Has been posted on XDA but seems to have been pulled now:

https://www.xda-developers.com/google-reveals-plan-transform-android-auto-better-looking-cohesive-platform/

Google reveals its plan to transform Android Auto into a better-looking, more cohesive platform

People often cite Android Auto's customization features and open ecosystem as its key advantage over Apple's CarPlay, but one area where the in-car platform lags behind its key competition is design. According to the tech giant, it has plans to change that with its upcoming refreshed Android Auto experience...

I grabbed these screenshots from a 9to5 video covering the upcoming Android Auto and Google Maps update. I wanted to share them with y’all as you may or may not have seen them already.

Curious what everyone thinks about the new Google Maps navigation UI in Android Auto.

Link to video: https://youtu.be/TonCIgs_P4E

Who in their twisted little mind came up with this perverted monstrosity? I feel SICK.

How do we straighten this situation?

It's based off performance monitor but I made it so everything can be custom. You can set custom PIDs, custom icons, custom formulas using an expression editor, and up to 10 dashboards. Check it out. Installation instructions are on the readme. It's called AA Torque.

https://github.com/agronick/aa-torque

If anyone wants to help me with this I could use the help. Even if it is just adding icons in the XML.

Yeah, obviously...

I was about to buy myself the AAWireless adapter for my car, but decided to try to make a wireless adapter myself using these instructions and adding a USB too. At first, it did not work, and I was trying so hard to figure out the problem, almost giving up. I thought I needed to change the settings in the code. Turns out my car's USB only reads files in FAT32. So I reformatted the device to FAT32 and added the AAwireless files again, and it started working! I'm just happy it worked before getting a wireless adapter online, and it was a fun little tech project to do (other than getting frustrated on why it wouldn't work)

Version 26.29.02.946673643 Beta Google Maps

Rectangular speed-limit sign: Canada shown in image 1
European style speed-limit sign: India shown in image 2 taken from Android Authority

I finally received Gemini in Germany (Beta Tester since Saturday). It works flawlessly and it's so much better than Assistent. Finally I can give command and ask things in a natural way. Total gamechanger!

Today when I got out in the car I realized that my music player updated, I thought it was much better like this, the music cover got bigger and the forward, rewind and pause buttons became much more ergonomic!!

Now have to have the signal bar again.

For the record, I was stopped in traffic when I took this picture.

I hate that half of the screen is used on these boxes.

I hate that whenever I zoom in with my fingers, the screen is jiggling around, trying to settle on its own location. Let me put it where I want it damnit!

I hate when I zoom out, ya know, to see more of the map (what the people want!), I have another pop-up: "RE-CENTER." Which then blocks my map even more.

Like everyone else, I hate the screen. Please, for the love of Pete, do something with the screen! Can't even see what we need to see--the fucking map!

Rant over.

Like so many Android Auto users, I struggled for a long time with relentless disconnecting issues. You plug your phone in, and everything is going swell ... but then, without warning, your phone randomly disconnects. Sometimes it take five minutes. Other times it takes five seconds. It's frustrating, and no one from the Android Auto team offered up a solution that works.

Well, I think I finally figured out the source of the problem: data. I noticed the disconnects kept happening whenever a lot of phone data was being used. Running Google maps alone was fine, but start up Spotify or get a text message, and blam, you're disconnected.

So I tried a new USB cable. I had of course tried dozens before without luck. But this time, rather than choosing one based on cost or simply using an OEM cable like everyone suggests, I went with one that had higher data transfer rates.

I tried a fairly cheap Amazon Basics cable with 10 Mbps transfer. And guess what? My phone now stays connected.

This solution worked for my setup; a Google Pixel 4a 5G phone and a 2018 Subaru Impreza Premium sedan. I imagine it should work for others experiencing this same problem.

Try a cable with higher data transfer rates than what you're using. That seems to be the fix.

As for the Android auto bug that's causing this, I'm guessing it relates to efficiency issues within the code. I'm not sure anyone from Google will read this, but maybe it's time to test this, find ways to tune up data usage, and maybe update FAQ pages if it turns out I'm correct.

You may force AA out of my car, but you can't keep AA out of me.

Hello again o/

Some of you may have seen my Grand Theft Auto V Radio app which I have shared on this subreddit last week.

Since many people were upset that their favourite stations were missing I worked non-stop to bring you the second (and hopefully last) version:

I hereby proudly present: Grand Theft Radio (very original name, I know)

The app includes 107 radio stations all the way from GTA-I to GTA-V.

Once again, due to copyright issues I won't be able to upload the app to Google Play, but you can download the apk here.

