I just recently installed an Eonon R80 (Android 11) unit in my 2009 Suburban. It has been a pain in my butt since the moment we got it installed.
I have my Android (Zfold 3) hooked up with the ZLink App via CarPlay. This is all well and good, but it has some quirks that I'm not able to figure out:
1) How do I get to anything beyond Navigation? I want to use Waze, not Google, and I want to be able to see other apps but can't figure out how to get to the menu.
2) The built-in apps seem to be largely inaccessible without WiFi, but when I try to go to the Settings, ZLink immediately comes up and thwarts all attempts at working in the Settings at all. I don't know how to get it to stop doing that, so currently, I can't get to Netflix, Spotify, or anything else, because they need WiFi but I can't get on my phone's WiFi due to ZLink.
Any help with this would be extremely appreciated! I'm going on vacation soon, and the whole purpose of this installation was so that I had a better head unit for the extremely long journey, but right now, I'm really disappointed and their manual is AWFUL.
Related
So jumped in with out doing enough research.. I just installed one of the double din android units in my car. I was able to get everything wired up and running. But not much is working well.
I got this unit
GCS APEX ANDROID HEAD UNIT W/ GPS - 2015+ WRX / 2015+ STI
Android Operating System Version: 5.1.1
Processor: 1.6Ghz Cortex A9 Quad Core
Memory: 1GB RAM, 16GB flash
Stereo Power: 4x50W
So the unit itself seems very slow. I installed 2 apps. Spotify and Waze. The apps take a long time to load/open.
Spotify. Ok this is odd but not sure if its normal. I open spotify and I have the HU paired with my hotspot. It loads and starts to play but the sound is awful. I am not able to control anything via the headunit for sound such as fader/balance/eq. They don't do anything. Now if i open spotify from my phone and cast it to the HU i have all those controls and it sounds 100x better but the volume can be adjust from the phone and have to set that low. Is that normal? I have tried to get the USB to work and it will charge my phone (iphone 7+) but the headunit won't recognize the phone at all. don't even give me an option to use it via usb. I can also connect via bluetooth and stream that way but its similar where I can adjust volume from the phone. Sorry if this is really n00bish but thinking maybe its a setting? I can't seem to find anything.
After doing some reading i guess the 1gb was not the way to go but stuck for now. so any suggestions? I just want to be able to use Waze, and spotify and have the unit respond. When I click a button the delay is not a second or two but over 50 seconds and seems like it just crashes. I clear the memory and dont' have any live wallpapers running just nothing seems to be responding at all
Hope this makes sense and or someone might be able to give me some insight. Thanks for any help.
I can't post the link to the actual unit since I don't have enough street cred with the forum yet.
Any thoughts?
radio
My radio has the same specs as yours apart from the android version (4.4.2), i can confirm that Spotify and waze are both up and running within a second or two.
It does sound like you might have a faulty unit, is it possible to return it ?
You could also try a different rom but will kill any warranty I guess.
Yah that is what i am worried about. The vendor is not so eager to exchange it. I am going to take some video of what I am talking about maybe that will add some detail. Maybe someone will see it and point out that I might be doing something wrong. Not sure but very frustrating.
boss126 said:
My radio has the same specs as yours apart from the android version (4.4.2), i can confirm that Spotify and waze are both up and running within a second or two.
It does sound like you might have a faulty unit, is it possible to return it ?
You could also try a different rom but will kill any warranty I guess.
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Click to collapse
thedru13 said:
Any thoughts?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If yours is a MTCB/C unit (check the MCU version, it should start with this either MTCB or MTCC) you can flash a 4.4 ROM.
I also received my unit with 5.1 and downgraded to 4.4.
So tried a bunch of things over the weekend. No luck. I did do a factory restore and then was not able to even log into the play store at all. Google services kept crashing. I tried all the trouble shooting I could find online with no luck. Also I was not able to get the USB connection to see my iPhone. I could plug in a thumb drive and it worked fine. Are these just not able to use an iPhone at all? Not sure if anyone has been able to get the USB connection working between headunit and iPhone.
I sent the unit back hopefully getting a replacement to continue to try and get it to work. If not guess I will look for something else.
Intro:
For many years I used to use 1 DIN headunit connected via BT with my android phone. Phone was nicely mounted in bracket hard fixed to the dashboard.
So, I was getting into the car, putting phone into the bracket, starting the car and phone was connecting BT with headunit automatically. Could do phone calls, playing music etc. in 10 secs. Done, finished. No extra configuration, setting up, pressing buttons...
If I needed to use Google Maps, I had to use the phone screen, but it was ok with me, just two clicks.
But... I've upgraded my car and I have to redo my car-audio-phone connectivity
And now..
I'm browsing the market of 2din android based headunits (HU) for a couple years now. They are getting better and better, having more and functions (too many?) etc. Are they not to complicated in daily using? I seen many YT videos where people showing many options of their HUs, but there is completely nothing about daily using.
I'm thinking to purchase one of the latest Joying 2DIN HU and connect it to my android phone via BT, but "The more I know, the more I know I don't know"
That should cover my phone calls and music needs, however I have some doubts I cannot find answers to:
1. Does HU will connect to my phone every time by itself (BT) once paired?
2. How do you Guys, use Google Maps? Screen-mirror (via wifi using phone's "external display" option) or preinstalled in HU Google Maps app?
If phone's mirror, can it be turn on by itself automatically to see my phone app on HU screen without getting into phone's settings?
If preinstalled app, how HU can connects to my Google account? Does it mean I need to buy extra SIM card? Or it can use my phone's data, if so, does it mean I have to go into phone's settings and create a hotspot?
3. DVR, again, does it can be turned on once HU is up by itself, or do I have to turn it on by myself? I hope it has the time loop feature like proper DVR cams do?
4. Parking camera, does it turn the camera on (and screen) once I put R gear on?
Does the latest headunits can be driver friendly or it's still to early and I expect too much?
Thank you for all your answers.:good:
I can speak for Joying (see footer):
1. Yes, it does. It does not show contact names (only numbers) right after start, but they appear after 1st call
2. I can not see any reason using screen mirror (or Android auto) on HU with Android 6+ - PlayMarket apps are almost all yours on HU. My Google account is accessible via WiFi hot spot (USB dongle (auto) or Phone - you have to start hotspot on it), I can pay for apps from HU.
3. Joying DVR does start automatically. It has some issues making additional files until GPS locks, but anyway "ends" still can be put together. One drawback - J.DVR only uses 20Gb on max allowed 32Gb card - too bad.
4. Reversing camera works properly if connected properly, everything is on screen when R gear is on, including dynamic parking lines.
And you certainly should read this: https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=74092359&postcount=3
But, still it's chinese, be prepared
Been out of the car audio game for a while, but looking for something new for my 2012 Nissan Frontier. I'm currently looking at the XTRONS 10.1 units.
I like that the older version with Android 7 has the rotatable face (side to side), but wondering if that's really necessary. I like the look of the newer android 8 version better.
These are the two I'm considering.
https://www.amazon.com/XTRONS-Andro...ie=UTF8&qid=1527797324&sr=8-5&keywords=xtrons
https://www.amazon.com/XTRONS-Andro...pID=51e38bbtwLL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch
Does anyone have any input on which would be better (or should I be looking at Joying or another brand instead)? Is the price worth it for the extra RAM? The videos I saw of the android 7 unit didn't seem to be laggy or slow at all. Would primarily use FM Radio, Android Auto, and GPS, but I do like to tinker so who knows what else i'd get into. Ability to somewhat easily update it would be nice
How about the ability to rotate the screen left to right? Would it be of any real benefit?
What is everyone doing for internet connection? Can I just run off my phone's hot spot? If so, do I need to connect every time or will it auto-reconnect.
Thanks
Based on the research that I have done, XTrons has some of the best services, including the head unit, customer service, prices and overall efficiency, so you're on track as far as the branding goes. :good:
I would definitely recommend going with the newer Android Oreo (8.0) unit because, while you can receive updates and most likely will, you will want the most up to date software for the longest amount of time to support all of the applications that you will be installing onto your unit.
No questions asked the more ram the better. More ram gives your Android unit more "head room" to think things through and have more applications without increasing the lag by much. If you can afford the extra $40 for the additional ram you may as well do it.
I too like the whole rotating screen idea but, I'm not sure that it is very useful. I think you may use it every once in a while for specific applications but, other than that it probably won't be that useful.
As far it goes for your wireless connection I recommend using your home Wi-Fi when you are at home doing updates and things alike. While you are away from home and need a wireless connection on the go I recommend either using your phones hot spot or a 4G dongle (requires additional purchase and a separate data plan from your carrier). Unfortunately, you are required to turn your hotspot on every time you step into your vehicle, because most phones will automatically disconnect and turn of the hotspot. There are some ways to get around this problem, applications like "Tasker" and "IFTTT" can detect when you leave your home and then turn on the hotspot. You also asked about if you had to login in each time, nope, each time the unit turns on it will look for previously connected internet connections and new internet connections.
