Aston Martin users of Android Auto
Discussion
There seems to be great enthusiasm amongst quite a number of AM PHers, for Apple Car Play and Android Auto.
Some even spending a considerable sum for an after market installation.
I have connected a smartphone using a cable, to a USB socket in a car manufactured by Aston Martin's engine supplier.
When the connection was completed, I was somewhat underwhelmed.
I was expecting the car screen to mirror the phone screen, but I can now see that is not how it works.
On the home screen displayed there are a number of icons including Maps for Google navigation.
The car already has good navigation system (although even with 'over the air' updates, it will probably gradually go out of date) and to make phone calls I can keep my eyes on the road, simply move one thumb slightly to press a steering wheel button, then say "Call Fred Bloggs".
I have a library of music that plays from a USB stick, so that is phone and a choice of music taken care of.
I gather that YouTube cannot be connected, although an unofficial app called CarTube is mentioned in darker corners of the internet. Obviously not to be used whilst driving, which is probably the legal reason for the YouTube app not being available.
What are the fantastic practical uses that others find important, but which I have failed to realise.
Can other apps be added, to those present when first using?
Thank you.
Beats me too... I have two AMi III cars which have both Carplay and Andriod Auto as std.
I tested my first car (V12VS) with it when it came out and was equally underwhelmed and quite frankly I have never used it even once since in the 7.5years of owning that car, nor the 3.5 years of owning the AMR Rapide.
The nav in AMi III is brilliant, it certainly doesnt leave me wanting anything better. The maps are updated at each service so its always reasonably up to date too.
There isnt a single other app I need on my phone that I want on the car display, I have the phone in my pocket if i need it, and quite frankly I fail to see how its any less dangerous using it via the car UI than it is using the phone, so I dont.
Each to their own, but I also really do not get the hysteria about carplay either. but clearly we are in a minority.
I tested my first car (V12VS) with it when it came out and was equally underwhelmed and quite frankly I have never used it even once since in the 7.5years of owning that car, nor the 3.5 years of owning the AMR Rapide.
The nav in AMi III is brilliant, it certainly doesnt leave me wanting anything better. The maps are updated at each service so its always reasonably up to date too.
There isnt a single other app I need on my phone that I want on the car display, I have the phone in my pocket if i need it, and quite frankly I fail to see how its any less dangerous using it via the car UI than it is using the phone, so I dont.
Each to their own, but I also really do not get the hysteria about carplay either. but clearly we are in a minority.
Can’t speak for Android as I find it generally cheap and horrible.
But with CarPlay.
Apple Music. Access to just about every song ever made with very high quality sound. Just say what type of music or playlist you want to hear and it is there. I could not even fathom trying to use a USB. I can’t even remember the last time I used one. Maybe in the 2000s? It was insufferable even then.
Apple Maps. The in car navigation systems are a horrifying experience. The Mercedes one is possibly the worst most confusing thing I have used in my life. It almost takes as long as the trip itself to enter your destination. Apple Maps finds suggestions from my calendar, all sorts of clever stuff. Plus I can route plan beforehand on my phone.
Waze. The navigation isn’t as good as Apple Maps but it has wonderful features like alerting you of where police are, the current speed limit and can chime at a present warning level, potholes, road hazards all sorts of great stuff. Very useful on spirited drives.
Messages. Messages are read to you and you can send messages via voice. Very useful when picking people up etc. Running late and so on. Don’t say you can do this with a phone call as people under 60 find phone calls very rude and intrusive these days.
User Interface. So simple to use and so much better looking. In car systems are usually awful. The Merc one is perhaps the worst I have used in my life. AMiIII that Adam has was quite decent though.
There is more but that’s just off the top of my head.
Oh one more thing. In Australia you will get up to a $1000 fine if you touch your phone while driving. They have phone use detection cameras. This is one of the few things I am totally with the government on.
But with CarPlay.
Apple Music. Access to just about every song ever made with very high quality sound. Just say what type of music or playlist you want to hear and it is there. I could not even fathom trying to use a USB. I can’t even remember the last time I used one. Maybe in the 2000s? It was insufferable even then.
Apple Maps. The in car navigation systems are a horrifying experience. The Mercedes one is possibly the worst most confusing thing I have used in my life. It almost takes as long as the trip itself to enter your destination. Apple Maps finds suggestions from my calendar, all sorts of clever stuff. Plus I can route plan beforehand on my phone.
Waze. The navigation isn’t as good as Apple Maps but it has wonderful features like alerting you of where police are, the current speed limit and can chime at a present warning level, potholes, road hazards all sorts of great stuff. Very useful on spirited drives.
