Related
Pyle has recently released a few head units running 4.4.4 Kitkat. From the Amazon description:
Android OS Computer:
Touchscreen 'Tablet-Style' Functionality
Smart Device MirrorLink/AirPlay Support
Processor: Quad Core 1.6 Ghz Cortex A9
OS Version: Android 4.4.4 (KitKat)
It also indicates "Unlock Tablet-Style functionality." I'm assuming this means it comes rooted.
While Pyle is not known as the paragon of quality, they appear to be the first brand with a US presence offering an Android HU. Since their other HUs appear to follow the US DIN standard these could have the advantage of fitting in one of the readily available dash kits.
Here are the two I found on Amazon:
[amazon dot com]/dp/B01BECUOTE/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=S75ZYKYU5U3C&coliid=I25LAEC05MZLFW
[amazon dot com]/Pyle-PLDNAND621-Touchscreen-Navigation-Bluetooth/dp/B01BECUKD4/ref=pd_sim_sbs_422_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=51uMnRpESgL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=1A4EM6W90HKY19XFNMQA_
how much RAM? I wonder where/how it was engineered? The biggest issue w/ these chinese HUs is the poor engineering standards. One of the biggest examples being the internal/external mic wired in parallel on joying/pumpkin HUs. This issue has been around for well over a year now, and despite pumping out new models they still haven't fixed this glaring issue.
To add to that, the whole MCU concept, and the fact that the BT is effectively de-coupled from the core system.
What I'd gladly pay $500 or so for (possibly more) -
- high quality DAC/pre-outs
- no MCU
- parrot BT FULLY INTEGRATED into the OS
- proper internal/external mic interaction
- octacore
- 2GB RAM
- android 5.0. Honestly not that big of a deal if the OS is stable and runs all the standard apps
- fully mappable/customizeable hotkeys for launching custom apps from SWC/physical buttons
That would be nice. I'd sacrifice my car custom plug & play HU with a standard double din w/ those features in a heartbeat. The glaring engineering flaws in all of these current android HUs is frustrating. But I live w/ it b/c it's still a nice upgrade over stock.
Hisma said:
how much RAM? I wonder where/how it was engineered? The biggest issue w/ these chinese HUs is the poor engineering standards. One of the biggest examples being the internal/external mic wired in parallel on joying/pumpkin HUs. This issue has been around for well over a year now, and despite pumping out new models they still haven't fixed this glaring issue.
To add to that, the whole MCU concept, and the fact that the BT is effectively de-coupled from the core system.
What I'd gladly pay $500 or so for (possibly more) -
- high quality DAC/pre-outs
- no MCU
- parrot BT FULLY INTEGRATED into the OS
- proper internal/external mic interaction
- octacore
- 2GB RAM
- android 5.0. Honestly not that big of a deal if the OS is stable and runs all the standard apps
- fully mappable/customizeable hotkeys for launching custom apps from SWC/physical buttons
That would be nice. I'd sacrifice my car custom plug & play HU with a standard double din w/ those features in a heartbeat. The glaring engineering flaws in all of these current android HUs is frustrating. But I live w/ it b/c it's still a nice upgrade over stock.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Closest I've seen is the in-dash.net unit which is octacore with android 5.1 coming sometime this year, (allegedly). The MCU issue is unfortunately unavoidable at least until Google adds native bluetooth HFP into AOSP, which isn't likely to happen. And even then you still need something to be the go-between control of the amplifiers, LCD brightness control, etc.
I have the octacore in-dash.net unit and it's pretty good. My biggest beef is with the bluetooth handling. The interface is fairly basic. I think one thing that these units need is their own 'contacts' and 'dialer' apps that can dial via the bluetooth service but that also interacts with my google contacts, google maps, phone links, etc so that I don't have to do the contacts sharing, or copy and paste phone numbers from web searches or maps searches. I've got the feeling that that is easier said than done but it is key in my mind.
This is my first android HU so I'm not super familiar with the mic issues that seem to plague them. My external mic seems to just be really quiet pickup. I was thinking of getting a little pre-amp for it to put in between the plug and the HU. Perhaps I should do some more research first?
I have just been using the built in amp so far. Was thinking about testing the pre-outs on this unit. I suppose I could just break it down and take a look at the components to see if I can determine what DAC is being used.
