Top Android auto head unit apps which cost little to none.

[@edmundho88]

(RADIO WORKS) Thanks for going over everything. I just replaced my oem radio with a unit and found your video helpful as I was looking for ideas of apps to install. I'm going ot try to get the front/rear camera app installed/setup. But I do want to say that the radio does work if you plug the right antenna in. I had it setup like as it was instructed out of the box but it didn't get good signal on the radio. I saw some other video that showed them plugging the antenna into a different section with a adapter and i realized that they were not plugging it into what I thought was right. I then remember that I had a cables (2 black lines join together with white plastic) that was plugged into the OEM radio. So instead of the one line which had a secure latch (I think it was green), I just plugged it into the right section out of the 2. Also, I didn't need a adapter like I saw in that video and it fit well in there. After that, the radio has a strong signal and it works like any standard FM radio. As I'm thinking about it now, I haven't checked out the AM radio and that might be what the left side of the cable might be. But who uses AM right?. I think the first connector that didn't work could have been the XM radio antenna cause the connector fight perfectly.

[@lavithhcm]

i am glad that RADIO works out great for you. thanks for sharing that info.

[@USA95]

My car android radio does work. It is a Toyota camry 2013. The radio came ready to use the same antenna connection my car has . The radio works really good in my android unit

[@lavithhcm]

so I guess some model of android head unit with good firmware will have radio working as it should. Mine head unit doesn't work with any radio station and no physical antenna.

[@AskeemWilliams-km9qf]

Joying radios work as well. They also have some great specifications. A bit pricey but a great investment

[@silaphanmongpho1994]

Thank you for your review, and i am sorry for your accident from that car. 😢

[@lavithhcm]

yeah, some just don't know how to drive. 🙂

[@chrismcg6574]

Takes the car accident like a boss

[@Don_TranQuiL]

Hi just a question, I can’t find anywhere the dvr app. I have from factory the same dvr app only version 1. However it does not have the functionality as u have. How did you connect the reverse camera? Like I have it that it shows the back camera when I put the gear in reverse, do you have this too? If not let me know, that’s maybe the problem here. I would really love to recode front and back, I have the same radio and cameras Thanks

[@TwickenStep]

Let me know if you worked this out. I am currently trying to find the version that supports 2 cameras. Seems rare.

[@oniesma]

You have a good looking theme. I really love it. Can I buy or get it?

[@lavithhcm]

It's free! I posted the theme file in the description which u can download from my google drive. With that said, you need to have paid version of CarWebGuru in order to import the theme file. Best of luck! Hope it works out for you after all!

[@asgerjrgensen1414]

I think the apps that are blocked is because your unit runs Android Automotive which is an Android for cars and the reason for blocking might be because of road safety, not sure though.

[@lavithhcm]

I suspect inside the firmware there are "black list" list that blocks these "check and verify" apps from Google play store. As in my previous videos, this unit does not have "real" spec as it claims from the store bought on AliExpress even though it display so. I did file a dispute with AliExpress regarding this issue and they conclude in my favor.

[@famousfeem]

Thanks for this video. But I’m really amazed by your launcher setup. Would you post a video on how to setup webguru to look like yours? Many thanks

[@lavithhcm]

Thanks for stopping by my YT channel. I made and prepared some videos but never had a chance to edit and upload. I definitely will after your comment. Just for a quick tip, you don't really have to buy the paid Pro version ofCarWebGuru to have something similar like mine. But it takes considerable amount of time sitting in your car just to edit the layout. Thanks again!

[@famousfeem]

@@lavithhcm maybe you can make an export or theme from your setup and sell it. But either way thanks for your vid’s.

[@lavithhcm]

@@famousfeem nah you can download it for free from my google drive. I posted here in the comment i think.

[@TwickenStep]

Hi there, I'm wiring up my reverse camera today but, it seems my xcdvr2 does not have the option to switch camera. It only has the button for Adas. Just wondering what version you are using and what yellow input you use? Aux or the one for the reverse cam? Cheers.

[@lavithhcm]

I will let you know where i downloaded it before. It came from a link the seller sent when i got the unit. But i am sure it wasnt from the google play store app. But i dont really care where i download the app since i am not using this car android head unit for my financial banking. Security isnt my concern.

