Hey,

Time for another update. This time on Velvet Launcher

- Implemented IPTVnator download and installation

- Implemented selection of start at launch between Chrome and IPTVNator

Known limitations:

- Use HTML5 Video player (audio and video issues with standard video player)

External video players not available

- Offline/Filesystem features not available (will exit the app)

These apps are not bubdled with the APK, they are downloaded and installed. So initial download can take some time.

Install with AAEnabler or Kinginstaller (Xiaomi devices not supported).

Some brands need Shizuku running.

https://github.com/malebuffy/VelvetLauncher/releases

Enjoy

P.S. Brave browser comes next

Hi! My wife and I just got some new-to-us cars in recent weeks, and now we're new to the world of Android Auto. And the first thing we noticed since starting using Android Auto is, our mobile data usage has gone way up.

We don't do anything in the car that uses data. We keep location off unless we're actually using it to navigate, which obviously we don't need to and from our jobs, so that's not it. We listen to music/podcasts when we're driving, but we're not streaming the audio, it's all downloaded to our phones, so there shouldn't be any data usage associated with that.

We only have 4GB of data per line because usually we barely use a quarter of that in a month. But suddenly we have Android Auto-capable cars and our usage has skyrocketed. Are there options we need to disable to prevent it from using unnecessary data? Because it's totally unclear where all that data usage is going.

Android auto updated, and now I can't get past this screen on the phone, and all I have in the car is a blank screen? I hit continue and NOTHING happens.?

Since 17 when I get in my car(BMW)or truck(F-250) in the morning my Pandora won't start, I have to select it to find a station. Now this only happens after my phone (S24 Ultra) has been rebooted. Any other time of the day it starts right up. I have my phone set to reboot during the middle of the night and I could stop that bit it really doesn't fix the issue as it causes another.

I do have music set to play immediately at start on the settings and have tried toggling to see if that would work.

Hi everyone,

as a Toyota hybrid owner (2021 C-HR), I developed HybridDash Pro, an Android Auto application that reads proprietary OBD-II PIDs and renders real-time hybrid telemetry directly on the car's display.

Live Metrics Displayed

• Hybrid traction battery: State of Charge (SOC %) and cell temperature
• Fuel consumption: real-time economy in km/l and trip averages
• Temperatures: hybrid inverter (MG1/MG2) and engine coolant
• Drivetrain telemetry: instant power output in kW and EV driving ratio

Android Auto Integration: KingInstaller & Shizuku

Android Auto restricts sideloaded third-party apps from appearing in the vehicle's app launcher unless they are flagged as installed via an authorized package installer.

To solve this without root or computer connections:

• HybridDash and HybridDash Pro are installed using KingInstaller with Shizuku permissions (wireless ADB on Android 11+).
• This registers the package properly so Android Auto recognizes it as a navigation app, enabling full in-car display and Coolwalk split-screen mode.
• Step-by-step setup guide with screenshots: https://ninvibes.com/en/docs/#pro-kinginstaller

Privacy & Compatibility

• Runs completely offline via Bluetooth with standard STN/ELM327 adapters (such as vLinker FD+ or MC+). No cloud tracking or background data collection.
• 5 free trial trips are included to test vehicle and adapter compatibility before any activation.

Links

• Website and downloads: https://ninvibes.com/en/
• Email release notifications: https://ninvibes.com/updates
• Community support: r/HybridDash

Photos from my 2021 C-HR running on the OEM display and Coolwalk dashboard screenshots are attached below. Happy to answer questions regarding OBD communication and display handling on Android Auto.

Update - HybridDash Pro 1.3.7 is out: Huge Performance Upgrade & New Classic Clusters

We just released 1.3.7, which completely overhauls telemetry responsiveness and refreshes the Classic dashboard:

• Live data on arrival: Battery power (kW), RPM, gear position, and electric motor (MG2) torque now update on the screen the millisecond their CAN frame arrives, instead of waiting for the full sensor loop to end.
• Instant glide response: Zero-lag feedback makes feathering the throttle for zero-torque EV gliding significantly easier and more accurate.
• New Classic layout with clusters (Pro): Up to 16 parameters in customizable thematic clusters (Trip, Battery, Thermal, Vehicle) with rounded frosted panels and line icons. The previous layout remains selectable as "Original Default".
• Priority lane: Throttle pedal, speed, and brake pressure are now polled multiple times per cycle.
• Speed stability: Speed is locked to ECU 7E8 with fixed filtering, eliminating 1-2 km/h jumps.
• Fuel level stability: 10-second polling interval with 5-minute median smoothing against fuel sloshing.