Oh, also I don't have SWC in my car but this unit is setup for them. Not sure the physical interface specifically as I didn't purchase that option but the mapping is all in the "vehicle interface settings" app on the unit.
Not all of these head units have the mic problem. But joying & pumpkin, which are two of the most popular models, do have this problem. I used to have a joying, now I have a 2nd gen AN-21U, and it doesn't have the mic problem.
Yes the ability to fully integrate our phones with google now via the HU would be perfect. Google now has all my contacts as I have an android phone and save my contacts to google. But trying to call a number this way goes nowhere. Really a way to make the whole experience as hands free as possible would be great. Ford has sync, mazda has gracenote, and there are others I'm sure that attempt to implement a fully hands free system.
Other users have already examined the DAC in these units. One made an audio mod that integrates the DAC directly with the unit instead of passing it through the MCU, which significantly improves the unit's audio capabilities. It's just another example of the head sctatching engineering decisions on these things.
more info here - http://forum.xda-developers.com/android-auto/mtcb-hardware-development/mtc-sound-controlling-bd37xxx-sound-t3234660
Btw I am not sure if there is a universal pre-out configuration for these, but my AN-21U has 1V unshielded pre-outs. Pretty frustrating. I get some "white noise" in the background when I up the volume thanks to the high noise floor. Considering putting in some high quality RCA cables to see if that helps, but obviously if the pre-out voltage was higher this would be less of an issue.
Pyle PLDNAND621
I 've bought and been using one of these for about a week now and had a couple questions for you guys. This radio seems to have an app for controlling the Bluetooth function and is not controlled within the settings menus. Do you think think the app could be changed as a Bluetooth obd2 module I use with other Android device works fine with the same car. I have the same question for the radio tuner app, I don't like the layout and it won't tell me the song titles . I search but can't find a "local station" radio tuner app.
Thanks for any ideas, Doug
I've got it and rooted it on 4.4.4 su etc ...flash fire enabled.....anyone point me to someone that could walk me thru dumping the rom on this unit and someone that can then make a custom recovery we would be in the game for this unit ..it has a recovery ..all I can say for right now .....v4a apk will not work on this unit due to some busy box error I cant stop ..I have it correct in the system ....so we need custom.rom.for it .....any one still wanna rip this thing?
lokisyn said:
I've got it and rooted it on 4.4.4 su etc ...flash fire enabled.....anyone point me to someone that could walk me thru dumping the rom on this unit and someone that can then make a custom recovery we would be in the game for this unit ..it has a recovery ..all I can say for right now .....v4a apk will not work on this unit due to some busy box error I cant stop ..I have it correct in the system ....so we need custom.rom.for it .....any one still wanna rip this thing?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please help. I upgraded my PYLE PLDNANDVR 695 and lost bluetooth. Pyle wants me to send it in for repair. I much rather fixing this myself.
GrowlAudio have a model specific version for my car (growlaudio.com/nissan-navara) but finding real specs on it seems to be next to impossible.
All the suppliers have been able to tell me:
The units are not upgradable as in OS updates. OS 4.4 is the most stable of the OS available. Yes you can see other units with OS 5 and 6 available from china at a cheaper price but there is a known fault with them that they are unstable and crash a lot.
Price includes Growl unit with built in fascia, all cables and adapters needed for install, GPS antenna and free reverse camera.
Android Head Unit:
OS: Android 4.4
CPU: Quad Core Processor
RAM: DDR3 1Gb
ROM: 8G EMMC
SD: Built - In 16GB
Capable of reading 1TB external Drive
Mobile Connectivity : iOS and Android Devices
VIDEO: RMVB,MKV,MOV,WMV,AVI,MPG
AUDIO: MP3,WMA,WAV,OGG,FLAC
GPS MODULE: Support
GPS Navigation software: Sygic, Waze and other android compatible maps. Capable on connecting to WiFi via Mobile Hotspot or wifi connectivity
Bluetooth Audio and Handsfree Calls: Supported
Steering Wheel controls: Supported
Rear view video: Automatic Backup Camera turn on when reversing
Other users that have purchased and installed the unit seem to think it's the best thing ever, but every video I can find of it is slow to startup (30-40 sec), reverse camera not coming on till full boot. And no one I talk to is able to provide any details on audio quality.
What I am looking for in a HeadUnit:
Required:
* Reverse camera capable of being used within a few seconds of ignition
* Bluetooth hands free with iPhone compatibility
* Music streaming from either iPhone or USB / Flash storage
* Google Maps / GPS compatible
* 3G/4G sim/USB Dongle compatible
* Steering Wheel Control support (CANBUS)
* Audio quality at least equal to or better than stock
* Responsive screen / controls
Optional / Extras
* Multiple camera support
* Side-by-side picture
* Able to connect to iPhone Bluetooth, Internet, OBD Reader/Torque, TPMS at the same time, or at least without having to go into settings and change connected device
Does anyone have any suggestions of a suitable HU?
I've been digging for info on these, reading Amazon reviews, reading threads here, reading marketing on the mfr/reseller websites and was contemplating starting a thread for this. In lieu of starting another thread I figure to just contribute on yours. It all started not long ago when I finally installed a 2-year-sitting-in-closet Pioneer Appradio 3... what a piece of junk!!! (but it does sound good)
Is anyone comparing the pros/cons of these things? It's pretty difficult to compile information on them when there are a ton of brands nobody has heard of combined with new hardware/software coming out all the time. From what I've read there are a few major dealbreakers that make me want to wait, after all who wants to swap their head unit out on any regular basis?
I head not heard about sticking to 4.4, why are 5.1 and 6.0 not good? I read somewhere they aren't as snappy but in any video I've seen they look fine.
I'll put my lists here and maybe others can chime in with what they want/like/dislike so we can paint a bigger picture for these head units.
Here are all the things that make me hesitant to buy one of these right now:
Dealbreakers for me:
No hands-free voice control for things like Android Auto, Google Now, Google Maps, Calling... "OK Google"
Boot times any more than 5 seconds.
Lack of external microphone - I know I can add one but geez is it too much to ask for a jack?
(some may have) independent volume for media/nav/phone/etc
Cons:
No ability to USB tether to use phone's internet connection (someone's probably done this here)
Seemingly weak future update support
Problems that can be handled with apps and mods:
No light sensor for auto dimming
speed dependent master volume change
Here's what I would put on a wishlist:
Must haves:
fast boot time (<5-10 seconds)
voice control
external microphone (or jack so can add)
option resume playing last thing on startup (car start)
Independant volume for Media/nav/phone/etc
Good audio quality
Like to have:
permanent button for Nav app
headlight or auto dimming
speed dependent volume
DVR support for dashcam AND reverse camera input
USB tethering option for data connection
ability to work with aftermarket bluetooth steering wheel remote
full Android Auto support with voice commands
ability to update in the future
Bluetooth 5 with internet connection sharing would be nice (IPSP)
The Newsmy Carpad 4 has some things I love: 4G SIM card capable, 2 camera DVR with ability to act as a car security system and send alerts to your phone, but it costs way too much and will surely come down like every tech does in the near future.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=71220653&postcount=24
https://de.aliexpress.com/store/pro...32789646411.html?spm=2114.12010608.0.0.Qi1q42
Also looks like the Onwice C500 has 4G SIM card slot
https://forum.xda-developers.com/android-auto/android-head-units/ownice-c500-released-t3478747
http://www.gearbest.com/car-dvd-player/pp_597322.html
Joying has nice stuff and I've seen reviews that describe their low-power "dormant" mode that keeps the unit ready for a zero-delay startup even after the car is parked for a day (some units seem to only have a short dormant period before they shut down)... dormant time would of course be all dependent on how much power they draw whilst dormant.
ATOTO claim they can handle voice commands: http://www.myatoto.com/index.php?m=content&c=index&a=show&catid=15&id=5
This is just the tip of the iceberg, I know. I can never seem to find one that does everything I/we all want, and that means time to wait. Anyone compiled up-to-date info so we can make an informed decision?
RedbeardPete said:
Dealbreakers for me:
Boot times any more than 5 seconds.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From what I've been able to read, you will not get this in any pure Android head unit. Its simply not possible. Do you know Android phone/tablet that is capable of powering on in less than 5 sec?
Sure they can all 'wake' in that time frame, but that's because they are running from a battery. Yes the car has a battery, but the constant drain from the head unit being in sleep mode will likely flatten the battery if the car is not started in 3-5 days.
Your demands list is something more inline with an Alpine/Kenwood/Non-PureAndroid head unit.
