[Meekey]

If you go into the "Android Settings" on the head unit, then "About Device", then find "Build Number" ... and tap on it 7 times, this will unlock "Developer Options". In there you can set the USB mode. But if the USB won't even charge a phone ... then there is something amiss with the connection at the other end of the cable.

I`ll have a good look for those settings at the weekend before I pull the dash apart again. But I did try and look for them the other day and the only settings I could find with anything looking like build numbers gave no response when I tapped the screen. I`m going to search youtube to see if there`s anyone showing the settings on an actual head unit like mine as I can`t find the ones like the android phone settings video. I`ll keep you informed of any progress. Thanx again.

 

[Meekey]

I`ve been messing about with the system again this afternoon. Somehow I managed to get the screen mirroring of my iPhone working. Yey. Mind you the audio lag makes anything unwatchable.😕. I also got a reply from the seller about the usb not working. Their response, wait for it................try a different usb cable. Wow, why didn`t I think of that.🤣. About the Android settings. It occurred to me that, do I not have to have an Android phone to have the Android settings appear on the Head Unit? Like I have an iPhone to access Carplay on the Head Unit. Or am I wrong in the way the system works?

 

[slaine]

I not have to have an Android phone

As I have said several times, I am referring to the Android settings on your head unit - not your phone.

 

[Meekey]

Yeah I understand that. But I can`t find settings anything like what`s in that video on my head unit. My thinking is, if I didn`t have an iPhone I wouldn`t be able to use Carplay. So is it not the same for the Android side of things.

 

[slaine]

Yeah I understand that. But I can`t find settings anything like what`s in that video on my head unit. My thinking is, if I didn`t have an iPhone I wouldn`t be able to use Carplay. So is it not the same for the Android side of things.

Let's start again 👍 On your existing head unit, you have their (dodgy) software. On the 'Apps' page, you should have Play Store. In there, download Nova Launcher and run it. It will ask whether you want to set it as the default 'home' launcher. Say yes. Then ... you have as close to 'stock' Android as it gets, for a Chinese Ali-whatever device. Now you can navigate to the 'proper' Android settings, on the head unit - not on your phone. Once there, follow my instructions above, i.e. About Device > Build Number, etc.

 

[Mafya]

There is someone advertising an upgrade fitted at their Nottingham store for £699 with a 2 year warranty for those without the Diy know how for the 2011 to 2015 models =

Wireless Apple CarPlay Android Auto Retrofit Kit Discovery 4 & Evoque 2011-2015 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Wireless Apple CarPlay Android Auto Retrofit Kit Discovery 4 & Evoque 2011-2015 at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products!

www.ebay.co.uk

They also do it for later 2015 to 2019 models too=

Wireless Apple CarPlay Android Auto Retrofit Kit Range Rover Evoque 2015-2019 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Wireless Apple CarPlay Android Auto Retrofit Kit Range Rover Evoque 2015-2019 at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products!

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[Meekey]

Let's start again 👍 On your existing head unit, you have their (dodgy) software. On the 'Apps' page, you should have Play Store. In there, download Nova Launcher and run it. It will ask whether you want to set it as the default 'home' launcher. Say yes. Then ... you have as close to 'stock' Android as it gets, for a Chinese Ali-whatever device. Now you can navigate to the 'proper' Android settings, on the head unit - not on your phone. Once there, follow my instructions above, i.e. About Device > Build Number, etc.

Thanx for the help saline. I will give that a go.

 

[Chris Qld]

Morning slaine

By way of an update: as you suggested I went and had a look at a couple of alternative launchers and chose Spider on the webcarguru site. Followed your instructions regarding a back button, which works well, thank you. Added a “go home to mother” button on the launcher just in case, which at times has been useful. Interestingly, when the Merryway software is activated it overlays the bubble controls on the left again. BTW, I made the home button on this revert to the new launcher. Also, when I go back to Spider I have to go through the process of restarting Google Assistant, otherwise no problems.
The New Launcher obviously has increased the flexibility no end:
Default maps are now set to WAZE. Tried a few others even paid a trial on one but always came back to WAZE.
Music is from Spotify
Included a button to link to CarPlay for my daughter
Direct button to Google Chrome to link Whatsapp mirrored account at thjis sage can’t have GA read or write messages
Radio is set up with TuneIn, works fine with separate button for BBC Sounds.
The Phone and messaging is internal all works with a separate SIM account/number (used Google Phone app but still can’t delete the original.)
Use my mobile connected to the original Land Rover setup for hands free, local Radio news and rear media, (Mode) using the steering wheel controls.
With the Spider app there are loads of periphery add-on’s, a good one for the grand children is the compass, for our generation an everyday tool but sadly at this stage a novelty for these sub teenagers.
USB: I’ve noted your instruction on this matter and while I have some success with music I’ve not really tried with films as it will not play in the rear, as I understand it. Has anyone considered just installing Netflix’s or simular surely that’s the way to go.
Only real issue I still have is with fine tuning of Google assistant and Voice Match not being available, still tinkering so any pointers greatly appreciated.
Thanks again.

 

[slaine]

Hi @Chris Qld

Great to see you've made some progress 👍Yes, CarWebGuru is a really good launcher, it is so versatile and very configurable. There are free off the shelf themes, paid themes, plus there is a theme builder. I did have a play with the builder, and I found I could get quite close to the 'InControl Touch Pro' look. The 'Spider' theme is quite popular among Android head unit enthusiasts.

Apparently, there is a built-in Radio chip for FM/DAB in these Android head units. But that must mean it needs an aerial connected to the back. I have also seen a Radio app pre-installed on the unit - which currently does not find any stations, but then it has no aerial connected. One of spare ports at the back could be for that. Something to consider.

Regarding the phone, I currently do the same, i.e. paired with the original JLR system, allowing use of steering wheel controls. Obviously, the down side is that you cannot see any form of caller display when in your Android Launcher (in your case, CarWebGuru). This is what I am trying to solve at present. In the app that I am developing, I spent 2 weeks trying to connect to the Android Bluetooth, but failed. I can manually connect, but not via my app. They have done something to this version (ROM) of the Android software. Plan B is to now get the app to connect to the JLR bluetooth system via CAN bus (which has turned into a separate project on its own!).

As for the USB, I only use it for installing updated versions of my app. Basically for file transfer. I have not tried playing media (audio or video) directly from the USB. Although I am confident it will work, as it appears as drive in the "Files" app in Android. I have installed the YouTube and Plex apps, and that plays video perfectly. I wasn't aware that you had TV headrests. There were probably about a dozen wires on mine that are not connected, as they are labelled TV out, DVR out/in, etc. I wonder if they are what you need? Sorry, I cannot help as I don't have any TVs in the rear.

I don't use Google Assistant. Although it does work fine for me, but only when I touch the onscreen Mic button. It will not respond to 'Hey Google'. I have added my own voice assistant in my app which overcomes this issue in my case. "Play music Kaiser Chiefs" will automatically open the Media Find screen, allowing me to select a result; an album, artist, track, playlist, podcast, etc. I use the Spotify API for this integration. Likewise, I can say "Play video Range Rover Evoque" and it will automatically list a set of results from YouTube (using their API). There are loads of other commands too, such as "Search web Range Rover Evoque", which will returns the first match from Wikipedia. Also, "Get News Rugby Union" will read out the latest Rugby Union news (using NewsApi).

Good luck with the head unit and the new launcher, it looks great, loads more user friendly and useful 😉

 

[slaine]

It's been a while since I added any updates of my DIY InControl Touch Pro app. It is still in development, although the phone functionality is proving challenging. As I a mentioned in the post above, the ROM on these head units have been modified, and the bluetooth fuinctionality is very difficult to tap in to. I have a Plan B, which is what I have been working on for the past week, which involves accessing the OEM functionality directly via the CAN bus. The Evoque has several CAN bus systems onboard, high speed (HS-CAN) and medium speed (MS-CAN) is what I need. The latter contains all infotainment functionality. Any way, that has turned into a separate project (which is great fun btw 😉).

All round buttons now working (apart from the phone section).

 

[slaine]

Voice Assistant allows me to play music by saying (for example) ... "Play music Kaiser Chiefs" ... which automatically displays this:

I can then select the appropriate category from the list above, e.g. Albums ...

Once selected, it loads and plays the media ...

All players controls work as expected, using the mini player (left), main player or on the home screen too.

This is connected to my Spotify account. So all my favourites are automatically added to the 'Favourites' section in the app. I can add/remove any favourites within my app, which will obviously be reflected in my Spotify account across all my devices.

 

[slaine]

The 'Source' button allows me to select what media I want to play. I am using internet radio streams for Radio, Spotify (API) for Media Library, YouTube (API) for Television, and Phone is currently 'work in progress'.

 

[slaine]

If I say "Play radio", it will display a list of radio stations. Any of the can be added as a favourite.

Once selected, it will load and play the radio station ...

 

[slaine]

If I say "Play video Range Rover Evoque" it will search YouTube and load the results in the Television section of the app ...

Once a result is selected, it loads the video and plays it ...

The video can be expanded to full screen using the YouTube button.

 

[slaine]

The navigation page uses MapBox, which is a great SDK for maps, navigation and routing. It also allows full theming too. I can navigate to any destination via voice too. Like many navigation systems, you can search place types as well, like bank, petrol station, supermarket, restaurant, etc. Below shows 'Day Mode', at night, everything is much darker.

It is currently using the internet to search and create the routes. Although offline routing is available but not yet implemented.

The navigation instructions (maneveurs, time remaining, distance) is also displayed on the home screen and updated in real time.

That's it for now folks 😎

 

[Biker]

You realised you just mentioned things I didn't even know I need? Open Pandora's box now have you?

 

[slaine]

The funny thing is, I started this app before I knew the Pivi Pro existed. Which is why I based mine on the InControl Touch Pro.

Ho hum 😂

 

[Meekey]

@slaine. I have installed the Nova launcher and did as you instructed. The usb function is already set to MTP. So obviously there is something not right with either the usb cable or the connection. So I will be taking the dashboard apart this weekend. Not really that hard to do actually. Anyway I`m a step nearer to sorting the last function I want to work. I wouldn`t be this close if it wasn`t for your help and info on this thread.
Thanx.
Meekey.

 

[Meekey]

Well, I took my dashboard apart and found that the usb cable is part of the wiring loom so I can`t try a different usb cable. I did find that the usb does in fact charge my iPhone. So I don`t know if there is actually anything I can do about the problem of it not showing a usb stick when connected.

 

[slaine]

I am running out of ideas unfortunately. If I understand your issue correctly, your USB cable from the Android head unit allows you to charge your iPhone, but it does not allow you to use it as a music source, nor does a USB stick show up in the Files app on the head unit. And you have already been into Developer Options and ensured USB Mode is set to MTP.

1. Have you tried different USB sticks? On mine, I simply plug a USB stick in and I can see it appear a second later in the Files app, and browse and copy the files from the stick to the head unit.
2. I read somewhere that you have to have at least one music track on iPhones with iOS 11 or above for it to be recognised as a music source. Not sure if this is accurate or applies in your case.
3. The last resort is to factory reset the Android head unit. I have done this on mine a couple of times. It takes about 4-5 minutes. Once done, try the USB stick without changing any settings on the head unit.