Hello everyone, I am Dutch and new on this forum.
I'm in the happy possession of a Peugeot 508 from 2012.
Since the Here navigation leaves a lot to be desired and I would also have some other software in the car, I'm considering buying an Android Head Unit from AliExpress.
There's quite a few offers, so I have some questions. I hope that someone has experience with the systems or can give me advice.
Just some examples that I found: https://nl.aliexpress.com/item/4001205344015.html and https://nl.aliexpress.com/item/1005001582465605.html
They all claim to be 'plug and play' and units are available for various brands and types of car.
Are these systems substantially different from newer Android systems in current cars?
I have the idea that all brands offered are all equal internally and that only the interface differs. Is that right?
Can a new Android version be updated easily?
All are available with 4Gb OF RAM, 64Gb ROM, Hexa or Octa Core, PX6 CPU, DSP. Are there any things I need to look out for?
I have an iPhone so I would also like to buy a Carplay dongel. Does this work properly?
Are there any other brands that might fit in this car?
Thanks for the help.
Best regards,
Rob
Related
Hello Xda-Developer Members,
My Name ist Robin, I'm from Germany and almost 20 Years old. This is my first post here (since 5-6 years ago), please be patient if my English is not that good or i'm writing in the wrong topic.
I've been customizing HTC Devices almost 5 oder 6 Years ago, so deep in my mind there are some rememberings about flashing XDA's left, but actual i would rather call myself an absolut beginner If you have interesting links or tutorials for me, that can answer my questions, please just post the link. I guess my english is that bad that i don't have the right keywords to find what i'm looking for.
I've bought myself an R56 Mini Cooper S and i'm very happy about this car, except of the Entertainment. The original Headunit has no functions than the tuner,an auxiliary input and a CD-Player. The sound is not powerful ( i already managed to customize and delete the 100Hz Limiter the Radio has for the "Stereo-System-Speakers") as this lays in the low ampfiler power. Upgrades are very expensive (Bluetooth just for calls - 300€ all around- no A2DP Support at all!!) and doesn't satisfy me as they won't work properly ( Problems with ID3-Tags, USB-Storage Sizes...).
Professional Digital Sound Processing (about 300€) requires a MOST-Bus Interface(very expensive). Summing up all togheter, working with the original Headunit will never make me happy at all.
I was looking for some alternatives and found two kinds of upgrade head units, that fit into the original interior design and which seems very interesting to me expecting the functions.. I'd like to ask the professionals here some questions about ist.
Headunit Version 1: Please search on Aliexpress for " ZESTECH New mini cooper car dvd player with gps navigation radio bluetooth steering wheel car dvd player mini cooper ", I'm not allowed to post a link in here
This Headunit is equipped with an ARM11 Processor 800Mhz, 256MB Ram, 128 MB Rom and a custom version of WNCE 6.0.
There are several functions that i would be really interested in- like the GPS Receiver, Bluetooth (With A2DP!) Touch Display, CAN-Bus interface for wheel steering control and so on.
Also i'm afraid of a very slow system ( 256MB Ram and 800Mhz is not very much, isn't it?!), a crappy software design with bad german translation, navigation software that doesn't work properly.... Problems we know from "NoName China Devices"..
So i'm wondering if it is possible to install a clean Version of WIN CE i could customize by myself ? Can i upload the ROM that is installed on the device just to take out drivers? (I guess, i'll have to?!)
I have heard, Windows Phone 7 is based on the WIN CE 6.0 Core. Is it possible to install Phone7 on a WINCE device ? I like the Design of it better than the WINCE- and Windows Phone would deliever a Software store, were i could easily download Apps, i guess.
Would it be possible to install a clean version of Android on this device? In those days i was hacking my HTC, Android actually came on and some custom ROMs appeared that managed using Android on WInMob Devices by using HaRet as "boot loader" , i deeply remember....
Headunit Version 2: Please search on Alieexpress for " Pure Android 4.4 Car radio DVD GPS for BMW Mini (up to 2013) with Bluetooth RDS USB SD IPOD SWC Rearview 3G Wifi Support DVR "
This Headunit is equipped with a more powerful 1,9 Ghz Cortex A9 CPU, 1GB Samsung Ram and 8 GB ROM. Even the quality of the software design and display resolution is much better. Also it has WIFI, a Can Interface, Bluetooth, GPS Receiver, and so on. Another benefit that there is already a version of Android running on it- but it's still no clean version. The description says something about that the google market is installed on the device. Could any problems come up to me that the market won't work properly?
