Android Auto sans Auto - Android Auto

codesplice · Dec 20, 2016

I've been really enjoying the recent Android Auto update to allow standalone use of the app without being tethered (literally) to a supported head unit - I think I even like it more than the clumsy, limiting experience provided by those special stereos.

Anyone else?

Unforgiven · Dec 20, 2016

I should try it. Let me check if I have a spare phone lying around.

lunatic59 · Dec 20, 2016

Unforgiven said:
I should try it. Let me check if I have a spare phone lying around.

Picture of your junk drawer ...

codesplice · Dec 20, 2016

lunatic59 said:
Picture of your junk drawer ...

The struggle is real.

lunatic59 · Dec 21, 2016

I'm willing to give anything a go, so I've enabled Android Auto to enable when paired with Bluetooth. I had a little LOL this morning when the Mrs. started her car. I was in the middle of sending our son a text and my phone switched to Auto mode because the garage is right next to my office. :rolleyes:

One other thing I find less than convenient is that i have to mute the radio to use the voice features, since it hears the radio as will if not better than my voice. I just hope Howard Stern doesn't say "OK Google" in his show.

codesplice · Dec 21, 2016

lunatic59 said:
One other thing I find less than convenient is that i have to mute the radio to use the voice features, since it hears the radio as will if not better than my voice. I just hope Howard Stern doesn't say "OK Google" in his show.

That would be inconvenient. I use Play Music for all of my auditory entertainment needs. I shout "OK GOOGLE" over my loud music, The Googs somehow hears that, pauses the music, and listens to what I have to say.

It then responds with "I'm sorry, Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that," so then I'm all like "WHO THE @#$% IS DAVE? ARE YOU CHEATING ON ME???!"

lunatic59 · Dec 21, 2016

Hmmm. I haven't tried the banshee-yell approach yet, although, that could explain some of the people I've seen on the road who seem to be screaming at their dashboards.

I am wondering if it will mute the audio in the car if/when it hears me. Time for a test, I think.

codesplice · Dec 21, 2016

If the audio is coming from the phone, it should be able to.

PS: you know what would be neat? If I could read this thread from the shiny Channels app. Embedded images / quotes seem to completely break it. I wonder if @stevealbright paid attention to the report I sent.

lunatic59 · Dec 21, 2016

Who's that?

I was referring to the audio coming from my head unit. It is fairly old (6-years) but it works pretty well when paired to my phone and iPod.

jbird68 · Dec 23, 2016

I wish Motorola would have kept the Moto Assist Driving App for the Moto Z Play. It worked pretty good on my Droid Mini. Android Auto doesn't read text messages, prompt me to answer or ignore a phone call or automatically detect when I am driving. Moto Asist worked with whatever text messaging app you were using. I like Hello and it worked very well.

codesplice · Dec 23, 2016

Hmm, interesting. Android Auto does read my SMS and Hangouts messages, and even lets me readily reply (or compose a new message) with my voice. It also prompts me to answer or ignore a call, and it automatically launches when my phone connects to my car's Bluetooth. I wonder why those features aren't working for you.

jbird68 · Dec 23, 2016

I am using as stand alone on my phone. Don't have car with bluetooth features. I don't use Hangouts or Facebook mesenger as default messenging apps. I like Hello as my text messaging app. I can use Google Now to send a text but if I am driving and receive a call or text, I get the notification but won't give option to reply to text or answer a call. Moto Assist would activate when the car starts to move and would then give option to ignore or answer a call or reply to text message using voice recognition.

AZgl1500 · Dec 23, 2016

I am using a Blue Parrott BT headset and have the phone set to Auto Answer when a BT headset is connected.
Works flawlessly.

AZgl1500 · Dec 23, 2016

Blue Parrott has a text to speech app.

lunatic59 · Dec 23, 2016

As I suspected, Android Auto does not mute the car's audio when it is listening or reading back. Calls are still handled through the hands free system, so that works. The rest i have to turn off the radio.

jbird68 · Dec 23, 2016

I installed "Drive Mode" and it works. But I have to turn it on manually when I get in the car. At least I did have a text message read to me by my phone. Didn't get a phone Call to see if it worked for voice call.

sloheim · Dec 24, 2016

Its amazing how many different experiences people have had with Android Auto.

Personally, this is one of the things that I think Google has absolutely NAILED right from the beginning. No implementation of a half-assed solution which "might" someday grow into something viable. I've loved it from the day they made it work as a standalone app.

I use a magnetic windshield mount in my car, and mount it as soon as I sit down.
Once the bluetooth connects, Android Auto starts up automatically.
One feature I wish it had...I wish it would start playing my music immediately.
I'll say "OK Google, navigate to work" to make sure I have no traffic concerns along my normal route.
If a text comes in, I get a notification of a new message. I don't like that I have to touch the screen to read it.. it should be able to be read via voice command. I CAN reply without touching the screen.
After I say "OK Google", the volume turns down to maybe 10%, so I know when it is listening

All in all, it is everything I'd hoped for when I heard they were releasing it as a stand-alone app. No need to drop big $$$ on an Android Auto-compatible head unit anymore!

kyletotton23 · Dec 29, 2016

I love the Android auto app honestly made my commute to work so much better and easier but the only thing was the Google maps directions never worked for me but I still loved the app

Rob · Dec 29, 2016

Google Maps directions never worked for you? That seems like a pretty integral and important component of an OS designed by Google for car travel!

What about it never worked?

kyletotton23 · Dec 29, 2016

When I select the location I'm looking to go to it shows me the directions but then it just disappears and just shows me the map as normal without the blue line showing where to go

Unforgiven · Dec 30, 2016

kyletotton23 said:
When I select the location I'm looking to go to it shows me the directions but then it just disappears and just shows me the map as normal without the blue line showing where to go

After you set the destination there should be a small blue arrow on the bottom right corner to start the navigation part.

lunatic59 · Dec 30, 2016

I have been having some problems with voice recognition. I think it's a conflict or confusion between Auto on the phone and wear (my watch). many times it just sits there listening and neither actually records the message.

lunatic59 · Jan 3, 2017

I think I'm done with Auto for a while. It's not really doing it for me. I must be using it wrong.

codesplice · Jan 4, 2017

lunatic59 said:
I must be using it wrong.

That's the only possible explanation.

JimSmith94 · Jan 5, 2017

I only tried it once, but went back to the old Google Maps/Navigation. Android Auto covers up the notification bar so I couldn't see when new emails or texts came in, my battery level, etc.

Android Auto sans Auto - Android Auto

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