[@ubiratanpassos6855]

Very good video.

[@lavithhcm]

Thanks for your kind words!

[@igorhenrique3375]

I was looking for apps on the chapter then I found 'Car Accident', I really expected an app 🤣🤣

[@lavithhcm]

😄😄😄😄

[@loufazzari759]

Will it work on portable head units..atoto carpuride ect

[@asgerjrgensen1414]

AVI video format is not uncompressed! But it is not compressed as much as more modern file formats, can the program only save in AVI ? Maybe you can use a lower resolution 1080P is twice the size of 720P, just a thought.

[@lavithhcm]

Yes it can only save in AVI file format. Thanks for the resolution tip.!

[@asgerjrgensen1414]

Maybe a file manager can be set up to compress or convert the files or maybe there is a better app for saving the camera footage, there must be plenty of aps that can do that.

[@lavithhcm]

@@asgerjrgensen1414 you're right. Maybe other apps can connect to this $10 usb camera and do the compression on the fly but reality is that this android head unit is already sluggish on its own. But yeah i will investigate how other camera apps can affect this ahu performance. Thanks!

[@asgerjrgensen1414]

@@lavithhcm You do know that when a cpu get to hot it throttles down and that might be the reason your head unit is sluggish. I have just bought a Chinese 9", Android 12, 8 core, 6GB+128GB for 185€ and so far it does not seem slow, but it does get very hot, so I definitely need to mount a fan behind my unit ( a big silent one) .

[@lavithhcm]

@@asgerjrgensen1414 in my case, i wasnt worry about the unit getting too hot, in fact i cut off the power wire to the tiny fan at the back of the unit due to the fact it is so annoying and noisy during my quiet drive 😄. It seems just fine and the unit still working to this day. Anyways, i did search for some other "camera" apps but did not find many except one which is paid. So i am settled for the free one that comes pre load with the unit which can only save avi format. If you buy new chinese android head unit, pay attention to the chipset. Some chipset are better than the others. Dont pay attention to advertised features.

[@jaysekhon8014]

Are there any apps that can give mileage based reminders?

[@lavithhcm]

Fulio has a reminder feature but havent actually used that function yet.

[@jaysekhon8014]

@@lavithhcm I'll give it a try. I just need something that gives like .. reminders to rotate tires, oil change, filter replacement, etc .. thanks!

[@zardoz3929]

i have a head unit and I am modifying the software but I cannot find a plain off the air radio app like the one you show here @ 12:30 (that you say does not work for you). My unit does have a radio interface but I am using Car Launcher Pro which does not have an off the air radio apk. Do you know the name of the app you are showing and maybe a link where I can find it? Thanks and keep up the good work.

[@mgcarlo]

Hi Sir, can you share the bluetooth telephone app you are using? can i have the link to download or the specific name of the app? thanks

[@ynonser5804]

thanks for the video. how did you connect the back up camera so you it view it at any time.?mine is connected to reverse light ..it works only when backing up

[@lavithhcm]

I use the XCDVR2 app. the back up camera is on all the time (meaning recording) as soon as i start the car. The reverse gear triggers AHU to display.

[@ynonser5804]

@@lavithhcm thanks. so only the trigger wire connected to revesre light if i got you right🙂

[@katraju]

Great video. What is this theme?

[@lavithhcm]

Thank you. The theme is my own using my design background. You can download it here drive.google.com/file/d/10IztcAAyQVJbO3nQVN1_useGLQ94N_z4/view?usp=sharing and the theme file is here drive.google.com/file/d/112l4o2b9XlSv3CemoRWx1pOkfFMZ8n8O/view?usp=sharing

[@techsauce2706]

Thanks bro !!! ❤️ But just a quick questions , does the music widget shows songs playing in BT , radio or any audio related apps ?? Or is it just for spotify ?

[@lavithhcm]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/g6TFinZ9l9SFis0 Yes it does display the "info" but not the thumbnail. Thumbnail icon is only from Spotify. If plays content from radio app, radio app icon will display like ie iHeartRadio.

[@mrhacker99999]

What do you do when an app doesn't scale for the screen and you can't click buttons?

[@lavithhcm]

You're right. I have same problem with my AHU and i dont know the way to correct it. I think it's a firmware issue Unless you want to recompile from the sources, it's not worth it.