The fairly new Joying Intel Sofia Head Units do go into a deep sleep and only draw about 10 mAh once the vehicle has been shut off for five minutes or so. To clarify, my JY-UL134N2 unit only takes a second or two to start up after being off for days, and it begins playing music from the Sandisk 200GB micro sdxc card in a few seconds. It will also display the reverse camera instantly like the older rk3066 and rk3188 units. Please note that this HU is in a spare vehicle that only gets used every few days or on weekends, and the battery drain has not been an issue at all. Please also note that if the system is shut down completely (not in dormancy mode), the boot time is 15 seconds to a minute depending on how loaded up the system is with apps etc...
Anyway, regardless of the start up time, I doubt you will find any Chinese Android Head Units that will check all or even most of the boxes on your wish list out of the box. To date, they all appear to need software and or hardware mods in order to work half way decent and even then they are far from perfect. For sound quality, Alpine, Kenwood, Pioneer, or Sony would be far better out of box. The bottom line is that for the cost, the Chinese Android Head Units can be fun to tinker with and decent with work, but you get what you pay for when it comes to sound quality (IMHO).
Best of luck,
R
rhacy said:
The fairly new Joying Intel Sofia Head Units do go into a deep sleep and only draw about 10 mAh once the vehicle has been shut off for five minutes or so. To clarify, my JY-UL134N2 unit only takes a second or two to start up after being off for days, and it begins playing music from the Sandisk 200GB micro sdxc card in a few seconds. It will also display the reverse camera instantly like the older rk3066 and rk3188 units. Please note that this HU is in a spare vehicle that only gets used every few days or on weekends, and the battery drain has not been an issue at all. Please also note that if the system is shut down completely (not in dormancy mode), the boot time is 15 seconds to a minute depending on how loaded up the system is with apps etc...
Anyway, regardless of the start up time, I doubt you will find any Chinese Android Head Units that will check all or even most of the boxes on your wish list out of the box. To date, they all appear to need software and or hardware mods in order to work half way decent and even then they are far from perfect. For sound quality, Alpine, Kenwood, Pioneer, or Sony would be far better out of box. The bottom line is that for the cost, the Chinese Android Head Units can be fun to tinker with and decent with work, but you get what you pay for when it comes to sound quality (IMHO).
Best of luck,
R
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is what I'm looking for! How do you find the HU? Would you recommend it to aynone?
Google for Joying, they have a fairly decent website. I definitely noticed that feature mentioned and demonstrated in some YouTube videos of newer Joying units and seems like a winner... Boot time is my biggest gripe (without having ever owned one of these). I'm not sure of the downsides for Joying units although I think they don't have external mic jack, will look into that and report back.
I should have been more specific, a usable dormant fast-boot mode that can do 24 hours before shutdown/draining top much battery would be totally usable... That way the daily driver fires up the head unit right away.
So what head unit do you guys think checks off the most boxes for you?
Hello guys!
So, I have a 2005 Audi A4 B7 and I'm thinking about buying an android head unit for my car. So far I have found 2 head units that look somewhat like the factory one, or that I like. They both have Android 8.0 / 8.1, Quad-Core with 2GB of RAM. Now, are these chinese head units generally worth it? I'm really concerned about sound quality (I have an aftermarket amplifier and subwoofer installed). Now I have a Kenwood head unit and the sound output is decent, can't really complain (better than factory radio).
And I have a few questions.
One of the units is made by Mekede (the factory look-alike) and the other one is made by Wondefoo. Has anyone had any previous experience with these 2 makers?
Also, I do not see an AUX IN on these chinese head units. Do the have one? Is it possible to have one? I'd much rather play music over BT, but is generally the connection stable?
Seeing as they are Android, am I able to install 3rd party apps, such as Vanced YouTube ? Or Waze (or any other app that does not come preinstalled) ?
Generally speaking, how is the boot up time on these units?
They both cost around $210. Are they too cheap? Should I try and save up more? Look for other makers? Most of the times I'm going to be listening to music (either via USB, BT - or any way it can be connected to my phone; or YT) while, sometimes, using Google Maps / Waze. Are these cheap android head units generally laggy when multi-tasking? Does it really matter which one I buy, as they're all "cheap chinese products"?
