Kenwood Smartphone Control app - Miscellaneous Android Development

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jvckenwood.HID_ThinClient.KWD
Kenwood released this app that will allow head unit control of your smartphone using HDMI and Bluetooth Input connections. Right now, the only supported devices for the S3, S4, Note II and Sony devices.
Is there a root tweak or hack that can be developed that will trick the app so that any device can work with the app?

sshams95 said:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jvckenwood.HID_ThinClient.KWD
Kenwood released this app that will allow head unit control of your smartphone using HDMI and Bluetooth Input connections. Right now, the only supported devices for the S3, S4, Note II and Sony devices.
Is there a root tweak or hack that can be developed that will trick the app so that any device can work with the app?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Found this via a random google search. As of now, 02/19/2016 Kenwood has not updated this app to support Android 6 Marshmallow. If you have this app installed on Android 6, it will just force close. I have an idea that it won't work because of the permissions restrictions on the new Android OS. Once Kenwood updates the app to request permissions for us to grant we'll be good again. If you rely heavily on the touch screen options over the MHL/HDMI then stay with Android 5 (lollipop).
I have the following setup in my vehicle and it works quite well:
My Physical setup:
HDMI cable run from back of of my Kenwood to my center console where I have a coupler to plug-in my MHL cable. The idea is to make it easy to plug-in a Miracast device someday. Right now the wireless mirroring is far to buggy and slow, so connecting directly is the only way to go here for me. I cut my Parking SW (switch) greenish wire and wired it into the ground wire (black). This allows me to bypass the restrictions of use while driving and easily control other apps that Kenwood won't otherwise let you run, like Google Maps or a Drive app like HTC Drive. If you choose to NOT bypass then so long as you open WAZE first, you can trick the unit into letting you open other apps, but you can't go the home screen first. You'll have to open the app via recents menu.
My Software setup:
I have a rooted Android device and use an app called "second screen". I have it configured to auto turn off my phone's backlight when I plug-in to the mhl cable. This saves my battery greatly by not having to light up the display. I lose about 1% every 30 minutes or so running waze and Spotify together, very doable. Once I remove the MHL cable everything is back to normal and back-light returns.
Before I bypassed restrictions by moving my parking switch wire to the ground, I was using an android app called "overlays". (still am actually because its awesome) Its free and allows you to put an app shortcut over an running program. You setup a profile per app. For example, in Waze, I put an app overlay for both Spotify and Pandora. All you see are 2 tiny icons, size and placement of your choosing, in the corner of waze. All I have to do is tap it and it opens Spotify. I did the same for Spotify and Pandora and placed tiny app shortcuts to both Waze and Google maps to allow seamless back and forth between apps. Takes a bit to setup, but so worth it in the end.
All in all, it greatly improves enjoyment while driving. The Head units, so far, have far less appealing GUI than your cell phone. Google and Apple do great jobs of making their UI appealing to the masses and there really is no better choice, even the built-in head unit GUI, which I'm happy to bypass and show my phone instead.

Related

One click - Connect 2 Specific Bluetooth device for A2DP and Phone app

An amazing One click - Connect 2 Specific Bluetooth device for A2DP and Phone app:
Bluetooth Pair
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gnssoftworks.bluetoothpair
found it very useful for swapping bluetooth headphones between devices WITHOUT turning off Bluetooth entirely or going into the settings menu.
Example Use Case:
I have one Stereo Bluetooth headset with mic (two profiles - phone and A2DP audio)
I have one Android Phone and one Android Tablet.
Phone Profile is always connected to the Android Phone, but the A2DP audio changes depending on which device you want to listen to music from.
Normally, if you want to listen to audio from the Tablet when your headset's A2DP profile is connected to the phone, you'd have to first go to the settings menu of the phone, and disconnect the A2DP, leaving Phone Profile connected. Then go to the settings menu on your tablet and connect the A2DP only.
Then you'd have to do the opposite if you want to listen to audio from the Phone again.
Takes a long time.
With Bluetooth Pair, you can specifically connect or disconnect to a specific device and specific profile (phone / a2dp) by widgets.
So you won't have to turn off the bluetooth completely on one device just to allow your headset to connect another device. Nor do you need to go into settings anymore.
1.) Just tap on the A2DP device specific widget on the phone to disconnect, the A2DP Profile from the phone
2.) go to the Tablet, and tap on the A2DP device specific widget to connect the A2DP profile of the headset to the Tablet
Two taps!
Would you mind sharing a code snippet on how you achieve this? I've been working on a little program that I intend to use around the house and this is the missing piece that I can't figure out. Basically, I have some NFC tags spread around the house and a receiver app that triggers various actions. One of them enables bluetooth on my device (if off), turns on my home audio receiver (over telnet), connects to the receiver's A2DP device (this is the missing piece), and launches a music app.
I've seen examples where this works using an AIDL method, but from what I've gathered this no longer works under Android 4.2. Does your app work on 4.2? Any hints you can provide?
Thanks!
Brian
I'm not the writer of this app.
You could try contacting them via the email listed on Google Play.
BTW, while you're making your app, please dedicate a thread to it on XDA so we can all beta test and buy it later!
klau1 said:
I'm not the writer of this app.
You could try contacting them via the email listed on Google Play.
BTW, while you're making your app, please dedicate a thread to it on XDA so we can all beta test and buy it later!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh, OK. I just assumed this was your app.
After reading the Play Store description more carefully, I don't think this app actually does what I'm trying to do (programmatically establish an A2DP connection). It appears this app enables / disables certain profiles but the actual connection is still handled by the OS.
As far as the app I'm making, I was intending it to just be something for personal use. I'm planning on keeping it very lightweight and tailored specifically to my needs. For it to be used by anyone else they would have to have the same brand of A/V receiver as me (Pioneer) that supports the same telnet commands. Most of the rest of the functionality of the app can be duplicated by using some of the existing NFC apps like NFC Task Launcher. If I ever develop it into something interesting that could be used by a wider audience I probably will post it on XDA for feedback though.

