[raitchison]

https://www.androidpolice.com/2019/05/06/android-auto-is-getting-a-ground-up-redesign-this-summer/

Looks somewhat interesting, hopefully these are changes that Google can perform on it's own without requiring cooperation from GM because as we've seen that means we probably won't get them without buying new car.

 

[GJETSON]

Still can't run YouTube, or Torque Pro, so of little use to me.

 

[Sibilance]

I just wish the black navigation bar at the bottom wasn't so big. Real big. Yo' Momma Joke BIG.

 

[raitchison]

Still can't run YouTube, or Torque Pro, so of little use to me.

I agree having Torque Pro on AA would be awesome but at least you can run Torque Pro on your phone screen while running Navigation and/or music on AA.

 

[bro1999]

Still can't run YouTube, or Torque Pro, so of little use to me.

You can if you root your phone.

 

[GJETSON]

You can if you root your phone.

Yeah. Computer savvy friends tell me this makes your phone a bug, and virus, magnet, only recommended for computer nerds looking for a hobby.

 

[bro1999]

Yeah. Computer savvy friends tell me this makes your phone a bug, and virus, magnet, only recommended for computer nerds looking for a hobby.

That's only if you don't manually apply updates to your phone. But yeah, if you're looking for a "set it and forget it" setup, maybe rooting isn't for you. Or you root an old phone that you use solely for Android Auto, and leave your regular phone alone.

But Google will never, ever allow YouTube (or any kind of screen projection other than what you get in standard AA) to work with AA. When the YouTube Auto app came out last year, they were **** bent on killing it, making a change to disable it every time the app creator made a new update getting around the latest Google block.

 

[GJETSON]

That's only if you don't manually apply updates to your phone. But yeah, if you're looking for a "set it and forget it" setup, maybe rooting isn't for you. Or you root an old phone that you use solely for Android Auto, and leave your regular phone alone.

I figure I have maybe five more years where I will be competent to drive. Learning computer programming at this late date seems like asking for trouble.

 

[GregBrew]

I figure I have maybe five more years where I will be competent to drive. Learning computer programming at this late date seems like asking for trouble.

You'd be surprised at what interesting things you can do with a Raspberry Pi, and the cost of entry is quite cheap. $40 will get you the basics. $100 will get a very nice setup. If you like to tinker, it's hour (days, weeks, months) of fun.

Contrary to common belief, you *can* teach an old dog new tricks...:nerd:

 

[raitchison]

Yeah. Computer savvy friends tell me this makes your phone a bug, and virus, magnet, only recommended for computer nerds looking for a hobby.

Yeah that's not true at all, if you are running a rooted phone and an app wants to run with root permissions you are prompted to approve the action, if you don't the action is denied.

You kind of have to go out of your way to get into trouble with root, like installing pirated versions of paid apps and then explicitly grant them root access.

I've been running Android since 2008 (I got the very first Android phone (the T-Mobile G1) the week after it was released, most of the phones I've owned have been rooted.

My parents (neither of whom are remotely tech savvy) also have usually had rooted phones (rooted by me).

 

[Edchris]

It doesn’t seem like a huge change. A few cosmetic items. I already have voice commands to AA, having “Hey Google” do it, meh.
https://driving.ca/auto-news/news/android-auto-redesigned-to-be-more-user-friendly

 

[neutrondrip]

You'd be surprised at what interesting things you can do with a Raspberry Pi, and the cost of entry is quite cheap. $40 will get you the basics. $100 will get a very nice setup. If you like to tinker, it's hour (days, weeks, months) of fun.

Contrary to common belief, you *can* teach an old dog new tricks...:nerd:

I'm a total programming n00b so I have my Pi set up as a total emulation station with RetroPie. I love playing everything from Atari to C64 to Sega Genesis with the same setup.

 

[GJETSON]

If you like to tinker, it's hour (days, weeks, months) of fun.

I prefer spending my time working on, and riding, my electric bicycles. To each their own.

 

[WhoaItsAFactorial]

Android Auto (and CarPlay) are updated at the OS level. They don't need anything from manufacturers to have updates get pushed through.