Here are the links to the units:
1. Mekede
2.Wondefoo
Or if you guys could recommend me another one which really is worth the money, it'd be appreciated. I'd like it to have volume knobs, and the factory look-alike is a plus.
I am sorry if these questios have been asked before!
Thank you!
One thing to keep in mind - RAM amount. 1GB of RAM is not enough for these units. I'd recommend 4GB of RAM, but make sure you get at least 2GB of RAM for sure (and even that may not be enough).
Try to find a unit with PX5 (octa-core) or PX6 processor and 4GB of RAM, if possible. Android 8.0 or 8.1.
In terms of sound quality, I too was concerned. I ended up rooting and installing Viper4Android and the sound quality is great. I'm using an extenral amp, but the internal amp sounded good with V4A as well. Viper4Android gives you a LOT of flexibility in customizing the sound to your liking.
jtrosky said:
One thing to keep in mind - RAM amount. 1GB of RAM is not enough for these units. I'd recommend 4GB of RAM, but make sure you get at least 2GB of RAM for sure (and even that may not be enough).
Try to find a unit with PX5 (octa-core) or PX6 processor and 4GB of RAM, if possible. Android 8.0 or 8.1.
In terms of sound quality, I too was concerned. I ended up rooting and installing Viper4Android and the sound quality is great. I'm using an extenral amp, but the internal amp sounded good with V4A as well. Viper4Android gives you a LOT of flexibility in customizing the sound to your liking.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Must be a PX5 or PX6 ? Most of the sellers don't list their processor model, just listing it as "octa-core". I'm aware that V4A can give you a lot of flexibility in sound customization (I've used it on my phone for a while)
Do these head units integrate well with the CAN ?
Here are the more technical names (may help identify them):
PX3: Cortex A9 (Quad-core) - 32-bit ARMv7 architecture.
PX5: Cortex A53*(Octacore) - 64-bit*ARMv8 architecture.
PX6: Cortex A72 (I'm not sure of the details - brand new platform)
From what I've seen, most Android 8.0 units are PX5 and most Android 8.1 units are PX6 (brand new). Units with older versions of Android are probably PX3, I'm assuming. Most of these units do not get "official" major Android version updates - the manufactureres just release new models instead of upgrading existing models (but some can be upgraded via custom ROM's).
Personally, I would probably look for a PX5 MTCE octa-core unit with 4GB of RAM. I wouldn't consider anything older than a PX5/Android 8.0 unit - and like I said, I'd recommend 4GB of RAM if you can find it. The PX6 units are brand new - there are no custom ROM's or anything for them yet or anything. They also seem to come with less RAM and storage from what I've seen?!?!
Only way to be 100% sure what you are getting is to ask the seller - they should be able to tell you the processor type and "MCU" type (MTCE-XXX),where XXX is the MCU type. The MCU is like the "go between" between the Andorid OS and the radio hardware (MCU type can be seen under the Android settings menu) - you may even ask them to send a screenshot of the hardware info from the Android settings to confirm what it actually is.
Just a "general" overview of some of the basics - I hope that helps.
Oh - and if you have a CANBUS car, you need a CANBUS adapter. If the seller is selling a unit specifically for your car, they usually include the CANBUS adapter. That will allow your steering wheel controls to keep working and other items.
Yes. That actually helped. These with 4 GB RAM and at least a PX5 cost more, about $350 so I'm going to wait, save up a bit more, because I also need to convert my car from 1 DIN to 2DIN and that will cost me at least an extra $70.
I also want one that looks like the factory equipped one, so, yeah, I'll just wait another month or so.
Thank you for your answers, guys!
Sent from my SM-G935FD using Tapatalk
I have a mekede unit supposed to be android 8.1..... It's not it's actually 6.0
This was from mekede official store on aliexpress
They are now not answering my messages and unfortunately I didn't figure this out until after the buyer protection time limit had ended.
Just to post an update to my original post... At first, I thought that the sound quality was great. But the more and more I used the head-unit, I found that sound quality was NOT up to par with my previous WinCE head-units. And I also ran into noise-related issues. I did everything in my power to try and resolve these issues (including using external amps for better sound quality), but in the end, I gave up and re-installed my WinCE head-unit.
