Am I missing something with Android Auto?

Some history. I've been an Android user for as long as it's been around. I would root my early devices, mostly so I could run certain apps and skins. Once aftermarket auto stereos began to support screen mirroring, I had yet another reason to keep phones rooted. Running my Android phone fully from the truck screen worked great.

Along comes Android Auto (AA) and I thought my rooting/mirroring days were over. Well, not so much. AA kind of sucks since it only allows a few apps to be displayed on the head unit. And it took over the stereo. It was all or nothing. So I gave up on AA years ago and just bluetoothed in content I wanted and used Google Maps on the phone. And that works.

But I just got a 12" uConnect 5 system. So I gave AA another shot since it's wireless now and I was hoping I'd have more control via multiple custom screens. But it didn't work out. AA still only allows a very small subset of my applications. The 12" uConnect does let me add a widget below AA, but that's it. I can't swipe for more screens, add new ones, etc.

So I'm going back to just bluetoothing podcasts, etc over to the uConnect system and running Google Maps on the phone. My question is, am I missing something? Is there someway to get all my apps to mirror over? Is there some way to get multiple custom screens while AA is running? Is there some functionality there that I'm missing that makes the downsides worthwhile?

Damn shame Google can't improve this product, but it really does not seem to have improved much at all over the years.

Just like Apple Car play, only certain "compatible" apps can be used in these systems, it's not simply mirroring them. Of course nothing that will stream video like youtube etc is going to work.
What podacast app are you using that doesn't work? I use Spotify and it works great in android auto.

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I didn't mean to say my podcast app didn't work. All the apps that AA gives me on the screen work, the severely restricted list of apps is what I'm unhappy about. I would understand if it just restricted things like youtube or video players, but not things like GasBuddy.

One other thing that I didn't like about AA is that it made me shut down my Ad Blocker in order to connect, since it runs on a VPN.

it's more a restrictions of uconnect not AA. my aftermarket JVC 10.1" allows lots of approved apps.

canadiankodiak700 said:

it's more a restrictions of uconnect not AA. my aftermarket JVC 10.1" allows lots of approved apps.

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It's not UConnect that restricts what apps are allowed to show up, I think I remember there only about 100-150 apps that work through AndroidAuto.

jejb said:

Is there someway to get all my apps to mirror over?

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There's a reason why the number of apps are restricted, to keep people from playing with their phones instead of driving.
There's a menu to allow which apps show up, you need to have AA running to access it. A quick Google shows that GasBuddy is an AndroidAuto compatible app, even on this website it's listed at #9 for a recommend app for AA:

jejb said:

One other thing that I didn't like about AA is that it made me shut down my Ad Blocker in order to connect, since it runs on a VPN.

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AA requires a wifi connection and a BT connection between the phone and Uconnect. It isn't your ad blocker, I still run my ad blocker while using AA. It is your VPN that is the cause.

Android blows. Love always, an Android user that converted to Apple.

crash68 said:

There's a menu to allow which apps show up, you need to have AA running to access it. A quick Google shows that GasBuddy is an AndroidAuto compatible app, even on this website it's listed at #9 for a recommend app for AA:

14 Best Android Auto Apps That Promise You A Better Ride

Want to know about Android Auto, how it helps while driving, and the best Android Auto apps to go for? Check out the best apps that work with Android Auto.

www.technorms.com

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Yes, I went into the list on my phone. It was pretty short. GasBuddy was not listed on mine. Does anyone get it to show up on a uConnect system?

I looked at the linked list. Thanks for posting it. But it's kind of funny that they allow FB and Whatsapp messaging if their goal is to only allow apps that are not distracting. And NPR and The NYT? Yuck!

BossHogg said:

It isn't your ad blocker, I still run my ad blocker while using AA. It is your VPN that is the cause.

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The ad blocker I use sets up the VPN when you start it, and won't run w/o it.

jejb said:

But it's kind of funny that they allow FB and Whatsapp messaging if their goal is to only allow apps that are not distracting.

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those apps are probably all voice driven like the standard Google Messages app. It will read the messages and then ask if you want to reply

crash68 said:

those apps are probably all voice driven like the standard Google Messages app. It will read the messages and then ask if you want to reply

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Yeah, I understand. But the sheer volume of messages some folks get these days could still be very distracting. I'd guess the only reason they're on the list is $$$$$$.

Scottly said:

Android blows. Love always, an Android user that converted to Apple.

