CarPlay Impressions

[Timbo]

Sounds pretty much as I hoped. I'd like to see the source where it is suggested Android Auto connects to the cars gps aerial, and also has some connection to CanBUS. Hitherto, that's been via the OBDP.

[Ralfi]

I'll know more myself tomorrow, but can you at least browse and select your own playlists? Turn shuffle on and off etc? I might do some digging and see if I can find a review somewhere.

Yeah you can select your own music/playlists.

Not sure on shuffle, as I have a free account, where it's always shuffled.

This video gives a good impression of the App...https://youtu.be/r9p0wb3pI6o

[AJW]

Sounds pretty much as I hoped. I'd like to see the source where it is suggested Android Auto connects to the cars gps aerial, and also has some connection to CanBUS. Hitherto, that's been via the OBDP.

This long article from Arstechnica goes into Android Auto in depth.
Android Auto review: A beautiful, but beta alternative to awful OEM solutions | Ars Technica

This paragraph mentions the GPS interaction:

Besides the obvious input, audio, and video communication, there are a lot of behind-the-scenes transactions happening between the phone and the car. Location and speed input comes entirely from the car. The phone's GPS powers down, and Android Auto uses the car's on-board GPS (when available), wheel speed, and compass sensors. This not only saves power on the phone, but it's much more accurate. The car can get better GPS reception when it's there, and when it isn't—like in a tunnel—the wheel speed can still tell Android Auto how fast it's going in that tunnel. With Android Auto, your location dot won't just die at the start of the tunnel when you lose GPS.

Just because it can do it doesn't mean that VW have implemented it.
But it should be pretty easy to test with an Android phone because you should see the GPS (location) indicator turn off at the top of the screen when it's running maps on the headunit.

There's also this article that talks a bit about "Car Sensor Events" that the Android Auto app listens for:-
Android Auto secrets hint at vehicle diagnostic app, expanded car integration | Ars Technica

This is the list of events that Android Auto "can" listen for, again I have no idea if VW can supply this info back to the phone.

Compass
Car Speed
GPS
Night Data
Accelerometer
Gyroscope
RPM Data
Odometer
Environment Data

Pressure
Temperature
Fuel Level

In Distance
In Percentile
Low Warning
HVAC Data

Current Temperature
Target Temperature
Gear Data

Park
Neutral
Reverse
Drive
Gears "First" through "Tenth"
Driving Status

Fully Restricted
Limit Message
No Keyboard
No Video
No Voice input
Unrestricted

One thing I have seen (Youtube videos of other cars) is it will only let you use the on-screen keyboard if the hand brake is on, if the car is moving it's all voice search.

I'm sure there's similar stuff going on with Carplay, although I don't think you can pinch-to-zoom with Apple maps for some reason.
At least with these phone based systems they will only get better faster than anything VW will do.

[mattaus]

Hmmm, I would love for an AndroidAuto app that can do things with the OBD data like TorquePro can. I was planning on using mirror link at some point (if my next phone supports it) to display TorquePro data on the main screen. If I can integrate all of that into AndroidAuto then I"ll be very happy.

EDIT: Well that sucked. Plugged it in, started AndroidAuto and....nothing. The car just couldn't see my phone. The AndroidAuto help was piss poor (just told you how to connect, not how to do any troubleshooting) so I have some research to do in order to work out if it's the car, the app, or the phone itself. Given the age of the device and the OS I'm using I'll say it's the phone. That being said it uses the right Android version and the app reported no issues when it was started. Perhaps its the USB cable? I was getting a charge but that doesn't mean the cable was fine. I note that when you connect the phone for the first time I'm supposed to get a terms and conditions page. I didn't get that, so the phone doesn't seem to see the car either.

[Flipper Dog]

Matts,
same thing happen to me with android auto when first trying to set it up. First fault checked the cable, then the apps on the phone. A few restarts and curses then it gave up as a bad joke. Plugged in a few days later and started off first time, loaded the phone and no problems since. Looking back at it, may have been the t-shirt I was wearing which didn't connect well with the head unit No could not work out why it was so trying, so don't give up it will work itself out.

[mattaus]

Matts,
same thing happen to me with android auto when first trying to set it up. First fault checked the cable, then the apps on the phone. A few restarts and curses then it gave up as a bad joke. Plugged in a few days later and started off first time, loaded the phone and no problems since. Looking back at it, may have been the t-shirt I was wearing which didn't connect well with the head unit No could not work out why it was so trying, so don't give up it will work itself out.

Good to hear. I read a few reviews this afternoon and the overriding impression I'm getting is that Android Auto is basically in beta, even if Google are not admitting it themselves. I'm on the hunt for decent USB cables now, even though I have a few that definitely work with my PC.

