[Q] Bluetooth or car dock? - Galaxy S II Accessories

Hello my fellow Galaxy S II owners...
I have a dying Sony Xplod stereo installed in my car that only run MP3s, nothing special about it.
I want to buy a new stereo system that can pair with the Galaxy S II so that I can stream music to it and make phone calls while driving.
Since this is new to me, I would like to ask for your help figure out what my options are:
- Shall I get a stereo system with USB link? or bluetooth? and why?
- A simple research on the XDA forums says that not all Galaxy phones can make phone calls using the USB link, is that the same for the bluetooth?
I'm thinking this would be good, but I want to hear from you too, what do you think? http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-DEH-6...ef=sr_1_2?s=car&ie=UTF8&qid=1337028884&sr=1-2
Thanks,

I have both in my car and prefer bluetooth by a long shot.
To be honest I never heard of the possibility of using USB to make phone calls. As far as I knew the only thing possible with USB was to use your phone as some kind of mass storage device, where it would find your .mp3 files and be able to play them.
With bluetooth you can play everything on your phone that plays through the speakers. I use it for navigation / phone calls / radio / spotify. Also the buttons on the steering wheel of my car work perfectly for switching tracks on my phone, and the track info is displayed in the dashboard of my car.
Especially combined with spotify this is amazing. On my PC spotify client I just favorite some new songs and without having to take my phone out of my pocket the music is synced to my phone via wifi, then when I get in the car all my music is right there! You'll need a spotify premium account though, but in my opinion well worth the money.
Just make sure that when you buy your new stereo it is able to play A2DP. On my previous car this wasn't supported and this meant I was only able to use it for making phone calls.
Funny thing was that whenever I was in the middle of a phone call and my nav on my phone gave me a "turn left" notification or something it played fine during the phone call. So if you ask me this was just lazyness from the developers not to implement it. To anyone thinking about buying a new car, avoid "Blue & Me" it really is terrible.
Hope this information helps you in your decision

Thank you for the reply, now I know what I should be looking for.
I'll update this post once I get the stereo and test it
Thanks once again
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA

Related

Playing music over a regular bluetooth headset with the Evo

I searched around, but I didn't find an answer to this specific question. I have an HTC Evo, and a regular Bluetooth headset. I'd like to be able to play music/podcasts/whatnot through the headset.
It works great for phone calls, but once the call is over, it goes back to using the speaker. I'm assuming this has something to do with Bluetooth profiles since I was actually able to play music through Bluetooth in a car I rented a few weeks ago. I had to change the audio setting on the car, so it seems like the Evo can send audio through Bluetooth if it detects a certain profile (A2DP?).
Is there an app that allows me to choose to reroute my audio from the speaker to a regular bluetooth headset that only supports the headset and hands-free profiles? If not, I may need to see how feasible it would be for me to make one.
I have been searching in vane for Android software that would play regular audio through a regular bluetooth ear piece (that is normally used for a phone) rather than the external speaker or audio jack.
If anyone knows of such an animal, please let us know.
I realize what you're asking for, and I'm just going to tell you, odds are it's not going to happen. From what I've heard, the Bluetooth API's are fairly limited, and telling the system to use a BT Profile for something it wasn't meant for (and will sound horrible on, nevermind kill the battery life of your headset) won't be easy.
I'm not saying it's impossible, just not very likely to happen at this time. You'd probably be better off getting a decent pair of BT headphones instead. Sorry.
It won't work. Different protocols. If you get a bluetooth stereo headset that has a mic then it will work with both protocols.
This has been on the top of my list (along with a widget for enabling/disabling background data) since I got my Evo. I used this feature a lot on my Moto Q9C.
But I hadn't been able to find anything until now.
The audio quality isn't great but so far "Super BT Mono Froyo Free" is working well enough. I haven't disconnected my headset yet, so I don't know if it will reboot the phone. But the comments in the marketplace say to use a task killer if it happens.
I'm actually considering getting the full $6 version after the 5 days are up.
I just wish there was a way to make the call button function with the media player instead of starting the voice dialer.
Edit:
Have to change the media volume via settings or when the screen is off to increase music volume.
My jabra bluetooth headset allows this to happen but that bluetooth is meant to stream music through it also.
Sent from my GirLiE Evo with Tapatalk
what about these: http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Black-Motorola-S9-HD-S9HD-Wireless-Stereo-Headphone-/260631900070?pt=Bluetooth_Wireless_Products&hash=item3caedf2fa6
granted, they ship from Hong Kong so you're looking at a good 1-3 weeks for delivery (i got mine in about a week and a half)
But anyways, they work great for me. they answer calls, control track skipping, play/pause and volume. i love 'em.
App Work Around
I had the same issue with my headset. I went to the Android Market and searched. There are multiple apps out there. I got BTmono Free which allows you to play audio over your bluetooth if you pay for the $1 version you get more options. There are a few more other programs out there that do the same thing.
Good luck.
Thanks for the find Abini. d/l'd BTmono and it works like a champ for playing both music and for Netflix on my rooted EVO 2.2

