Someone at a 2016 car show did have it working in a Giulia, but it doesn't do anything for me and I don't see any evidence that it did anything for the guys in the video. I think AA "widescreen" is actually AA "HD". The aspect ratio of Giulia's screen is wider than cinematic widescreen and a lot wider than HD.

I've got AA 4.4.592344 release. Is there a newer version?

OTOH, I see "allow car and phone to negotiate" under developer settings -> video resolution. By default it seems that none of the setting were selected. However, no joy.

This guy claims that 1280x480 should work, but does not explain if anything needs to be configured on the phone

Android Auto scale on car screen. - Android Auto Community

support.google.com

Note the complaint from a Stelvio owner in the comments that it does not work for him.

 

Yes, that's the version I have, but there's a new version is supposedly rolling out. Some users already reported that the update is out, but I personally haven't been able to download it yet. The linked video in the first post shows the new version which is supposedly able to support wide screen.

 

IT was at CES 2018 when some of the new AA features were demoed in an Alfa, including widescreen. Disappointing that it hasn't been released -- I'm assuming it's an Alfa issue. Here's the video link

 

IT was at CES 2018 when some of the new AA features were demoed in an Alfa, including widescreen. Disappointing that it hasn't been released -- I'm assuming it's an Alfa issue. Here's the video link

Thanks for the correction. It is worth noting that they moved the control buttons for google maps to the left side of the screen, freeing up some height for the map display.

FWIW: sometimes google cannot "hear" the microphone in my car. Is this unique to my car or has anyone else had this problem?

 

So instead of having that Android Auto icon, looks like they put widgets in that area rather than make the main screen take up the full space

 

Yes, that was my conclusion as well after watching the linked video. That is pretty disappointing. I hoped that I was finally able to see the map on the full width of the screen instead of the clock or now some useless widget.

 

Do we have to download a new app update or does alfa have to send a software update? Or both?

 

You would only need to download the new app update from the App store when it becomes available

 

Can download the new app from here https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/googl...o-google-maps-media-messaging-4-5-592854-release-android-apk-download/download/

 

OK, I downloaded that but do not see any of the widescreen features from the video on my infotainment screen.

 

I think this has been discussed before, but it's believed (maybe confirmed) that a software update to enable this would need to happen on the car side. That means 1.) AR producing an update and 2.) convincing a dealer to install it. Based on track records for this, I'd put the odds somewhere between slim and none.

 

Just tried it on my 2018 QV and it does not work. I enabled developer mode and enabled 1080p and it still does not work.

 

The 8.8" display in Giulia is 1280 x 480, so enabling 1080p is not useful. I enabled "negotiate" instead.

In the CES demo they have Google Assistant enabled. Has anyone tried that? I am reluctant to do so since it requires allowing google to see everything on the phone OTOH, I keep very little information on my phone because of Google's out of control spying. When I get directions I give a neighbors' address, etc. Perhaps I am a bit paranoid, but not without justification.

 

This is how it should look as per this post:

 

A couple people on the Reddit post mention they need to clear the cache and data on the AA app for the new widescreen to work.

 

Already did that. The nav bar is on the bottom and not the left like in that Mazda, so maybe AA thinks that there is only that left portion of the screen available for use.

 

My AA was updated on 7/31/19 to 4.5.592854 (latest version that's supposed to support new UI).

Still the same old UI in the car.

Tried the Clear Cache & Clear Data suggestion. Didn't enable or allow new UI in app Settings. (There was no "Try new AA" as a settings choice).

Articles say that they are rolling out the new UI over several weeks so I suspect that's why it's still the old UI even though the App is the latest update.

In terms of changes, not sure what AA on the phone run standalone (not connected to the car) means yet. The story is that AA (navigation) will be integrated into Google Assistant as a "driving mode" enabled by saying "Let's Drive". That sounds the same as the way it is now ..... "Hey Google....Navigate To XYZ" and it starts Nav in Google Maps. Don't know where all of the other AA App functionality will end up when using the phone standalone.

Google launch (release) of standalone "Nav" on phone thru Google Assistant apparently is separate from the AA operation when connected to the car. I'm guessing that when AA no longer shows up as a separate app on the phone, the new UI will work on the car (if you get what I mean).

Translation of what I just said ------- It's still a waiting game until Google fully rolls out the "new" Android Auto. Then we can all start complaining on why the dash display is not wide screen, etc.

 

With the new AA the one new thing I see is connect by bluetooth if your car supports it.

I did not see any "enable new UI" option. I'm not sure the new UI is an improvement. It seems necessary if you have a lot of AA plug ins, but I haven't seen any AA plugins that do anything I want.

 

Just found this description of AA 2019. Best description I've seen. Shows the Settings Menu choice everyone is asking about. It's not there on my phone as I've said before.

How to use Android Auto: Tips and tricks for your car

Since Android Auto got a face lift in 2019, more things are in the right places, making it easier than ever to use.

www.androidcentral.com

 

The update to support widescreen, now that Android Auto supports it, needs to come from Alfa. As it stands, they're only providing the reduced space next to the Android Auto logo for Android Auto to draw in. This has been confirmed by official product experts on the Google forums.

