Android Auto Functionality for 2015 Audi A8/S8
Posted: 22 Dec 2015, 10:11
GETTING ANDROID and ANDROID AUTO FUNCTIONALITY IN 2015 AUDI A8/S8
I would like to be able install an Android TV Box in my 2015 Audi S8 with optional Bang & Olufsen sound system. The ultimate goal is to be able to get Android Auto functionality in the car.
The first step would obviously be to get the video and audio signals to integrate with the vehicle’s MMI system
OPTION 1: At first, using this interface http://car-solutions.com/en/video-inter ... th-pas.php with an Android TV box with HDMI output (e.g. http://car-solutions.com/en/android-mul ... -telos.php), until I realised that (so it seems) I will not have sound on the vehicle’s sound system with this setup. (I’m not sure what the purpose of a video only interface would be. My first question is therefore what would the purpose of a video interface without sound be? Does that mean I will have to add something like this http://car-solutions.com/en/car-audio-m ... -a8-a6.php as well? Will that not be a complicated setup when switching to the Android TV box and back to the internal system?
OPTION 2: It I am correct with the above, it seems that the alternative would be to get one of these interfaces http://car-solutions.com/en/car-most-vi ... -years.php but linking this unit with the Android TV Box then becomes a problem – Only RCA connectors on the one as opposed to HDMI on the other. (I realise I could use a HDMI > RCA converter, but in my experience, these converters are not very good and I want to keep the setup as simple as possible, to ensure a reliable system.)
Android Auto: To get Android Auto functionality, I will run the Headunit app (http://forum.xda-developers.com/general ... o-t3125252) on the Android TV Box. The Headunit app requires Android 5.0, so I will have to wait for the Android TV Boxes (intended for use in vehicles) to upgrade to Lollipop. The alternative is to run an Android Auto lookalike app like Automate (https://plus.google.com/communities/102 ... 2710276577) , but that will require an Android device (TV Box) that has a built in GPS receiver (which I don’t believe these units have?) Doing it the latter way, would also require a very reliable and accurate remote to control the Android TV Box – probably a Bluetooth based remote. My next question is therefore if such (Bluetooth based) remote systems are available? (The wifi based remotes seem to work fine, but none of those I could find, are designed to be used in a vehicle. Typically I would imagine the ideal remote would have large and as little as possible buttons.)
Your suggestions would be much appreciated.
I would like to be able install an Android TV Box in my 2015 Audi S8 with optional Bang & Olufsen sound system. The ultimate goal is to be able to get Android Auto functionality in the car.
The first step would obviously be to get the video and audio signals to integrate with the vehicle’s MMI system
OPTION 1: At first, using this interface http://car-solutions.com/en/video-inter ... th-pas.php with an Android TV box with HDMI output (e.g. http://car-solutions.com/en/android-mul ... -telos.php), until I realised that (so it seems) I will not have sound on the vehicle’s sound system with this setup. (I’m not sure what the purpose of a video only interface would be. My first question is therefore what would the purpose of a video interface without sound be? Does that mean I will have to add something like this http://car-solutions.com/en/car-audio-m ... -a8-a6.php as well? Will that not be a complicated setup when switching to the Android TV box and back to the internal system?
OPTION 2: It I am correct with the above, it seems that the alternative would be to get one of these interfaces http://car-solutions.com/en/car-most-vi ... -years.php but linking this unit with the Android TV Box then becomes a problem – Only RCA connectors on the one as opposed to HDMI on the other. (I realise I could use a HDMI > RCA converter, but in my experience, these converters are not very good and I want to keep the setup as simple as possible, to ensure a reliable system.)
Android Auto: To get Android Auto functionality, I will run the Headunit app (http://forum.xda-developers.com/general ... o-t3125252) on the Android TV Box. The Headunit app requires Android 5.0, so I will have to wait for the Android TV Boxes (intended for use in vehicles) to upgrade to Lollipop. The alternative is to run an Android Auto lookalike app like Automate (https://plus.google.com/communities/102 ... 2710276577) , but that will require an Android device (TV Box) that has a built in GPS receiver (which I don’t believe these units have?) Doing it the latter way, would also require a very reliable and accurate remote to control the Android TV Box – probably a Bluetooth based remote. My next question is therefore if such (Bluetooth based) remote systems are available? (The wifi based remotes seem to work fine, but none of those I could find, are designed to be used in a vehicle. Typically I would imagine the ideal remote would have large and as little as possible buttons.)
Your suggestions would be much appreciated.