[@TheSkyPod]

Where did you get the XCDVR2 app from ? Cant find it anywhere.

[@lavithhcm]

google might have removed the app from google play store.

[@lavithhcm]

I am sure you can type it in Google Search "XCDVR2" it will pop up like everywhere except from Google Play Store due to security concern.

[@akashshrestha7377]

How did ya get the zlink on your headunit? Mine came with phonelink and it jst does mirroring which i dont like. Any help how to get zlink? I wanna use android auto/carplay

[@lavithhcm]

zlink is provided with my purchase of the unit. it is hardwire into the firmware meaning that i got the paid version everytime i reset the unit.

[@lavithhcm]

when you purchase the ahu, đid the seller claims it works with wireless apple car play or wired android auto?

[@akashshrestha7377]

@@lavithhcm yeah he said the two usb port are for apple car-play. Well all most been more than one year has figured out☹️.also i cant find lancer 2010 for can-set so frustrating havent been able to use steering wheeI buttons. I used you method but still no progess. I have the exact headunit you got but its android 9.1

[@lavithhcm]

@@akashshrestha7377 I think Z-Link app is removed from Google Play Store but then again you can install from other source into your Android Head Unit if you just search for "Zlink app" from Google. To be honest, I don't use zlink app to connect Android Auto from my phone because I find it better just to use Google Assistant directly from AHU provided my unit is fast and has enough of RAM to support Google Assistant. If your unit is fast, just load Google Assistant from Google Play Store and say "Hey Google, driving mode"

[@akashshrestha7377]

@@lavithhcm cheers i will see which one might work better btw any idea on cam set for lancer 2010 coz I can't set up my steering wheel buttons for volumes and music skips. I dont have any idea what chinese is my headunit but I checked through all I couldn't get lancer under any mitsubishi

[@thtk4tis]

How do you connect your dashcam to the head unit?? I have the same car (coupe) and the same head unit

[@lavithhcm]

@@thtk4tis my dashcam has usb. So does the head unit So i connect dashcam to head unit using usb cable. The camera app in the video picks up the dashcam just fine.

[@thtk4tis]

@@lavithhcm thanks for the reply bro. What dash cam do u have if u don’t mind me asking? As well as the name of the app on your head unit?

[@lavithhcm]

@@thtk4tis s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mP1rUYc

[@lavithhcm]

@@thtk4tis i use very cheap camera which doesnt do any processing. You will need an app similar to the one as shown in one of my videos. It has sd card slot to install sd card for recording saving and usb connection to android head unit.

[@lavithhcm]

@@thtk4tis and the app name is XCDVR.

[@TwickenStep]

I have the same dash cam up the front. do you just use an identical one on the back? i had no idea the software could support two of them? also, when i try to get the video files off the camera by pluging a usb flash drive into the other usb port on the head unit, the head unit cant find the sd card, i have to take the sd card out to get the files off of it. I find that weird considering the dashcam app can playback recordings. is it just streaming it to the app as a video stream?

[@lavithhcm]

Yup, same thing with me. I have to take the sd card in the camera to retrive the recorded files. That app does save both front and back video feeds into that same card. It is weird. It doesnt save into android head unit memory space and i find no settings or option to do that. I find it a bit hassle to retrive video files. Honestly, for he past 2 years I have not removed the sd card from the camera yet. Not sure it is still working. 😄 i use cheap backup camera though not the same front one.

[@TwickenStep]

@@lavithhcmI see. so the backup camera is always on somehow and the app takes in video from it? thats pretty nice. how does your backup cam always have power? im installing it tomorrow and originally planned to just have it take power from the reverse tail light. cheers for your insight.

[@lavithhcm]

@@TwickenStep the tail light (+) and car frame metal ground (-) I tap into to have "always on" power supply for camera once the engine starts. To make it appear on the android screen at front, I would have to tap into reverse light (+). Backup camera wiring harness should have the wiring cable needed to tap into these points.

[@lavithhcm]

@@TwickenStep btw, make sure which wire is (+) before you tap into. Car auto part store sell these easy splice connector, they are cheap though.

