[Android Head-Units] Mr Metalhead:
I just installed the Joying 10.1" screen running 5.1.1. I purchased it of Amazon and it was shipped DHL from China, but I actually had it in 3 days as opposed to the 10 days they estimated on Amazon. My prior head unit is a Pioneer AVIC-7100. I am doing a total custom interior rebuild to my car and wanted the largest screen available which is what caused me to buy it. Because this isnt a stock install some of my experiences with this thing may or may not be the norm.

My first impressions of this unit are really good. The 10.1" tablet-like screen is easily attached and removed which makes installation and security great. The plastic wire harness plug is a a little stiff going in and being removed, so I wouldnt suggest removing the screen daily if you are worried about it attracting attention in questionable parking locations. But it really does look great!! The screen is surrounded in a metal bezel and feels very high quality. The screen is very clear and has a much better feel and response than the $1200 Pioneer has. The Android OS is 100X better than the Pioneer has. Just like an Android phone the screens can be customized and even run widgets which makes the entire swap over worth it. Being such a huge screen does make for a unique install depending on what kind of vehicle you have and the locations of all your AC controls etc....but if you want a big screen you probably already took that into account. The screen itself cannot be adjusted higher or lower in relation the head unit, but it does tilt down a few degrees. In my vehicle (04 Chrysler 300m) I needed the screen to tilt up but was disappointed to notice that it doesnt...so I actually took the mounting face off the unit and spun it 180 degrees upside down (which required the removal and repositioning of the NFC circuit board on the inside because the wire ribbons werent flexible enough to twist. This solved my tilting issue, but will create problems for you if you want a clean look with a stock dash bezel. It offsets the front of the double din casing a half inch or so and will likely interfere with something, but the screen covers it up fully so it wont be noticeable.

Now I have only had 2 solid days with which to use this as part of my daily driving, but I have noticed a few surprises both good and bad. The Axxis steering wheel button adapter works perfectly with this unit using the existing Pioneer settings....but if it werent for stumbling on a youtube video while waiting for the radio to be shipped I would never have been able to figure out the install. Just look up "Joying 10.1 steering wheel" and you will find a guy who installed the same unit in a Pontiac. He shows how to install the 3.5mm headphone jack from the Axxis to the Key 1 and Key 2 wires. The unit is very simplistic so the rest of the wiring is simple. Bluetooth connection is extremely fast and connects to the phones hotspot fast as well. I would prefer to use the USB tethering option for internet connection, but I cant get the head unit to let me turn it on...even though it is a grayed out option. I did pair an ODBII unit with the radio and works great. The only issue I have found here is if I am streaming satelite radio from my phone, the moment I turn on the Torque (ODBII app) the audio gets choppy and slows. I am not sure if this is a result of having 2 bluetooth apps transmitting so much data at once, or if it is a RAM issue. Waze and Google maps work great, but they do take a few seconds longer when setting up a route than on a phone.

Now, my biggest issue has got to be with the phone calls app. Firstly, the app will immediately pair with your phone, but has to be manually prompted to sync all your contacts the first time you connect. It also doesnt have a Favorites list like the Pioneer has which makes selecting the most called contacts much easier while driving...or even just sitting in traffic for that matter. The app doesnt sync all your recieved and sent calls from your phone. Rather it only shows the sent and received calls from while it was connected....another pain if you want to return a call you received or made while away from your vehicle that isnt stored in your contacts. I have found myself initiating all my calls from the phone itself as opposed to the unit. The biggest issue I have with this unit's phone app is actually 2 parts, but I think one of them is just a software bug that will be corrected in an update. The calls are only played through the front passenger side speakers. In my car that does include a tweeter that is located in the center of the dash by the defroster vents. Phone call audio is in itself just high end frequencies, so 50% of the time if I am traveling at highway speed I cant understand whats being said. The Pioneer is similar, but I was able to select the drivers or passenger side to play through so since the speakers were closer I didnt have an issue. The other thing is the Phone app locking up the display while in a call. The app shows the call and its options in the lower quarter of the screen and has a minimize option to remove it from view entirely, but the screen stays slightly "grayed out" and you cannot interact with the system or any of the side buttons until the call is ended. The Navigation app still moves and keeps up with your location which is slightly visible incase you are following directions while on the phone. I will be contacting Joying monday morning to see about this issue and I will post what I am told.

This is a very new unit and operating system so I am not going to put the Pioneer back in for now. The customization and giant responsive screen make this unit a pleasure to use and is far more user friendly than the Pioneer for 1/3 the price! The phone app needs a complete redesign and in all honestly needs to be exactly like the version found on the phones as far as features. But, I am hopeful the developers will fix these issues in upcoming updates....until then, if anyone knows if rooting the system will open up some temporary work arounds I am all in. (geez....3 posts in the forum and I got to writing a novel haha :laugh: