Infiniti & Android Discussion

[Ilya]

As an avid Android user and overall techie (work in IT, so I live and breathe for this stuff/gadgets )...I'm very jealous of people who buy new cars that come with the ability to use Android Auto or people with old cars that can install aftermarket in-dash units which support Android Auto (if I still had my 1999 Maxima, I'd DEFINITELY be rockin AA right now).

So, this Infininti & iPhone Discussion thread got me thinking...there must be SOME way, with the navigation hacks and playing movies on the screen, etc. to install some kind of module that will turn the display into an AA display.

My preliminary search has yielded this product made by Grom Audio (which, if you know of my history in the Y50 forum, I can't stand as I tried one of their early USB integration modules and it was SUPER cheap and flimsy and music output was low quality):

https://gromaudio.com/store/vline/selec ... ystem.html



Here is a video of it in action on a 2009 G35:



I've asked them if it'll work with a 2011 M37/M56 (so presumably if they say yes should work on all Y51's), so we'll see what they say. It's a bit cost prohibitive at $500...but who knows.

I also came across this product on their page for $50...it's a USB cord that allows you to PLUG IN your Android phone instead of relying on bluetooth (which can be spotty):



MicroUSB
USB Type-C

[Ilya]

After a chat with "Jason" at Grom Audio via chat:

The VLine infotainment system does NOT work on ours.

It will not. We may have something in the future but nothing at the moment. The stereo is different then what we currently support. Video signal, touch screen, connectors, cables, wiring all different. We are working on model to support newer Infiniti but wont be out for at least a few months. No one makes anything similar at the moment.

RATS.

I then inquired about that USB cable and this is what he had to say about that:

The cable tricks the stereo into thinking your android phone is a apple device.

When I asked if it works for 'playlists' similar to how my iPod works (where a playlist is basically a 'folder'):

You would need to use our application dashlinq to access music through the stereo but yes.

So, if you DON'T want to use BT...there is the option of a $50 USB cable...but currently nothing else.

[walt1227]

I mentioned this to the group a while back when I was doing a lot of application building. I had my M56 in for axle work about two weeks ago and they gave me a fully loaded QX60 loaner and the system in it was much better with some updated features. I asked the service guy if we could use that head unit in our M since it honestly looked the same. His response was no because of the wiring and the screen being bigger. It looked the same to me and I doubt he really knew what he was talking about. I have always hated cars that have this type of head unit that really can't be changed out but there is a way to make what you are talking about work. Just takes the right company willing to explore the possibilities.

[Ilya]

Do you remember what year the QX60 was? We can try to cross reference the part numbers...maybe something in the name will give it away (like a screen size, etc.).

[Ilya]

So, any of you folks have an Android Oreo (8.0) phone? Got my new Pixel 2 XL and lately I've noticed that, while music playing is 100% fine, if I answer a call I won't be able to hear the person until I switch the phone call from BT to Speaker or Phone and then back to BT. It's weird. Anyone else?

[Kprad12]

So, any of you folks have an Android Oreo (8.0) phone? Got my new Pixel 2 XL and lately I've noticed that, while music playing is 100% fine, if I answer a call I won't be able to hear the person until I switch the phone call from BT to Speaker or Phone and then back to BT. It's weird. Anyone else?

I don't have a android 8.0 phone yet(was a little disappointed by the pixel 2 to be honest) but my android did have some problems a while ago with me not being able to hear or others not being able to hear me. It works fine now so I am assuming yours will be fixed soon.

[Ilya]

I just flashed 8.1 to my phone so we'll see if that fixes anything. Hoping it does.

[Ilya]

Same issue with 8.1. Crap.

[armybrat]

So, any of you folks have an Android Oreo (8.0) phone? Got my new Pixel 2 XL and lately I've noticed that, while music playing is 100% fine, if I answer a call I won't be able to hear the person until I switch the phone call from BT to Speaker or Phone and then back to BT. It's weird. Anyone else?

I've been running 8.0 on my Pixel XL with no issues. If I'm playing music from my phone through BT and I get a call, I just answer it through the steering wheel button. After the conversation, I hang up and the music resumes no problem. I just flashed 8.1 a couple of days ago, haven't tried it though.

[Ilya]

Yeah that's the same thing I do. Weird.

[Ilya]

So the last few times the phone has worked great. I'm wondering if it has something to do with using something like Spotify and then answering a call, confusing the system. I'll have to play with it more and test.

[Ilya]

So I can confirm that the phone doesn't behave properly when transferring from streaming audio to phone call. If nothing is using the phone when a call comes in, the call is fine. UGH.

[armybrat]

So I can confirm that the phone doesn't behave properly when transferring from streaming audio to phone call. If nothing is using the phone when a call comes in, the call is fine. UGH.

I know mine switches back and forth from my music on the phone to phone calls no problem...not sure about switching back and forth from audio services like Spotify, Pandora, Slacker, Tidal, etc. I don't use any of those. I can also go from the hard drive, AM/FM/XM radio back and forth no problem.

[Ilya]

I'll have to test locally media (iPod, CD, AM/FM) and calls next time I'm in the car. My guess is it's only BT Audio <> BT calls that has the issue since it's using the same 'computer' or what not.

[Ilya]

I'll have to test locally media (iPod, CD, AM/FM) and calls next time I'm in the car. My guess is it's only BT Audio <> BT calls that has the issue since it's using the same 'computer' or what not.

I forgot to test this but I did test something else.

I installed "Viper4Android" on my rooted Pixel 2 XL and WOW. My 14 speaker system has NEVER sounded that good in the 3 years I've owned the car. HOLY MOLY! Totally new system.