. I think you guys speak english down there so the language wouldn't be a problem. I'm not aware of any BT issues. The included iGo maps are for North America only, maybe you could get Australian maps from iGo?
3) Playback from one end to another is identical to the video of me switching tracks that I posted earlier. I can still make a video, but it's realistically the same.
4) Yes.
5) 3 USB ports in total (2 in the back, one in front). A usb powered hub can be used on any if more are required.
6) See 5.
7) Yes, I have even streamed youtube videos without interruption over wifi tethering.
8) It has both iGo and Google Maps. I know with Google maps, you'd be all set with Australia (since it uses a data connection and not preloaded maps). Not sure about iGo. You'd have to contact them.
9) Haven't really noticed many bugs with the software that comes with it. There is the bluetooth annoyance that I listed in the prior post, but realistically, how often are you going to connect a BT keyboard to the unit? I don't really drive a whole lot, but if I find anything else, I'll be sure to post it.
10) I'm sure they will ship anywhere, you'll just have to pay for it.

Let me know if you have any other questions!

Thanks for answering so quickly!

I just have a follow up question regarding number 7. There is an app dedicated to playing music off your phone over bluebooth. Is there a similar app to do this over WiFi? I'm sure I can just browse my phone through the unit and play tracks like that, but it would be nice to have them automatically organised like the bluetooth app does it.

No extra video necessary. It switches tracks pretty fast. =D

[Sportsguy83]

Originally Posted by DKPJester

This Android HU really brought out the nerds. Is there anyone on this thread that doesn't write or design software for a living? I also noticed on the list your profession boards that there are a ton of software/IT people. I wonder what it is about this car.

Me Mechanical Engineer, but lots of interest/knowledge in the mobile OSes

[Gardus@Supersprint]

I'm no programmer, but did follow a few IT course at university...basic stuff.
I guess this car has the same appeal as tech gadget, especially alternative things from the mainstream.

[DKPJester]

Any news on an actual group buy for this happening? Did this go down in the group buy section and I totally missed it or are you still working this out with your audio guy?

[2forme]

Sorry, I had been busy.

I'll call my audio guy today and get this going again.

[DKPJester]

Originally Posted by 2forme

Sorry, I had been busy.

I'll call my audio guy today and get this going again.

No worries. Wasn't trying to rush you I was just curious. for the update.

[Shizuma]

While I definitely want an Android headunit I'm still waiting for some well known manufacturer to come out with one not using dated hardware. Low res screen, most of those non-name ones use resistive screen instead of capacity, several year old Android OS versions, and underpowered CPU's, and a 1GHz single core processor is underpowered for pulling full time duty as an auto headunit. In my last car I had a 7" Samsung Galaxy Tab dash mounted with a custom ROM installed with all the bloat-ware stuff removed so it ran faster, even still playing music, using Google Maps navigation and running trapster (warns of speed traps, dangerous curve, etc) the music would occasionally stutter.

Also none of them I've seen have any 3G/4G built in option which greatly reduces the usefulness of having an Android tablet in the dash in the first place since you can't use Google maps, or stream music.

It's just sad that they go with such cheapo hardware while spending plenty of money to make it look nice, probably another $50-100 and they could put some respectable modern hardware in them.

[xatrekak]

While i partially agree with you i am still excited for this headunit.

[2forme]

Originally Posted by Shizuma

While I definitely want an Android headunit I'm still waiting for some well known manufacturer to come out with one not using dated hardware. Low res screen, most of those non-name ones use resistive screen instead of capacity, several year old Android OS versions, and underpowered CPU's, and a 1GHz single core processor is underpowered for pulling full time duty as an auto headunit. In my last car I had a 7" Samsung Galaxy Tab dash mounted with a custom ROM installed with all the bloat-ware stuff removed so it ran faster, even still playing music, using Google Maps navigation and running trapster (warns of speed traps, dangerous curve, etc) the music would occasionally stutter.

