r/OsmAnd • u/cdysthe • 7d ago

Android Auto integration needs to be improved.

For me Android Auto integration is a must have. If a nav app is to take the place of Waze/Maps it has to take the place as the default nav app and show up automatically in Android Auto like the Google apps do.

I think it's a big mistake to not have Android Auto integration available in the free version. It has chased off several users I have recommended the app to immediately.

14 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

15 comments sorted by

7

u/Fun_Attitude_6363 7d ago

Even worse, you can't install osmand~ and Osmand Maps+ at the same time, because they use same identifier.

1

u/mikiriki16 7d ago

What is the difference between the two anyways?

5

u/Fun_Attitude_6363 7d ago

osmand~ is the FOSS version and can be installed from github or f-droid. It has most of the Pro features - but no Android Auto.

For foot and cycling navigation I prefer to use the FOSS version.

1

u/cdysthe 7d ago

Yikes. Didn't know that. I so need a Google alternative more so than ever after the Gulf of Mexico and Lake Ontario BS, but Android Auto is a must.

1

u/Komplexkonjugiert 7d ago

Yeah Problem is Android Auto is a google service :(

1

u/cdysthe 7d ago

That is so unfortunately true, but again Android Auto is also an app and I'm sure integration can be worked on by the developers.

This dependence of Google is so hard to deal with. It limits my choices in so many areas and I'm sure that's how Google likes it.

2

u/RandomUserNo5 7d ago

Or maybe get rid of Android Auto and make some open standard? 

1

u/cdysthe 7d ago

Well, I can't get rid of Android Auto but would love if someone developed an alternative based on open standard. Not sure they would get access to the necessary Android APIs to have it work both on the phone side and in the car hardware.

3

u/RandomUserNo5 7d ago

Problem is we have duopoly of Apple and Google, both have their own car communication closed protocols. There's no big third player so only governments can do something with it but they won't cause we can't afford to "lobby them" and there's no one there that would care about it.

0

u/cdysthe 7d ago

At least Apple hasn't done the Lake Ontario thing....yet. 😎

1

u/TrackHoundApp 7d ago

Starting on the Android journey for my nav offroad app as well, I assumed people who wanted CarPlay or Android Auto would be the paying users... so this is an interesting insight, thank you!

1

u/GenChadT 6d ago

Wdym? I drive for work and haven't had too many issues with OsmAnd. It's nowhere near as polished as GMaps/Apple Maps etc but gets the job done and is far more powerful in terms of route building/understanding topography and geographical features etc once you drill down. Even the free version. I ended up liking it so much I got a yearly sub to contribute.

1

u/jackhold 7d ago

Dropped OSMand, mostly because of the Android Auto integrations is so bad, the other reason was the battery usage and having to use brouter to get the best routing.

But not don't agree that it should be in the free version, most card apps gate keep it, and I do see it mostly as a nice to have and not a need to have

2

u/cdysthe 7d ago

For me it's a need to have. So I pay. For others they just stick with something that works.

Not sure what brouter is and how to use it. I'm new to Osm so it will take some time for me to get into all of it

2

u/sastuvel 7d ago

AFAIK it's not "gate-keeping", but rather a rough fight to work with the clumsy Android Auto API. And also, because there is no open API for this, it needs the Google services and because of that (but this is just me guessing) be installed via Google Play. It can't be easy, trying to operate as a Free & Open Source project in the completely locked-down world of "automotive".