Android Auto

I'm trying to figure out if our soon to arrive 2021 with Android Auto has the ability to display Forest Service Topo map GPS.
Also is Android Auto something that requires a subscription?

 

Android Auto is free. It's simply an interface to allow your phone to connect to your car. You can generally use most apps. Not sure where you access the Forest Service Topographic map from so it'll likely depend on that.

 

As far as I know Google still doesn't allow any third party mapping software to work with Android Auto.

 

Android Auto is part of the Android operating system (on your smart phone). It's built in as part of Android 10 and above, and is downloadable for earlier versions.

If you plug your phone into the USB data port (on the dash), turn on the phone, and then turn on the truck, the head unit will automatically display certain Android apps, including Google Maps.

I experimented with this quite a bit, and in the end concluded that it wasn't worth the trouble. YMMV

 

Yea, it's unfortunate but Google is pretty shitty about it. If you want to get deep into a rabbit hole, you may be able to root your phone, install a screen mirroring app, and just push your phone screen to your head unit.

 

Gaia GPS posted this 3 months ago, so there may be some hope:

Google recently began allowing 3rd party apps to join their beta program for Android Auto. This program is still early access.

Google may change their mind or requirements at any time, so we can't promise that Gaia GPS is coming to Android Auto, but we're beginning to work on it.​

 

You can use Waze, that's all I know.

 

I use Android auto all the time when I want to play music off my phone or use navigation. It will only generally work with Google maps and Waze I'm not sure if you can load different maps in Google and Waze.

There is no subscription for Android auto other than cell phone service. I find that if I plan to travel to remote rural areas that downloading map data in Google maps for the area you are going is a good idea if there might be spotty service or no cell service.

 

Not worth it? To have your music (Spotify), texts, Google Maps, etc. right on your screen? And all you have to do is plug your phone into the USB port?

I think it's absolutely worth it, especially considering it doesn't cost anything.

What's the alternative? Hanging some plastic junk phone mount from your A/C vent so you can look at Google maps on a tiny phone screen?

 

Works with Spotify, too.

It's great because you can access all your playlists right from your display screen instead of fiddling with your phone while driving.

 

You can enable the satellite layer on Google maps. Not as good as a topo map, but still kinda cool.

 

I was only specifically talking about map and nav aps. It lets you use a good many music apps. I have use Amazon music and a player called musicolte that only play on device music that's decent.

@chstaco has the idea with Google maps. I forget you enable different layers.

 

Some vehicles and some aftermarket car stereos are now coming with wireless android auto and apple car play maybe that was his expatiation. To me the wire is fine. I don't plug my phone in every time I get in the truck though. I just let it connect to Bluetooth and don't bother with android auto until I want to use something I can't on Bluetooth. And it will read your texts on Bluetooth, it's capability to reply is more limited.

 

Google is shutting down the Android Auto app.

https://www.engadget.com/android-auto-phone-app-shutting-down-130020711.html?src=rss

 

But it just means you can't use your phone as a "bare bones" head unit.
Has nothing to do with the functionality of Android Auto in a real head unit application.

 

Maybe the new Driving Assistant App will fix the audio skipping I get currently with AA.