Unfortunately, from my experience, these Android head-units just aren't up to par in terms of sound-quality and noise-rejection. I had noise-related issues from the LED backlighting, USB devices, wifi and bluetooth wasn't very good either. Hopefully, they continue to improve upon these units, because having the head-unit run a full version of Android is great - but sound quality is also important - and even more important to some (like me). Would be great if the big audio companies starting building full Android head-units (Pioneer, Kenwood, Alpine, JVC, etc).
Since my WinCE unit supports Easy Connect, I can still get the advantages of Andoid for certain things while also having fantastic sound-quality and no noise issues. Best of both worlds. Granted, the WinCE unit is significantly more expensive ($699 vs $350), but just like anything else - in most cases, "you get what you pay for". The WinCE unit that I'm talking about specifically is the Dynavin N7 - and they use high-qaulity sound components. But I also had Rosen WinCE head-units and they sounded great as well (but again, significantly more expensive).
All depends on what is most important to you - software flexibility or sound quality.
My new 2021 PX6 from Phoenix Automotive Vertical Fast Boot OEM fiber option. Had this for about 2 months. I use it with an external OEM AMP. Used in a Lexus.
AMP is not fiber. The unit is a PX6 MCU RL78c (2014 Chip-set) NCHHWY V332-0 , Framework px6-userdebug 9 PQ2A 190305.002. OS 9.
Audio is very good! I love the sound. Speakers: OEM Mark Levnson in the front, 6.5inch JBL GX600C + Sound Ordnance M2-10DVC 10inch in the back.
Tested only with stock HU.
What works on the stock PX6:
(With correct wiring harness)
1. Fast-Boot. After first 2 setup boot-ups, on is instant for 24 hours of nonusage.
2. AC controls work (Cooling).
3. Searing Wheel controls work out of the box on Lexus w/canbus included.
4. Audio player works but not a good GUI.
5. Phone works with Bluetooth.
6. Android Auto is installed and works.
7. DSP Sound works with an EQ and many settings, GUI is good.
8. Most User Settings seem to work. Wheel mapping may stop after Fast-Boot for 5 minutes (bug).
9. Navigation (Google Maps) works, GPS works.
9.5. Maps works Off-Line in Google Maps.
10. Radio with about 16 memory storage.
What is not working in a Lexus / Toyota :
1. Factory Settings. All-access is denied. Locked out! Big Issue for me.
2. GAS monitor/usage. This should work out of the box. Phoenix says it is not working and is disabled in Lexus. BUT is advertised to work on the Phoenix site.
3. Sound MAX loud setting will NOT save after reboots. After boot, the sound is all the way up, loud. After talking with Phoenix tech, no fix. However, if FastBoot is on, the audio may save to a lower setting for about 24hours. If you don't use HU for 24 hours settings are lost again..
4. Screen will reflect windshield in GS Gen3 Lexus. May be an issue in sunlight.
5. If you wear Sunglasses or have glasses that do auto shade to dark, you may not like the screen because it can be hard to see.
6. Radio- Local / Distance not working. Can't find a fix. However Local radio is working fine. I get most local stations clear.
7. Temp display worked for 2 days now showing -40 at all times. (No fix).
8. Fast-Boot image changing. The stock app that changes the BOOT-Image will not work. It is out of date and will not work with Android 9+. It needs an update from Manufacture. A Phoenix Auto add-on app (download), also will not work, out of date. App complains of an Error with the Android version.
Add-On that work:
1. Musicolet from Play Store. The Stock Audio player sucks big time.
2. Bluedriver OBD2 reader.
3. Torque Lite or Pro OBD2 reader.
4. Function Generator, from Play Store.
That's about it.
Roger Out
Hey guys,
Hoping to hear your thoughts and opinions, the good/bad/ugly.
I'm about to buy my first Android Head Unit but have been trying to get something like this going for a long time.
Here's the "Wish List" I've made to weed out the unit I want.
Unit:
Universal
Double/2 Din
PX6
4GB RAM
64GB ROM
Screen:
10"+ HD IPS (unless there's an OLED out there)
Lowest Profile available (distance been back of screen and dash)
No need to pan, but adjusting up and down and tilt are a plus
No branding
Preferably little or no buttons
No visible ports
OS:
Android 9.0, hopefully, upgradable to 10
Extensions:
Bluetooth -> Support for 2x Paired Phones at once able to receive calls or stream music would be great!