[@TwickenStep]

@@lavithhcmThanks for the info. I think i will try use the little red cables that come with the video cable to pass power from the 12v wire on the back of the head unit to the camera, then run a new wire from the reverse lamp wire at the front of the car to the head unit also.

[@giangg3238]

R u Vietnamese

[@lavithhcm]

Yes!

[@SimpleCheeseGrater]

What are the specs of your head unit? I just bought a plus centre a6 and it's slow as hell...

[@SimpleCheeseGrater]

It wasn't cheap either @ £220

[@lavithhcm]

@@SimpleCheeseGrater well you need to look for the chipset information of your unit when you purchase it. Anyways, I have some video benchmarking with my old unused Samsung Galaxy S9 and it's slow. Anyhow, don't bloat it with background running app like "good looking weather app"

[@Mark-i3l]

Can i have your theme for carweb guru?

[@lavithhcm]

Thanks for dropping by! Sure you can download the back ground here drive.google.com/file/d/10IztcAAyQVJbO3nQVN1_useGLQ94N_z4/view?usp=sharing

[@Mark-i3l]

What about the whole theme?

[@lavithhcm]

And also here is the design file. You can quickly import into your carwebguru. You need paid version of the app though. You also probably need to install the app that I use for the icons to show up properly. Then again you can easily modify the way that you like for your interface. drive.google.com/file/d/112l4o2b9XlSv3CemoRWx1pOkfFMZ8n8O/view?usp=sharing

[@lavithhcm]

@@Mark-i3l I just posted it.

[@Apulux]

does it lag or overheat ??

[@lavithhcm]

it lags a bit here and there but the experience is not all that bad. Once the app is loaded it works smoothly. It doesn't overheat either but be aware in hot summer day you might have to cover it from direct sunlight.

[@Apulux]

@@lavithhcm thanks

[@dllemm]

@@Apulux some units come with a fan. I think the more powerful units get hotter, like octa-core and 4GB or more ram.

[@lavithhcm]

@@dllemm My unit has fan too, but it is really small. I decided to cut it off due to constant annoying high pitch noise from moving fan. Big fan might not be the problem. TBH, i prefer the unit without fan.

[@Apulux]

@@lavithhcm hey man got one for my car, follow a lot of your videos, how do I get the 4g to work ? What do I need to buy ? So I can watch KZbin and all that

[@peminator]

CWG is made by boy from Moscow... sadly all most famous other car launchers are too from Russian ppl... ALL OF THEM. So let me ask, wtf? CarLauncher - russia, Agama - russia. ... What good launcher is NOT russian? I personally trying Nova Prime buyt miss widgets like Compass , Speed and such in my Navifly M95S car unit

[@lavithhcm]

@@peminator basically you can also create your own GUI using Google Android Studio and slap other people's code from github regarding GPS functions, speed, weather info, time display, media player. At least, you can create a basic launcher for your own Android head unit. I thought about doing it but decided not too due to time taken to finish the project. Anyways, right now i am concentrating making my car AHU even smarter to automate with my Home Assistant app. Ie. "Turn on driveway light after sun down when my car's entering home region." You'll see. 😆 I am not too concerned about car launcher in general anymore because at the moment i use Home Assistant app as my display.

[@killdano]

Don't spread lies about Car Launcher. Not only can you design your own skins, but it's the best way to do it.

[@bighigh69]

Can you change KHP to MPH?

[@lavithhcm]

sure you can. that is the CarWebGury laucher, You can download the free version and experience with it.

[@theleader5001]

Thanks for the video, its amazing. How do you use OEM original radio system? Do i have to get a special cable to connect from original oem radio antenna to my android head unit? Is that possible? Thanks a lot

[@lavithhcm]

the AHU doesn't use OEM audio system. It's a split cable wiring harness that tap into OEM cable to power the android head unit and use it a stand alone tablet. (sort of) It doesn't interfere with OEM Audio system that's why I can use OEM audio which I prefer. The unit comes with wiring harness to tap into OEM cables so i didn't have to buy anything special. My unit doesn't have the ANT connected so the radio doesn't work. You can if your unit has ANT port where you connect antennae to your Android head unit. That way your radio system will work on AHU as well. Best of luck. k

[@MRBETTO700]

A radio without antena?

[@lavithhcm]

Yup... no connector to connect antenna.

[@sun-DiY]

excellent BRO