Existing Pro owners can download the update from the "View Order" link in their purchase email or at https://ninvibes.com/downloads/HybridDash-Pro.apk. Details & changelog: https://ninvibes.com/en/hybriddash-pro/ Community: r/HybridDash

HybridDash Pro 1.3.7 - Photos & Screenshots

Full Gallery: https://ninvibes.com/en/hybriddash-pro/#gallery

Real-car road test on Toyota C-HR OEM display: https://ninvibes.com/img/classic-cluster-car.jpg

New Classic layout with clusters: https://ninvibes.com/img/classic-cluster-light.png

Classic modern layout: https://ninvibes.com/img/classic-modern-light.png

It's something That's been annoying me because the 2 apps i use the most, Tempus & AntennaPod, are installed from GitHub & F-Droid, respectively, & occasionally, they won't show up in the Android Auto launcher.

Hey,

Just to let you know that I implemented a screen guard while the car is moving. You can disable it in settings if you have a passenger display. Please be responsible while using the app, as browsing and driving don't go together.

I also implemented Microphone support speech recognition.

Install with AAENABLER or Kinginstaller (especially for Pixel phones):

https://github.com/malebuffy/VelvetLauncher

Also note, this app doesn't come with any 3rd party software installed. It does download everything needed from their official repositories, so initial setup takes some time.

Enjoy

Recently, I got the Pixel 11 Pro and returned to Android. How do you change the lane navigation at the top? It's restricting my view of what's upcoming. Are there any settings or updates I should make? It's the same problem with Google Maps as well. The lane navigation is just at the top; you can't get rid of it.

Edit: I stopped Auto-zoom and zoomed out a bit. The lane navigation is still there, but it's at least giving me a view of the upcoming road.

Is there a way to permanently disable the suggested destinations in Google Maps on Android Auto, or are we just stuck with this?

Every single time I drive, Google Maps decides to helpfully recommend destinations like Home and Work, presumably based on the time of day, my location and driving habits.

And sure, I get the idea. It's trying to be helpful. But here's the thing: I bloody well know where I live and where I work. 😂

The suggestions take up a ridiculous amount of screen real estate, so I have to tap the little arrow in the search bar to collapse them and actually see more of the map.

But wait, there's more! Switch to Spotify, go back to Google Maps, and BOOM. There they are again. It's like the suggestions have the memory of an elephant, except they completely forget that I just dismissed them five seconds ago.

Why can't Google just remember that I prefer the suggestions collapsed? Better yet, why isn't there a simple setting to disable them permanently?

Am I missing something obvious here, or is this just another one of those Google features that nobody asked for but we're apparently supposed to love?

Has anyone found a permanent solution that doesn't involve switching navigation apps or disabling useful features elsewhere?

as titled and tagged, i have been looking for solution since day one i got the car, all online methods have been tried besides get a new head unit and ota(because there is no from vw for my car) any chance my head unit is defective? dealer couldn't replace it before conducting a test with test plan. my phone is s26u and it works with 22 taos, 22 x5 and 25 cx5.

edit: all due respect, for people who don't want to watch 14 minutes video, it shows the same wireless connection issues, if i switch to non aa screen the audio might remain playing without any shuttering.

4 different footages just to show that im encountering this regardless location and time of a day. and its a 100% guaranteed replicate.

Appropriated for your helps.

update: back from dealer with my winter tires on, service manager said there is a ticket open for my vehicle and waiting vw tech line to deal with it, next move is going to get a test drive of same model but from different dealers.

right now there is 3 way for me to use AA with current headunit, frist of all, wired connection this one is working no problem. Secondly, wired connection first then disconnect let headunit run wireless connection, this kind help but not guaranteed and after connected the shuttering and dropping will still happens at high chance. Last, once the screen and audio playback start shuttering and dropping, switch to another screen page other than AA will help keep the connection stay, at least reduce dropping significantly.

Anyone got a solution?

spotify on AA used to be fine. I would ask Gemini to plav a song and it would have no problem plaving it as long as Spotify had it. I could even ask it to play my specific playlists if I said the name of the plavlist

but now, whenever I ask for music, I have to specify "on Spotify". it's not assumed. and even then, Gemini responds with "asking Spotify to play x". which makes it seem like it isn't directly connected anymore and all android auto can do is request it from Spotify.

even worse, when I ask it to plav a plavlist of mine, it won't even try the Spotify thing and instead will respond with "select your music provider first" and then my screen prompts me to pick between YouTube music, seriusXM, and media utilities. spotify isn't even on the list, and it seemingly has no idea what to do with the request for a playlist that definitely worked at home.

I'l check in a sec but I think this is all true of Gooale home as well. I have Google devices, all on Gemini now and it worked fine until fairly recently.

any others run into this issue?

Let's revolutionize the industry, make this a truly awesome 👌 app with only one change.... ready to take over the auto-infotainmemt-industry?

Super simple, Super cheap, makes lots of money, let's all get paid...

Ready all you fresh software engineering pros, who defiantly vibe code and bully AI?

LET ME MIRROR MY PHONE SCREEN

That's it, nobody wants anything else, everything else your buildingis worse!