If you have trouble installing the app please follow these steps:

- Download the apk from the link posted above

- If the file is downloaded as a ".zip" just rename it to gtaradio2.apk

- You can now click on the ".apk"-file. If it is not automatically installing, search the Play Store for an "Apk installer"

- In Android Auto you will need to enable "Unknown sources", please note that this is not the same setting as in your phone's settings.

- Open Android Auto on your phone and click on "Settings". Now scroll down and repeatedly tap on "Version" until you see a message that the Developer settings have been enabled.

- Now tap on the three dots in the top right and click on "Developer settings"

- Scroll down and check "Unknown sources"

- Restart Android Auto and you should now see the Grand Theft Radio app :)

Btw: If you wish to support my work, please take a look at my other AndroidAuto app, Auri Music. Thank you <3

Tl;dr: Update to the original GTA Radio app. New link here.

Happy driving and stay safe!

Update: Ver 1.5, hopefully fixing the issue some people are experiencing. Please do a full uninstall - install.

Is this new or is Google doing A/B on me?

IIRC, the street one was driving on was slightly aligned to the right, but it's now centered for me and a lot of it is covered by the suggested destinations menu.

I had to post my review here as this is the only place safe outside of Indiegogo or CarDongle's forums that won't result in a ban or deletion by the CarDongle team. If you are a backer, I strongly encourage you do a chargeback on your card immediately and spread the word where possible to protect unsuspecting buyers.

As many of you may or may not know, there is an Indiegogo project being lead by Chinese "developers" called the CarDongle. As one of their first backers I would like to outline the truth about this product as they are actively censoring the truth about their product.CarDongle: USB Car PC Computer Dongle for Vehicles | Indiegogo

[TLDR]
*The CarDongle is not a real product, it is a scam to resell Fine-Drive AI's without the permission of the manufacturer or knowledge of the backers / buyers.* Video apps from Play store don't work, just audio no video unlike advertised.*GPS Antenna HARDWARE does not work; therefore, navigation apps don't work.*Calls from within CarDongle are not possible as advertised.*CarDongle has trouble booting after initial set up.*CarDongle overheats.*There is no customer service or refunds. If your product is DOA you are told you are out of luck.*They are using their backers as test subjects for firmware that bricked devices.*CarDongle is using underhanded marketing including abusing the refund system and delete comment feature to lock out users negative feedback leaving the Indiegogo comment section to look favorably and abusing Indiegogo's support system.

[What it is]On the surface it looks like a well rounded product that is very alluring, promising a full android experience for your head unit without the need for an aftermarket solution. Being an android developer myself and someone who really saw this as an inexpensive way to run netflix on camping trips or Torque on the heads up display, I jumped at it. After many delays and excuses later I received the product.

So here is what you actually get. After running the device for one use, the very next time you use the product it fails to boot up. It took the BUYERS to actually figure out you had to use mirroid on your PC to restore the unit back to working condition.

[Media Apps]
Once the CarDongle runs again and connects to your phone hotspot, the Play Store will try to update the apps. This again breaks the CarDongle by updating to the latest android auto causing the system to bootloop until the update is uninstalled. Any update or download from the playstore for media apps such as Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, or YT TV will display a black screen as it turns out the dongle is using hacked and outdated apps to run video content and bypass DRM. This again is something CarDongle touts as a feature without explaining it's use of hacked APKS meaning this device has no long term life cycle for video apps outside of when the APIs stop supporting old APKS or detected hacked APKS. So overall black screens and just audio outside of the included hacked netflix app.

[Navigation]
The product touts a built in GPS antenna with Waze and google maps included for all your navigating needs! lies. After a lengthy thread on the CarDongle forums about the GPS not working, and many tests from myself and others, I discovered a hidden app included with the devices called the fine tuner for Fine-Drive AI (more on that in a bit). The device doesn't even detect the GPS chip being present. It is triangulating GPS from the nearest cell phone tower to your location. Meaning it is incapable of locking a satellite. It does not have a GPS antenna, it has a cellular radio. More can be found on the mediatek website. After this was discussed, the CarDongle finally admits the GPS hardware in their devices are non-functional: GPS is inaccurate/not working | CarDongleKeep close attention on the wording here" Thanks for the reports on this issue. We’ve talked with our engineers and it turns CarDongle uses the same GPS antenna that is used in many smartphones. It turns out it may not be strong enough. "They use the word "Turns out" a couple of times to describe a problem with GPS being non functional. Now what engineer would push out a product claiming functional GPS, then turn around and all of a sudden discover it doesn't work? A team that didn't actually test navigation that is who. A team that didn't actually develop the firmware. In short, Navigation doesn't work at all and their software workaround will not work with official apps if it uses Mock locations.

[Firmware / Hardware]
Now this is the big one isn't it? How does the device perform, what does it come with, how are the updates? Well here is where things get REAL. If you go into the CarDongle settings and click on Manuals, what you get is a link to a product called Fine-Drive AI. Well that's curious right? I thought this was a revolutionary new product and the only one of it's kind on the market as the Indiegogo page claims right? Turns out CarDongle doesn't even manufacture the device they are selling, it's actually a scam. The CarDongle team is so oblivious they didn't even try to remove evidence they are reselling an existing product. The CarDongle Team has purchased Fine-Drive AI's in bulk, modified the bootloader for the CarDongle logo, claimed they MADE the product, and sold it to you completely stock with the identical hardware and software as the Fine-Drive AI. They are stealing intellectual property and reselling as their own. More on the Fine-Drive AI here:파인뷰 파인드라이브 파인캐디 (fine-drive.com)Here is a video I shot showing the device is running the identical hardware and firmware as the Fine-Drive AI:https://youtu.be/1NWKgrqh3ww

So in summary they didn't actually develop the product or firmware so how do they plan to support the product? By using users as guinea pigs of course! Many of the users including myself whom had a bug with the CarDongle not booting after a second time, or just bootlooping requested a firmware fix since we could not reset the device from within the cardongle since it would not load. They supplied the firmware and tutorials on how to flash the firmware. They recommended users wait 3-4 more days for later firmware as more fixes were coming as they weren't confident the existing firmware reset would fix the issues. Some of us whom followed the tutorial to flash the original firmware ended up with a bricked device. When users became outraged that the team uploaded the wrong firmware (firmware was for pre-production boards, not the base firmware as they had said) and bricked their deivces, CarDongle team spun the incident as their initial recommendation to wait until the next firmware release was a warning to not use the firmware they updated the first time. Of course users were outraged by this shift in blame and pointed out the failure in logic to say firmware they uploaded, provided tutorials for, and released an announcement for was "unintended to be flashed". When the users pointed this out, CarDongle team went back to censoring the comments like the Chinese government and erased all traces the incident happened.

[Customer Service]
CarDongle is actively removing negative comments about their product and removing the mention of the Fine-Drive AI anytime it is brought up. They are filtering and deleting the comments of people crying out about scams, asking for refunds, reporting DOA defective hardware, and the truth about the origins of their product from both Indiegogo and their forums. Any company that actively silences it's customers for it's product defects or negative feedback is trying to make a profit on those unsuspecting rather than addressing the problems a.k.a. scam.One example of such a problem is that Mazda head units are apparently incompatible with the units which they had listed on their compatibility list. Early on in the campaign they promised backers if the device was not compatible, they would refund them their money. When the Mazda users decided to actually cash in on this promise, they were told that they would not be getting a refund and that they could sell their device to someone else to make their money back.But wait theres more! Those users whom reported DOA devices or devices that will not recognize and boot, and were a lot before the CarDongle team purged the Indiegogo comments, were told, and I quote: " **There are no refunds. You can post on eBay or Craigslist. We don't sell refurbished goods..."**If your mouth didn't just drop at them saying: "we sold you garbage? too bad we aren't taking back garbage" then I don't what will. When these users, including myself reported the issue to Indiegogo about receiving defective hardware and being resold an existing product by another company, CarDongle's response was to mark our orders as "Refunded outside Indiegogo". Did I get my money back? No. Then why did they do this? Because marking a user as refunded effectively keeps them from commenting on the indiegogo page, and prevents indiegogo from refunding the user. I'm not sure why Indiegogo allows this without any guarantee the money was refunded, or if the feature is being abused, but obviously it was abused. CarDongle's solution to reporting them and asking for a refund is to black list you and keep your money by lying to Indiegogo.

[Conclusion]
The CarDongle is a Scam and you would be better using an old phone, rooting it, and using Screen2Auto rather than waste your money. I had to put this lengthy review on reddit because as I said many times, CarDongle is censoring negative reviews and comments about their product, as well as anything that mentions the Fine-Drive AI. STAY FAR AWAY FROM THIS PRODUCT!

I got the new Google Maps UI update. I updated to Android Auto 17.3. I'm sure it is server side though so I won't be surprised if very few people have this update. I just thought I would point it out that it is indeed rolling out. I didn't get the best screenshots because I was driving at the time on the highway. I didn't want to just take pictures with my phone because the pictures more than likely wouldn't have been good.

PS: The last screenshot has the gray navigation route instead of the blue. I believe that is a bug because I was navigating for a while and eventually it did turn from blue to gray.

Building on the post that I made a couple days ago. They seem to have added a YouTube player as well. I'm willing to admit that I was wrong in saying that they weren't going to.

My S23U is wirelessly connected over my home WiFi to my Xiaomi Box S with Android 12 connected to my 55" 4K TV running Headunit Reloaded. It's very useless but it works somewhat! TV remote works somewhat okay with AA too. Controls take a second to get used to.