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Can't agree with you on this one. I can't stand a company that invents a new screw type (pentalobe) just to prevent third party repair of their products. Apple is even serializing their parts to prevent someone from putting in a replacement part. Apple wants you to come to their store, and charge you so much money for repair that it becomes more economical to buy a new phone.

I had to make any changes on the phone not connected to the radio and those changes followed over to my radio!

Scottly said:

Android blows. Love always, an Android user that converted to Apple.

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Unfortunately for you it doesn't matter. On both platforms it's up to the apps author to make it compatible.

BossHogg said:

AA requires a wifi connection and a BT connection between the phone and Uconnect. It isn't your ad blocker, I still run my ad blocker while using AA. It is your VPN that is the cause.

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The WiFi connection is only if you are using a wireless connection. You might have better luck plugging in with a cable. In my case, on trips I'm using Google maps for navigation, listening to audible books etc so I need power and I don't have wireless charging so I end up plugged in anyway.

dpinvidic said:

Can't agree with you on this one. I can't stand a company that invents a new screw type (pentalobe) just to prevent third party repair of their products. Apple is even serializing their parts to prevent someone from putting in a replacement part. Apple wants you to come to their store and charge you so much money for repair that it becomes more economical to buy a new phone.

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The flip side of this argument is that Apple insists that having full control of their product means a better and more reliable "user experience". This has always been their strategy. They don't trust/want anyone to mess with their tech. Apple faltered when they failed to provide the best user experience, and that is why Steve Jobs was asked back.

I own and have extensively used Windows, Apple and Google/Chrome products. The Apple products have been more reliable, innovative and intuitive than Windows or Chrome. The downside is exactly as you describe, you are stuck with using their (outstanding IMHO) customer service, and paying more for it.

How Apple Car Play runs on my truck is just one example. After 6 months of (trying to) use Android Auto on a perfectly good, $500 Samsung phone in my truck, I was sick of its slowness and freeze ups. So I asked a friend to try his Apple SE (cheapest) iPhone in my truck. The Apple worked far, far, far better.

My wife and I both converted from Android on Samsung to Apple's smallest iPhone SE. Its about $600.00 with 256 gig of memory. I am convinced that Apple's insisting on having control over everything means a better product. The fact that Google runs on so many devices means its harder to engineer that product. Systems integration is hard.... System integrators don't control both the software and the manufacturing of hardware. A $600 Android phone is just not as usable as a $600 Apple phone.

Doug Ram said:

How Apple Car Play runs on my truck is just one example. After 6 months of (trying to) use Android Auto on a perfectly good, $500 Samsung phone in my truck, I was sick of its slowness and freeze ups. So I asked a friend to try his Apple SE (cheapest) iPhone in my truck. The Apple worked far, far, far better.

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I gotta go run out and tell my Android phone and Uconnect to quit working so well together.

All kidding aside, I have a Samsung S21 and Uconnect 5 in a 2022 RAM, and AA works flawlessly wired or wirelessly with no lag times, fast/zippy screen response. I have no idea why there is a range of results from posters. I've done nothing unique, when I first got into my 2022, Uconnect ID'ed my AA and asked me if I wanted to use it. I answered a few questions, paired the Bluetooth and that was it. Maybe the reason is the new Uconnect version 5.

As far as the never-ending fist-fight between Apple and Android phones, I've had both and prefer Android. At this point, I have invested in many apps, I likely wouldn't go back to Apple. I don't have anything to say bad about either solution, they both did what they were supposed to do.

Ratman6161 said:

The WiFi connection is only if you are using a wireless connection.

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Correct, but if you read the OP's 1st post, the context was wireless AA on Uconnect 5.

Not interested in talking iPhones. Whatever floats your boat and all.

We have a house guest that drove in yesterday after a 9 hour drive. She has a new car, a Mazda, and was also complaining about AA integration with it. So we compared notes a bit. I don't find any compelling reason to tolerate the downsides to running AA, which is a shame. Hopefully Goggle will come out with a better program in this space someday.

I get tired of my iPhone telling me it can't do something while driving. Especially since when I voice activate it to answer a question it SHOULD be able to answer, I'm now stuck with driving while operating the phone. Just doesn't make sense to me at all. Android does similar (I also have a Google Nexus 6), these OEMs phone companies need to wake up. Understand modern life, and get with the program of REALLY helping on the road rather than hendering.

Soapbox for sale....