How do Android phones work with the stock head unit? - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

FastLap · 08-27-2012, 10:03 PM

I'm thinking of moving from an iPhone to an Android phone. Right now the Bluetooth/USB integration of my iPhone with the stock head unit seems great (works just like an iPod display that shows the playlists, artists, etc.).

Being new to Android I'm wondering how this would work with an Android phone? Is there something similar to iTunes that allows playlists and so forth to be created, and is the stock head unit capable of reading those as well, or is it only really compatible with "i" devices and everything else will just appear as a "folder view" the same as if you connect a USB flash drive?

On a side note, and not completely related to the car, but figured you Android users would know, what if I already have all my music in iTunes and in the .M4A format (vs. MP3), is there a way to sync that and use it on the Android phone?

20valvewynn83 · 08-27-2012, 10:28 PM

ts easy and I never have issues but I normally just use Pandora to play music because I don't like to download too much on my phone. Also I believe they have an app that can't convert to mp3 but not 100% sure. If you can't find it just convert it on your computer.

FastLap · 08-27-2012, 10:40 PM

I'm thinking maybe it's better to just get a little iPod Shuffle or something for the car... although that would require using the USB port instead of Bluetooth. I guess you can still use Bluetooth for phone calls in that situation.

whataboutbob · 08-27-2012, 10:57 PM

My Droid Razr worked fine with the original head unit.

dsgerbc · 08-27-2012, 11:28 PM

My S3 won't sync contacts. Didn't try playlists though.

sega_102 · 08-28-2012, 04:35 PM

My S3 synced contacts just fine.

You have to confirm that you want to send the contacts on the phone. Did you miss that step?

dsgerbc · 08-28-2012, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sega_102

My S3 synced contacts just fine.

You have to confirm that you want to send the contacts on the phone. Did you miss that step?

Nope. It syncs a handful of irrelevant contacts (like 411 etc) and two genuine contacts and chokes. Everything else bluetooth-related works.

travace · 08-28-2012, 07:56 PM

on a HTC evo 3d and it syncs jsut fine.... i can even have phone from my wifes go through speaker while my phone only connects the audio stuff.... switching between multiple phones is a breeze

the pause play and next track on the deck always work just fine as well.

knaa · 09-03-2012, 03:48 AM

I have the HTC One X and it works pretty well, disconnects sometimes but reconnects after a few seconds

Propaganda · 09-04-2012, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whataboutbob

My Droid Razr worked fine with the original head unit.

+1

However, one thing I've noticed is that I have to sync contacts every time (not a problem, as I can just find the person I want to call on my "recents" list in my phone. Anyone I would want to call is usually right there, anyway). Not sure if it's because I haven't synced the contacts, but any incoming call shows up as just a number, so unless I look at my phone, I'm answering blind, for the most part. Also, sometimes the "Phone" option from the radio menu does not appear.

Haven't lost connection yet, and the bluetooth media works just fine and even shows song names. Overall, I'm happy with it (not too picky about my first part)

megatron · 09-04-2012, 08:05 PM

i'm on a samsung galaxy S with cyanogen mod 10 (jellybean)
bluetooth,contacts synced,call quality is all top notch and no glitches what so ever
i'm on the upgraded radio (bespoke)

FRSCr8z · 09-30-2012, 04:27 AM

I've been having quite a difficult time to get my Droid Incredible 2 to be recognized by the USB head unit. I have the upgraded BeSpoke radio unit and most of the time it just gets stuck trying to sync with my phone.

Anyone seen this happen?

ML · 09-30-2012, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FRSCr8z

I've been having quite a difficult time to get my Droid Incredible 2 to be recognized by the USB head unit. I have the upgraded BeSpoke radio unit and most of the time it just gets stuck trying to sync with my phone.

Anyone seen this happen?

Yes! Bespoke is such crap. I have to unlock my phone before it will connect, and sometimes bt won't connect unless I turn the car off and back on.

JayNutter · 10-08-2012, 08:43 PM

I have a droid razr with ICS. Bluetooth hooked up easily and taking phone calls is simple. Haven't synced my contacts, but I don't use my phone much so I don't care.

One problem: Pandora connects, plays and allows skipping tracks, but the screen flashed "PAUSED." It won't let me adjust the volume unless I switch it from BTA and back again. then I only have 1 second to adjust the sound before the "PAUSED" starts flashing at me. Any know fix?

08-27-2012, 10:03 PM	#1
FastLap Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Drives: 2025 Toyota GR86 Premium PP Location: Utah Posts: 106 Thanks: 3 Thanked 9 Times in 8 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	How do Android phones work with the stock head unit? I'm thinking of moving from an iPhone to an Android phone. Right now the Bluetooth/USB integration of my iPhone with the stock head unit seems great (works just like an iPod display that shows the playlists, artists, etc.). Being new to Android I'm wondering how this would work with an Android phone? Is there something similar to iTunes that allows playlists and so forth to be created, and is the stock head unit capable of reading those as well, or is it only really compatible with "i" devices and everything else will just appear as a "folder view" the same as if you connect a USB flash drive? On a side note, and not completely related to the car, but figured you Android users would know, what if I already have all my music in iTunes and in the .M4A format (vs. MP3), is there a way to sync that and use it on the Android phone?

09-30-2012, 04:27 AM	#12
FRSCr8z Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Drives: Hot Lava with Five Axis kit Location: CA Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	USB head unit doesn't work most of the time on my Droid Incredible 2 I've been having quite a difficult time to get my Droid Incredible 2 to be recognized by the USB head unit. I have the upgraded BeSpoke radio unit and most of the time it just gets stuck trying to sync with my phone. Anyone seen this happen?

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08-27-2012, 10:40 PM	#3
FastLap Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Drives: 2025 Toyota GR86 Premium PP Location: Utah Posts: 106 Thanks: 3 Thanked 9 Times in 8 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I'm thinking maybe it's better to just get a little iPod Shuffle or something for the car... although that would require using the USB port instead of Bluetooth. I guess you can still use Bluetooth for phone calls in that situation.

08-27-2012, 11:28 PM	#5
dsgerbc Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Drives: BRZ(sold), STI Location: A2, MI Posts: 1,915 Thanks: 176 Thanked 419 Times in 241 Posts Mentioned: 11 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	My S3 won't sync contacts. Didn't try playlists though.

08-28-2012, 04:35 PM	#6
sega_102 Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Drives: Scion FR-S Location: Clarksville, TN Posts: 36 Thanks: 1 Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	My S3 synced contacts just fine. You have to confirm that you want to send the contacts on the phone. Did you miss that step?

09-03-2012, 03:48 AM	#9
knaa Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Drives: FRS Location: Texas Posts: 27 Thanks: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I have the HTC One X and it works pretty well, disconnects sometimes but reconnects after a few seconds

09-04-2012, 08:05 PM	#11
megatron It's over prime! Join Date: Jul 2012 Drives: Scion FR-S Location: Montreal Posts: 91 Thanks: 3 Thanked 21 Times in 17 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	i'm on a samsung galaxy S with cyanogen mod 10 (jellybean) bluetooth,contacts synced,call quality is all top notch and no glitches what so ever i'm on the upgraded radio (bespoke)

10-08-2012, 08:43 PM	#14
JayNutter Banned Join Date: Oct 2012 Drives: FR-S Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 145 Thanks: 10 Thanked 50 Times in 27 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I have a droid razr with ICS. Bluetooth hooked up easily and taking phone calls is simple. Haven't synced my contacts, but I don't use my phone much so I don't care. One problem: Pandora connects, plays and allows skipping tracks, but the screen flashed "PAUSED." It won't let me adjust the volume unless I switch it from BTA and back again. then I only have 1 second to adjust the sound before the "PAUSED" starts flashing at me. Any know fix?

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