Hi. Has anyone ever thought of replacing the limited Entune with a thrid-party unit (w/ Apple CarPlay or Android Auto installed? I imagine it would open a whole new world of customizations in our car's entertainment. BeatSonic currently offers mirroring to the original head unit, but it's somehow inconvenient having 2 scree
Before you assume CarPlay may be the answer to all your woes, you might check out this link. It talks about how CarPlay missed some expectations when the author took advantage of an option to replace a Kia's built-in app with it.
I like to use my iPod for music and podcasts. I found that if I plug in my iPod through the USB port and keep it in the center console out of the way, I can do those things (I need to check on the podcasts for sure. I haven't used that yet.) The choices include the traditional ways of finding your tunes. By artist, album, genre, composer, etc. While I would like to see all the apps on my device, I can see the reason why they are not available, even on Apple CarPlay. There are too many to guarantee compatibility and no one wants to give users more stuff to play with while they are driving. I set my playlists or audiobook before I start driving. Books should be supported if you use iTunes. I use an app provided by my local library, so I'll have to plug in an aux cord. I don't like to mess with anything except the volume while I'm on the road.
Suddenly I have no more intension to look into this matter after reading your comment & link. I thought it would be nice to stream video and picture to the head console while I have to sit in the car for a while. Jealous of HDMI port that Honda have. Thanks!
It turns out I can't use the random selection within a playlist. Boo hoo! Imagine wanting to rock out and getting a harsh injection of the morbid Adagio For Strings between Pink Floyd and Led Zeplin.
I recently rented a Hyundai Sonata with Android Auto/Apple CarPlay capable headunit. I was excited to try it out. After I tried it out, I can honestly say fuc android Auto. It sucks balls big time. I'd imagine CarPlay is the same. First, the car didn't come with navigation. Your only choice is to use Android Auto to cast Google Maps to the screen. Google Maps sucks on Android Auto. It constantly changes from head up to north up and back while driving. This tells me that it uses the phone as GPS engine. It does this even if I leave my phone on the dash with clear view to the sky. The phone has to be plugged into the USB jack in order for AA To work. While plugged in, Bluetooth audio won't work. You can't stream your music from your phone to the car anymore. You can't use your phone either because your phone's screen is blacked out with the words "Android Auto" on it. If you want to use calculator, you're f ucked. I only installed the minimum apps to get it to work. One was Google Play Music. I also have amazon music installed on my phone. I wasn't able to access my music ln my phone with Play Music. Amazon music was able to but it only played 1 song then switched back to streaming. Maybe if I lived with it for a few months it'll grow on me. But the fact that my phone is useless while on AA is a deal breaker. I'd rather use the crappy Toyota nag unit than use Android Auto. I don't use my phone while driving but I do use it while sitting at a red light or at the railroad tracks or in the parking lot listing to music. If you want to replace the head unit with something better, get a nav unit that runs the real Android OS not something casts your phone to the nav screen.
My experience with Android Auto has been very good in a 2016 Chevy. I've owned the Chevy for 3 months. I've used it with 3 different phones; an old Nexus 5, a Moto G4 and a $130 Blu phone. All performed very well. Wonder if there is something deficient with the Hyundai implementation? This weekend I used Android Auto in the Poconos with no data connection (I downloaded the map area with wifi at home). The only "glitch" off line is that you can't use voice to find a location, got to type it in. I stopped using the built in Toyota nav in my 2013 Prius v and just use Google maps or Waze with a magnetic vent mount. I really find the Toyota nav to be nearly useless.
Call me old fashioned but I would much prefer less colourful language than some of this post. Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
I have a Kia Soul EV (as opposed to our '16 Prius Two gas guzzler) that was recently upgraded to use Apple CarPlay. For certain functions (music, phone, texting, maps), I like it much better than the Kia UVO system. Much cleaner and easier to use. Best of all, you can easily toggle between Apple CarPlay and Kia UVO with the touch of an onscreen button. The screen icons are quite crisp and well-defined, in contrast to the review, which used a Kia Sorrento. It is indeed true that the iPhone needs to be plugged in for AirPlay to work. I find myself wishing that I could use AirPlay for some functions, instead of Entune. I would at least use Maps, Texting-by-Voice and Music.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.theverge.com/platform/amp/2018/1/15/16892804/toyota-lexus-apple-carplay-2019-models-avalon-naims-detroit-2018 Is this the start of something good? Apple Carplay in Toyota’s?? I wonder if it will be possible to get an update in my 2017 Prime?
I'd very much suspect no. There would be the licence fee (which I read was $80 year or $300 outright), as well as a re-design of the entertainment unit - and TOYOTA isn't going to do that for us.
Possibly mid-Gen 4 update? Toyota has included it on some models recently I read. They might "get" that ENTUNE is poor.
Auto manufacturers typically add Apple CarPly to their normal infotainment system, so I would expect Entune will continue, with Apple CarPlay on the side. That said, Toyota is beginning to add Apple CarPlay to at least three 2019 models: 2019 Avalon 2019 Corolla Hatchback 2019 RAV4 Most manufacturers that add Apple CarPlay to their infotainment systems also add Android Auto, but in an unusual move, they don't expect to add Android Auto also. I would expect more 2020 models to have CarPlay. Toyota says Android Auto is on hold because they collect too much info on you.