 

Yep, this is the case.

The new a UI is working in my car but it still has the logo on the right side.

Is it really that hard for Alfa to update it? They could do it like a recall except they wouldn't have to issue anything, they just have the update available for whoever wants it.

I'm not even sure if I like the update much. It looks too much like apple, but at least I can see the song title on Google play now

 

Agree - Alfa determines what & in what format info is displayed on the dash. Not just AA/ACP info. Everything. For that reason, no one should expect widescreen AA w/o a fix from Alfa. Since any fix would require a visit to your friendly dealer, it's just not going to happen. This isn't a recall issue. It would be an update. Too bad that Alfa Romeo has no over-the-air update capability.

Sales volume is much too low (and decreasing) for Alfa to spend $$ to make any updates that improve integrated smartphone navigation. Why would Alfa Romeo waste time/money on something "extra" like this when they don't even provide US map updates to their own TomTom nav?

Alfa Romeo US Sales Data -

All Models - Jun 18 2249 - Jun 19 1595
Giulia - Jun 18 979 - Jun 19 768
Stelvio - Jun 18 1231 - Jun 19 818

 

Sales volume is much too low (and decreasing) for Alfa to spend $$ to make any updates that improve integrated smartphone navigation. Why would Alfa Romeo waste time/money on something "extra" like this when they don't even provide US map updates to their own TomTom nav?

Because this is a major contributor to why Giulia and Stelvio sales are tapering off?

Unfortunately I have seen this pattern before: Norton Motorcycles introduced the Commando, won every award and then failed to fix the faults of the machine that needed addressing; all bad management decisions. These were obviously not electronic or programming in nature but the parallel still looks similar to me. They were bankrupt 6 years later. It is too bad since they did have a killer design more-or-less ready to unveil (the Challenge, now a very rare motorcycle) when they collapsed under the weight of neglect of their "breadwinner" machine.

 

I wouldn't lose hope. Maybe @AlfaRomeoCares can investigate if this will happen or not.

 

@AlfaRomeoCares does not investigate anything that ends up as a public/forum response from Alfa Romeo. Best I can tell, they mostly respond to people new to the forum and immediately steer them to private communication. It would be great if they actually answered some of the (simple) questions that many forum members kept asking but that's not how they participate.

 

Why would Alfa willingly send to AA screen size info smaller than what is available?

 

Because widescreen support didn't exist when they wrote their software?

 

In Europe maps are downloaded to USB, and installed by owners.

 

Totally aware but TomTom nav is european and the market is much larger than the US. Best guess, Alfa didn't want to pay for the US maps because of low volume. Not worth the cost and/trouble. Keep in mind that the map update must be tied to each car (vin # or equivalent) for copy protection). I would be surprised if the US Alfa's are already set up for USB map updates (even though that choice shows up in the menus). If it was that easy/simple, TomTom would provide the map updates directly to US Alfa owners. Yet another unanswered thing about the Alfa.

 

Fantastic update... It still crashes 50% of the time trying to load, can't use the extra functionality, and it completely crashed when I got a text message

 

Part of the problem may be your phone. I tried to use AA initially with a Samsung S7 Edge for almost a year. It was pain factor 8 to get it to initialize (connect to the car) but once connected, it worked just fine. At the time, I didn't know where the problem was (car or phone). The problem was solved when I bought a Samsung s10 Plus. It now works perfectly.

fro the benefit of others on the forum, I think that anyone commenting about AA problems should say what phone they are using.

 

I updated to the latest AA and now I cannot get it to use a black background for google maps. I have to switch the display to something else to be able to see to drive at night. Has anybody else had this problem? Maybe operator error on my part?

 

The phone should not really be relevant if Google were ever to get its act together. My work iPhone 6s serves up Carplay instantly and without issue. Connection problems is a well known issue across all android phones and car infotainment hardware.

The real fact is the update is nothing more then camo for Google to collect more of your data by forcing Maps/Waze to now autostart and give Google high precision location data. I might give them a pass for it if they focused on making their product work as much as they focused on data collection

 

The phone should not really be relevant if Google were ever to get its act together. My work iPhone 6s serves up Carplay instantly and without issue. Connection problems is a well known issue across all android phones and car infotainment hardware.

The real fact is the update is nothing more then camo for Google to collect more of your data by forcing Maps/Waze to now autostart and give Google high precision location data. I might give them a pass for it if they focused on making their product work as much as they focused on data collection

The difference between Apple & Google is that on the iPhone, Carplay is integrated into the phone's OS. I tried iPhone ACP as a test months ago. Yes, it was great that it instantly worked (and the UI was better than AA). On Android, AA is an App. That means less control of the AA App by Google & by each phone manufacturer & each manufacturer mucks with OS making each configuration slightly different. Apple has the advantage of making both the hardware & software so is in total control of everything except for the stuff on the car. Google has the disadvantage that they don't build most of the Android phone hardware so are not in complete control of the nav "food chain". Google should integrate phone nav into their OS. That's what they are probably doing by moving AA to Google Assistant & G-maps. BTW, there is no forced auto-start of the AA/Maps/Waze.

If you are concerned about Google/Apple knowing your location, don't use a smartphone & use the Afla Nav if you have that option. All phones report location whether or not you are running a nav app.

So, if you like your Apple - keep your Apple. If you like your Android - keep your Android. If you don't like either, use the built-in Nav. If you don't have that option, I guess it's paper maps.

This got off-topic (AA wide-screen & new UI) so I'll guit.

 

Android Autos problems are in its communications protocols that were rushed to market to compete with Carplay. It is severely succeptable to being corrupted by traffic on both the phone and infotainment as well as external factors like voltage and EM. They now can only fix the phone side with updates but can't do squat about the hardware.

This is beyond Android customization. The problems exists on their own pixel and nexus phones. Samsung is about the worst offender of customization in the Android ecosystem. There are plenty of apps in the playstore with deep levels of system integration that have no issues working across the ecosystem.

FWIW I mainly use it for audio. I can figure where I'm driving 99% of the time without a nav.

 

Android Autos problems are in its communications protocols that were rushed to market to compete with Carplay. It is severely succeptable to being corrupted by traffic on both the phone and infotainment as well as external factors like voltage and EM. They now can only fix the phone side with updates but can't do squat about the hardware.

This is beyond Android customization. The problems exists on their own pixel and nexus phones. Samsung is about the worst offender of customization in the Android ecosystem. There are plenty of apps in the playstore with deep levels of system integration that have no issues working across the ecosystem.

FWIW I mainly use it for audio. I can figure where I'm driving 99% of the time without a nav.

I have flawless performance on my Pixel 2. So do my wife and kids.

 

UI Update - Update

As I said before, the latest version of Android Auto (ver 4.5.592854 release date actually 7/24) was downloaded to my phone on 7/31 but did not have a "Try the new UI..." choice in the settings. Today (8/6) the Try choice is now in the Settings Menu (but the version number is still the same - just so you know).

I turned it on, tried it in the car and now have the new AA UI. It's different & will take some knob retraining. It remains awkward to use because we don't have touchscreen. And as expected...............it is not widescreen.

This isn't a surprise to me. Alfa Romeo would have to change its AA software for that to happen.

 

You are right, Buzzi. the "try the new Android Auto" (on my 4.5 release; Blackberry Key 2 from a few days ago) suddenly appeared under AA settings just this morning; it notes "for car screen only; update nor or wait for automatic update, coming soon"; I'm a bit hesitant to try now since concerned may not be able to revert to the older UI which, despite shortcomings, have grown used to and works without having to think about it too much even sans touch screen.
What would you list as the pluses and minuses of the new UI compared with the old, and can you in fact go back? Thanks.

 

You are right, Buzzi. the "try the new Android Auto" (on my 4.5 release; Blackberry Key 2 from a few days ago) suddenly appeared under AA settings just this morning; it notes "for car screen only; update nor or wait for automatic update, coming soon"; I'm a bit hesitant to try now since concerned may not be able to revert to the older UI which, despite shortcomings, have grown used to and works without having to think about it too much even sans touch screen.
What would you list as the pluses and minuses of the new UI compared with the old, and can you in fact go back? Thanks.

Per your request I just tried un-selecting the update & the old UI returns. You can switch it on & off whenever but I'm sure that will end once Google finishes rolling the update out.

As far as what do I think about the new UI, I don't know yet because I have only tried it in the garage but will use it whenever I'm driving and report back. I'm sure that the navigation stuff has not changed. It's just the menuing UI is supposed to be better. The only thing that I noticed was that you have to scroll thru 2+ menu pages to see all of the icons/choices. If it was wide screen this wouIdn't be a necessary. For this reason I wish the new larger icons were actually smaller. Beyond that, only time will tell.

That said - I usually use Google Maps for Nav and seldom look at the map. The voice directions are so good that you don't really have to look at the maps that often other than to see what's next before it happens. If I want to know about road hazards & police, I use Waze. I like Waze maps better but their voice directions are too late (not enough time before a needed maneuver where Google Maps gives you plenty of time).

 

Do any of you have any clues what happened regarding night mode? I cannot get google maps to display with a black background now.

With the overnight update I can now turn off "OK Google" recognition. This prevents random queries for a voice command while the radio is playing.

I find the voice directions relatively useless. The problem is that the directions are often enunciated several seconds after the turn needs to be initiated. Does anyone else have this issue?

"In 600 feet turn right at Burglar road/Hess Avenue" for example. The announcement may have started when I was 600 feet from the intersection but I'll already be at the intersection by the time she says "Burglar road", plus there is no signage at the road with the name "Burglar road". By the time she says "Hess Avenue" the chance to follow the directions is long gone.

In San Francisco where intersections are barely 150 feet apart and due to the insane traffic the car has to be positioned for a turn several blocks ahead of the turn, this behavior makes the voice directions pretty much useless.

 

I haven't noticed that issue. Maybe it's an issue on shorter intersections.