D.1.2.1 Android Auto Review

Updated and installed last night and used during a couple of commute trips. Below are some of my quick notes and outstanding issues. This review used a Samsung Note 8 on Google Fi.

The Good:

• Navigation: dragging the map around or changing map filters (satellite or traffic) happens very quickly just as it would on the phone - Acura maps was very sluggish in comparison. More up to date maps and navigation instructions is a huge improvement as well.
• Google assistant integration: long press the voice button on the wheel to bring up google assistant
• Sound quality seems improved (was previously using bluetooth)

The Bad:

• Daytime colors are TERRIBLE. Is it maxing out the gamma on the display or something else? It's difficult to see street lines on the map. Can't believe this was pushed out in its current state
• Map orientation resets seemingly randomly every 15 seconds. This could be phone related though this does not happen when the phone is used normally
• Touch controls: say goodbye to the true touch interface functionality. There is now an invisible cursor that you need to move around to navigate the screen and it takes multiple full-pad-swipes to move from the left the right
• Switching between "apps" using the assistant. If I issue "tell me the news" then "stop the news" commands, AA does not switch back to my previously playing music. Additionally the one icon that shows up on the side dock is now replaced by the news app preventing quick access to the music app to pick up where I left off.
• The right side vertical display still persists and defaults to a giant Android Auto logo. Swipe down to swap to acura navigation (two maps!) or once more to get the clock.
• Assistant Voice Speaker: certain commands come out of a different speaker with poor quality (much more robotic/radio sounding) while others such has navigation instructions come out cleanly. Still figuring out which commands trigger this. Seems like this is intentional to mirror the previous Acura voice functionality so that the volumes can be set separately.

Overall I am conflicted about whether or not I should use this at all. I may revert back to simply using the Android Auto app on my phone over bluetooth attached to my A/C vent. I'll be testing this tomorrow using my wife's phone (Pixel 3 XL) to see if which of these issues are phone related, if any.

 

This bugged me at first but I found out that you can use that screen and press the side button to change between your map and music apps on the main screen, which is a lot safer to do than using the trackpad and navigating the main screen instead.

Google maps directions showing up on the HUD is neat too. I do agree tho that not having the true touchpad is disappointing.

 

OK im lost as to what you meant by "press the side button"? what side button? and which map and music apps are you changing ? can you elaborate on this more?

 

the vertical touch pad next to the "true touch" pad can be pressed to swap whichever apps are being used on the main screen. e.g. you can have maps on the left with bluetooth audio on the right then swap their positions.

When using android auto this does not serve any purpose.

 

The only alternative to the native nav that I like. Can't find it.

 

When I use SiriusXM, and have AA navigating thru Google maps, When I press this small touch pad the turn by turn of google maps switches to the small screen and the SiriusXM to the large screen or back the other way.

 

ah good point. I'm using youtube music and spotify through AA itself so I didn't try this.

 

How? When you go into SiriusXM, it kicks you of AA

 

Not in my experience. I almost always have SiriusXM running, and when I get in the car (since AA became available) I plug my phone in, start eh car, hit the AA button on the screen, and off I go. Listening to SiriusXM, and I can hold the voice button on the steering wheel and ask AA for a destination, or the weather or stock prices or send or reply to a text by voice...... and switching between screens, as I said just works as it seems it should.

I can switch stations with the left side steering wheel knob, I can adjust AA navigation volume (while it is talking) with the steering wheel volume control. I haven tried everything, but I am happy now having AA.

 

Are you referring to the built in Sirius Radio or an Android Auto Sirius App?

 

If you are asking me, i use the built in RDX SiriusXM radio app.

 

I found out what I was talking about exactly, lol. So the right screen has clock, audio, navigation. If you're running audio and navigation through AA then both of them just show "AA."

When that happens you can click on one to go to the AA navigation and music, respectively, on the main screen rather than having to navigate using the main trackpad and screen. It's a nice touch of integration (same as AA navigation showing up in hud) as I thought they'd just be wasted space on the right screen.

 

Hey geese, I didn't have the same experience. When I'm running navigation and audio (youtube music) through AA, the right screen has audio (just an AA logo), Acura navigation, and clock. When I click on the AA logo using the right/vertical touchpad it swaps to the main screen as the audio app - but then the right screen becomes Acura navigation. Clicking this again swaps Acura navigation to the main screen, and the AA youtube music app to the right screen.

