What are Reddit's favorite android apps in the category auto and vehicles?

I have a car with navigation and would rather use Android auto because Google maps is superior in every way. Voice commands for navigation, real time traffic updates and most times I get in the car and launch android auto it already knows where I'm headed based on my calendar/schedule.

The only reason I would see using the built in nav is sometimes they show the speed limit, which Google doesn't do yet.

edit: okay I get it, people like waze. When waze is a supported android auto app and i can use it on my built in car media system i'll give it another shot. I'm not going to use my phone in a cradle just for waze, when i can use my steering wheel buttons to control google maps right on the screen of my car stereo via android auto. Apple has a similar setup called Apple Play, see play store for Android auto: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.projection.gearhead if you do not know what i'm talking about.

Hi AJ126,

I have the following setup:

1. Bedside NFC tag = Silence notification, Enable Power saving mode, Enable DnD, Switch off Wifi, BT, GPS.

2. Leave home (Location based) = Enable Ringer, Disable DnD mode, Enable Vibration, Location, BT (pair with my smartwatch), Increase brightness to 50%.

3. NFC tag on car holder= Launch AutoMate, Play my billboard playlist, Pair to the audio system of car, Silence notification (to avoid interference with music)

4. NFC tag in office 1 = Reduce ringer volume to 30%, Disable vibration, reduce Brightness to 30%, Set notification volume to 20%, Open Wifi and connect to office network.

5. NFC tag in office 2 = Meeting tag - Set all audio to 0% and enable vibration beep alert for calls and text.

Other than all above, I have various rules/profiles in Tasker to automate certain actions. It's a pretty nifty tool. You should give it a try.

Recommending, Automate - Car dashboard

It's a really nice looking and well featured car dashboard app.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bitspice.automate

Edit, recommending not reconditioning stupid keyboard.

If your looking for a car interface app, Car dashdroid is really good. The developer is really active in the G+ community and updates the app very often.

Play store

check This out.

its fawking awesome. I want to do this so bad.

pair it with Automate and I would be all set.

I have used Fuelio for ages. You can set recurring costs such as insurance, track fill ups, set you favorite gas station, and more.

From Google play store: "Car management, gas prices, consumption, expenses, mileage log, GPS tracker

Fuelio is simple, easy to use android application to track your mileage, gas consumption and gas costs. Using this App you can track car expenses, auto service, your fill-ups, fuel consumption, car´s mileage, gas costs/gas prices and save money.

See the overview of mileage, gas costs for one or more vehicles. Supports different fuel types and now also bi-fuel vehicles. Can visualize your fill-ups on Google map."

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kajda.fuelio

Kleiner Thread-Highjack, Android Usern kann hier nur Fuelio ans Herz legen. Sehr einfach zu bedienen und man kann sich detaillierte Berichte als Excel-Datei ausgeben lassen.

aCar

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.zonewalker.acar

I've had this app on literally every Android phone keeping detailed logs of every single fill-up and maintenance that I've done on my cars. It comes in handy in the days before "Service Soon" would pop up on my dash.

https://i.imgur.com/FFKlvSv.png

I've got logs that run all the way back to 2011. It makes selling cars a lot easier too because you can export the data to CSV to show that you rotated the tires at xxxxx miles and changed the oil x times at these intervals. I'm extremely data driven, so aCar is totally my jam (plus I like seeing how much MPG I'm actually getting instead of letting my dash tell me).

Automate - I've been using this since i saw it posted here like 2 days ago. It's the best/only android car dashboard app I've ever used.

I just bought myself a magnetic car mount for my nexus 6p and found out about this at the perfect time.

brb buying premium

These actions are illegal; however, what paperwork did you sign in regards to the rental agreement?

The first thing Service Alberta will do is ask to see your paperwork. If it was verbal or handshake agreement, without paperwork, you're going to have your work cut out for you.

Without paperwork, the landlord could claim you are just friends he's helping out, and there is no such agreement, in other words, he's 'letting you crash there in his house' and it would be his word against yours.

If you haven't already - DOCUMENT EVERYTHING.

Times, dates, cheque numbers, payments, all.

Are you paying in cash? Get bank drafts made out in your landlords name. Traceable, cash isn't - document every incident, phone calls, emails, texts, verbal , anything.

