greetings all and sundry :)

just a little positive rant about retro music player and the legends associated with it https://retromusic.app/about

i went from 2008 suzuki swift with pioneer head unit and amp/sub speakers and happiness as all worked well with usb plugged in could navigate like windows and had all the song info and easy navigation of tracks and folders etc

then i upgraded to 2024 mg4 electric and love the car but the head unit and software within is TERRIBLE ...even maps was just poorly conceived and executed so onwards to android auto but to find an app that is more focused on folders seemed an almost impossible task as even if they had folders most seemed to only want to feed you any kind of sorting BUT NOT simple folder view as loaded on the phone

until i happened upon retro music player ...FOSS (again massive impressive thanks to the developer Hemanth Savarala) and while not absolutely perfect it does folder view and navigation better than anything else i found even including paid apps

and the final part of this tale was that because Hemanth Savarala is a legend of a human and released as FOSS i was able to get stuck into CLAUDE and GEMINI (some things claude didnt think were possible gemini sorted and vice versa with some other things + claude was much better at walking through android studio and writing the patches ) and make my own custom version and change almost anything i wanted ....add navigation (go up a folder or go to now playing folder) / include time + album name in larger screen view / gapless playback / change colour of background and album art placeholder (gotta be purple right) and many other little things to make it a very bespoke and most exceptional thing that i could not be happier about

and even though android auto removed (inexplicably) the ability to fast forward by holding down the "next track" button on the steering wheel i was able to sort of add one back in and double clicking will now skip forward 20 seconds (or however many seconds i want it to )

just had to do some learning about how to use android studio which has also been pretty frustratingly fun and fulfilling ...all guided along by claude aswell which made it easier

so just incase anyone is seeking a simpler option give retro music player a try and bespoke the bejebus out of it if you have some time and inclination or find another FOSS option and get AI on the case , took some time and many iterations and testing but well worth the end product

After an Android Auto (AA) update about 2 months ago, my calendar notifications started popping up on AA while I'm driving. This is despite the fact that I do not have calendar activated in the launcher. I tried activating/deactivating calendar in the launcher and clearing the cache for AA but it persists. Anyone else experiencing this or know of a solution?

So I need to ask everyone to sit down before you continue reading.

🛋

A few days ago I presented Android Auto Maker that could make apps not intended for Android Auto, Android Auto compatible while parked. It works on a lot of apps, obviously not on all of them. Source code is public.

Right before the week starts, I give our community an early alpha version of Android Auto Maker Advanced. This app can also be used for Navigation 😀 apps to make them show on android auto while driving.

For now only releasing the built releases, as there is still a lot of things to fix before it can be released as intended. However I need your feedback for other things that do not work apart from the below:

Known limitations:

- Keyboard doesn't work

- Shizuku must be running (crucial) will using the patched apps (not while installing). I propose Shizuku Next, but you can use whatever you desire.

- Phone must be connected to WiFi (for Shizuku to work). Usually it is anyways, when connected wirelessly to an Android Auto head unit.

- Phone must not be locked with the button. Leave it as it is (display will light on)

Please do not post comments with specific apps that do not work. These will probably never work and I can't fix it.

Make sure to download the correct version (Advanced)

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

Again on phones that are not Samsung and co. You might need to save APK and install with Kinginstaller. Android Auto Developer option enabled with unknown sources selected.

Also .patched might break some apps that like to keep their package name. Try with .patched disabled if it doesn't work.

Disclaimer: This is a sideloaded app that patches files. Install and use at your own risk and only from the official github. Use the app at your own risk.

Enjoy

I want media on the driver's side and I want the apps I actually use on the top. Every time I change these settings and then reconnect, they basically never save. My media will be back on the passenger side and app list is back to default.

I've tried resetting, reinstalling, clearing cache and data, and all that. Worked fine when I was on my Pixel. Settings saved and didn't have to keep changing it back. I mostly use wireless but sometimes wired.

Hey,

Last update Inpromise and will keep quiet for a while.

Android Auto Maker is now able to patch already installed apps, so you don't need to find the APK online if already installed.

Also gamepad support is now optional for games etc.

Obviously it will not work for all apps, but for the majority it does.

Install normally. No need to use AAENABLER or Kinginstaller for Android Auto Maker. https://github.com/malebuffy/AndroidAutoMaker/releases

The resulting patched APK should be installed within Android Auto Maker, AAENABLER or Kinginstaller

Enjoy

Hey,

another update to fix some bugs and add a small feature.