Is it possible to take this device, take the hardware drivers out of the original ROM and finally install a current clean Android ROM on it?
Can man make the Google Market work? ( I heard there are Problems with self-cooked ROMs and the Google Market- but im only a noob )
I still remember, building a custom rom and make a upgrade ROM work is a big amount of work- but if this is possible it would be worth it, for me and sure for other Mini Drivers since most of them are sad about the bad Entertainment.
Please don't be angry about the large text and maybe some dumba** questions. I did much to find a solution by myself, but still im sitting here without any idea
I'm looking forward for your answers,
Robin
If you want a hackable Chinese headunit, I would recommend the 2 most popular here on XDA:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/and...4-4-2-kitkat-head-unit-newsmy-carpad-t2865525
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2660662
But I don't know how well they or their variants will fit in your car.
If you just want "Android Auto" you can try my headunit app on a tablet: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=60894402&postcount=94
Hey hey! Thank you for your fast response!
The Version 1 Headunit you wrote about is my absolute favourite. very nice thing. Sadly, putting a 2-Din Headunit into my car means a lot of work, and there is still the old command unit for the standard radio that won't work anymore if there is a new sound station installed.
If there is no better solution i'm fine with that. But as long as there are - maybe - head units that fit into the original interior, this would be more satisfying.
A few Minutes ago i sent a Mail to the Customer of the Android DVD radio if there are any limitations within his android version and if there would be a possibility sending me a clean rom version if i buy the radio. Last point is a high expectation- but who knows
I am getting crazy to find a phone, which will be used in the car with a Kenwood DDX-7025 probably. AFAIK the DDX-7025 supports MHL, with Mirrorlink I am unsure, looks like the 7015 supports Mirrorlink. But I want to use Sygic which needs Mirrorlink 1.1 if I don't want to use MHL. Actually I don't know what I should prefer MHL oder Mirrorlink. So my goal is to buy a phone which supports MHL and Mirrorlink 1.1
The cheapest I found is a HTC One (M8), when I check https://cert.mirrorlink.com/ProductListing/ On the on side it is a little bit above my budget and on the other side, I would prefer a bigger display. Android auto shoul be supported too, which needs Android 5.0 min.
Is there a Sony phone which supports Mirrorlink 1.1. Looks like most Sony phones support Mirrorlink 1.0 only.
As a person who tests car head units supporting MirrorLink, CarPlay and Android Auto for a while now, I can only conclude that MirrorLink (even in the 1.1 installment) is the buggiest of all three. Sadly, CarPlay seems to be the most consistent.
Yes, it is really sad. Do you know any headunit which supports Mirrorlink 1.1?
I've never looked to buy a head unit. I've only been involved in the developing of the project, as a tester. Sadly neither of the projects are launched yet and even if they'd be launched, you'd have to buy the whole car, as they were OEM head units.
Bottom line is, if you want remote UI on your head unit, try to search for something that supports Android Auto or CarPlay (depending on what phone you have or want to buy). Usually, head units that are currently in development will support either all three standards or just AA and CP.
Out of the two standards available for Android, ML needs, as an extra, a certified phone. It also is, from what I've seen, more buggy and generally less stable than AA or CP.
What I want is to mirror any app on the head unit screen and that is hard to realize. Android Auto is Google dominated, I don't want the Google navigation and I am not interested in things like how high is the "Empire State Building". Mirrorlink is limited to certain apps, a catastrophy which apps, especially which navigation apps are allowed. So the only solution would be MHL, what I found out. But with MHL it is very critical with the devices. I read that it stopped working sind Android 5.0
What did you end up with?
sounreal said:
What did you end up with?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good question, at least I forgot the connection between phone and head unit. I bought an Alpine head unit INE-W990BT (including navigation), which I won't buy again because gps is too inaccurate, I assume Kenwood is better and use this for navigation. In case I need more than I use a Zuk Z1, which has an excellent battery, which is mounted below the wind shield.