Galaxy S2 with Parrot MKi9200 Handsfree

OK, first post here, but I think it's a useful one!!
Collected a Galaxy S2 on Monday night from the 3 store in the Trafford Centre. Absolutely love it!, fantastic handset.
Or so I thought until last night.....
This was the only bugbear/issue that the phone gave me and gave me no end of grief; I paired it with my Parrot 9200 Car Kit, as with any other phone. All seemed to be well.
That was until I tried to make a call. When I pressed the green button on the handsfree to initiate voice dialling, android launched the "Voice Commands" program, which tried to take over. Unfortunately, the voice commands program required a little bit of interaction with the phone, and wasn't particularly accurate over bluetooth.
Tried deleting and re-pairing, turning off voice commands over bluetooth, which just bypassed the hands free mic, to the handset!!. Grief grief grief.
OK, I thought, I'll just manually select the numbers on the car kit. A bit of a ballache, but it'll do!
Wrong, the phonebook hadn't downloaded, and no amount of tweaking the car kit or the phone could sort it.
There was very limited info on this, hence the reason for this post!
After much googling, I found that the latest version of the Parrot firmware had an additional pairing setting; "Force AT Sync".
So, car kit updated with the latest firmware from the Parrot website, on the car kit, I navigated to Settings>Bluetooth Settings> Pair With> Force AT Sync. (This is at the bottom of the list of phones that the kit "knows" about by default.
Seconds later, my phone was requesting permission for the car kit to access the phone book, and syncing away nicely.
No more voice commands software, and the Parrot kit is working as it should, completely hands free!
Cheers
Tim
Thanks for the info on this. I'm thinking about getting the same kit, can I ask what the sound quality is like through Bluetooth?
Update:
I've just had an MKi9200 fitted. Only had a couple of hours to play with it but so far I'm delighted.
Feel free to ask questions.
pjfriend said:
Update:
I've just had an MKi9200 fitted. Only had a couple of hours to play with it but so far I'm delighted.
Feel free to ask questions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does it work?
Yep, works really well.
Phone calls are very clear for both parties and (to me at least) the bluetooth music sound quality is really good. It's not a top of the line speaker system but it's clear and the volume is adequate.
It cuts in with the sat nav directions nicely. I had a bluetooth headunit before and if I had the phone connected the directions wouldn't interrupt a cd or radio. This works just fine, even if I'm listening to the radio through the stereo, the directions still come through.
I've not tried using the other sound connections yet, iPod, USB stick, aux jack or SD Card. I'll try them all over the next couple of days.
I'm thinking about taking the SD card out of the phone and using that way as it only lets you move the tracks foreward and backwards on a playlist or album if you use bluetooth. You have to use the phone to select another artist or album etc. Also, an SD card would let you see the album art and display the track details on the Parrot screen.
The only thing that isn't working correctly at present is that the remote won't skip tracks if the music player isn't displayed on the phone. If I have the sat nav screen up the track forward and backward keys are ignored.
I'm just going out to update the software though so this might fix that.
Anything else you need to know?
Right, I've updated the software which was really painless.
The sat nav stopping the track controls from working only happens in Co Pilot, not in Google Navigation.
I tried using my SD card from my phone in holder and it didn't seem to pick it up. I might need to leave it in longer (about 28 gig of music on it) or it might be that the card is too large at 32GB. The Parrot website says that there is no limit to card size but that sounds a bit optimistic to me.
Other than that though, I'm delighted so far.
I've got one of these too. Great bit of kit. I did notice a tweak in the VillainRom thread that ups the Bluetooth audio quality, if that's how you're using it. Haven't tried it yet myself.
One thing I have noticed is it's a bit hit and miss when play and pause work. I could never get into the car and press play, and just have it resume the last thing that was playing (usually BeyondPod). In the end I set Tasker up to automatically start playing when Bluetooth connects. Job done.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App
dan13l said:
I've got one of these too. Great bit of kit. I did notice a tweak in the VillainRom thread that ups the Bluetooth audio quality, if that's how you're using it. Haven't tried it yet myself.
One thing I have noticed is it's a bit hit and miss when play and pause work. I could never get into the car and press play, and just have it resume the last thing that was playing (usually BeyondPod). In the end I set Tasker up to automatically start playing when Bluetooth connects. Job done.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could you post a link to that thread? I have a Mki9200 myself and would be very interested to read this.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk
Have a look for a post by Faremoney on May 16th in the VillainRom thread over in the dev forum. It's to do with altering the Bluetooth bitpool. I'd link, but I don't think I can from the app.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App
dan13l said:
Have a look for a post by Faremoney on May 16th in the VillainRom thread over in the dev forum. It's to do with altering the Bluetooth bitpool. I'd link, but I don't think I can from the app.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, I'll go searching for it.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk
The only annoyance I have now, which is more parrot related is that if I have a usb memory key and sd card connected, even if i had been.listening to music on the sd card, next time I get in the car and press play, it defaults back to the usb.
All in all, the kit is impressive. I bought mine about 18 months ago and gave nearly £300 fitted. A couple of months ago, I bought a kit for my girlfriend, brand new for £110 and fitted it myself in 40 mins!!
Definitely recommended.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
Thanks for this post. It helped me to sync my contact from sgs2 to my parrot 9100.
It works very nice now!
Galaxy SII and Parrot MKi9100
Thanks for the fix - I was getting close to returning the unit - spent an hour or more listening to 'Voice Prompts'! Stick loaded with update and ready to go
Cheers
david
Ordered a second hand unit off ebay for 65 and getting it fitted late this week/early next week.
Has anyone figured out a way to charge the s2 from the iphone connector?
Hi there
Hope all ok with yours. I've been delighted with mine so far.
It does charge off the USB connector, don't need to use the iPhone end. It seems to deliver quite a small charge though so I still use a cigarette lighter socket.
From memory you can set the phone to storage mode and the Parrot kit will read the music contents of the phone but I had trouble with a larger capacity card. I'm happy with the audio quality over Bluetooth so this was the simplest way for me to work.
Let me know if that doesn't make sense or if you have any other questions.
Paul
Working but could be better...
Hi,
I have updated my MKi9200 Parrot software and set the "Force AT Sync". Effectively I don't have the phone voice commands anymore and it is already much better. Thank you for this.
However, I experience some interruptions of sound each time I use the phone (like just checking my mail) or each time an event occurs on the phone (like reception of an email notice or reception of SMS notice). It is not comfortable when listening to music...
Also, I had a much better experience with my Parrot and another phone than SG2. With SG2 + Parrot, sometimes you press the green button on Parrot and you don't get the voice command to dial, sometimes you have a phone ring and you can't take the call when pushing the green button on Parrot, sometimes you can't hang up after a call, sometimes it only works after several attempts of push on a given button.
Well, it is better than before but still not working as it should. Of course, when the Parrot buttons are not responding, I can still get the command right using the phone screen to take the call or hang-up but it is really not safe at all while ones drives his car in the same time...
Has anyone here found a solution first not to get those cuts on phone events?
Has anyone found a better setting to make sure the Parrot buttons are always working with SG2?
Has anyone experienced the same kind of troubles despite the "Force AT Sync" mode is set like on my SG2?
Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for confirming. much appreciated.
pjfriend said:
Hi there
Hope all ok with yours. I've been delighted with mine so far.
It does charge off the USB connector, don't need to use the iPhone end. It seems to deliver quite a small charge though so I still use a cigarette lighter socket.
From memory you can set the phone to storage mode and the Parrot kit will read the music contents of the phone but I had trouble with a larger capacity card. I'm happy with the audio quality over Bluetooth so this was the simplest way for me to work.
Let me know if that doesn't make sense or if you have any other questions.
Paul
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
I can't find how to get latest firmware from the parrot website
Your post was interesting but for the life of me I can't work out where to get a newer version of firmware! I have just put in the unit and was dismayed when I called Samsung and was told that I can't put my contacts in it! It seems that you have so I'd love to know where and how you got the firmware you refer to.
You can get it from here http://www.parrot.com/uk/support/downloads
Hi guys, just registered. I have a Samsung Galaxy S2 (with 2.3.5 KI3) and a Parrot LS-3400GPS carkit. It pairs without problems but of course it is a bit limited so I would like to change it with a Parrot MKi9200. I'm reading in many places there are a lot of issues with Android phones. I also wrote di Parrot and they do CONFIRM. But the problem (they say) is not in the carkit sw but in the Android! So strange...
On the parrot forum there are still users with mic issues, contact sync issues and voice command issues, even with the last 1.96 fw.
I've read here that everything works fine using "force at sync".
I understood that it does sync but what about the voice commands? Any problems?
Is there a conflict with the parrot ones?
I'm really confused
Thank You

Bluetooth in car...phone and/or audio???

