[Android Head-Units] apoc286:
Hi,

So after splitting my finger wide open cutting pull ties to remove the old unit and then finally fitting new one I have this initial feedback... this will be brief but as I get more time to mess with it and try more with it I'll try and get some more detailed info and pictures etc together. I haven't yet had chance to update the firmware, if any of this changes as a result of firmware updates I will edit this accordingly.

(warning this will sound harsh in places but please remember this unit is an improving work in progress)

First thing, it isn't cheap, it doesn't look cheap from a distance but it close up it does, and it feels cheap. The fascia looks looks cheap and plasticy, the power button on mine is slightly wonky, and the flap that goes over the usb and sd at the front has no retaining clip so it flaps about, plus the strip of plastic it hinges on is already showing stress marks from being bent back. Not my biggest concern, not something I care about, but I mention it for completeness and it's the first thing I noticed.

Second thing, YES a DAB+ dongle will work! I've tested it with one and it worked perfectly, I do need to a get a better aerial as the one supplied won't work in the car (works fine held out the window) but the dab dongle did work.

Third thing, the Tomtom Go app does work, but not as straight forward as it should. If you try and install directly through the playstore it will refuse on account of saying the device is incompatible. I managed to get around this by sideloading the apk, and after that it worked perfectly.

Fourth thing, I reused the mic from the Clarion stereo I removed on account of the Clarion having excellent call quality, however despite that the call quality on this unit was poor with me getting told I was sounding like I was under water or in a wind tunnel. I'll try it with the bundled mic when I get chance, but I'm expecting similar feedback.

Fifth thing, reversing camera works, will interrupt anything on screen and seems to load up very quickly. My prior experience with a standalone reversing camera unit was that as soon as the camera is powered by the reverse light the screen would pick this up and display camera output. On this unit however (and it's not a feature unique to this unit, just something where standalone reverse camera setups, and head units with reverse camera functionality differ), you need to have a wire connected from the stereo to the reverse light. I haven't messed about with this enough to see if you can get a grid display or anything like that (not that it interests me as my reverse camera has a fish eye lens).

Sixth thing, the radio reception is choppy, it'll play fine then cut out, this could be due to my aerial or due to the unit but at this time though I don't know I need to play with this some more.

Upcoming plans are to test if a usb hub will work as I can see myself running out of usb inputs, and I've got a bluetooth dongle on the way so I can see if that works and if it does try get Torque working. A hub does apparently work on otrher otg devices so should work on this, and if Thomas has left the bluetooth software in, then the bluetooth dongle should work too. I'll also get the dvr camera plugged in, see what that is like and give some feedback on that too, personally I don't intend to use the dvr feature as I've already got a decent dashcam, but I'm sure it'll be of interest to people and won't take me long.

If anyone has any questions, or other things they want tested, looked at, or information on let me know I'll do what I can.

Also please be aware, although some of the comments above may potentially cast the unit in a potentially negative light so far I'm very happy with it, generally it is an android device, doing what an android device can do, how you'd expect an android device to do it, and lets face it that's the main selling point and the reason why we were all interested in it in the first place.