I have a kenwood ddx9702 and I connect android auto up with my sprint htc one m8 (bad boys ROM s-off). Using MHL it only mirrors phone screen. Using USB I get android auto to work.
Hi together,
does anybody now that HU:
http://xtrons.co.uk/pf75aa4a-7-andr...nction-obd2-for-audi-a4-s4-rs4-seat-exeo.html
I'm thinking to buy that one instead of a Joying because it has Android 5.1. Can anyone recommend it? Is this an MTCB one and will Malaysk's-ROM work with that one? Couldn't find any useful information about it so far.
Many thanks!
Seems to be an MTCD version:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdKcgOxv39s
as you can see on time 0:28
Not speaking only about Android 5.1... but that HU's specs say:
64-Bit Operating System 64-Bit CPU Processor
so it should have a different hardware and software than the current MTCB (and maybe MTCD) HUs with Rockchip 3066/3188 processors which are 32 bit.
Thanks! So their advertising must be wrong. In the video they cleary say it is an rk3188
What would you say? Is this a standard MTCD as any Joying is currently a MTCB? I really like the design but I don't just want to buy anything thats badly supported later by custom roms.
Well, at least from the screenshot it looks like an MTCD head units, so it shouldn't be an MTCB.
BTW, new products advertised specs of these small Chinese manufacturers must always be taken with a bit of caution and before buying it's advisable to ask them for confirmation...
Dasaita (HotAudio) has been released the new MTCD series of Headunits based on PX5 Platform:
OctaCore A53
2GB RAM
32GB ROM
Android 6.0.1 MM
DSP is integrated
More information and photos on:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/an...dasaita-hotaudio-android-6-0-1-ready-t3536790
Manufacturers are moving to this platform and this will be the new standard
Do you think Android board replacement will be an option? I don't own a HotAudio unit but a KD, but the core board design might be compatible right?
gunmoule said:
Do you think Android board replacement will be an option? I don't own a HotAudio unit but a KD, but the core board design might be compatible right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
On the same thread it has been published the Core Splacement video between PX3 RK3188 board to the New PX5....
I think it is possible even you don't have a HotAudio unit.
I think you should keep your MCU from KD in order physical buttons as well any other stuff from canbus could be working
On universal Units ithe replacement could be performed wiothout any issue.
chinglitch said:
Can you provide a link to buy just the board?
I have a Joying MTCD RK3188, I would like to upgrade it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am NOT any representative for HotAudio
So, i guess its my lucky day. This is my current Hot Audio Head Unit
Al Ferro said:
So, i guess its my lucky day. This is my current Hot Audio Head Unit
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don`t know if update or not....
Improved things:
* More powerful and faster Chip
* 2GB RAM
* 32GB ROM
* DSP
MCU is still the same...and it will limit the android part (BT for example) in the same way as RK3188 or INtel Sofia
I think it worths for RK3188 1GB Ram owners, but I own an Intel Sofia with 2GB Ram
Speed: The intel Sofia is fast enough for me... it can handle the apps without noticing lags (where RK3188 get frozen)
DSP: it could be a good addition to improve the sound (that i consider some kind of flat sound now)
32GB ROm: I own 16GB, but with several USB ports...so, for the apps i installed (it is a car device not a phone) is enough for me.
I could perform the update for testing purposes ....
chinglitch said:
Comparing to MTCD RK3188, it is a clear upgrade.
Comparing to MTCD Intel, not so sure.
Comparing to Joying Intel, might be a downgrade (bluetooth).
I.e., chip is faster than RK3188, clearly.
But compared to Intel? Thing is, synthetic benchmarks are useless when crossing to different CPU architecture. After all, even RK3188 has higher Antutu scores than the Intel chip, yet the Intel is *clearly* much more powerful.
A more direct comparison is Nexus 5x, antutu benchmark score about 85000 (more than twice). Nexus 5x is a HEX core 4xA53+2xA57. I don't think that A57 is *that* much stronger than A53 to bring the score up that much higher. So PX5 is still a VERY weak chip. I think that the Intel is a stronger CPU.
And advertising that it has a DSP is silly. DSP is another way to say "sound card". If it didn't have one, then no sound would come out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why is a downgrade from Joying?
Joying has the same limitations by MCU than MTCDs
On Intel Sofia at least i can connect to Standard ODB2 by just changing the PIC code for pairing on the Bluetooth MTCD app
Bluetooth on MTCD works...but on both units (Joying and INtel) the Calling can't be done by voice commands (google now)....and sometimes if trying i lose my sound due to the MCU has blocked the sound as it was making call (but doing nothing)
The only thing missing with these head units is a decent screen, 10inches with @ least 1080P res. Its jarring looking at my phone then looking at the 1024X600 res. on the head unit.
Hoping they will sell the Board separately.
Anybody successfully replaced the old core board with a PX5 board? Where to buy?
I'm very interested, because my unit is very laggy and slow :-/
DieAbrissbirne said:
Anybody successfully replaced the old core board with a PX5 board? Where to buy?
I'm very interested, because my unit is very laggy and slow :-/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For now it seems no one is selling the core board only.
Waiting for any news here for the board.
Hopefully we'll have some news in a few months.
why does the resolution look horrible in the pics op?
irinae said:
Waiting for any news here for the board.
Hopefully we'll have some news in a few months.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess you'll hear a lot more after the Chinese New Year holiday winds up and people go back to work.
Is there any update on this? Also I have been looking around and only can find Android TV boxes with this. Now please excuse my stupidity but is it possible to use the board from one of these?
I messeged hotaudio and they told me tha PX5 core board is 150$ but I sont know if its my unit compatible because I have MTCB not MTCD...
i don't think it would be compatible with MTCB.
I am not even sure if it would be 100% compatible with MTCD.. as the power on ---sleep---resume is a bit different than the PX3 HUs...
e.g the new units as far as i know don't turn off.. (someone correct me if my logic is wrong)
Nomader0 said:
i don't think it would be compatible with MTCB.
I am not even sure if it would be 100% compatible with MTCD.. as the power on ---sleep---resume is a bit different than the PX3 HUs...
e.g the new units as far as i know don't turn off.. (someone correct me if my logic is wrong)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Only can be upgraded from PX· MTCD units (not MTCB or MTCC)
The sleep functionality is written in the ROM and controlled by MCU, so no problem on upgrading from PX3 MTCD
the PX5 Board contains all the Android hardware (EMMC, CPU, GPU, Wireless & RAM). So once changesd you depends on the Rom installed on the new EMMC (which is 6.0 and it does not contain anythinig related to sleep counter)
ikerg said:
Only can be upgraded from PX· MTCD units (not MTCB or MTCC)
The sleep functionality is written in the ROM and controlled by MCU
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this is exactly what i mean.. if you install a PX5 board, then you will have incompatible sleep functionality between the board and the MCU..
you will have an old MCU sleep functionality and you will not be able to control it with the new ROM..
Everybody is waiting i guess for someone to try it
Hello.. I am not sure if i am in the right thread but i have a question.
My HU is MTCD HA V2.44 with RK3188 (RockChip PX3).
Can i update it to a RockChip PX5?
Hello everyone.
My 3 years old 7" Joying Sofia 2gb HU died, and I'm looking for a replacement.
The most important things for me:
- fast performance and stability, which means at least 2gb of memory, preferably 4gb.
- good ANDROID AUTO compatibility, either natively, or good support for the app "Android headunit reloaded" which I've been using all the time on my dead joying unit
- Fast wake up time after sleep, I really don't want to wait a minute for having a working unit once I turn on the car.
I was advised to try the units from DASAITA as they seem to be of higher quality than Joying.
The latest units are based on PX6 while the latest Joying ones are using AIrmont SC9853i CPUs
1) Is there much any difference in terms of performance between PX6 and Airmont architecture? They both have 4GB of RAM.
2) Does the DASAITA units have the quick wake up from sleep as the joying units?
3) Is the ZLINK solution provided in these units a good solution for having Android Auto? I've been using "Android Headunit Reloaded|" app and it has been really good.
5) Is the new built-in DSP available only in the latest Joying models?
Any advice will be highly appreciated!!
Thanks in advance
Anyone with experience with joying and dasaita?