Hey all
I have had a lot of trouble with my Galaxy's bluetooth connecting with the system in my Infiniti M37x
I now am able to have it so everytime I get into my car, the phone's "phone" bluetooth connects automatically, I can use the hands free system to make and receive calls AND the phonebook is downloaded into the system as well. Works just GREAT! I can talk on the phone and I have my contacts there. All hands free.
But......
that is only if I pair it to the phone part of the Galaxy.
If I also pair it to the audio device, then the troubles begin.
If I were to pair the audio to my car, the music sounds great...but once I turn off the car and leave, come back, the car won't recognize the phone part. Even if I go to BLUETOOTH settings, and click the little button, it won't stay or connect to my car.
This worked great with my EVO using Gingerbread.
Is this an ICS thing?
Are there any apps that would allow me to just leave the phone as the default car connection and if I want to listen to music, just click something to switch it over to audio part?
Whenever pair to the audio and I use the audio bluetooth connection, I have to unpair and start all over to get the phone to connect.
Hopefully this makes sense. Any advice would be helpful.
Mike
This is a Samsung thing (and I hate their phones because of this)
To have this function correctly, you need to enter car dock mode. To enter car dock mode, you need a samsung car dock.
If my phone is docked, I can stream music, receive calls, etc, all work great.
If I leave it in my pocket and I stream music and receive a call, the audio comes through the phone, and not through bluetooth.
My E4GT was like this. I opened an issue with Samsung to which they replied "Working as designed"
No other phones work like this, only Samsung and their ****ty bluetooth switching.
I think you can also solve this by going AOSP or AOKP.
I have no issue with my s3 when connecting to audio or phone. and im able to answer calls, and play music no problem
How did you pair both? Do you have to switch between the two?
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda premium
I am also having this same problem but only after flashing a customer ROM. With the costume ROM the phone will connect phone and I can make calls no problem but I can not get music to stream to my car stereo no matter what I do with the costume ROM when back to stock just to verify this and I have no problems streaming music on stock ROM or making calls via Bluetooth.
Sprint GS3 horrible in car
The first two days the phone worked great. Now it connects but the sound is noisy and unintelligible from either end. I don't know what changed. anyone can help me on this? can I stream music through bluetooth if it ever starts working again?
are you running the stock software not modded in any way?