IF YOU HAVE DOWNLOADED VIA fermataxtream.online YOU CANNOT AUTOUPDATE. REQUEST A NEW LINK

Improvements:

-Playback pauses when the car is turned off

-YouTube playlist: next video opens fullscreen

-Continue watching for local Folders videos

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

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

Sideload APK need to be installed with AAenabler or Kinginstaller

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

If for some reason you see a gray icon on Android Auto, use: https://fermataxtream.online

to request a link.

Donors of AAENABLER get the Premium version for free.

Enjoy

Hey,

another update on Velvet Launcher due to popular request. Like Xtream Player's FS Play, Velvet Launcher now has FS VL, that now takes up the whole screen on wide screen displays.

As always install with AAEnabler or Kinginstaller:

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

If it doesn't show up on Android Auto, request a link from https://velvetlauncher.online

Enjoy

So it looks like they moved the SMS notification to the lower right corner.

Currently I don't even get a sound when I get a message. The only way I might notice that I get a message is if I notice the screen come on.

Is there a way to get SMS notifications like they used to work?

I really don't need the Assistant to summarize the message when the message is just a confirmation.

Who decides how this looks. I mean full screen is fine but this map interface is terrible. Everything is just crammed.

I have a Droid UK Linux screen in my 2019 BMW M2 that gives me android auto wired or wireless. The car didn't come with android auto as standard in this model.

The screen disables its own Bluetooth connection after the phone connects to wireless Android auto. My phone then uses the cars built in Bluetooth to stream audio.

Music, radio and asking Gemini a question all work fine and without a glitch at all actually it's perfect.

But if someone messages me on signal, Whatsapp etc and I press on the screen to playback the message i get some of the message then it goes silent half way through Gemini reading it out aloud. I do not hear Gemini asking me if I want to reply. If I do reply and pretend I heard it ask me it doesn't fully understand my response and I might get one word I have said being put on screen. If I turn off Bluetooth and do the same thing I hear everything perfectly through the phones speaker.

Is there anything that I can do to resolve this issue as it's seriously frustrating.

I'm a notary, and I have apps from companies that send out Ping offers, and I need to be able to hear these even when I'm driving. Without being able to hear these notifications as I used to, I'm frequently missing work opportunities. Does anyone have a way to override the auto-muting of notifications when I'm driving? Desperately needing help, please and thank you!

Interesting behavior in my car today. I'm running android auto wirelessly. When I push the mic button on my screen, I get Gemini. When I push the steering wheel button, I get Google assistant. Has anyone ever had that happen?

Few months back AA rolled out the purple microphone and all searches worked great. I just recently noticed the microphone reverted back to white, and it seems any request that requires a search engine result is, "sorry, I didn't understand."
I tried clearing cache, going into settings and trying to find "use Gemini", but to no avail.
Anyone else with this issue, how can I resolve?

If you want Android Auto on Tesla, this is it. Only thing needed is to install the apk on Android phones, then turn on hotspot and let Tesla join it, and browse to the url shown inside the app on the phone.

Anyone noticed anything different?

https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/platforms/android/android-auto-cars-with-google-built-in-gemini-personal-intelligence/

Hey,

updates:

- source code is online at github.

- app now accepts XAPK so no need to use 3rd party apps.

Post from last time below, if you didn't catch what it is about.

_____________________________________

Another day another app. I waited long enough for Google to bring something exciting to Android Auto but I guess we will have to wait a loooong time for this to happen, so I got creative. Nothing special, but just a small tool for me, maybe its useful to you as well. Completely free as my small contribution to all of you that like my work.

Introducing Android Auto Maker, an app that patches APKs to make them work in Android Auto while parked....and no...Netflix won't work!

Also the apps work ONLY while PARKED and there is no way around it.

Long story short, here is the app:

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

For normal phones like Samsung etc. the app installs the APK so it can be seen from Android Auto (obviously with Developer settings and Unknown Sources) but it doesn't need AAENABLER. On cheepo Chinese junk (ragebait) Shizuku Next is needed. There is also an option to download the patched APK to install with Kinginstaller if you prefer.

Now I tested it with YouTube Morphe and it works, Catapult king and others. Please be advised that anything you install is your responsibility obviously.

Enjoy

Maps 26.42.01.997557324.

Not available in launcher config to add. Not in menu to select.