Also none of them I've seen have any 3G/4G built in option which greatly reduces the usefulness of having an Android tablet in the dash in the first place since you can't use Google maps, or stream music.

It's just sad that they go with such cheapo hardware while spending plenty of money to make it look nice, probably another $50-100 and they could put some respectable modern hardware in them.

A lot of valid points, however it's moot in this instance. The mistake you're making is considering this as a tablet in the dash. It's not. It's a radio first, but has the ability to run Android apps. Even though it's outdated hardware, it runs nearly as smooth as my Nexus 7 tablet. Watch the videos. As far as an outdated version of Android itself. Name 5 features in ICS that would be utilized in a car radio over Froyo. And it does have 3G/4G.

I wanted something that didn't require a ton of customization to implement and looked clean. This does that, with a bonus as being a better head unit than anything in it's price range.

Playing the number game with specs and Android versions looks great on paper, but as a car stereo implementation, it's rather pointless. Find me a head unit that runs smoother than this one for anything around 700$. And does a 720p screen really matter that much in a car? I don't think the 1000$+ stereos from Kenwood or Pioneer even have that high of resolution... and they run Windows CE (eek!)

With that said, I have another Android HU coming in to test out. It's a bit more expensive (1000$) but comes with 5V pre-outs, Gingerbread, capacitive touch screen, and compatibility with Torque I'm still trying to get a group buy (for this one) going for people who don't want to spend that much on a HU and would still love a kick ass Android one.

[Shizuma]

Originally Posted by 2forme

A lot of valid points, however it's moot in this instance. The mistake you're making is considering this as a tablet in the dash. It's not. It's a radio first, but has the ability to run Android apps. Even though it's outdated hardware, it runs nearly as smooth as my Nexus 7 tablet. Watch the videos. As far as an outdated version of Android itself. Name 5 features in ICS that would be utilized in a car radio over Froyo. And it does have 3G/4G.

I wanted something that didn't require a ton of customization to implement and looked clean. This does that, with a bonus as being a better head unit than anything in it's price range.

Playing the number game with specs and Android versions looks great on paper, but as a car stereo implementation, it's rather pointless. Find me a head unit that runs smoother than this one for anything around 700$. And does a 720p screen really matter that much in a car? I don't think the 1000$+ stereos from Kenwood or Pioneer even have that high of resolution... and they run Windows CE (eek!)

With that said, I have another Android HU coming in to test out. It's a bit more expensive (1000$) but comes with 5V pre-outs, Gingerbread, capacitive touch screen, and compatibility with Torque I'm still trying to get a group buy (for this one) going for people who don't want to spend that much on a HU and would still love a kick ass Android one.

Well, essentially it is an android tablet that has apps built in to offer headunit functions and amp hardware, it's the beauty of Android, an app can be written to do most anything. Really I only need 2 reasons to want ICS over froyo, better app support and better performance. That's good at least, didn't see anything saying it had 3G/4G support.

And i'm not saying it doesn't run smoother than any purpose built car headunit because honestly current purpose built car headunits are crap, over priced crap at that since a $200 android tablet can vastly outperform all the tasks of a car headunit, and their GPS's are god awful, like the BRZ's, worst GPS I've ever used. It's more I have experience with android gingerbread OS running on a 1Ghz single core CPU, having it multi-task the apps I would want it to exceeds the processing power of the CPU, and that's on gingerbread which is a better programmed faster version of the OS.

A higher res screen is nice with GPS, not necessary probably, but after being used to 1280x800 on my phone the grainy detail of a 800x480 on a larger screen is irritating and something I don't find acceptable in this day and age.

I really would like a nice clean simple android headunit to install in my BRZ, but thus far I still find it hard to justify given that I do have my entire setup from my previous car for putting my Android tablet in, it would just require a bit of customization, though would be a nice clean looking install once in, just would take more work, and all the actual Android based headunits aren't an improvement over the setup I have, really all the ones I've seen are worse in what I care about aside from ease of install.