Get yourself a webcam for the house. You can get a free one through the app stores, this is more an auto one, but runs non stop - Autoguard. Leave it running, post a note in both front and back doors that give notice that tell people they are on camera. Record everything.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hovans.autoguard&hl=en

Yeah i had a few reasons:

• I didn't trust/want this device to have it's own battery in it while being out in direct sunlight (even with cabin overheat protection) and i couldn't seem to find a tablet that would work with it's battery removed.
• i believe that I can probably get the boot times lower on this then i could with an android tablet (although i haven't run any direct tests on that)
• My goal is to eventually make this very easy to remove/hide and working with a thin screen may give me some more flexibility there.

Originally, I was planning on not even having the Pi and just mirroring my phone up to it while using something like AutoMate (Which I may still end up doing): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bitspice.automate&hl=en_US

This is unsolicited advice, but for safety's sake, I recommend that everyone with a vehicle that has a bluetooth connection do the following:

1. Buy a phone car mount (I use this one https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XGF6JGX)
2. Install Android Auto on your phone (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.projection.gearhead)
3. Set Android Auto to auto-launch every time your phone detects your car via bluetooth
4. Go to Settings -> Security -> Smart Lock and add your car as a "Trusted Device"

It's like having a brand new car display, and much safer than using your phone in its normal mode.

Not a problem on the dashboard version of AA, but I've never seen any settings or features to control that. AA is very limited in what you can customize or change.

You should try AutoMate, at a glance it looks like a better standalone option than AA:https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bitspice.automate

I left my Bandit at my old place for a few days when I moved to where I am now. It blew over in a storm and got left there until I got back by which time, water had got inside the digital clocks and corroded some of the circuitry.
At £140 minimum on eBay for used ones even, I didn't bother checking the price of new ones; just ended up buying a handlebar mount for my phone and a GPS speedo app instead (although of course, I still lost the fuel gauge, neutral light, etc.)
 
Yeah, I wish they'd picked it up for me.

If you only have a 5" screen, it sounds like you might as well use Android Auto directly on your phone screen (standalone mode) so that all you need is your phone, the app, and a cheap mount (like this one). That's how I use it. Works best in portrait mode.

I use aCar for Android, it's got a minor learning curve but gives awesome stats / tracking for your vehicle. It also lets you export and import data if you ever need to show it to somebody / to prove something occurred.

I also keep a handwritten diary of gas-fill-ups and other big events in the cars history.

aCar for Android

I have Android and I have been really happy with DailyRoads Voyager (combined with a dash mount).

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dailyroads.v&hl=en

http://www.dailyroads.com/voyager.php

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bitspice.automate

This should cover all of your bases. For the lockscreen part, you want lollipop smart lock or a tasker/securesettings profile, I think.

Hm.... Autoguard Blackbox: has a $2.99 Pro version that allows YouTube uploading and multitwindow. Thanks for letting me know, I'll look into it.

It's actually just my galaxy s5 mounted behind my rearview mirror. I use an app called "Autoguard" to take the vid and it tracks my speed as well.

In Google Assistant: "OK Google. Let's drive."

I don't know if that's working at the moment, but that's what they're replacing standalone AA with. https://www.google.com/search?q="google+assistant"+"driving+mode"

I've also seen people mention a third party alternative called AutoMate, but I haven't tried it myself.

> A lot of podcasts have ads in the middle- which means if you're working out or driving, you have to stop what you're doing to skip them. Very frustrating.

There are Bluetooth media remotes that can work with your phone and clip onto your steering wheel. They don't interface with your car and they're not involved in transmitting or receiving audio. They're just a remote for your phone to control audio playback (play/pause/assistant, previous/RW, and next/FF). You can use them to skip ads in podcasts. They're powered by a watch battery that lasts about 1-2 years.

The one I like is called BT-005 and you can find it on Amazon, sold under various Chinese brands. There are other ones too, but what I like about the BT-005 is the buttons are physically separate, so I can use them by feel without looking.

I have a magnetic phone mount. My phone connects via aux and runs the Android Auto app in standalone mode (directly on the phone screen, so I don't need a head unit), which is set to turn on Bluetooth when the app launches (so that I can use the remote). My podcast app is Pocket Casts. All this together allows me to safely have several modern infotainment features in an older car that has no smarts at all. Holding down the play/pause button on the remote triggers OK Google (and perhaps Siri, but I don't know).

I faced the same issue recently (single presses on home button being interpreted as long presses). Turned out that a 3rd party app incorrectly "hooked" home button (DriveMode in my case. It had been not very easy to investigate however.

Actually, if you have an android phone, this dashcam is free. You can get the pro version for about 3 bucks . It saves automatically, you can set recording time, resolution, save it to your YouTube channel automatically or your memory card. Has google maps overlayed on top of camera on one side you can still use GPS for driving. I have this; it's bloody awesome. You can even leave the dashcam running while the car is off, and it will keep recording. Autoguard - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hovans.autoguard&hl=en

Android auto can now run on any android phone or tablet above lollipop as in the interface itself on the device no head unit needed https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.projection.gearhead&hl=en

I've recorded ~20 minutes at 1080 before. I generally don't record clips longer than 15 minutes because then it counts against your storage space in Google Photos.

One other thing you can look at is using a dashcam app which will automatically split the video into whatever lengths you want. I've used https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hovans.autoguard&hl=en on multiple phones including the 6p on many hours-long drives without issue. The paid version lets you run it in the background or screen off as well.

£0

I use a dash cam for every journey, even a 5 minute trip to the shop. I was in a crash a few years ago which was not my fault, didn't have a dash cam, took 2 years to get cleared up in court (100% liability for them), but this dash cam footage almost certainly would have cut out a lot of the bullshit towards a resolution a lot sooner.

Here's what mine looks like (slightly worse quality due to rendering and gfy'd): https://gfycat.com/TightDeafeningHarlequinbug

I have a dock and charger for my phone in my car, I just installed DailyRoads Voyager on my phone and I just hit record every time I start the car. Takes about 7 seconds of setup before my journey but it's worth it. My car streams all my music via bluetooth even when the dashcam is running, it's perfect.

I'm still using a Samsung Galaxy S4, it'll look even better with newer phones. But that's still pretty great quality IMHO, and doesn't cost £100.

There are apps that make this pretty easy. Car Dashdroid is one I like, AutoMate is another.

This is the app I use. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hovans.autoguard

You can try the paid version for free for a week from within the free version. Best performance on Android 5.0.1+. There is an iOS version also.

How about AutoMate? It mimics android auto, but currently in beta.

Join the Google+ Beta Group in order to apply for becoming a beta tester, and download the app.

At about 95/5 city/highway driving, I've averaged about 24.9 mpg over the last 3 months. Avg cost $2.34/day and $0.11/mile.

I use aCar to track my fill-ups and service records.

I use AutoGuard (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hovans.autoguard&hl=en).

Its set to record once the phone starts receiving power (which means the car is on). And I have it set to allocate 24 GB of the memory for video recordings and it just deletes the oldest video when it runs out of space and it takes videos in 15 minute intervals. So I get more or less 8-ish hours of driving.

I recommend buying Pro for the ability to record with the screen off. The GNex just burns up if its recording with the screen on. It runs cool otherwise.

Nu e recomandat (pe langa faptul ca e limitat, te poti trezi si cu contul blocat pentru mock location - in avion, de ex).

Foloseste asta: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.binarytoys.speedometer

I installed DailyRoads Voyager on my Android phone, mounted on my dash, so I can record my drives without buying a separate dash cam. I was in an accident on Carnegie last summer when the other driver made a right to from the center (turning) lane while a big van in the left lane completely blocked them from my view from my position in the right (curb) lane. Got the whole thing on video, which helped my insurance agent get the other driver's policy to cover the damages pretty quickly.

Well, it is less convenient but you could still download Android Auto (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.projection.gearhead) and launch it whenever you are driving. Might even be able to launch it with an NFC tag that you stick somewhere in your car.

EDIT: I just re-read your reply, if your phone uses bluetooth to make the connection you can still go into the settings in Android Auto and have it auto launch whenever it connects to your FM transmitter. It can be any bluetooth connection, doesn't have to be a car.

Android Auto

When you connect to the car it goes into a car friendly mode. Should solve your issue.

I am a Google Voice user with an S7.

• Phone calls when dialing out work less than 50% of the time. With any other launcher, they always work.
• No Waze support.
• 10-20% of the time Google Maps navigation has interface glitches. The top bar won't hide, or the bottom bar will be hidden behind the Android Auto buttons. Turning the app on and off fixes this, but is a distraction.
• No voice initiated "OK Google" control.
• Button initiated voice control does not show interpreted text, so mistakes are harder to correct.
• Dialer does not have contacts access, it is just a number pad.
• No option to turn it on only when connected to a power source.
• Can't organize or swipe away cards.
• No option to see the native notification area.

I used it for a few weeks and then went back to Car dashdroid, which solves every problem listed above.

Automate car dashboard

Android auto

Might fit your needs.

I've been using Fuelio for years, primarily for seeing my fuel mileage but also to keep records of repairs. But it can also do reminders no problem. Very materialized design and has cloud backup support.

AutoMate will, if you set it to leverage Google for voice recognition. It also has a really beautiful interface, resemblant of Android Auto.

~~Linkme: AutoMate~~ Edit: AutoMate

>u/ckruijntjens - lineageos 18.1 android car can not make phone calls ...los 18.1 on my oneplus 9 pro...

Are you talking about Google's Android Auto?

Which GApps package did you install right after LineageOS?

Are you using the LineageOS stock Phone app?

Something like this could work (for android).

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dailyroads.v

>Key features:

>- Continuous video recording, with user-defined length and video quality; sound can be included - User-defined storage space on the SD card with cyclic recording; i.e. the card never fills up - One-touch video protection allows you to keep video files for interesting road events during the whole journey

Not an option in the rider app currently. Use a third party like Fuelio which you can use to track all spending on your car and has a live GPS tracker mode.

​

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kajda.fuelio&hl=en

You're very uninformed. There is also an Android Auto app, which enables the same simplified layout, but on your phone instead.

Also Spotify itself can detect when you blueooth to modern car radios, and goes into "car mode" itself, which not only keeps the screen on, and simplifies the UI, it also has the option to integrate Waze.

Your information is about 5 years out of date friend, and you're being very aggressive about denying your own ignorance.

For Android AutoGuard rated 4.2 price free-2.99

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hovans.autoguard&hl=en_US

For Apple Smart Dash Cam free with in app purchased rated 4.5

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/smart-dash-cam/id1019175347

I've not tested any of these apps

This is only for headunit where Android is their OS. If your HR-V has Android Auto, then all you need to do is download the Android Auto app on your phone and plug it in.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.projection.gearhead

Get the Android Auto app https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.projection.gearhead

Set it to autolaunch when it connects to your car's bluetooth and get a phone mount for your phone

Not true! Get the Android Auto app https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.projection.gearhead

Set it to autolaunch when it connects to your car's bluetooth and get a phone mount

From what I understand, instead of displaying the Android Auto UI, you want to use the phone <- -> headunit communication protocol to show something else on your headunit's screen.

As far as I know, this is not possible. There are open source software solutions that let you (more or less) show any Android App on your headunit screen "a la Mirrorlink" by adding a homebrew app to the AA menu, but the development is stall and there are problems making the phone recogize the touches in the car's screen.

https://forum.xda-developers.com/android-auto

IMO, a Mirrorlink-enabled headunit provides a better solution for you. You could mirror your phone's screen and make an AndroidAuto-like app (or use something Like AutoMate) with more customizable stuff.

I've used Drivvo for a few years now, it works great. You can also have multiple vehicles in it. Keeps track of everything.

Has a premium version, it's a one time fee. I eventually bought it, but I don't recall hitting any limitations or annoying ads on the free version.

Drivvo

Edit: now a subscription based app

I use Android Auto. It's not the same, but it does have some excellent features! (It was buggy for a while, but it's been updated and doesn't crash like it used to - in case anyone had that issue.)

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.projection.gearhead

Not at all. All of the software is on your phone, you plug your phone into your car, it just uses the car's infotainment center as a touch screen display for your phone. Audio gets routed through your car's speakers, etc. You can control everything with your voice via Google Assistant.

In fact, you don't need a car with Android Auto to use it now. You can install the standalone app on your Android Phone. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.projection.gearhead and then use it with a car phone mount (that's what I did before I bought my new pickup, though the experience is better when it's all integrated into your car).

As far as I know Waze hasn-t added support for standalone Android Auto yet. I use Drivemode for now until they add that functionality.

Ich unterscheide mal fix zwischen drei verschiedenen Einsatzmöglichkeiten bei mir:

Daheim

• Timer beim Kochen stellen (kann Cortana aber auch)
• Apps starten während ich Dinge in der Hand habe
  

Im Auto

• während der Nutzung von Android Auto eingehende Nachrichten beantworten
• Routennavigation
• Anrufe tätigen

Bei Headsetnutzung

• Anrufe tätigen
• Musik Applikation starten

Grab yourself a phone mount and run the Android Auto app while you drive. I believe it has most if not all of the same features as the build in version.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.projection.gearhead

I got excited when they released the Android auto app but I ended up going back to Auto-Mate. It has more features than Android auto.

I have only tried DailyRoads Voyager and AutoGuard Dash Cam. AutoGuard requires the Pro version to run in the background, so I haven't used it as much. DailyRoads has worked well so far.

Just say, "ok google, send text to [person] I'm on my way home".

You don't need a special app.

Also, there's Android Auto if you're playing with the auto apps.

I'm currently in the process of doing this. I'd recommend Timurs Kernel with the 2013 Nexus 7 (kernel is currently free until 21st january https://timur.mobi/timurs-kernel-v4/) and the App AutoMate (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bitspice.automate&amp;hl=de) as the user interface. You could also use Android Auto since it's standalone now as well, but I like the features of AutoMate more.

There are already apps that do this. e.g. Android Auto (available for all devices). The issue is making users use them.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.binarytoys.speedometer&amp;hl=en

This is what I use. not that its good, but its what works. free version is all you need. If you like others, check out the similar section to see what else the store has to offer.

Minor text fixes: https://www.dropbox.com/s/k9s4veek4obf7r1/SDf.png?dl=0 this is what it looks like after setup. Like all other overlays, your breaking the TOS if you are using it. but its weakly enforced from past experience.

Since my car does not have Android Auto:

1.) Tasker is set up to enable car mode when I connect to my car's Bluetooth.

2.) AutoMate will set itself as my launcher when car mode is enabled and set my original launcher as the main when car mode is disabled.

I use aCar for more than 2 years. user /u/Williamfoster63 mentioned it also.

Many options, you can modify intervals, set reminder by mileage/km and/or time, add parts, add refilling intervals and it will calculate your average, add the gas station from where you filled (need internet connectivity), having statistics, charts; overall knows to do a lot of stuff.

I left the google play link for the free app; you cannot perform backup while the full app gives you this option.

And I do have also an excel file saved on my google drive, adding there also; not adding the fuel but just to keep track of my parts which and when were replaced.

This reminds me that I need to add some service intervals which I didn't do it because... lazy.

If you like, I can upload some pics to see how my Browse Recs looks like.

Cheers.

Responsive dev. Very customizable. Has every feature you can think of that you might want for tracking vehicle expenses. App has existed forever. Had I not lost my data (my fault, not the apps), I'd still be using it.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.zonewalker.acar

Look into the android app AutoMate: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bitspice.automate

I use it on my phone, but you could probably mount up a 6-7 inch tablet to nice effect. The full version (~$5) even lets the app replace your home screen launcher.

Download AutoMate. It apes android auto. ~~If you're rooted~~ If you go premium, you can even have it replace your launcher which would be perfect for a dedicated infotainment system.

I don't know how perfect the material design is, but Fuelio has been amazing to me so far, and it's free.

Fuelio on Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kajda.fuelio&amp;hl=en (edited to add link properly)

The application is currently unavailable in India. Maybe it'll be available after Mahindra/ someone else launches a car with the tech.

Time to get rid of our Nano.

Really weird?

Your Android phone, if mounted properly, can be a dashcam with GPS

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dailyroads.v&amp;hl=en

as well as car ahead distance monitor, collision warning, and lane departure warning

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.picitup.iOnRoad&amp;hl=en

DailyRoads Voyager <--Captures video with audio, can take periodic still images, overlays with gps information for both location and speed (not in the video itself, but as metadata you can see when viewing the recordings in the app), time stamp etc etc. It's not entirely free for the full version, but it's just a few dollars. Considering how much it can save you it's a very worthwhile investment once you verify that it works the way you want it to on your phone.

I use Android Auto daily, with an AtomXL, and had no problems. You do need to have the Android Auto app installed (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.projection.gearhead).

I get an occasional message saying that Bluetooth has disconnected, but it has little impact on the experience - the music continues playing and maps keeps directing me, so I've blamed the car for that one.

Drivvo is a great option. I've used it for a long time. It also allows you to track expenses and set reminders for maintenance.

Oh i'm familiar with that, and Torque, i had a setup for all of that in my last vehicle. AutoMate is a personal favorite: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bitspice.automate&amp;hl=en_US

If i were to mount the screen in front of the vent so that i could hide the wire there, then it would block the air. If i put the screen behind the vent, then the wire would definitely be visible, which i don't want. Also, i've gotten really used to not having anything in my view except for the road while driving. It's great at night.

If your car doesn't suppprt it, then I highly recommend an app called DriveMode, which I use every day. If you try it, take the time to go through all the options, including the ones being tested. You can really customize your in-car experience far more than with Android Auto. And you can use it in conjunction with AA too if you're ever in a car with it.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.drivemode.android

I bought the phone holder for my '97: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01B6JR9LQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_9VMkDbY669MZ3

And I use this app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hovans.autoguard

I'm sure there is an app for iPhone users.

I'd be curious to hear you experience with AutoMate: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bitspice.automate ? The interface is, from what I remember, an Android Auto-clone. It's been a while since I used it. When I learned that the handset version of Android Auto was being sunsetted, I immediately recalled the app. Have you tried it before?

I used to just run Spotify when I was driving, then they also came out with a Car Mode, but it looks like a 3rd grader designed it. I used to use an Android Auto clone a while back called AutoMate, and it was nice. Might try going back to it. Had lots more customization options anyway. Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bitspice.automate&amp;hl=en_US

It's a thing where some car manufacturers instead of having their own designed UI and OS for cars with those screens, it runs a specially made version of Android with Google Assistant, music apps, etc. All made for cars and running off Android.

You can get this if you don't have a newer car with the Android Auto app, and just having your phone on like a clip. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.projection.gearhead

Another option that I feel works far better than Android Auto (particularly when mounting your phone as the display) is the Drivemode: Handsfree Messages And Call For Driving app. This is especially true if you use Android Auto for navigation, as apps like Waze are very crippled when run through AA than when run on the phone itself. I spent quite a bit of time when I moved to Android from Windows Phone trying to mimic the simple hands-free messaging experience that AA just didn't deliver, and Drivemode beats all the other similar apps in the Play Store hands down. Drivemode can read incoming messages from all major messaging providers (SMS, Messenger, WhatsApp, Signal, Skype, etc.) and allows you to respond entirely by voice (it mentions itself in responses by default, but if you like how it works, it's a ridiculously cheap in-app purchase to make that go away). Oh, and if you like the Android Auto experience, you can still use Drivemode in conjunction with AA to let you respond to messages and answer calls hands-free.

Not sure what the Note comes with - but if you are already using a Google account, a lot of Google's apps are really great to use on your phone - and can fully replace products like Microsoft office for individuals. My wife and I use Google drive, photos, keep, sheets, docs, slides, contacts, and calendar extensively. Even before I was married I found these to be incredibly useful because collaboration is easy and you aren't tied down to particular machine.

When I had the Note 3 I remember being a lot happier when I changed the launcher, as others have mentioned.

Probably my two favorite apps to use that are only on Android are Android Auto (for longer trips in the car) https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.projection.gearhead and Calculator++ https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.solovyev.android.calculator

If you have an Android phone, and don't mind using a Google app, Android Auto can be configured to disable WiFi when connecting to a specified Bluetooth device. It will then renable it when you disconnect from Bluetooth.

If you don't like using Google apps, a similar result can be achieved using Tasker.

I haven't used it in ages, and it's been bought from the original dev, but aCar was always solid and looks like it is still actively developed.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.zonewalker.acar

I don't doubt it and that's great if you have a CarPlay or Android-Auto ready car. I'm talking about the Android Auto phone app that presents a nice, simple UI while driving on the phone. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.projection.gearhead If all you have is BT enabled car audio - this app is fantastic.

I track mileage and vehicle expenses using Drivvo, but Fuelio is okay too. Yesterday my vehicle ran 9.76 km/liter.

Speed traps are very common, and the police do not bargain.

Say in the car if you're pulled over, cops are not nearly as friendly as NZ.

Never ever drive straight off a green, check first.

Otherwise normal driving stuff.

Worth investigating a dashcam/using your cellphone as a dashcam in the interim. Daily roads Voyager for Android is good.

Don't forget to take photos/do a walk around of your vehicle before driving off the lot, or just don't be a cheap cunt and buy the no-excess insurance option, in which case they tend not to give a fuck.