Hope this helped! :good:
-Murf
Great info. Thanks!
Hi guys, I'm pretty new around here but am seeking some advice on how to get Android Auto running on my headunit.
I recently purchased an Xtrons ICE/HU/TA707PL (running android 7.0), so far I've been mostly pleased with it however what I would really like to see it do is to run Android Auto (the standalone app built for driving by Google from Google Play, not the plug 'n play with a phone setup thats common on many new cars).
The first issue I encountered was when I tried to download it from Google Play it says its incompatible, so I tried to get an APK to which it is still incompatible. I then tried to root the device but couldn't seem to get that to work either although I'm not sure how helpful that would have been.
I've come to a bit of a standstill. Is it really impossible to get a copy of android auto to run on an android headunit? Why is there this compatibility issue and is there anyway to resolve it?
Any help would be much appreciated.
Cheers
Google requires an actual phone to run it, and/or has to be connected with an actual phone to an "authorized" device for Android Auto. It's never going to work on your Xtrons or any tablet or Android head unit without some serious hackery.
So download AutoMate Car Dashboard from the Play store, call it a day.
It's virtually identical to Android Auto in functionality and looks, with a few extra features.
Croak said:
Google requires an actual phone to run it, and/or has to be connected with an actual phone to an "authorized" device for Android Auto. It's never going to work on your Xtrons or any tablet or Android head unit without some serious hackery.
So download AutoMate Car Dashboard from the Play store, call it a day.
It's virtually identical to Android Auto in functionality and looks, with a few extra features.
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Click to collapse
I am having trouble with android auto as well with my Xtrons TS702L it installs but will not load it wont load wjen a phone it plugged in through USB any help would be great
Just installed a new headset with Android 10.0 and trying to get my head around how to use it. Got my head around Windows when it first came out and fine with that but must admit all the Android talk loses me a bit.
So.... Unit installed (just about) and running fine, have all the extras to add but just want to take it step by step. Bit disappointed that some of the things it said it can do, after reading up, it cannot. Also some things I thought would be basics are not included. Here are an example of each...
1. Netflix - Unit is shown as being able to view Youtube and Netflix. After not seeing them on there immediately I do some research online on how to find Google Play on unit and if it's as easy to download apps on there as it is on phone, only to find out what you can download is limited and mostly radio stations to be honest. Then I dig a bit deeper and find I actually have Youtube installed??
2. Copying Files From Phone - I foolishly assumed that there would be some sort of file manager that would be able to access phone once connected but it appears not. This seems ridiculous, unless I'm missing something?? Am I imagining it but although I have a device plugged in to get a file off of it (say image or video) I have to export that file to TF/USB then plug that in and read from it??
I've read people talk about 'rooting' their phones but this is not a road I want to go down as don't know enough and don't really want to learn tbh. Have APK installer in unit and it would seem that's how Youtube has come about, with a few other apps. From what I get and APK is a non Google app, is that right? As there are APK apps installed can I just download others like Netflix and Sky Go etc, and just install these straight onto unit or does everything have to go through Android Auto? (I have a Samsung Galaxy S9+). Have just downloaded AAAD and Screen2auto, managed to find it on unit and get it to work to a point but once you select app the screen loses control and you're back to using the phone. Also once screen times out on phone so it does on unit. These are probably just settings that need adjusting as have only just played with it for 5 minutes.
Basically I'm really disappointed in how the 2 devices communicate with each other and am trying to establish if it's me expecting to much or just lacking in knowledge. I was expecting to be able to use the unit as an individual device with whatever apps i wanted to put on it, and read from anything plugged in, or access and run whatever was on my phone. It seems this is nothing like that or am I completely missing something???
Any feedback appreciated and thanks for reading.
Nobody here that can point a beginner in the right direction?
Is unit Android auto or Chinese origin android head unit?
If chinese origin, incorrect forum, but post details from Android system information including MCU version to get post moved to appropriate forum
As far as I know it's Android Auto? It's running Android 10.0 and connects to phone via Android Auto but it is an Erisin Chinese unit. Model ES8746B to be exact.
Not Android-auto, requested moderator move to Android Head-Units forum.