Thought this topic was worth a thread.
I finally downloaded the ap and started using AA in the Blue Meanie this week. It's...ok I guess, but I'm still I'm using it to its fullest potential because I'm not blown away by it. I mean, it seems to work correctly, but how exactly does it improve my driving experience? So far as I can tell it starts automatically when I plug in the USB cord and immediately pulls up google maps. . , I've been driving to and from my work for 27 years, and the last 22 from the same . There ain't much google knows about my 12-15 minute route that I already do, except for a random accident, true. I mostly listen to audio books and my preferred platform isn't even supported by AA so it doesn't show up as one of the available icons on the dash screen so I still have to use the phone to operate it. And when I do listen to music I just go the my SD card that has a couple thousand songs on it.
I use a Moto G6 running Android 8.0 on the base VW HU in the Rabbit. I only have a couple gigs of data/month so I don't do that much streaming so I currently have no radio or Pandora-type aps.
So I thought I'd open this up for discussion of all things AA/ACP-related and to ask and answer questions, share tips/tricks, recommendations, etc.
So my first questions are, how do you all use AA/ACP on a daily basis? What are some free aps that you all use? What am I missing or doing ?
Help teach an old new tricks.
Android Auto/ACP Discussion Thread
- wap
- Chief Master Sirloin of the Wasteful Steak
- Posts: 45156
- Joined: Wed Nov 02, 2016 11:52 pm
- Drives: Blue Meanie
- Location: Pepperland
So one thing I am underwhelmed about the nav on the dash screen is that the whole left third of the screen is taken up by that big green square. Horrible use of real estate. I haven't found any way to minimize it. Is there any way? Also, I can't get the damn thing to verbalize the directions. I checked and mute is definitely NOT turned on. It worked Monday but it's gone Helen Keller ever since.
- troyguitar
- Command Chief Master Sirloin
- Posts: 20088
- Joined: Wed Nov 02, 2016 11:15 pm
- Drives: Trek Domane
- Location: Swamp
AA is seriously gimped compared to just mounting the phone on the dash. I'm still trying to like it, but so far I still have no interest in it as a permanent solution.
Another annoyance: At least with my phone+car combo, unlocking the phone for any reason (most common for me is to read an email while parked) instantly disconnects AA and it will NOT reconnect without turning the car all the way off and back on again. Sometimes it requires 3+ restarts of the car to finally reconnect.
Another annoyance: At least with my phone+car combo, unlocking the phone for any reason (most common for me is to read an email while parked) instantly disconnects AA and it will NOT reconnect without turning the car all the way off and back on again. Sometimes it requires 3+ restarts of the car to finally reconnect.
- troyguitar
- Command Chief Master Sirloin
- Posts: 20088
- Joined: Wed Nov 02, 2016 11:15 pm
- Drives: Trek Domane
- Location: Swamp
There is no way to make it actually USE the larger fucking screen, so you're again no better off than you would be with your phone mounted on the dash.wap wrote: ↑Wed Jun 03, 2020 4:34 pm So one thing I am underwhelmed about the nav on the dash screen is that the whole left third of the screen is taken up by that big green square. Horrible use of real estate. I haven't found any way to minimize it. Is there any way? Also, I can't get the damn thing to verbalize the directions. I checked and mute is definitely NOT turned on. It worked Monday but it's gone Helen Keller ever since.
For the volume: Hold your phone when she should be speaking and mash the volume up key a bunch at that precise moment.
- Tar
- Chief Master Sirloin
- Posts: 14126
- Joined: Fri Nov 04, 2016 6:06 pm
- Drives: Beige Family Sedan sans Dent
- Location: Canuckistan
I have it but don't use it. My phone map gets loaded and I open the front change holder/storage flap under the vent controls and rest it against a rubber glove that I have jammed in there. I need a good phone holder to continue with my AA free life.
- wap
- Chief Master Sirloin of the Wasteful Steak
- Posts: 45156
- Joined: Wed Nov 02, 2016 11:52 pm
- Drives: Blue Meanie
- Location: Pepperland
This is exactly where I'm at as well. But with so many people here so in with it I thought I should try it to see what I'm missing. Not feeling the love yet. I'm starting to understand why my wife stopped using it in her H after a couple days. And she has a much better HU than me with a bigger screen and decent interface.troyguitar wrote: ↑Wed Jun 03, 2020 4:36 pm AA is seriously gimped compared to just mounting the phone on the dash. I'm still trying to like it, but so far I still have no interest in it as a permanent solution.
Another annoyance: At least with my phone+car combo, unlocking the phone for any reason (most common for me is to read an email while parked) instantly disconnects AA and it will NOT reconnect without turning the car all the way off and back on again. Sometimes it requires 3+ restarts of the car to finally reconnect.
