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Want ANDROID AUTO ? .....email Toyota from this contact page !

Discussion in 'Prime Audio, Electronics, and Infotainment' started by GKL, Feb 25, 2020.

  1. bongoman

    bongoman Junior Member

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    Interestingly on Toyota’s Canadian website the 2021 Prius Prime is up. It says Android Auto is available but with the asterisk (basic model only) and not available on the Upgrade or Technology Package.
     
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  2. GKL

    GKL Active Member

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    Thanks for sharing that !

    I'm not 100% sure if I am understanding or remembering this correctly but I get the impression from what I read on another thread that some hardware is not compatible with Android Auto.

    Even if that is true why couldn't Android Auto make a version that would work on the other hardware, after all Apple Carplay was able to do so.
     
  3. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    That is correct. The base model uses the 7” MFD common to other Toyota models. The Upgrade and Upgrade with Tech package use a proprietary 11.6” MFD that isn’t shared with any other Toyota.

    The 7” runs on the new Entune 3.0 software whilst the 11.6” is still on Entune 2.x. Now why Toyota couldn’t update or upgrade the 11.6” screen is beyond our scope of knowledge. They were able to incorporate CarPlay into the 11.6” screen but not AndroidAuto.
     
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  4. mistermojorizin

    mistermojorizin Active Member

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    Such BS from Toyota. I thought the 2020 11.6" was running Entune 3 with Entune 3 hardware. Otherwise, why wouldn't the 2019 get Apple Car Play?
     
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  5. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    No idea. Guess I have to see one in person to double check.

    My reasoning is that Connected Services by Toyota is only available on versions with the 7” MFD here in Canada, not the 11.6” MFD.


    Oh and it is bs. This haphazard mix of features.
     
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  6. bongoman

    bongoman Junior Member

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    It’s. bit ridiculous to have to choose between a more customizable infotainment system and a nicer interior (electric seats, and intelligent Parking assist) someone at Toyota dropped the ball there.
     
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  7. mistermojorizin

    mistermojorizin Active Member

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    Not to mention heads up display that puts your speedometer in front of you instead of to the side. Blind spot monitoring and remote climate and charging control.
     
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  8. Gokhan

    Gokhan Senior Member

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    Toyota has made it clear that the 11.6" Denso (not Denso Ten) head unit is not compatible with Android Auto.

    The 7.0" Denso Ten (not Denso) head unit is compatible with Android Auto, and I believe it is possible at least in theory to get a firmware update for older model years to enable Android Auto.

    I wonder what makes it incompatible. I thought most head units ran Android or Linux these days. Perhaps it runs a distribution of Linux not compatible with Android.
     
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  9. GKL

    GKL Active Member

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    I'm not saying Toyota would have it done even if it was possible, but you would think any software could be redesigned to have a version that would work with any hardware, but how likely is it that Toyota would commission any such special software to be developed ?

    .....though we can always hope they might surprise us :D
     
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  10. bongoman

    bongoman Junior Member

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    Could be a matter of codebases. I do recall at some point there was a shift from QNX to Automotive Grade Linux. There’s an Android for Cars platform but that is very much bleeding edge. I think the Polestar 2 is one of the few cars out there that use it so far, but Nissan-Renault is due to roll it out in their cars eventually.

    Am happy enough with CarPlay on a spare phone for now as I’ve heard AndroidAuto can be buggy depending on phone model.
     
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  11. mistermojorizin

    mistermojorizin Active Member

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    So you run 2 phones?
     
  12. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    I guess that setup is possible - hotspot your phone to the spare phone.

    I run a separate iPod in my car to get higher quality audio (i.e. wired connection via USB) instead of streaming via bluetooth from my phone or having to fish out my iPhone every time and connect it to the car.
     
  13. GKL

    GKL Active Member

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    Android Auto is not a super big deal to me, it would be nice, but we're dong fine with the features built into the display without having any phone connected at all. (except for when we make and receive phone calls thru the audio system of course)
     
  14. Gokhan

    Gokhan Senior Member

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    I am sure the "incompatibility" is not inherent and all it means is that they consider this head unit to be obsolete and they don't want to put their resources on writing software to bring Android Auto into it. It is sad given that this is the premium head unit.
     
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  15. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    Hey, I always carry 2 phones with me. Gen1 Pixel XL running Android 10 and Nokia Lumia 635 running Windows Phone 8.1. No mirroring on the PRIME head unit though.
     
  16. bongoman

    bongoman Junior Member

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    That’s exactly it, the built in apps are ok, LiveXLive and Yelp are usable for the most part. Just wish there were other apps available, there just wasn’t as thought put into the app ecosystem or development support. If only Toyota would just do something like publish API’s or documentation in other ways am sure lots of enthusiasts with coding skills would create all sorts of useful apps.
     
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  17. lrpjak34

    lrpjak34 New Member

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    I wrote my letter to Toyota. Will let you know when I get my form letter response. I'm not optimistic.

    I had no idea how uninterested Toyota is in this car. Bummer! Explains why the salesperson knew zero about it. I think if people knew that you could have all the flexibility of a regular Prius PLUS the plug in option, it would be popular! That's why we got it.

    Anyway, we just bought the Prime LE 2 weeks ago and I was led to believe it would work with my Android phone. Huge buyers remorse when I realized it did not have it and that I could if I'd waited a few months. Honestly, I think I would've sprung for the XLE. Sooooo irritated.

    I got voice control to work and can make calls and play music but unclear what this Entune nonsense is. The reviews on the Entune apps are horrific.

    I want to be able to project Google Maps from my phone and cannot do this via Bluetooth or USB. SOOOO frustrating. The LE didn't come with the maps program. Any other options for me?

    BTW, enjoying my 2 GB free Wi-Fi hotspot and found out it's $20/month after trial. I won't do that, but some might.
     
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  18. GKL

    GKL Active Member

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    Non-carb states are generally pretty unaware of plug-in hybrids.

    Sorry about your frustration, I wish my XLE had Android Auto but I'm satisfied with the built in maps and features. I thought all trims had maps,

    I must have overlooked (or forgot about) the info on the free Wi-Fi hotspot, I'll have to see if it's available with my XLE.
     
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  19. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    Just to be clear, Prius PRIME XLE nor the Limited offers Android Auto. In fact AFAIK, none of regular 2020 Prius lines offers Android Auto. Rumor is that for 2021 models, Prius PRIME LE will get Android Auto integration but not on XLE or Limited with a large 11.6" screen.

    LE model comes with Scout GPS. It is not Google Map, but IMHO is better than Toyota OEM in-car navigation system. It is free for now, but will cost something like $20 year after initial 3 year. It's far better than $200 you would have to pay for the map update for the Toyota OEM in-car navigation system. I don't use navigation system often enough to be bothered by lack of the in-car nav. For occasional GPS need Scout GPS is fine. But when I have to pay for it or if I need to use GPS more often I will just put my Garmin on the dash.
     
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  20. Gokhan

    Gokhan Senior Member

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    For the LE version with the small display, you can at least in principle get a firmware update from Toyota to make Android Auto work in the past and current models. The 2021 LE model will get it from the factory, which is confirmed.

    There won't be Android Auto in the past and future XLE and Limited Edition models with large displays.
     
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