Android auto and Apply CarPlay suck: change my mind

I have had a kenwood with android auto for about a year. Day 2 I disabled android auto because it disables functionality of your phone while in the vehicle.

I use the bluetooth connection for audio/phone and it's fine. Why does it seam like everyone wants/needs android auto when looking for a new head unit? What value am I missing here? Frankly, I think as android auto sucks, change my mind.

 

I’ve had both...Android Auto blows compared to Car Play. The 2 biggest difference in my mind is a) Android Auto making menus unavailable in Android Auto along with doing everything in its power to stop you using the phone app to make changes (even with the car in park), and b) general stability of the platform. Now that Waze and Google Maps are on car play there is no reason to use Android Auto.

Before Android and/or Anti-Apple people get their panties in a bunch...I’m not saying anything about the merits of the underlying phone. They both have pluses/minuses. I miss the excellent call screening function of my Pixel.

 

I hear you. As a passenger on a long trip not having access to your phone is frustrating.

When driving I could listen to a YouTube podcast on the radio and have google maps up on my phone. Cant do that with AA

 

I don't think anyone is going to change your mind.

 

I think the Android-Auto/Apple-Carplay are yet another example of a power grab by the big HW manufacturers. First they lock you out of your phones, then they lock you out of your stereo, and finally they lock you out of your own home!

 

I don't think anyone's going to change your mind, it's one of those things you either appreciate or don't. Coming from a 2018 Acadia to a 2014 Tacoma with 6" Entune display, I miss having Waze on the big screen with Spotify/Audible integrated nicely. The Entune map program is pretty bad compared to Waze, and going back to using it on my phone holstered on the dash just isn't as nice. That said, I don't think I'll be dropping $500 anytime soon just to get that functionality back, but if anyone is throwing out their compatible head unit I'd be happy to take it

 

Im not a fan of android auto or carplay. I think a better solution would be if they had a full android headunit. It runs on its own, no phone needed.
You can get a data plan for your car, or tether with your phone to get internet.

 

https://www.joyingauto.com/android-car-stereo/toyota-android-car-stereo/4gb-toyota-head-unit.html

https://www.joyingauto.com/head-unit/u-z/toyota/tacoma.html

 

Yeah, I have one of those picked out for my old BMW, eventually I will order one.

I do like how they have some custom ones designed to fit cars with non-standard radios

 

My phone and stereo support Andriod audio. Every time I've tried to use it, it bricks itself beacuse of the parking brake lockout.. I don't have mine wired in. So I just use bluetooth or USB link. Lawyers ruining another good product IMO.

 

I'm surprised the android-auto and apple car-play even key off the parking brake at all. They have a GPS in the phone so I won't be surprised when the parking brake bypass is ignored by the phone.

 

I used to use AA but it was buggy, waze would freeze up constantly, and it basically sucked with my (free from work) Samsung phone. I bought a used iPhone 7 off Craigslist and use the hotspot from my Samsung to drive that thing and I can say without any hesitation that Apple Car Play is leaps and bounds above AA. I actually only use it for Waze and occasionally Apple Music. I mostly listen to a Sirius tuner or use the Spotify app built in to the head unit from the iPhone.

 

I have a
AVH-W4400NEX
Galaxy S8+

I plug the phone into the NEX and fire up AA. Works for me. Waze does freeze up once on a blue moon or Google podcast disappears. This is quikcqu fixed by resetting the phone.

Also, when I fire up AA and it connects to the unit, I still have 100% functionality of my phone.