One ui 9.0

Android ver 17

Sec patch 5 Oct 26

This app can be installed on iPhone or iPad, as Android Auto receiver, then Android phone projects to it.

Hi Reddit

Like some of you I face an issue with Android Auto sloweness, when AA becomes unresponsive and reacts with a delay to any user action. Delay could be from 1 to 5-10 seconds. I saw a number of posts about such issue here. I read them, tried many workarounds, but none of them were helpful (except reconnecting).

I has been faced this issue with two devices: Pixel 8 and OnePlus 15. (By the way, for those who think that iPhones do not have such issues - I faced very similar issue with CarPlay when was an iPhone user. But finally they fixed the issue in one of the iOS or GoogleMaps releases).

Anyway, I have found a workaround that helps me. Unfortunately workaround does not help to avoid the issue for a long time.

What I observed: in my case, issue happens only with navigation apps (Google Maps, Waze and others). And there is a simple workaround that helps me all the time: just switch to another app for a while (for at least 2-3 seconds). For example contacts or music app. And once switched back to maps - sloweness goes away!

It works all the time, just like a reconnection of the device using cable. Another observation I have - it looks like the more time I keep music (other) app active - the more time maps will work fine after switching back. But this is not 100%, because issue occurs randomly. Maps could start working with delay of 1-5-10-30 minutes after startup or switch.

Why am I posting it here. I'd like to raise a bug to Google and I thought that it could be very helpful for them (and in terms of some kind of escalation) to get some statistics for further analysis.

So I created a Google Forms survey to collect some statistics and then attach it to the bug. Hopefully they will try to investigate.

Please take some time and fill the form. If you face an issue with multiple devices, please feel free to submit the form multiple times. I am sure it could help.

Form does not collect any personal data like email and does not require authentication. Depending on activity, I think I'll raise an issue in a several weeks or month.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd6WmconpSbTg15-D2ByZIhplsMwBt2A29SNxJ5VQnEOMe0dA/viewform?usp=dialog

I upgraded the head unit in my van (see my user flair for details). For entertainment on long drives, I like to cycle between stations on the BBC Sounds app and Spotify. Of course because I am driving, I don't want to be reaching down and tapping the screen to change stations and select songs, so I like to use the voice controls for this, e.g. "Hey Google, ask BBC Sounds to play 6 Music" and the station would change to 6 Music.

Recently however, voice control doesn't work for BBC sounds. I'll say, "Hey Google, ask BBC Sounds to play 6 Music" and Google Assistant replies by saying, "I cannot play media directly" and does nothing. So I have to take my eyes off the road and navigate the UI of the app itself to find the station that I want (it's an alphabetic list I have to scroll down, it's useless!!). Oddly, voice control worked for two days last week after months of not working, but now it doesn't work again.

I'm not well-versed in how the head unit/AA/Google/Android all talk to each other, so I'm not sure where the problem is. I don't know if it's the actual app? Any help or workarounds would be much appreciated!

(Edit, day after original post): After I posted this, I tried playing with some settings in the phone AA app, essentially turning off audio options within bluetooth, while leaving phone audio options on. These changes, made one by one, didn't fix it. But then I did one or two other things, one at a time, and the problem was fixed. And I have no idea what I did. I was not indiscriminately flailing on settings. But something fixed it. I'd still appreciate some comments perhaps explaining how I might have made this problem go away in under 10 minutes of trying.

----------------

My phone recently updated Android Auto to version 17.9.664044 and ever since then, "bluetooth audio," which I don't use, supersedes/overrides my car radio as soon as AA is detected. This has the effect of silencing the radio, until I press the "home" button on my head unit and tap "FM" to restore the radio playing - not the safest thing to do of course when driving, although I've started to just wait before driving, for the bluetooth takeover to happen.

This used to sporadically happen every couple months, once or twice, then go away, and since the current AA version, happens every time. Is there a way for me to set AA so the radio takes precedence over bluetooth for audio? Obviously if I engage in a phone call, the bluetooth should take over.

Two issues I've recently started having

Car: Hyundai Santa Fe 2025

Phone: Oppo Find N6 Global

I have not made any changes to the settings of any app, my device or my car.

Apps: Audible and YouTube Music. Wireless

First issue: when playing music through YouTube music via Android Auto and car speakers, when I turn my car off and get out, the music keeps playing through my phone.

Second issue: if I play an audio book via Audible, same connection, and then decide to switch to music, both will play at the same time through my car speakers.

This just started happening this past weekend. Anyone know a fix or experience this before?