App to use android tablet as video screen in car

I'm looking for a solution to use my Nexus 7 as a video screen in the backseat for my son. It will be mounted on the back of the seat and I want to be able to control it from my phone (Nexus 5). I thought this would be fairly easy to do with all the remote desktop and casting apps out now but I have not found anything that will work.
Allcast on N5 with Allcast Receiver on N7 - Works to cast local videos but requires wifi which I don't have in the car. Out
Cheapcast - Turns tablet into chromcast. No longer working with most apps and requires wifi. - Out
Tablet Remote - Remote control from android to android. This will remote control the tablet from the phone. Only has buttons (volume, play, pause, directional arrows, etc) so you cant see what you are doing without looking at the tablet. If I have to climb back there it defeats the purpose. - Out
Anyone have any ideas on how to do this?

Mirrorlink + Car Mode not working

I purchased the S7 hoping to utilize my head unit on my 2014 Honda Civic. I installed RockScout to ensure SOMETHING would show up and it did. I installed Car Mode through the Galaxy app store, and the app shows up under the Mirrorlink "menu" in settings under MirrorLink applications. One would think that this would mean it should show up on the car's screen when connected, but alas it does not.
Is there something I'm missing? Has anyone else been able to get this to work?
solved... somewhat
So I found a solution for those who may be having the same issue.
--- I guess I can't post links yet because I'm so new.. go to youtube and use this video id to watch: xEaR97-ETeM ---
surprisingly, this seems to have made the car mode work for me.
Perform the steps shown in the video,
Open Car Mode on your phone
Connect the phone to the car via USB
Select one of the available MirrorLink apps (in my case it was Rock Scout)
The chosen app will open and the Car Mode nav bar will appear on the left. Now you can just hit it's home button and you're taken to Car Mode.
Now I need to figure out how to get Google Maps to work on Car Mode. Currently, it looks like it only supports navigation apps that Mirror Link supports
(I'm assuming due a head-unit-display-UI not being available on Google Maps.. probably legal reasons there)
What is the title of the youtube video? I tried your link and it did not work out for me.
When I connect the Galaxy S7 to my stereo, the Samsung automatically locks on the Mirrorlink connection screen, it will not let me navigate way.
iroky2000 said:
What is the title of the youtube video? I tried your link and it did not work out for me.
When I connect the Galaxy S7 to my stereo, the Samsung automatically locks on the Mirrorlink connection screen, it will not let me navigate way.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xEaR97-ETeM
still this is strange, car mode is visible under mirrorlink certifications yet it is not visible when phone is connected to car radio
Having the same problem. 2016 Subaru Crosstrek with factory head unit. Couple mirror link apps are working fine but car mode does not show up on the head unit at all. Really want it so I can use google maps on the bigger screen.
Running a Sony XAV-601BT and same issue. It shows as connected (however get a USB device not recognized error), tried the tricks above and no dice Really disappointed so far, as my old Z2 worked fine.
Found some info in the Subaru forums. Sounds like MirrorLink 1.1 is more strict about what it allows to display. So 1.0 just kinda mirrored everything, 1.1 actually checks to make sure you don't wiggle your way into another app. Since Car Mode isn't allowed by the car, even though its MirrorLink certified, it gets blocked... Sigh...
Jstylen said:
Found some info in the Subaru forums. Sounds like MirrorLink 1.1 is more strict about what it allows to display. So 1.0 just kinda mirrored everything, 1.1 actually checks to make sure you don't wiggle your way into another app. Since Car Mode isn't allowed by the car, even though its MirrorLink certified, it gets blocked... Sigh...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, MirrorLink 1.1 also requires each specific app to be certified before it can be displayed. I don't think Google is going to support this ever, since they are pushing their own Android Auto.
Would LOVE to see a workaround for this, purchased a mirrorlink addon for my Pioneer AVH-X3600BHS and it doesnt work properly grrr
Grrr "Smartphone Not Compatible" when trying to connect Samsung Galaxy s7 to Honda Civic 2016...Applications are certified, USB in MTP mode but it just does not work...
I've only got this to work with HTC phones. See my video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhFsBz31-qU
There are other videos on youtube as well . . all using HTC phones.
I've tried my process on a couple nexus devices and samsung devices, they don't work.
Something about the HTC mirrorlink technology thats works perfectly... EVERYTHING works.
So . . . i'm currently stuck using a cheap HTC 626s phone because it works so well with my 2014 Civic si head unit.
Currently looking for a used HTC m9 or 10 so I can have a beefier phone but still retain the mirrorlink functionality.
This only worked for me so far when the ROM is stock. Dunno if has something to do with the other ROMs being rooted.. Researching, because I'd like to have a custom ROM with root AND this working.
I have a pioneer nex and a galaxy s7. The online way i found to conecct was installing sygic car Navigation, the app works with mirrorlink so it opens on the hu, then i just exit the app and boom full mirroing, the only problem is that the Phone stays locked while conected.
etasso said:
I have a pioneer nex and a galaxy s7. The online way i found to conecct was installing sygic car Navigation, the app works with mirrorlink so it opens on the hu, then i just exit the app and boom full mirroing, the only problem is that the Phone stays locked while conected.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do all your buttons work properly, like the the back button? On Appradio 4 with my s7 edge, I can only hit the home button which takes me back to rock scout. I haven't tried sygic
sebring003 said:
Do all your buttons work properly, like the the back button? On Appradio 4 with my s7 edge, I can only hit the home button which takes me back to rock scout. I haven't tried sygic
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In mine only the back button of the hu is shown, the others are missing too, so i ve installed a program to simulate the buttons, its called Simple Control.
I've heard that the pioneer is easy to hack, but was wondering if anyone had any experience with the Linux that these seem to run? Is there a way to trick the car head unit to allow any device with a custom rom to connect to mirrorlink 1.1?
My mass storage device is recognised but the internal SD card in MTP mode isn't. Does Sygic App allow it to connect regardless?
Anyone has skills how to mod car mode app, so it works like RockScout. Apparently it only works on VW mirorlink radios, I have a Subaru with the 7" Mirrorink 1.1 inch unit and it would be nice if this software barrier can be "corrected". I have seen it show car mode when exiting the RockScout app, so I know it works, just that its blocked.
There is a way to root the phone and then install an app that runs car mode, but this doens't work in 1.1 either. I have heard that someone was running CM mod with full mirroring. Any thoughts? There must be a way in Linux to connect and change the connect settings through the app? Is it it android specifiic ie version?
Jstylen said:
Having the same problem. 2016 Subaru Crosstrek with factory head unit. Couple mirror link apps are working fine but car mode does not show up on the head unit at all. Really want it so I can use google maps on the bigger screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the same vehicle. So frustrating to have a brand new car with a perfectly decent screen built in (picture of backup cam looks pretty good) and no ability to take advantage of it. They want us to pay however many thousand dollars more to use their navigation system, which I'm sure sucks out of the box and will no doubt be useless in 1-2 years anyway. It would be SO MUCH SAFER if they let us just mirror the friggin screen. You KNOW it's not that compatibility is complicated. Dicks. (I love my Subaru otherwise )

phone on car dash screen

Hi all experts,
Can we project phone screen on car's dash screen and operate phone from dash screen?
The answer is yes, depending on what you're willing to spend.
Pioneer AppRadio devices allow for that, if you have a rooted phone and use AppRadio Unchained or AppRadio Unchained Reloaded. You'll more than likely need to use mirrorlink or chromecast to make it work, and it will be very buggy, dropping connections often.
Another option to get a decent, but not perfect Android experience is to get an Android Auto compatible deck in your car. I use this now, as it's a much smoother experience than using the AppRadio was. Pioneer decks that support Android Auto are also compatible with AppRadio.
The third option is to get a dedicated Android deck in the car and use tethering from your phone to give it data.
I highly recommend the Android Auto option. It's not a compete mirror, but it's smooth and integrates well with most cars with proper adapters to allow steering wheel controls.
Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk
Thank you for your valuable reply!

Smartphone as a car navigation

I warmly welcome.
I will note in advance that I do not know if in the appropriate department.
And now to the point ...
I have an old, unused HAMMER ENERGY smartphone with Android 7.0
I would like to convert it into a car phone ... namely, I mean that the phone would only be used as a navigation. Plus some music via BT.
I am curious how to do it best, whether to upload a pure android and only navigations, or maybe there are some interesting "car" modifications
Maybe e.g. protection against a stolen car if the phone were inside,
or some video recorder additionally.
I don't quite know what else you can think of in this topic.
I depend on your experience, I want to play with the phone.
greetings
For me I use my old mi max as car navigation in the car. It's not screen makes waze/gmaps easier to see.
No modifications needed. Just a good car phone mount, car phone charger and a shortcut to the music /navigation app you use most frequent will do.
You might want to pop in a sim card with data or share your data connection with that phone. For me it's simple, i set it to auto share my wifi whenever my phone is connected to my car ice system via BT.
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