One big issue with this sort of haphazard slapping of Android (with a minimal skin on top) onto a dashboard is that UI integration and reduction of complexity are even more critical in the auto space than in phones. Driver distraction is a major issue, so the normal model of having screens of disparate apps that you touch, navigate through complex menus, etc. is a problem.
From the video, it looks like they've loaded an iGO app for navigation, but that has nothing to do with the Google-based "Maps" app, which presumably can't do turn-by-turn directions (since it's going through the platform API). So you'd have to search, find a POI, copy the address, go home, open iGO, paste address in there, then navigate. If you want to explore the surroundings (their Wiki-connected app), you have again go home, open that, then switch back to the nav app. Not the greatest (or safest, if you're driving) idea.
It's cool for a head unit to be able to do everything a phone can, but this type of platform needs a heck of lot more software work to be useful or safe. Auto OEMs' solutions lag the CE market and may seem less fully-featured than this (e.g. you can't play Angry Birds on Ford Sync), but in practice they lack some of the big safety / usability problems you'll find if you try to use this in a real car.
If you want just a normal Android experience, why not dash-mount a Nexus 10?Reply
So some parts of the UI / some applications will be locked out while you're moving. That's just like any normal head unit and just like most other aftermarket devices easily circumvented by a parking break short / cable in the chain.
Most of the UI honestly looks like it has been tweaked to accommmodate the car, it isn't at all just stock Android slapped on a head unit. For example their launcher is a 3x2, most apps have big text and toggles, nav buttons on the left remain persistent everywhere, etc.
I hopefully will obtain a review unit and give it a shot.
Please get one, i am dying to replace the standard single head unit on my civic, with a double head one.
If you get one could please test sound quality, distortion, radio signal quality, easy of use, touch screen quality, ease of installation, and the most important how hard it is to robbed from the car. Do you know if tomtom will release their android version on this also?
Seems like a lot of duplication of effort for little gain. Even if they got apps support you need to share the wireless connection from your phone to get any data to the device.
Personally I think the right approach is like Pioneer was leaning toward, where you get basic music playback and radio/sat interface from the head unit, and everything else is mirrored from your smartphone. It already has all the necessary communication and information on it, and you can upgrade it far more easily than the head unit. All I want is to be able to access the music, apps, and info from my phone more easily while driving.
Let the head unit concentrate on amplification, distribution, and interface while my phone handles communication, processing, and storage. Reply
Honestly, this doesn't hold a candle to my car-mounted nexus 7. i have jelly bean, full google nav, audio line out, and a full array of applications. I even have a nifty app that lets me task-switch by swiping 3 fingers left/right, or change tracks without looking using a 2 finger left/right gesture. the N7 fits nicely in a dual din slot.
these proprietary solutions have been lagging behind for years. Why can't someone get aosp compatible internals, stick them in a dual din, and call it a day?
What head unit did you go for to mate with your nexus 7? All installs I've seen have a single DINN unit hidden or taking up space somewhere in the dash. Reply
I agree with the previous poster. This doesn't do anything for me that I can't already get with a big screen smartphone (Galaxy Note II) or smaller ICS/JB tablet (nexus 7) + any run of the mill audio head unit with bluetooth support. This way, I can leave the lowest-tech (audio amplifier) mounted in the car and periodically refresh/upgrade the device with all the brains and increasingly more useful displays?Reply
So this is basicaly an Android device that acts like a cheap MP3 player to replace a dedicated audio system? WOW!
I went onto their website and they mention nothing about the audio processor/filer used. I guess I'll wait until something that actualy puts audio first over having an Android UI in my car. I'm so tired of these Android car radios that have lots of potential, but always fail on the top thing they are supposed to do: Music.
I bet a $150 Alpine (ugly single DINN) can outdo this in audio quality. This speaks volumes!Reply
Heh, if it is anything like the Classic, it would be some sort of Wolfson codec. I've read that it has a 7 band equalizer (like the Classic) with a crossover on the sub. That's it. Most $150 head units will have some sort treble and bass adjustment. I had a cheap JVC that allowed a 3 band parametric equalizer.
I would say this unit would beat all other Android units in the same category as far as sound quality and telephony integration. However, for $600, you could have had a pioneer, or a kenwood DD with crossovers and a little less internets and stuffs. Heck, forget DD, get a pioneer deh 80prs, which has some phone integration, to get a top notch audio system with some change left over for an amp for your sub. You gotta pick your battlesReply
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amb9800 - Saturday, January 12, 2013 - link
One big issue with this sort of haphazard slapping of Android (with a minimal skin on top) onto a dashboard is that UI integration and reduction of complexity are even more critical in the auto space than in phones. Driver distraction is a major issue, so the normal model of having screens of disparate apps that you touch, navigate through complex menus, etc. is a problem.From the video, it looks like they've loaded an iGO app for navigation, but that has nothing to do with the Google-based "Maps" app, which presumably can't do turn-by-turn directions (since it's going through the platform API). So you'd have to search, find a POI, copy the address, go home, open iGO, paste address in there, then navigate. If you want to explore the surroundings (their Wiki-connected app), you have again go home, open that, then switch back to the nav app. Not the greatest (or safest, if you're driving) idea.