[Q] Bluetooth handsfree and using music player when driving

So should I be hearing music through my handsfree?
I used my phone for GPS for the first time and I love hearing Nav notifications through my handsfree set. What I couldn't figure out is how to keep using my handsfree set without music playing through it. Nothing would play through the AUX port of my car stereo unless I turned off my handsfree.
I want to be able to hear music through the car stereo and notifications / calls through the headset - is that possible?
andy_d0 said:
So should I be hearing music through my handsfree?
I used my phone for GPS for the first time and I love hearing Nav notifications through my handsfree set. What I couldn't figure out is how to keep using my handsfree set without music playing through it. Nothing would play through the AUX port of my car stereo unless I turned off my handsfree.
I want to be able to hear music through the car stereo and notifications / calls through the headset - is that possible?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think it's possible. Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think your phone manages both at the same time. You could have them go through the same one tough. That's what I personally do, both on bluetooth audio system (car).
How did you manage to get it to play on both? For me it seems like it has to be one or the other
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda premium
andy_d0 said:
How did you manage to get it to play on both? For me it seems like it has to be one or the other
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Both on bluetooth? I simply have both running at the same time.
My issue was that it seemed like I can only do one or the other. I saw in the settings for my voyager legend that you can make calls through headset but have music still play through car stereo
That works
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda premium
andy_d0 said:
So should I be hearing music through my handsfree?
I used my phone for GPS for the first time and I love hearing Nav notifications through my handsfree set. What I couldn't figure out is how to keep using my handsfree set without music playing through it. Nothing would play through the AUX port of my car stereo unless I turned off my handsfree.
I want to be able to hear music through the car stereo and notifications / calls through the headset - is that possible?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure I completely understood what you're trying to do, so this may not be what you're wanting.
But if you go to your Bluetooth pairings on the phone and then go to the settings for your Car Stereo Bluetooth pairing, there is an option for either Call Audio or Music Audio. You can de-select the Music Audio so that only Call Audio plays through Bluetooth to the Car Stereo.
All I want is to be able to still hear navigation notifications in my headset while still be able to hear music through car stereo. That doesn't seem possible. I either hear it....
1) All in my headset (phone calls, music and notifications) or car stereo
2) Phone calls in headset (and navigation notifications if I'm on the phone) with music and notifications in car stereo
But I want it to be phone calls plus all notifications in headset regardless if I'm using the phone and music in car stereo
andy_d0 said:
All I want is to be able to still hear navigation notifications in my headset while still be able to hear music through car stereo. That doesn't seem possible. I either hear it....
1) All in my headset (phone calls, music and notifications) or car stereo
2) Phone calls in headset (and navigation notifications if I'm on the phone) with music and notifications in car stereo
But I want it to be phone calls plus all notifications in headset regardless if I'm using the phone and music in car stereo
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I went ahead and did a little search. Android seems to do it on it's on so I'm not sure why you can't connect to both and hear what you want in both.
I personally don't connect to 2 devices at the same time but I do get/hear everything in my car audio system (navigation, music, calls, notifications) and that can all be at the same time. The music sound will just lower when navigation girl speaks and when a notification comes in.
Now I dunno if you searched for this but I did find a app that might help (can't try it myself as I only connect to one): Smart Bluetooth Widget Free. There's also a paid version.
And like the other guy mentioned, you can select in the bluetooth options what you want to be streamed through it.
BWolf56 said:
I went ahead and did a little search. Android seems to do it on it's on so I'm not sure why you can't connect to both and hear what you want in both.
I personally don't connect to 2 devices at the same time but I do get/hear everything in my car audio system (navigation, music, calls, notifications) and that can all be at the same time. The music sound will just lower when navigation girl speaks and when a notification comes in.
Now I dunno if you searched for this but I did find a app that might help (can't try it myself as I only connect to one): . There's also a paid version.
And like the other guy mentioned, you can select in the bluetooth options what you want to be streamed through it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Excuse me, sir. I followed your link Smart Bluetooth Widget Free, and its content is very different from what I expected. The topic is kernels there.
google takes me here
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mdrtools.smartbluetoothwidget.free&hl=fr
Thanks for your comment!
pppppp said:
Excuse me, sir. I followed your link Smart Bluetooth Widget Free, and its content is very different from what I expected. The topic is kernels there.
google takes me here
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mdrtools.smartbluetoothwidget.free&hl=fr
Thanks for your comment!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you read what I said? I gave a link to a app that might help him (which I haven't tested so can't confirm).

[Q] Car stereo with USB and bluetooth for Android tablet navigation

There are so many options that I don't know where to begin.
In fact, I'm rather lost as I can't really tell if a combination of tablet + car stereo will work for what I want to achieve.
Here's what I want to do:
I am using a Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8" as a satnav with Sygic.
I currently have an old Pioneer car stereo which works perfectly fine for mp3 CDs and radio but I want to change it to a new unit that would accept a small USB drive as storage for my mp3's. I don't care if it will accept CD's or not (even better if it doesn't).
What I want is this new unit to allow me to play music or radio as normal and, when instructions come from the Sygic App (turn left, turn right etc) during navigation, to get the music interrupted and the instructions heard from the car's speakers. After the instructions are over, the music then start back automatically.
The only thing I managed to sort out is that, for this whole thing to work, both devices (tablet and car stereo) must support the A2DP protocol. The Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8" does indeed support A2DP for Bluetooth (according to specs) but I'm lost as far as car stereos are concerned.
Instead of looking the specs of every single car stereo available on the market today, I thought I would try asking here first.
Does anyone have anything similar working?
Thanks in advance
Car stereo
aianas said:
There are so many options that I don't know where to begin.
In fact, I'm rather lost as I can't really tell if a combination of tablet + car stereo will work for what I want to achieve.
Here's what I want to do:
I am using a Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8" as a satnav with Sygic.
I currently have an old Pioneer car stereo which works perfectly fine for mp3 CDs and radio but I want to change it to a new unit that would accept a small USB drive as storage for my mp3's. I don't care if it will accept CD's or not (even better if it doesn't).
What I want is this new unit to allow me to play music or radio as normal and, when instructions come from the Sygic App (turn left, turn right etc) during navigation, to get the music interrupted and the instructions heard from the car's speakers. After the instructions are over, the music then start back automatically.
The only thing I managed to sort out is that, for this whole thing to work, both devices (tablet and car stereo) must support the A2DP protocol. The Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8" does indeed support A2DP for Bluetooth (according to specs) but I'm lost as far as car stereos are concerned.
Instead of looking the specs of every single car stereo available on the market today, I thought I would try asking here first.
Does anyone have anything similar working?
Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You may try the "Dynavin Car Stereo"

Categories

Resources