Wireless Apple Car Play
Android Auto
MicroSD card support of 256GB or higher
DPS
Dual-Band WiFi
1+ Video Input NOT back up cam (Plan on attaching a Nintendo Switch as an input device. I haven't seen anything higher resolution on input than just CVBS, but if one existed that would help? Or the support of USB 3 Video Dongle (USB to HDMI)
Right now, this has led me to this one
Dasaita HA2156A-MAX6
There's so much "noise" in this space with the hundreds of resellers/OEMs and scammers that I think I'm just going to pull the trigger on this and see what happens.
But before I do, if anyone has any better options, or thoughts/words of wisdom, please pass them along!
Thanks in advance!
I also really like the ATOTO A6Y1021PR but it's spec'd so low compared to the others and is running Kitkat (what the hell???)
I also really like some of the Xtrons, but couldn't get the specs. If I go wth a PX5 then they have tons of options, but couldn't find a 10+ screen with PX6
I'm interested in this too, I've been looking for a while at Android head units and while my wallet says go a basic double din 6-7" screen, the rest of me says go for that PX6 with the 10" screen.
I'm looking at getting the single DIN so that I can keep the little storage place below it, the only storage in my entire car (75 Series Land Cruiser Ute). If anyone knows of any reason not to, feel free to chime in, but otherwise I'm going to go the same route as you '82. The Maxx6 looks like the only PX6 with a massive screen from a reputable brand
My experience is that some of the specs are best described as "rubbery". Some of the good value units include marketing graphics which are copy-pasted to assist sales and are not wholly accurate.
Ideally one would like to see a pic the summary screen.
Casual research indicates ATOTO delivers the goods!-IMHO
There is not one single (cheap) Chinese brand supporting to pair 2 phones at once.
Only a few of the latest PX6 models support dual-band wifi. Most only support 2.4GHz.
Support for Apple Car Play and Android Auto can be tricky. Especially if your phone is on android 9. Support for android 10 (released today on 3 September 2019!) might take quite some time.
1+ Video Input: Haven't seen that yet.
Dasaita is a very good choice but does not support the above mentioned wishes either.
and what is DPS? or do you mean DSP?
You can get lower profile by "burying" the double din instead of flushmounting it to dash/adapter bracket
I've been enjoying my admittedly under-powered ATOTO A6 Pro for months now, and while I don't have experience with other Android Head Units, I've gained some perspective. Mainly, we're not really talking about buying an Android tablet here!
Android tablets are obsolete after a year or three, but my lexus is 20 years old and (with certain updates) I still love it. I've realized that although I wish I didn't have to put up with quite so much lag while interacting with certain android apps running on the ATOTO (Google Maps responsiveness is painfully slow), I'm really glad about the ways that the A6 Pro behaves like a car stereo head unit should: It has a great display that's easy to see in all lighting; It's on instantly after the car's ignition (with minimal battery drain while the car is parked); great bluetooth aptX audio streaming and call handling; the backup camera view is instantaneous after shifting to reverse (with optional volume reduction while in reverse), it can drive 4 speakers (6 if you count the component tweeters surprisingly well at 29W RMS each without an external amp (while supplying my powered subwoofer with a clean line output), etc, etc.
So with the A6 Pro one learns to keep most apps on the adjacent SmartPhone (even if you're not choosing to use Android Auto or CarPlay which mostly run apps on the phone), and mostly run media apps that are easily handled on the head unit. I've never been bothered that my car stereo is running marshmallow or whatever instead of Android 10.
My phone is running Android 10 and is distracting enough as a responsive/powerful android device. And while it would be cool if it were faster, my car's head unit is more about good music and phone integration while driving (or while parked and listening to/watching media .
Hi there. I have recently installed an aftermarket Android 11 screen in my car. I set up the unit with a 4G SIM card so it has its own isolated internet connection, as I want this entire unit to be self-sufficient and never have the need to connect a smartphone to it.
Is there a way to run Android Auto on this Android unit as a stand-alone app without having to connect a phone or external device to it?
(this seems like it should be a basic and common question, but I could not find an answer using Search)
TIA.
No one knows what the head unit is, out of the many unit types and manufacturers.
What have you identified as a possibility to solve your problem from reading the forum
There is not really a "brand" per-se, it's a somewhat generic aftermarket Android unit manufactured in China and distributed by DMP Car Design for a Mercedes W205 chassis. The device is "unlocked" and I can install almost anything.