Messages. Messages are read to you and you can send messages via voice. Very useful when picking people up etc. Running late and so on. Don’t say you can do this with a phone call as people under 60 find phone calls very rude and intrusive these days.
User Interface. So simple to use and so much better looking. In car systems are usually awful. The Merc one is perhaps the worst I have used in my life. AMiIII that Adam has was quite decent though.
There is more but that’s just off the top of my head.
Oh one more thing. In Australia you will get up to a $1000 fine if you touch your phone while driving. They have phone use detection cameras. This is one of the few things I am totally with the government on.
Edited by Davil on Saturday 1st June 04:20
Agree with Davil. It’s like a lot of modern tech, you don’t need until you try and it and then you wouldn’t want to go back. I mainly use Waze for navigation- realtime detailed traffic is essential in London and on our regular runs to Devon. Also warns you of speed cameras and accidents. In the DBX that is about all I use it for since I like the radio (old school I know) but in my wife’s Audi we also use Spotify for music - just open the app and say play me some ABBA (kids like it). Just getting into voice to reply to messages too. The Audi is electric so A better route planner (an app) is good for finding chargers. Definitely works better with the Audi touch sensitive screen but Waze is fine in thr DBX, I generally find the destination on the phone and then plug it in.
Only some apps and CarPlay compatible and on the Apple at least you can select which ones show on your car to avoid too many you don’t use.
Only some apps and CarPlay compatible and on the Apple at least you can select which ones show on your car to avoid too many you don’t use.
I've got it installed in my Vanquish. I mainly use it for Waze and sometimes Google maps. I do prefer Waze though for the up to date info' it announces. It's also got the forward facing camera which comes in handy now and again. It's controlled by the original knobs/haptic buttons.
I don't use the voice much, apart from Alexa, which comes with the dash cam.
Here's some of the stuff on mine;
Oddly, Spotify has disappeared and I now have 3 message apps. That needs sorting!
I don't use the voice much, apart from Alexa, which comes with the dash cam.
Here's some of the stuff on mine;
Oddly, Spotify has disappeared and I now have 3 message apps. That needs sorting!
I think AMi III is one of the best infotech sytems I have ever used in any car and it is a shame AM ditched it for Merc tech that does not work as well. Android Auto has worked seamlessly for me, using an ancient Blackberry - here I am showing my true colours probably as that is the best phone I have ever used 
CarPlay here rather than Android Auto, but it's the same deal really.
I had the crap Volvo navigation in my DB9. It once tried to take me to Devon instead of London.
The ability to navigate with Waze, with its real-time warning of speed traps and other hazards, is massively better.
I have half a terrabyte of music on my phone. Literally every song I own. I spent too long organising it, making all the data correct and doing the album art to go through all that again on a USB stick. I've already done it once and I want to use that. I can play all of this from Carplay. The build in iPod interface in the Aston used to crash the stereo all the time and I would have to turn off the car to restart it.
I also have internet radio on the phone, so I can listen to XFM while in France (or Cherie FM while in England).
Yes there is also phone stuff but I never use the phone, and never answer calls. I am one of those mentioned above who hates it. Messages can be read out and replies dictated back, which has been useful precisely once.
I had the crap Volvo navigation in my DB9. It once tried to take me to Devon instead of London.
The ability to navigate with Waze, with its real-time warning of speed traps and other hazards, is massively better.
I have half a terrabyte of music on my phone. Literally every song I own. I spent too long organising it, making all the data correct and doing the album art to go through all that again on a USB stick. I've already done it once and I want to use that. I can play all of this from Carplay. The build in iPod interface in the Aston used to crash the stereo all the time and I would have to turn off the car to restart it.
I also have internet radio on the phone, so I can listen to XFM while in France (or Cherie FM while in England).
Yes there is also phone stuff but I never use the phone, and never answer calls. I am one of those mentioned above who hates it. Messages can be read out and replies dictated back, which has been useful precisely once.
I had the Aston Installations system fitted to my Vantage, it's simple, connects perfectly and the screen mirrors that of my phone. The phone plugs in via a USB cable and I put my phone in the little leather pouch on the front of the seat so it's out of the way and it doesn't distract.
I use Google maps and it works just like Waze, has all the updates Waze has with camera vans, etc., I stream my music through Tidal and also listen to internet radio so as others have said, you can get your favourite stations while abroad. I also have front and rear cameras and as my car didn't come with front parking sensors the camera come in very handily. In my opinion it's money well spent.
I use Google maps and it works just like Waze, has all the updates Waze has with camera vans, etc., I stream my music through Tidal and also listen to internet radio so as others have said, you can get your favourite stations while abroad. I also have front and rear cameras and as my car didn't come with front parking sensors the camera come in very handily. In my opinion it's money well spent.
Gassing Station | Aston Martin | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff