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Toyota and Android Auto

Discussion in 'Prius v Audio and Electronics' started by Koji, Jun 26, 2014.

  1. Koji

    Koji Junior Member

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    Can anyone comment why Toyota is not listed among vehicle manufacturers that will support Android Auto?
    Android Auto

    If Toyota does not embrace it, I see a business opportunity for someone who could offer a modification to Entune which would make it compatible.

    Thank you
    Koji
     
  2. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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  3. Koji

    Koji Junior Member

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    Thanks Jimbo this is useful information.

    Can anyone comment why Toyota has not embraced Android Auto?
     
  4. jzchen

    jzchen Newbie!

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    I can only speculate that a Japanese company would want to develop the product they already spent a lot of time and resources to create in the first place, with their partners DENSO and HARMAN. I think it would be a drastic change to jump ship at this point.

    SCH-R530M ?
     
  5. rdgrimes

    rdgrimes Senior Member

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    Its always about money first. In this case I'm sure its many millions involved. Toyota runs a lead time on this sort of thing spanning several years - meaning that the technology is years old before it hits the street. I think a company is wise not to leap before seeing how things shake out.

    In this case, some companies are letting their marketing departments drive. Toyota lets the engineers drive. Expect to see some of those other cars being released with FUBAR systems just because they want to say they have Android.
     
  6. Koji

    Koji Junior Member

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    Thanks this makes sense in explaining why I do not see Toyota listed. I am an engineer and currently attach a $1500 penalty to Toyota's current navigation offering when making a purchase decision. I see value in embracing a strategy that lets a variety of smartphone manufacturers cast their screen to the vehicle's screen and integrate with inputs from steering wheel / console cursor controls.
     
  7. rdgrimes

    rdgrimes Senior Member

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    I'd expect that most people would see an advantage to having bleeding edge technology in a car. I just don't see it happening anytime soon in a Toyota. Nor would I embrace that as having more value than having a car that simply gets me from A to B 100% of the time. My point being that there's a ton of technology in a Prius, and the head unit UI is the least of it.
     
  8. mikefocke

    mikefocke Prius v Three 2012, Avalon 2011

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    In that a great GPS unit can be had for less than $150, why the $1500 value? (Yes I hate the Entune too.)
     
  9. Koji

    Koji Junior Member

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    The $1500 figure is subjective; including my time and cost of sourcing, installing, maintaining nav solutions for multiple drivers over the estimated life of the vehicle. My time is valuable, we share the vehicle among multiple family drivers and we intend to keep the vehicle for at long time. Yes it can be done cheaper. But in my case, getting safely and reliably from A to B includes using nav that is aware of traffic and which allows the driver focus on driving.

    The best solution I have found is having each driver use their smartphone. I find Android Auto attractive as it supports devices from multiple manufacturers, supports screen casting and integrating of vehicle controls. I want to be able to get in the car and drive, without first needing to insert and position smartphone (the solution I have today is a mount that obscures an air vent and part of the dash display) and use the steering wheel control or vehicle cursor to interact (e.g., accept a diversion in planned route offered by smartphone software due to traffic conditions) with a device the driver is familiar with as it is their personal smartphone.

    I agree Toyota's focus is on engineering and the value in tech is not in the nav. Nav tech is changing rapidly. Android Auto is a solution (agreed today it is bleeding edge but Google has a good track record) which I think would offer many benefits. My ask is that Toyota adopt this as an option (could keep Entune or whatever for customers that want).
     
  10. Blu-ray

    Blu-ray Blizzard Brigade #215

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    As someone who had Android and went to iPhone I can tell you this. I would rather have an iOS in my car than Android. iOS has rarely ever crashed on me. Android did it all the time. My partner uses android phones and he's got issues with his phone crashing and needing to be rebooted on a regular basis. He's even had to re-install the AndoridOS a couple times because something "glitched".

    I think I would much prefer not to have to worry about driving down the road and my car's in dash system crashing all the time and causing distractions.
     
  11. rdgrimes

    rdgrimes Senior Member

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    Personally, I don't seem to have much trouble knowing where I am or where I'm going. So the NAV system has very little value.
     
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  12. Blu-ray

    Blu-ray Blizzard Brigade #215

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    I use it on my commute. It usually gives me an alternate route when there is an accident. Of course, the damn thing likes to take me through the sketchy areas sometimes. I swear it's going to get me shot one of these days.
     
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  13. Koji

    Koji Junior Member

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    Lol ... I agree be careful about accepting diversions! :eek:

    I don't want to turn this into an iOS vs. Android thread; that's not my point. I see Toyota announced support for CarPlay and applaud this as it means Toyota sees value in smartphone integration. I see other major auto manufacturers supporting both; I would question why Toyota would want to go all in with CarPlay when approximately half the smartphone market is Android. I realize market share depends on the metrics but it is difficult to argue against a rising trendline in Android market share.

    Here is a link to a chart I found showing which smartphone platform(s) various auto - affiliated brands have announced:
    http://www.applemust.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/CarPlay-vs-Google-Auto.pdf

    If the chart and my (eyesight + limited mental faculties) are correct, Toyota is now in the same camp as BMW, Ferrari, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz and Peugot Citroen.
    This doesn't leave me with a good feeling as a Toyota owner.
     
    #13 Koji, Jun 27, 2014
    Last edited: Jun 27, 2014
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  14. Stevevee

    Stevevee Active Member

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    Perhaps with the severe fragmentation of the Android OS, this is an issue with acceptance. IOS users generally have 90% on the most recent OS version within weeks or months. With Android, it's virtually impossible to get that high an update percentage, due to either device capability or more likely, the carrier limitations imposed. For developers, the fragmentation is a nightmare to work with.
     
  15. Koji

    Koji Junior Member

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    Interesting suggestion. I expect Android Auto will require a minimum OS level; Apple CarPlay seems to require iPhone 5 or better.

    I strongly doubt this is the reason why Toyota is not supporting Android Auto. And if this was an major issue, I would expect to see other major manufacturers (neglecting BMW and Benz) reaching the same conclusion as Toyota.

    I still do not have a good feeling as a Toyota owner with Android smartphones.

    Can anyone advise how I can get someone from Toyota to comment on this?
     
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  16. Lee Bridges

    Lee Bridges Junior Member

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    Admittedly I don't fully understand Android Auto (tried and abandoned the OS after 3 years on a phone).

    But using my limited knowledge, I suggest a penalty (as described by Koji) for supporting Android Auto. I even view Entune to be a negative. Why? Because I don't I want an automaker spending millions to support the next greatest automation thing, be it Android, iOS, Windows Phone, BlackBerry (now fading), etc. That tech is changing to fast given the timeline I use for car ownership. I recently sold a 1975 vehicle. Should I keep my Prius just as long, I wonder if Android will be around in 2050. I prefer car makers fund automotive technology research. What I would pay bonus bucks for would be an ISO standard interface through an OBDIII type connection. Then let the Alpine/Pioneer/etc crowd deliver solutions that could be a simple pull & replace for tech in the dash.

    I suggest anyone wanting tech in their car today to install and maintain it themselves. And it isn't all that hard to do - cruise by the mp3car.com website and see what people are running in their cars. I have a dual core Intel processor driving a 7" touch screen in a 2002 Toyota that can handle GPS w/NavTeq maps, weather displays, music, video, gauges and controls, has WiFi, 4G cell dongle, etc.
     
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  17. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    How good is your Japanese? The engineers working on this will be in Japan. Toyota's only presence on PriusChat is occasional promotional events by a US marketing arm.
     
  18. Koji

    Koji Junior Member

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    I agree with Lee. I welcome any opportunity to speak to Toyota in Japanese.
     
  19. arqjoseamador

    arqjoseamador New Member

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    #19 arqjoseamador, Oct 27, 2014
    Last edited: Oct 27, 2014
  20. Zephyr7

    Zephyr7 Member

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    start jumping on Toyota japan forum and emailing Toyota japan will be a start. Do it on their Jap facebook page if they have social media. Good luck!

    if they do get back to U. Please update and translate!