@lockem

I know that Android Auto night mode was broken in Samsung phones after a recent OS update, and they very recently issued an update to fix it.

 

I do Samsung and never saw/heard of this problem but I just tested night mode running AA with the new UI on a Samsung S10 Plus. Night mode automatically worked for both G-Maps & Waze.

 

How much would it cost for Alfa to do this?

I know they updated the sound on the early HK models. Why would it be so expensive to do something similar?

Or heck, charge for it. I'd pay a small fee

 

It's a deployment thing - not the cost for do the software.

If you were a dealer, what would you want to be paid by Alfa Romeo and/or the car owner to update the software on your car? They can't lose money so what would be fair to them (forgetting about users for now)?

If I were a dealer, I'd want no less than $200. If it was done in conjunction with other work, then it could be "free" for the owner.

Just a thought (although I have no expectation of an upgrade anyway/anyhow). Would I pay $200 to get the fix? Probably not.

 

Have now tried the new AA udpate; on turn on, defaults to Google Maps Nav screen upon turn on; and I like that it is indeed easier to switch from eg Google Play music.
One thing I've noticed however is that there is no icon for SMS messaging and Whatsapp, which the previous AA version handled routinely (via voice).
Also, when I opted to go back to the old AA version on the phone, and reconnected, AA would not turn on in the car. So basically had to turn car off and restart with the new version.

 

Anyone update to Android 10 yet? AA is now built into the OS like ACP is on iOS. You no longer need to install the AA app if you are on Android 10. I wonder if widescreen will now be able to show on our cars.

Here’s what’s happening to Google’s driving apps for Android 10, all three of them

It’s confusing

www.theverge.com

 

Hmmm, I wonder if OBD2AA will still work if AA is built into Android?

OBD2AA by Autohacker allows adding Torque to AA so that you can add gauges to your AA screen. It is a hack in that it is not available in the Google store and the phone must be partially unlocked to install and run it. AA must have headunit server started for it to work.

 

I upgraded but the App migrated over from Version 9. After reading that article, I don't think I want to delete the app just yet.

As for it making widescreen work, don't see that happening unless Alfa does an update.

 

OBD2AA will still work. Widescreen will not until Alfa issues an update to request the widescreen aspect ratio from Android Auto.

 

I think widescreen requires the new AA UI, but the new AA UI makes OBD2AA crash. I have sent a message to the author of OBD2AA to see if he can fix it/already knows about the issue.

 

The new AA (maybe older versions too?) has Autolaunch control. Could Autolaunch when the phone connects to car bluetooth be part of the problem? What about pocket detection? My Moto Z-Droid has a lot of trouble with deciding when to turn on the screen or use similar positional sensors. I have to reboot fairly often or the "shake to turn on light" feature fails. Anyway, maybe both of these should be disabled?

The pocket detection is particularly suspect, since it has the potential to disable AA from connecting based on the position of your hand.

I can confirm that with autolaunch turned off AA still can launch on cable connect. Only time will tell if this makes connecting more reliable.

I can also confirm that the version 3.5 of OBD2AA will crash if the new AA user interface is enabled.
The newest version of OBD2AA is 3.6 (beta quality) and notes:

Added a workaround for GPS lag when using tap limit remover.

Perhaps this is a fix for my observation that directions are announced rather late? I am not sure I want to try "beta" software though.

 

The author of OBD2AA says:

1) It doesn't crash with the new UI when he tries it. He wants a crash dump.

2) It should work with widescreen, but the headunit undoubtedly needs upgrading first (exactly the conclusions repeated here many times). This leaves open the question: how did that CES demo work?

3) He hopes to find time to add Dragy support in the not too distant future.

 

Alfa provided a custom build. This should make everyone hopeful that they'll eventually provide an update to enable it.

 

I wonder if said custom build came at the cost of other features. I see behavioral evidence that the processors in Giulia are out of memory, cycles, and bus bandwidth.

 

Pixel 3 here with android 10 (official release) and updated AA. no wide screen.

 

Yeah just upgraded to Android 10 and there's no widescreen. I always found it curious as to why Google felt that the logo should be constantly present. The new interface on the AA upgrade is nice though.

 

unbelievable...I've updated last reliese but it's not there yet widescreen

 

Read this thread. It's been covered.

 

How to: Infotainment updates

Remark: Updated version , date 08 August 2023 New UK translated support file added for latest 1st gen systems, thanks to member contribution, Text modified here and there Information on updating maps and software for Giulia/stelvio infotainment system Note that systems and software...

www.alfaowner.com

@jwq2 posted this above. There is a link to download the 085.xxx.xxx firmware for the ETM. Question is, how hard would it be for someone to unpack this firmware and figure out what code to change to let AA have the full widescreen? Once the file modded, then can be repackage for ETM update via USB. should be a simple 1 line change maybe for someone in the know? Maybe can look at the code for Apple Car Play screen aspect ratio/resolution and use it for AA?

 

Its not a "simple 1 line change" to anything. The AA executable would need some rewriting and all that is in the ETM FW is a compiled binary. Besides this, each segment of the ETM software is signed and the signatures are verified before anything is flashed. There are certainly some bugs, but this would not be a simple project.

 

Hello,

Here, Giulia MY19 with AA 5.0.500224-release on an OnePlus6. Same problem here with widescreen.
If I understand well it was an Alfa issue on the AA module. Since last post did someone get any update/news from Alfa?

And did someone also try this third part (a module provide by KAP Trader)?
Video Link of AA/Carplay with this module embedded on a Giulia:

Thanks for your reply.
Sebastien

 

All irrelevant to 2020 MY cars?

 

Hi, never see a MY20 but it seems the AA of this model is not concerned like showed in this video:

 

Yeah, it's up to the Infotainment system to report what resolution it supports to the Android Auto system. That video clearly shows it is doing widescreen, so that's good.

 

It is not resolution (pixels/mm) but dimensions (in pixels) that needs to be reported. It might be easier to hack AA to ignore what the infotainment system tells it.

However, there is something very strange going on--what module is drawing that AA logo on the right? If it was the infotainment system, shouldn't it be able to put split screen there? It will not do so on my system. However, if I unplug my phone while AA is displayed the left side of the screen immediately goes blank while the logo-right side persists--telling me that the right side is probably drawn by the infotainment system.

Thoughts?

 

I think that the part with AA logo is the same than infotainment splitted screen (without AA activated).
I suppose that, at the beginning of the Giulia, wide-screen was not supported by AA, so Alfa applied the splitted screen method as a workaround. And since, I supposed, they still did not change this for AA mode on the infotainment system.

 

Just for the record, the standard AA screen on Giulia is already around 16:9 and "widescreen" on Giulia is much wider than any video format including "widescreen" (Giulia's screen is 1280x480 -> 8:3 I think).

Of course it is no where near the 1920x1080 pixels associated with HD, much less QHD. I'm not sure that such would improve the display since the display is already pretty small.

 

I signed the petition.

 

Signed up and put a link onto UK forum.?

 

Dears, I'm new to this forum.. I joined as I have same issue..
I created this petition on change.org, however if they solved the issue in 2020 model (with a new hardware), it's difficult that they will make a new software for 2019 cars (&2020 existing ones).
But let's give a try !

Sign the Petition
Alfa Romeo to improve Android Auto screen size on Giulia and Stelvio

chng.it

Here some useful info, about AA developement.
Alfa Romeo Giulia widescreen - Android Auto Community

 

Thanks. I signed it as one of first, promoted on polish forum (alfaholicy.org), promoted on clubalfa.it (both stelvio and giulia subforums), posted on Facebook Alfa Owners North America

 

Signed

 

I'm happy to report that the widescreen works in AA for the 2020 Guilia models. And it's a beautiful thing to behold.

 

yes, we know, but that gives us hope that maybe on any next update of firmwares of 2nd generation units, they will put that in. By curiosity 2 questions, is it the dual screen version only or also one screen on full width? And second, as I didn't have time to dig, is it still cable only AA, or also ready for WiFi conneciton (Google was saying someting in past about release such, but I guess it may need newer Android OS and/or newer phone which supports such technology)?

 

Hi guys, there are any news regarding the change.org petition??

thanks in advance

 

I'm in touch with an Alfa Romeo infotainment engineer, he now understands the issue. I hope he will be able to address the topic and have some budget to authorize the change into the dealer's network.
I need to give them some weeks to react, I will keep you posted.

 

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