I always assumed it would basically be a bigger screen screen to operate my phone on, with all the capabilities of my phone, like plugging a small laptop into a yuge monitor. But
- wap
- Chief Master Sirloin of the Wasteful Steak
- Posts: 45156
- Joined: Wed Nov 02, 2016 11:52 pm
- Drives: Blue Meanie
- Location: Pepperland
on the stupid screen usage thing.troyguitar wrote: ↑Wed Jun 03, 2020 4:37 pmThere is no way to make it actually USE the larger fucking screen, so you're again no better off than you would be with your phone mounted on the dash.wap wrote: ↑Wed Jun 03, 2020 4:34 pm So one thing I am underwhelmed about the nav on the dash screen is that the whole left third of the screen is taken up by that big green square. Horrible use of real estate. I haven't found any way to minimize it. Is there any way? Also, I can't get the damn thing to verbalize the directions. I checked and mute is definitely NOT turned on. It worked Monday but it's gone Helen Keller ever since.
For the volume: Hold your phone when she should be speaking and mash the volume up key a bunch at that precise moment.
I'll try the volume tip on the way home tonight.
- wap
- Chief Master Sirloin of the Wasteful Steak
- Posts: 45156
- Joined: Wed Nov 02, 2016 11:52 pm
- Drives: Blue Meanie
- Location: Pepperland
I just bought a phone holder that I mounted to the right center vent. Good sight line and it sits proud enough of the vent that I still feel a good stream of air coming out of it.
- troyguitar
- Command Chief Master Sirloin
- Posts: 20088
- Joined: Wed Nov 02, 2016 11:15 pm
- Drives: Trek Domane
- Location: Swamp
Good thing you don't have ROUND VENTS.
Big green square?wap wrote:So one thing I am underwhelmed about the nav on the dash screen is that the whole left third of the screen is taken up by that big green square. Horrible use of real estate. I haven't found any way to minimize it. Is there any way? Also, I can't get the damn thing to verbalize the directions. I checked and mute is definitely NOT turned on. It worked Monday but it's gone Helen Keller ever since.
I use AA on a daily basis mainly for music. I don't even use the built-in nav and just use Google maps.
Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk
- wap
- Chief Master Sirloin of the Wasteful Steak
- Posts: 45156
- Joined: Wed Nov 02, 2016 11:52 pm
- Drives: Blue Meanie
- Location: Pepperland
I'll grab a pic on my way home and post it tonight.Gberg2119 wrote: ↑Wed Jun 03, 2020 5:52 pmBig green square?wap wrote:So one thing I am underwhelmed about the nav on the dash screen is that the whole left third of the screen is taken up by that big green square. Horrible use of real estate. I haven't found any way to minimize it. Is there any way? Also, I can't get the damn thing to verbalize the directions. I checked and mute is definitely NOT turned on. It worked Monday but it's gone Helen Keller ever since.
I use AA on a daily basis mainly for music. I don't even use the built-in nav and just use Google maps.
Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk
And how exactly do you music with AA? Let's be specific in this thread. What ap or service do you prefer?
- Apex
- Chief Master Sirloin of the Wasteful Steak
- Posts: 29815
- Joined: Wed Nov 02, 2016 10:36 pm
- Drives: Abominable
- Location: NJ
Split screen? Nice.[user not found] wrote: ↑Wed Jun 03, 2020 5:36 pm CP is good, especially now with the split-screen functionality that just came out.
AA, last time I experimented with it, I was not quite as enamored with.
CP works well for me, I plug in basically every drive. I like having the Waze map up even when I know where I’m going.
I use Google Music right now but I'm pretty sure most apps work. I'm thinking of switching to Spotify as it seems like Google is going to music soon.wap wrote:I'll grab a pic on my way home and post it tonight.
And how exactly do you music with AA? Let's be specific in this thread. What ap or service do you prefer?
Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk
- wap
- Chief Master Sirloin of the Wasteful Steak
- Posts: 45156
- Joined: Wed Nov 02, 2016 11:52 pm
- Drives: Blue Meanie
- Location: Pepperland
Thanks. Those are all streaming services, right? My measly 2 gigs/month may not go very far. Any idea how much data you go through every month?Gberg2119 wrote: ↑Wed Jun 03, 2020 6:05 pmI use Google Music right now but I'm pretty sure most apps work. I'm thinking of switching to Spotify as it seems like Google is going to music soon.wap wrote:
I'll grab a pic on my way home and post it tonight.
And how exactly do you music with AA? Let's be specific in this thread. What ap or service do you prefer?
Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk
- wap
- Chief Master Sirloin of the Wasteful Steak
- Posts: 45156
- Joined: Wed Nov 02, 2016 11:52 pm
- Drives: Blue Meanie
- Location: Pepperland
Tarspin wrote: ↑Wed Jun 03, 2020 7:59 pmOrdered!wap wrote: ↑Wed Jun 03, 2020 4:50 pm This one:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07S6 ... UTF8&psc=1
for $11.
My main reason for choosing this one is the 2 little pegs on the bottom are individually adjustable and my phone has 2 plugs on the bottom and the pegs allow me to make sure both are accessible. That and the fact that I still get good air flow out of the vent it's mounted on.
I think those are the most popular. Spotify is anyway.wap wrote:Thanks. Those are all streaming services, right? My measly 2 gigs/month may not go very far. Any idea how much data you go through every month?
Not much data. Google music caches a lot and you also have the option to download the songs to your device. You can download from Spotify as well but I think that requires a paid account. I don't know for sure.
Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk