[Android General] stewbuntu:
FYI - some info/thoughts I posted on the Ridgeline site for our group to install the AR3 and use it. UPDATE: I'm using the Pioneer/AR3 mirco bypass relay on Amazon to bypass the parking break.

In the questionnaire I reported snow, and usual stuff as expected so far. I'm wondering if the pioneer cable kit will get rid of the snow and if it's that much better, if it's an app thing, or if it's a phone plug thing. The app starting and snow starting vs apps going still and no snow while not zooming, not changing screens, makes me think its a RAM/ VIDEO/ APP issue sending the data over HDMI. I am by no means saying anything bad about the work done! I did not read into the thread a lot to find the screen standby "bypass" to save power. I look forward to anything better than the stock AR3 options.

The Skiva kit did also work with similar results - snow from time to time - I believe when an app was using too much memory, starting up, etc.

My post/ thoughts:

There are a few times where you have to use your phone atm. To tell your phone to connect via Bluetooth and select the home screen once the app is opened (note: at start up I get a screen with a quarter sized white dot) until I hit the phone only home button that takes me to the home screen of my phone and then the AR3 works it's magic along with this awesome crack and you can use the AR3 well. With the back and menu buttons currently not working as of yet, you need your phone front and center still to get out of apps to go to another, e.g. select Pandora then go to Google maps. Otherwise it requires you hit the home screen on the AR3. If you hit the AR3 home button to go back you go to the AR3s' home screen, and then have to again acknowledge one of the c.c.c. safety warnings about the app when you restart, that is still imbedded. There are so many safety warning just to do something with this machine that it's borderline crazy, not figuratively, but literally crazy, bc you would crash into something. If only we could get someone to make firmware to get ride of all those stupid c.c.c./DOT warnings. In my heart I believe that if I complain and bring light to it then others will talk about it and the AR3 and app designers will realize the warnings beyond the unit's first warning is actually worst than having no warnings. But I digress...

Ok I have to rant more - Hit ok at AR3 start up, hit ok at app start up, hit ok for no video while moving, hit ok every time you hit the apps icon on AR3, I'm sure I am forgetting a couple warnings here and there. WTF ccc/DOT

The above results are from a Samsung MHL adapter, best buy pearl HDMI, and new Motorolla 5-pin-forward mirco usb charging cable.

The setup was just too bulky, as I believe would be the pioneer cable kit. The MHL has two cables going into a square MHL adapter 3 inches from the phone), vs a Skiva MHL cord with my required samsung small 5to11 pin adapter on the end. The Skiva is one wire coming out to the phone and the note 2 adapter did not work. I guess you could get a 24" micro usb to micro usb adapter to accomplish this sleeker look off of the pioneer kit which I would prefer over the skiva kit d/t the Skiva looking to be of lesser quality and stuck behind the dash when something goes wrong. I'll see about adapters. I just like the single wire look vs

Skiva kit. The usb is just for power and can connect to any usb power outlet/cigarette lighter adapter wired directly for instance to your cigarette lighter or the stereo wiring if that is what the pioneer kit wants you to tap into. The cable to your phone is about 3 feet long.

Now that I look at the Pioneer kit more closely the adapter does have a long micro usb cable off of it if you were just popping it out of the CD storage bin under the head unit.

---------- Post added at 11:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:53 PM ----------

More thoughts after reading this xda thread

Best buy in the states will match Amazon prices of $360-ish / 266euro if anyone needs a deal. There must be a way to have a separate service here ship it overseas, alas I am ignorant to that....

Also it would be great to hear from anyone how a HDMi stick is working, less or more steps on the screen, what brand/model, how fluid the fps are, battery drain, etc