As a network device, It identifies itself as: 'Bengal for arm64'
Specs:
12.3" Screen | Android 11 | 6GB LPDDR4 Ram | 128GB Storage | Qualcomm SnapDragon 662 (sm6115) 8-core kyro 260 64-bit CPU
I would think most of this has no bearing on the app having the ability to run stand-alone (except for the Android version).
Thanks!
KeithW205 said:
There is not really a "brand" per-se, it's a somewhat generic aftermarket Android unit manufactured in China and distributed by DMP Car Design for a Mercedes W205 chassis. The device is "unlocked" and I can install almost anything.
As a network device, It identifies itself as: 'Bengal for arm64'
Specs:
12.3" Screen | Android 11 | 6GB LPDDR4 Ram | 128GB Storage | Qualcomm SnapDragon 662 (sm6115) 8-core kyro 260 64-bit CPU
I would think most of this has no bearing on the app having the ability to run stand-alone (except for the Android version).
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For what reason you want to mess around with Android Auto?
This app is meant to connect a phone with an OEM head unit to mirror the screen of your phone to your head unit.
In fact:
Your new head unit is able to handle all the apps itself a lot better as any AA installation would do.
If you don´t have a phone connected, you won´t be able to make phone calls at least.
So I am really curious what you expect to get and the reason for your question.
Hi, did you resolve the problem with your android head unit because I've got the same predicament . Thanks
rigattoni said:
For what reason you want to mess around with Android Auto?
This app is meant to connect a phone with an OEM head unit to mirror the screen of your phone to your head unit.
In fact:
Your new head unit is able to handle all the apps itself a lot better as any AA installation would do.
If you don´t have a phone connected, you won´t be able to make phone calls at least.
So I am really curious what you expect to get and the reason for your question.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Since I have work accounts on my phone, I cannot connect to external devices. Additionally, I prefer not to have my car's system or devices be dependent upon an external device to function. From my perspective, the only requirement I should have to make everything in my car work is to have a key, that's it.
I like the clean UI of Android Auto and it works well for native Google navigation and music control in one simple interface which is why I was looking for an "easy" way to run Android Auto on my aftermarket Android car screen without having the dependency of a connection to a smartphone to function.
Charlieboy205 said:
Hi, did you resolve the problem with your android head unit because I've got the same predicament . Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi there. I did not spend a lot of time pursuing this as I ended up going down too many rabbit holes in search of a solution.
I dropped trying to run Android Auto as a stand-alone app without a smartphone connection and went with FCC Car Launcher. In the end, I gained a huge amount of functionality and customization by using FCC. I now have a Google moving map, music controls, and much more on a single home screen without any dependency on a smartphone. (my headunit has its own 4G internet connection)
KeithW205 said:
Hi there. I did not spend a lot of time pursuing this as I ended up going down too many rabbit holes in search of a solution.
I dropped trying to run Android Auto as a stand-alone app without a smartphone connection and went with FCC Car Launcher. In the end, I gained a huge amount of functionality and customization by using FCC. I now have a Google moving map, music controls, and much more on a single home screen without any dependency on a smartphone. (my headunit has its own 4G internet connection)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Using Fcc is surely the best solution.
As I said... Stand-alone Android Auto is not possible. you always need a Connection between phone and head unit. This is the way this app works...
I already use Fcc nearly since the start of development and I would not use anything else.
I have a 2016 RAV4 with Entune radio. Looking for a GPS Navigation capable unit. I have an Android phone. Seems like an Android OS wireless and wired head unit would work. Extensive research led me through Pioneer, Kenwood, Alpine, Sony: all poor values. Car stereo dealers want a fortune to install. I value function and reliability. Any suggestions on a plug-and-play easy install unit that will keep my steering controls and factory backup camera? T'eyes CC3 and Dasaita Max 10 both are on my short list. Prefer to buy from US only.
Hello all,
I may be late, but you can use Headunit Reloaded Emulator (it's a paid App):
Headunit Reloaded Emulator HUR - Apps on Google Play
Turn your tablet or Android powered unit into a full blow Android Auto headunit.
play.google.com
You can run standalone Android auto server and app.
There is a trial version for testing:
Headunit Reloaded Trial for An - Apps on Google Play
This is a free trial version of the Headunit Reloaded Emulator.
play.google.com
Regards.