Very interesting that your right screen replaces Acura maps with the AA logo - I don't have that :thinking:

 

I posted the following in another thread. This looks to be the better one...

I have used it now and like it pretty well.
I don't like the way they implemented the track pad. But I am getting used to it.

I have used AA on a 2019 F150 - which works very well.
There is one screen interface difference.
On the F150, when you have Google Maps running and you have music or a podcast playing too, there are
function buttons at the bottom. These are on the left in the RDX.
The F150 shows Apps menu, Prev track, Pause or Play, Next track, Microphone and maybe something else (can't remember)
The RDX doesn't have the Prev track, Pause or Play, Next track buttons.
So, if I want to pause the podcast, I have to leave Google Maps and go to the podcast app.
I don't think its the podcast app's fault. Does the same thing with Amazon Music.
I know for sure that works on the F150..

I did discover that if I press the power button on the left side of my steering wheel, it will pause and play for me without leaving Google Maps...
So I have that going for me - which is nice....

Am I missing something?

 

Ah yeah, try using Google maps instead and it should work like I mentioned. Basically works kind of like how alt tab on the computer does.

 

I installed it yesterday and had no issues. Today has been constant glitches and I finally disabled it

 

The only problem I've had with AA is lack of voice navigation in Google Maps. Other features, like Pandora, and voice recognition are working fine. I've looked through settings and cannot determine why the nav audio is off. Is anyone else experiencing this problem, or know how to resolve?

 

Start navigation in Google maps, and you should be able to see the muted symbol. Just select it and you should be able to change it to normal.

 

Thanks geese3, I've played with the mute/unmute & it made no difference in volume. Next I'll try a different phone to see if it is my Pixel.

 

While the AA Nav app (Google maps) is navigation, and actually giving audible instructions, use the volume knob or lever on the steering wheel to turn up the volume. You must do this while it is speaking to you, I believe. Anyway, try this please.

I had this the first time I used, it and wondered why I couldn't hear the instructions This fixed it.

 

The volume on the steering column did it! Thank you!

 

You are welcome!

From one "Zonie" to another!

 

Today I found what appears to be a slight glitch. On my Advance with HUD, when I use the "apps" button on the steering wheel, it brings up a list of the items (on the HUD) that I added to it when I first got the RDX...different audio sources, specific preset XM channels, etc. When I select one of these preset XM channels I get the message "Function Unavailable" ...I can scroll thru the list, then select "SiriusXM", and THEN select the preset channel. way to many steps.

It's really not a big deal for me, as I almost always just use XM, and it is much easier to just push the wheel control button L or R to select one of my presets...BUT, if I did want to change preset stations from this apps list...it doesn't seem to be working with this update. "Function Unavailable" does seem like a glitch.

Anyone else experience this?

 

Is there a way to get Google Maps to switch to night mode automatically? Also, is there a way to adjust bass and treble? I had music streaming through Bluetooth before and could adjust the RDX speaker system's bass and treble settings. Connecting through USB, you can't adjust them.

 

Infotainment system D.1.2.1 update of November 4th 2019
Seems to have corrected many of the prior most annoying Quirks/Issues
Favorites in navigation, radio & phone were not overrode & remained this time😊

1. HUD direction problems appear to have been corrected so its & display behind steering wheel are in sync with main display. 😊
2. I even think I see more point of interest in many of the Navigation / Find. Such as under "Restaurants" or "Food" or “Shopping” or “Gifts” or “Travel Agency”- I’ll have to spend more time checking. 😊
3. Fewer if any “System Error- Function Unavailable” showing when left steering wheel control are used to advance radio stations. 😊
4. Bluetooth on iPhone 7 seems to connect better than it has been 😊

However still experiencing problems caused by either the August 28th 2019 (D.1.1.4) firmware software or an Aculink update/ Can’t use AcuraLink map feature while car is off to send directions. only is working when I’m connected by Bluetooth & accessories or car is on.

Have not checked yet to see if they added ability to name favorites and tell the system to “go to” Paul’s House. would be fantastic if they addressed this concern so many have reported.

 

Noticed on the Acura app, in the guide where it takes about Android auto the picture layout of Android auto doesn't look the same. It has the navigations on the bottom but we have it on the left side