I had debated that as well, but I much prefer a wired solution if possible. Sometimes wireless gets weird when driving and can cut out (not often but i'd rather eliminate the possibility if i can). Plus with this setup, i only have one cable going to my phone. I also installed a touch "overlay" in the factory head unit (the car doesn't have a touch screen normally) that feeds back the touch info to the phone via bluetooth. Couple all of that with google assistant and an app like AutoMate and you've got a really flexible info system that doesn't require you touching your phone at all.

Automate: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bitspice.automate

Android Auto: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.projection.gearhead

Check each to see what it's actually compatible with. I don't think anything reads emails aloud, leave those for when you land.

You can download Android Auto which presents a simplified user interface (with voice controls) that limits apps to Maps, Music, and Phone.

On Android your options are DPI scaling (root required unless you have a device that allows it).

Other option is Android Auto. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.projection.gearhead&amp;hl=en

I'd highly suggest looking into AutoMate, it's a full blown launcher that works extremely well with Spotify and all sorts of other! I love it on my tab 4. Also, I had a profile setup similar so it turns the tablet screen on but automate actually handles all that too!

What sort of phone do you have, using something like Android Auto you can have hands-free control. I assume there's an Apple equivalent. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.projection.gearhead

Actually, if you have an android phone, this dashcam is free. You can get the pro version for about 3 bucks . It saves automatically, you can set recording time, resolution, save it to your YouTube channel automatically or your memory card. Has google maps overlayed on top of camera on one side you can still use GPS for driving. I have this; it's bloody awesome. You can even leave the dashcam running while the car is off, and it will keep recording. Autoguard - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hovans.autoguard&amp;amp;amp;hl=en

I have the same problem. It was annoying enough to make me try an alternative app. I'm using AutoMate with better success, until they fix this issue.

Ok well, kenwood have a few Android Auto headunits (I'm picking on up myself) the Headunit itself (AFAIK) do not have ODBII connectivity. Kenwoods however (Again AFAIK) can hook into the reverse camera, but it is depends on your car, I think the kenwood one hooks into the CANBUS.

As for ADBII not sure why you would want this in a headunit, if you want it so you can use apps like Dash commander or Torque, Android auto is not for you. AFAIK these apps will not work on Android auto, as the apps on android auto run off your phone.

What I suggest you do is Grab the android Auto app Here, Install it, and try it yourself. The experience on the phone will be similar to what the headunit can do.

I use Ulysse Speedometer. not that its the best but the fact that it works. you just need the free version for the ads are not too much of a problem. it has some setup to it. but if it becomes too much, there is always others in the store. NOTE: Overlays use is breaking the TOS. but from my experience with ingress, its lightly enforced.

Thanks a lot! I think that's exactly what I was looking for.

I may not need that second part, which looks to turn off BT on connection disconnect. The car app I'm using (Automate, which I'm liking the best out of the several I've tried) has a few built in exit tasks (disable BT, enable wifi, etc), but I'll test thsi out too.

Thanks again!

It's been a while since I've looked into alternatives.

It looks like Automate and Drivemode are worth looking into as well.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bitspice.automate

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.drivemode.android

It's been a while since I've looked into alternatives. It looks like Automate and Drivemode are worth looking into as well.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bitspice.automate

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.drivemode.android

On my 3rd visit back to the VW dealership and after threats of using the lemon laws to force VW to buy back the car at full price, they finally replaced the head unit (apparently it cost them $1,100). Freaking boo-hoo! It works now. Hopefully when I get my s7 next month, I won't have the same problem.

Also check out the Android Auto app comments:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.projection.gearhead

There are 100+ comments on how VW Android Auto does not work with some Samsung phone so it is a well-known problem. Scumbags at VW are hiding yet another embarrassment......at least this one doesn't kill the environment.

I use AutoGuard Dashcam - Blackbox, I paid for the full version via google rewards money. As for the mount I used the case that was provided with the Moto E (exclusive to Verizon Prepaid model) and attached a 1/2" strip of bent/partially curled/hook shaped sheet metal attached via super glue (sand both contact surfaces to get the best joint). I just took that and hooked it onto my headliner, where it meets the windshield with a piece of 3M double sided tape and it worked perfectly. The factory shaded area of the front windshield, which helped hide the camera from plain view to prevent people from wanting to break into my car for the phone.

I also got one of those wide-angle attachable lenses from eBay for $1 and hot glued it directly to the device to give me a bigger field of view. Couple that with home made micro usb cables attached to standard car chargers directly wired to the fuse box.

In total I think it costs about $29 per car, which includes a 64gb MicroSDHC card.