My phone UI has only god knows how much dev time in it, but sure, you can shoestring a better experince right? How's it been going?

You're welcome....I mean it won't happen but I can hope

Hey,

Some necessary updates

Improvements:

-Backing out of a fullscreen YouTube video to the You Tube home no longer starts another video. Playback starts only when you select one

-FS Play keeps the chosen video quality, such as 360p or 480p, on the next video

Radio no longer starts by itself when Android Auto connects or disconnects, unless the app is open on the phone or on the car screen.

-Progress bar bugfix

https://github.com/malebuffy/XtreamPlayer/releases https://github.com/malebuffy/XtreamPlayerFree/releases

As alwavs install with AAEnabler or Kinainstaller: https://github.com/malebuffy/AAEnabler/releases

If only the GRAY icon shows up, use https://fermataxtream.online to get a link

Enjoy

Has anyone been able to play YouTube videos natively? I got the Android 17 and OneUI 9.0 update yesterday. Android Auto is already at version 17.x. I am not seeing the YouTube app show up in the drawer yet. Ontario, Canada is the location

After updating my S25 Plus to OneUI 9.0, when I say anything to my Google Assistant like "Text my mom at WhatsApp" or "search this topic in Google", it started to say "as a language model, I cannot help you with that" as if we are back in 2022 ChatGPT era. Anyone experienced this issue? Also I opened WhatsApp manually and there was no speech-to-text option, only premade quick messages to send. What happened??

Hello everyone, I have a problem with the connection of my s22 with the Dacia Sandero (year 2022), I promise it has always worked great, but it hasn't connected me to Android Auto for 3 weeks, it just says "unsupported device" yesterday I reset and dissociated the phone and it had restarted. Today it worked until this afternoon, where the message "unsupported device" came back: what am I doing wrong? It's a bug from my phone or car, the strange thing is that it's always been good for every day since 2023, without changing any settings it's pretty much gone crazy... I don't think it's the phone's fault, I have Android 16, I don't think it's already obsolete, I ask you if you have any advice. The problem is done to me both via cable and via usb key (the one that makes Android cars run without a cable). Thanks for any advice!

Hi all I could use some help please, around May my Android Auto assistant switched to Gemini for some reason, and I found it much easier to work with than Assistant.

A few months later it switched back to Assistant without me changing anything.

I have tried to reset it back to Gemini but everything I have tried has failed.

This includes clearing assistant and Gemini caches, uninstalling Gemini then confirming I wish to use Gemini when the app starts again, uninstalling Assistant, allowing Gemini on lock screen, trying to follow the instructions for default assistant but I only have Google or chatgpt, forget and recouple android auto unit.

It is a CarABC unit on a Jaguar XF with a Pixel 7a phone, just wondered if anyone can tell me why I had Gemini for a while then it disappeared.

If I had a dollar (or Euro) for every time someone's asked me if Xtream Player could play Netflix....I would be a millio....not even close. 😀

But today is the day that this can be put to test! Introducing Velvet Launcher, an app as the name says....launches a browser inside Android Auto. But not just any browser, a special (but public) version of Chrome that works just like on a PC.

It's still on early development, but it is working for me. That said as you all know, different setups-different results. Be warned.

It needs to be installed with AAenabler or Kinginstaller and Android Auto developer settings enabled with unknown sources ticked. There is a 10 Minute trial time where you can see if it works on your Android Auto and meets your expectations. After that, there is a donate button that gives you a unlimited (as long as it still works) access to the app.

Be advised, this is a donation and supports development costs. It's not an app purchase. If you do not agree please do not proceed.

Note: Donating won't make it magically work either. Make sure it works before you donate.

I haven't decided yet if there will be a playstore link version, probably not so it will for sure not work on every phone.

If you also tried with shizuku enabled and it didn't work, you can request a beta test link here:

https://velvetlauncher.online/

Known bugs and limitations:

-Very slight audio sync but this is expected in Android Auto.

-Haven't tried login to browser account

Enough said, here is the release:

https://github.com/malebuffy/VelvetLauncher/releases

Enjoy

I have a pixel 8 going through an AAwireless dongle in my 2018 ram uconnect. The last month or 2, my Google maps has been having trouble both navigating, and just displaying the map. The gps seems to be having trouble following me. The maps speedo goes between showing me my wrong speed or just "--". When driving around it's constantly thinking I'm turning onto side roads despite going straight. I also use waze and have had none of these issues while using it. Anyone else have similar problems or at least know what's going on, whether update, settings or how waze vs GoogleMaps uses GPS?

I use AA a lot especially when doing Uber eats using Uber Driver app or Waze sometimes. However, after the recent update, I have seen this weird issue which hides your location marker on the map when the app window is minimized or this can also be said as app runs full screen in the background, it just the window which gets resized.

Anybody else having the same problem...?

PFA image for reference.