It's cool for a head unit to be able to do everything a phone can, but this type of platform needs a heck of lot more software work to be useful or safe. Auto OEMs' solutions lag the CE market and may seem less fully-featured than this (e.g. you can't play Angry Birds on Ford Sync), but in practice they lack some of the big safety / usability problems you'll find if you try to use this in a real car.
If you want just a normal Android experience, why not dash-mount a Nexus 10? Reply
Brian Klug - Saturday, January 12, 2013 - link
So some parts of the UI / some applications will be locked out while you're moving. That's just like any normal head unit and just like most other aftermarket devices easily circumvented by a parking break short / cable in the chain.Most of the UI honestly looks like it has been tweaked to accommmodate the car, it isn't at all just stock Android slapped on a head unit. For example their launcher is a 3x2, most apps have big text and toggles, nav buttons on the left remain persistent everywhere, etc.
I hopefully will obtain a review unit and give it a shot.
-Brian Reply
ricardoduarte - Sunday, January 13, 2013 - link
Please get one, i am dying to replace the standard single head unit on my civic, with a double head one.If you get one could please test sound quality, distortion, radio signal quality, easy of use, touch screen quality, ease of installation, and the most important how hard it is to robbed from the car.
Do you know if tomtom will release their android version on this also?
Thanks Reply
sigmatau - Sunday, January 13, 2013 - link
The sound quality will be crap. Comparable to a $100-$150 aftermarket radio at best. Maybe not even that. Replydjc208 - Saturday, January 12, 2013 - link
Seems like a lot of duplication of effort for little gain. Even if they got apps support you need to share the wireless connection from your phone to get any data to the device.Personally I think the right approach is like Pioneer was leaning toward, where you get basic music playback and radio/sat interface from the head unit, and everything else is mirrored from your smartphone. It already has all the necessary communication and information on it, and you can upgrade it far more easily than the head unit. All I want is to be able to access the music, apps, and info from my phone more easily while driving.
Let the head unit concentrate on amplification, distribution, and interface while my phone handles communication, processing, and storage. Reply
vshah - Sunday, January 13, 2013 - link
Honestly, this doesn't hold a candle to my car-mounted nexus 7. i have jelly bean, full google nav, audio line out, and a full array of applications. I even have a nifty app that lets me task-switch by swiping 3 fingers left/right, or change tracks without looking using a 2 finger left/right gesture. the N7 fits nicely in a dual din slot.these proprietary solutions have been lagging behind for years. Why can't someone get aosp compatible internals, stick them in a dual din, and call it a day?
very frustrating. Reply
sigmatau - Sunday, January 13, 2013 - link
What head unit did you go for to mate with your nexus 7? All installs I've seen have a single DINN unit hidden or taking up space somewhere in the dash. Replysauron@mordor - Sunday, January 13, 2013 - link
I agree with the previous poster. This doesn't do anything for me that I can't already get with a big screen smartphone (Galaxy Note II) or smaller ICS/JB tablet (nexus 7) + any run of the mill audio head unit with bluetooth support. This way, I can leave the lowest-tech (audio amplifier) mounted in the car and periodically refresh/upgrade the device with all the brains and increasingly more useful displays? Replysigmatau - Sunday, January 13, 2013 - link
So this is basicaly an Android device that acts like a cheap MP3 player to replace a dedicated audio system? WOW!I went onto their website and they mention nothing about the audio processor/filer used. I guess I'll wait until something that actualy puts audio first over having an Android UI in my car. I'm so tired of these Android car radios that have lots of potential, but always fail on the top thing they are supposed to do: Music.
I bet a $150 Alpine (ugly single DINN) can outdo this in audio quality. This speaks volumes! Reply
spiderknight - Thursday, March 21, 2013 - link
Heh, if it is anything like the Classic, it would be some sort of Wolfson codec. I've read that it has a 7 band equalizer (like the Classic) with a crossover on the sub. That's it. Most $150 head units will have some sort treble and bass adjustment. I had a cheap JVC that allowed a 3 band parametric equalizer.I would say this unit would beat all other Android units in the same category as far as sound quality and telephony integration. However, for $600, you could have had a pioneer, or a kenwood DD with crossovers and a little less internets and stuffs. Heck, forget DD, get a pioneer deh 80prs, which has some phone integration, to get a top notch audio system with some change left over for an amp for your sub. You gotta pick your battles Reply
tuxRoller - Sunday, January 13, 2013 - link
Not sure why so many car makers (realizing that this company isn't a car manufacturer) keep trying to move outside their core competencies.SYNC is just awful ( used it in a brand new Focus the other day). Reply
OmniWrench - Monday, January 14, 2013 - link
So how hard would it be to adjust the volume or mute while wearing gloves? Reply