[WallySimmonds]

Bearing that in mind, do you think it's worth paying the extra $$$ for a MY16 Golf? Runout 90TSI's are pretty cheap atm.

[Ralfi]

I'm predicting Android Auto will have many discussion points. Might be best to split CarPlay & Android Auto into seperate threads so new users of one technology won't need to sift through a thread which has discussions on both, where confusion may ensue.

Phone...

Siri made making a call a very easy task. I asked to call someone, Siri then asked if I wanted to call their mobile or landline & through went the call. Call quality was pretty impressive, without echo or delay.

Messages...

Was able to send an SMS yesterday without too much hassle - I was a bit slow to respond the first time so picked up my pace second time around & off it went.

The reading out of the message confirmation was clear & gave the App an overall polished feel.

[mattaus]

I'm predicting Android Auto will have many discussion points. Might be best to split CarPlay & Android Auto into seperate threads so new users of one technology won't need to sift through a thread which has discussions on both, where confusion may ensue.

Good point. I'll hold off until I actually get my own car and write up a little review of AndroidAuto once I get it working. Unless of course someone beats me too it.

[Timbo]

This long article from Arstechnica goes into Android Auto in depth.
Android Auto review: A beautiful, but beta alternative to awful OEM solutions | Ars Technica

fantastic...thank you!
[emoji106]

[sillygogo]

Good point. I'll hold off until I actually get my own car and write up a little review of AndroidAuto once I get it working. Unless of course someone beats me too it.

It took me a few goes to get Andriod Auto going. The problem was that I was using a Samsung usb cable on my Nexus 5, it charges the phone but couldn't connect, everything works fine once I use the Nexus(lg) usb cable.

As for Carplay, I nearly done my head in. Using iPhone 5s with firmware 7.1, once again charges the phone but cant connect. Keep on saying the UBS port is not supported try another USB port, looks like VW need to do a spell check on their next firmware. Googled around, iPhone 5s with 7.1 is fully support Carplay. I didn't want to upgrade to IOS 8.4.1 but guess it could be the problem, done the update..same issue. Changed to another apply lightning cable, still doesn't work. Bring the car to VW, and found that the problem is we have CARPLAY restriction on the iPhone. Everything works fine once we turn the restriction off in the phone.

[Ralfi]

As for Carplay, I nearly done my head in. Using iPhone 5s with firmware 7.1, once again charges the phone but cant connect. Keep on saying the UBS port is not supported try another USB port, looks like VW need to do a spell check on their next firmware. Googled around, iPhone 5s with 7.1 is fully support Carplay. I didn't want to upgrade to IOS 8.4.1 but guess it could be the problem, done the update..same issue. Changed to another apply lightning cable, still doesn't work. Bring the car to VW, and found that the problem is we have CARPLAY restriction on the iPhone. Everything works fine once we turn the restriction off in the phone.

I have an iPhone 5 (latest IOS) & used a 20mm USB-Lightning cable bought from Coles. Worked first & every subsequent time.

________

A little niggle - veering out of the CarPlay menu & into the VW menu is easy enough, but vice versa not so as you need to press the 'Menu' button & then select 'CarPlay'. It'd be good if there was a single button press required to get you back to the last CarPlay menu you were in.

[sillygogo]

I have an iPhone 5 (latest IOS) & used a 20mm USB-Lightning cable bought from Coles. Worked first & every subsequent time.

________

A little niggle - veering out of the CarPlay menu & into the VW menu is easy enough, but vice versa not so as you need to press the 'Menu' button & then select 'CarPlay'. It'd be good if there was a single button press required to get you back to the last CarPlay menu you were in.

20mm cable, that is a good idea. For me the issue wasn't the cable but the restriction setting on the phone itself. I have one of those 3 in 50mm cable, wonder if it works. The rumor is that it will be wireless with IOS9, i guess just wait and see. I think it is still early days for Carplay and Android Auto maybe they can make it to it will go back to the Carplay last visit when you tab on the iPhone.

[mattaus]

Seems that both CarPlay and AndroidAuto are very much in Beta, though there seems to be a higher success rate with CarPlay. I have about 3 USB cables on me to test tomorrow at work. If I can get near the Scirocco again lol. That being said my own car is supposed to be in my hands some time next week, end of the month at the latest. Man I hope I can get it working in my own car lol!

[Timbo]

It took me a few goes to get Andriod Auto going. The problem was that I was using a Samsung usb cable on my Nexus 5, it charges the phone but couldn't connect, everything works fine once I use the Nexus(lg) usb cable.

My experience, at least with the Nexus 5, is there's another downside in that when you use the USB cable that communicates as well as charges, the charging is very slow...and in fact may not keep up with some battery intensive activities running on the Nexus. Result: at the end of your drive, you can find yourself with a very low battery in the phone [emoji45]