Finally! Android Auto will get updated!

[sten]

Hope this solves most of the problems. I keep using my phone for navigation, because the interface and information is 10x better, but I use the console for music (since that doesn't work in AA).

https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/google-android-auto-summer-visual-update-2019/

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[UCnight]

Now if I could just manage to order a 7" head unit to replace my crappy 5" one.

 

[AnebuR]

I'm wondering if FCA will actually update our radios to the new version or just leave it as is.

 

[Snayte]

I wonder will this make it stop being painfully slow and drain the phone battery regardless of being plugged in?

 

[Crusifix]

I wonder will this make it stop being painfully slow and drain the phone battery regardless of being plugged in?

What phone are you using? I have a Note 9 and haven't noticed any draining out of the ordinary. I'll stream bluetooth audio on a bi-weekly 7 hour drive that I do and I still have about 50% battery when I am finished.

 

[AnebuR]

I wonder will this make it stop being painfully slow and drain the phone battery regardless of being plugged in?

Make sure you're using either the USB cable that came with your phone or one that's capable of at least 100W/5A. Lots of cheaper cables won't charge your phone fast enough. Here's one that I use: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MDTVRDF

 

[Snayte]

What phone are you using? I have a Note 9 and haven't noticed any draining out of the ordinary. I'll stream bluetooth audio on a bi-weekly 7 hour drive that I do and I still have about 50% battery when I am finished.

GS 7

 

[Snayte]

Make sure you're using either the USB cable that came with your phone or one that's capable of at least 100W/5A. Lots of cheaper cables won't charge your phone fast enough. Here's one that I use: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MDTVRDF

I will give that a try. But, the same cable is fine when I am using Waze or the Maps for navigation and streaming music at the same time. Of course doing that does not use the USB data link at all.

 

[Crusifix]

GS 7

Galaxy S7? That is a pretty old phone. It could just be that the battery is not as capable as it once was.

 

[Snayte]

Galaxy S7? That is a pretty old phone. It could just be that the battery is not as capable as it once was.

Just over 2 years, it is absurd that considered old. I can navigate and stream music no problem when not using Android auto. I will continue doing that before I drop a grand on a new phone when I don't need to upgrade.

Or like AnebuR said, could be the charging cable.

 

[Crusifix]

Well, they are on model S10 now, so I assumed it to be in the 3-4 year old range. Usually these smartphone batteries start crapping out at the 18-24 month mark.

 

[cns721]

I'm wondering if FCA will actually update our radios to the new version or just leave it as is.

Android Auto is all on your phone. As long you update the app on your phone, you'll see the new updates on your radio screen. There isn't a need for FCA to push out an update as the radio is basically just mirroring your phone.

 

[KCC_703]

Android Auto is all on your phone. As long you update the app on your phone, you'll see the new updates on your radio screen. There isn't a need for FCA to push out an update as the radio is basically just mirroring your phone.

That's my understanding also... The app is on the phone and its just mirroring to the head unit.

 

[swozey]

GS 7

You should consider an upgrade. Just get on a Jump plan or something and upgrade every 2 years automatically, it's worth the $15/mo to stay current. That phone is ancient in Android and current network/bluetooth/etc terms. Anytime I've had weird Android issues it was almost always my phone needing to be replaced. Planned obsolescence? Maybe, but cell tech and everything else (bluetooth, wifi, etc) is advancing rapidly right now so 2-3 years is a big gap between devices. BT5 is a huge improvement over 4, for instance.

I bought my Jeep with an S8. I had constant issues with AA. It was slow sometimes and would really frustrate me. It'd take 10-20 seconds to even get the AA screen to pop up after I plugged in the phone. I blamed AA. I also replaced cables about 10 times and tried every single USB port and whatever combination of things to make it work before I finally gave and upgraded to an S9. It immediately got a lot better. Now I'm on an S10 and it's absolute butter and shows AA INSTANTLY. I have a feeling the phone cpu/gpu are handling the display mirroring and the older processors can't keep up with it.

I also just had a friend upgrade from a 2-3 year old Pixel to a brand new Pixel 3 in his GMC 1500 who constantly complained about AA issues and now his is butter as well.

AA was barely a glimmer in Androids eye when the S7 came out in 2016. It was barely in use with most automakers back then and a really small percentage of Android users even cared about it so they likely half-assed it in the old software.

Not to mention you don't have Bluetooth 5 and all of the other ancillary upgrades. This year Android phones will start releasing with 5g. 5g isn't really available right now but it's a good year to upgrade (once they're out, I wouldn't upgrade until then).

FWIW; I work on both Android and IOS apps.

edit: Supposedly the S7 is getting Pie this month, check your carrier for when they release it, maybe that'll fix a lot of your issues.

 

[WXman]

This is great news. The current Android Auto is so bad I stopped using it and deleted the app. Made me feel like it was 1981 all over again. Why would I pay $1k for a "Tech Package" and then use an app that makes it feel decades old?

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