Android Headunit - Which Apps?

[Molehill_Mike]

Hi all,

Around a year ago I fitted a 7" Android Headunit to my car. I think it's great and does everything I want, but I thought I would ask the PH forum:

Who else has an Android HU, and what apps do you have? More importantly, which driving/car related apps do you have?

On my "HomeScreen" I simply have the Xperia Clock App, and the Spotify widget (I tether to my phone). I've got a car HUD which isn't bad, but I wouldn't mind somethign that could track 0-60 etc, or perhaps even record my routes? I guess things like MapMyCycle/Run etc woudl work but not really what they were designed for. The Headunit came pre-loaded with Sygic, but I have GoogleMaps on it for UK use.

So, if you have an Android Car Stereo, what additional apps do you have on it?


Mike

[Toaster Pilot]

How much was it? Quite keen on something like that

[motorhole]

If it has bluetooth capability, might be worth getting the 'Torque' app. With a bluetooth OBDII dongle that plugs into the diagnostics port, you can read/reset error codes as well as display all kinds of real-time information directly from the ECU; coolant temperature, boost, manifold pressure, oil temp and pressure - basically anything information the ECU is receiving. Can format your own gauges too.

Edit: it also does 0-60 runs and g-estimates if the headunit has an in-built accelerometer.

[richs2891]

If the headunit has GPS built in then I would have suggest Navfree as a satnav app as it downloads all the files to the device, so no data charges.

Other than that mobo player for music / (for the passenger) to watch clips on ?

[redtwin]

I would second "Torque" but be careful not to leave the dongle in the OBD port as I did one night which sapped my car battery.

If you are tethering to your phone and have the data allowance, "TuneIn" radio is one I use quite a bit.

[Campo]

Flappy Bird with the control from the steering wheel angle sensor.

Makes the drive to work very, very lively

Seriously though, which unit do you have? If you have a data connection, Google Maps would be a good addition.

[Molehill_Mike]

Toaster Pilot said:

How much was it? Quite keen on something like that

250

This is the one I bought, but according to the XTRONS forum there is a new version running Android 4+ I think.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/301178949772?ru=http%3A%...

motorhole said:

If it has bluetooth capability, might be worth getting the 'Torque' app. With a bluetooth OBDII dongle that plugs into the diagnostics port, you can read/reset error codes as well as display all kinds of real-time information directly from the ECU; coolant temperature, boost, manifold pressure, oil temp and pressure - basically anything information the ECU is receiving. Can format your own gauges too.

Edit: it also does 0-60 runs and g-estimates if the headunit has an in-built accelerometer.

I have been tempted by this, I just hadn't heard much abotu it from others. Have you seen it work, do you use it? I have an American Car, so would need to ensure it woudl pick up the useful stuff too

richs2891 said:

If the headunit has GPS built in then I would have suggest Navfree as a satnav app as it downloads all the files to the device, so no data charges.

Other than that mobo player for music / (for the passenger) to watch clips on ?

Yep, has GPS and Wifi. Navfree I'll take a look at. Off to Belgium next week so would be handy to have offline maps.

redtwin said:

I would second "Torque" but be careful not to leave the dongle in the OBD port as I did one night which sapped my car battery.

If you are tethering to your phone and have the data allowance, "TuneIn" radio is one I use quite a bit.

Nice one, I'll take a look at TuneIn, good point on the Bluetooth Dongle. My worry here is the radio has bluetooth, but it links to my phone for handsfree. I don't know if I can have two connections (one to phone, one to dongle) at the same time...

Campo said:

Flappy Bird with the control from the steering wheel angle sensor.

Makes the drive to work very, very lively

Seriously though, which unit do you have? If you have a data connection, Google Maps would be a good addition.

FlappyBird, hmm not really my style... lol

I took out the 3 SIM only plan back end of last year, on the The One Plan. Unlimited Data inc. tethering (5000 minutes and texts) for 15 a month

Already got Google Maps too (as above)

Here is a video I took of it soon after install. I've changed the wallpaper and homescreen layotu a few times, but you get the idea. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4mLIdJOgu0

I had to trim the aftermarket fascia adaptor slightly as the stereo was slightly too big to fit nice, but a dremmel soon sorted that. Also bought a reversing camera off of ebay for 12 as this stereo has a specific input for one

Edited by Molehill_Mike on Friday 23 May 12:07

[motorhole]

Have used Torque on my Fabia (2005 vRS), my friend's 2000 Honda Accord and a colleague's 2005 Golf GT without issue. 1995 BMW 328i engine in my E30 though, need a specific BMW tool for that.

Should work fine on a US car. They adopted the OBDII standard before we did after all! Should be okay on anything post-1996 from the US. Typically post 2000 in Europe, but some cars adopted OBDII earlier.

[NormalWisdom]

For tracking, I use "Location Of"

http://www.locationof.com/

[DervVW]

A low spec ie memory and cpu for the money, but better than gluing a nexus to your dashboard!