Anyone know anything about this stereo -
http://www.parrot.com/usa/products/bluetooth-hands-free-car-kits/parrot-asteroid
Even, where it can be bought, how much it is? What OS it runs for that matter?
well it says that it has Android embedded, so the OS is Android
it looks pretty interesting too...
as for when/where/how much, the site says "Coming soon in 2011", so I'm guessing that it is yet-to-be-offered and they may not have decided their MSRP yet.
William
First, I don't know if I can post links yet. Second, I'm too lazy to dig it up. They had an article on Androidpolice during CES that included a speaker from Parrot showcasing it. I think he said a Q2 release. I'll be getting this the second its released, regardless of price.
anyone have any more details on this? Q2 is all they're saying...
I want one now!!
For the European markets, they say May. Hopefully the beginning of May
Hope they didn't get a developer team from Motorola, then it's going to takes at least another year
next week
i was infomrmed dynamicsounds expected to be stocked next week
wonder if its worth getting
i am currently considering getting it as i need a car kit any way
apperantly they are avalible as of today at 289 euro in the netherlands
I have one
I currently have an Asteroid sitting on my desk here
When I find some time tonight I'll take it for a testdrive and let you guys know!
Excellent. Please let us know.
What apps are available at the moment?
Im hoping for Spotify and proper navigation once the sdk is released...
Yay, someone that has the Asteroid!
Please, let us now!
And, tell us how the music player works.
I want to hook a big memory card, or if there's room a 40GB laptop harddisk to the unit.
Also, streaming from Bluetooth from your phone. Btw, what kind of phone do you have?
(And hmm.. Gorinchem.. That's not that far from my weekly commute.. )
Asteroid
Been driving around with the Asteroid for a while now and it's a pretty neat radio but not perfect.
Building it into the car was a breeze. With the radio came all the needed cables, like a 3,5mm jack, iPod cable, USB cable for usb-sticks, GPS dongle and microphone for the carkit. All cables were pretty long so you should have no problem routing them to whatever place you want them in your car.
Soundquality is pretty good and there are plenty of connections for subwoofers and external amplifiers so it should suffice even for cars with loads of fat speakers.
Connecting my phone, an HTC Desire with CyanogenMod 7.1 (nightly build), was easy through bluetooth and streaming music over bluetooth went without problems. Answering phonecalls and navigating the menu is pretty easy.
A few problems I ran into though. To use internet on the radio (for google maps, internet radio, coyote speed camera alerts) you can either use a 3g USB dongle (which costs you at least 10€ a month where I live) or tether your phone through bluetooth (maybe usb works, haven't tried yet). To do this, your phone needs to support the bluetooth DUN profile which android lacks. Nokia phones should be no problem though. I've tried using 3rd party apps like PDANet but to no avail.
Furthermore I found that the device lacks some tweaking capabilities. For example, when i'm navigating my contacts from my phone, the device tries to "read" the contacts for me using text-to-speech. I've found no way to turn this off. Furthermore I could find no option in the settings to turn off the traffic announcements from radio. The device now switches to radio when i'm listening to music from my SD card to bring me the traffic information (Which can be skipped by pressing the "back" button). Finally, the device came with a Dutch language setting and i've found no way to turn this to English, which is the language I prefer.
Please note, I have only used this radio for a short while and I might've missed some things! I think this is a very nice radio though and since it is the first model and only out for a week or so now I think there will be some updates from Parrot's side, perhaps expanding the capabilities of this device. The only major drawback is the lack of internet connectivity if you have an Android phone. This is not Parrot's fault though but rather Google's. I heard though that Honeycomb supports Bluetooth PAN and I think the Asteroid supports this for Internet tethering so i'm keeping my hopes up for Android Icecream to bring this feature to my phone.
Pro:
- Lots sources for music: Radio, USB stick, SD Card, iPod, 3.5mm Jack line-in
- Android with Google Maps
- Speed camera Alerts
- Large screen (for a single DIN radio unit)
- Lots of cables came with the Radio (With a Pioneer your need to buy overpriced iPod cables separately)
- Its a handsfree carkit, and Parrot knows how to make those by now
- Lots of tweaking possible with the sound
Con:
- Internet does not work with Android phones (yet)
- Lacks certain tweaking possibilities in the settings menu
Feel free to ask any questions
Thank you for the excellent review.
Those drawbacks are major issues,
but Im hoping Parrot will come up with some patches
soon.
The Asteroid is not on sale here yet, and it might take a while.
But I am going to Holland later this month..
Anyone know a place close to Schiphol that sell Parrot equipment?
I also have the Parrot Asteroid for a few days now. But I can't get thetering trough Bluetooth working on my HTC Desire Z (Android 2.2).
I used an app called "PdaNet" or something, with that I can enalbe "Dun - Dia-up Network". And I can make a connection with the parrort trough Settings > Network > Bluetooth. But as soon as I try to use an application that uses internet, it won't work and says I need a internet connection.
Anyone know how I can use DUN or PAN, because an Asteroid doesn't have WiFi and can't tether trough USB ??
Thanx!
RobertR21,
Android does currently not support PAN or DUN so using that is probably not possible without any 3rd party software. I tried PDAnet aswell but it did not work.
You might try connecting your phone to the 3G dongle port on your asteroid through USB, as android supports USB tethering, I have not tried this myself. I can verify though that DUN works, I tried it with my Nokia and it worked flawlessly.
I hear there's rumours on the Internets though that Android icecream is going to support PAN though, so maybe then we can use our android phones. Maybe before that time Parrot will find a solution.
Does anyone know which 3g USB dongles work with the Asteroid?
In my case: I have a Trekstor/Huawei MiFi which can also be used as a "Stick" - Will this work via USB? My Asteroid Device ships in (wish me luck) tomorrow. Pimpin' my Ride is planned at Saturday ;-)
ThX
Hi, I've got the this Parrot Asteriod also.
And For you guys I can use bluetooth internet though my old HTC Hero. I can do it also with other phones. but there is a trick for it.
First root your phone, this is absolutely nessasary.
Then download from the market 'Wireless Tether for root users'(it is a free app).
This one has internet tethering through bluetooth.
Go to menu and select bluetooth instead of wifi.
then go to access-control and eneble it.
Make the bluetooth visible in the tether program.
On the asteroid go to setting and then network and then bluetooth is will find your phone(again) and press the nice parrot butten and it connects.
then on your phone again give it authorization to use the tether and you have your internet.
One problem is that you have to connect manually every time. (your carkit does it automaticly) but not the internet. But at least you can then enjoy your live radio and google maps if you want to.
You only have to have the tether active and connect only through the radio other steps are not needed anymore after.
Internet through usb with your doesn't work, to bad.
One issue that I've encountered with this radio the front panel will become pretty hot after playing an half hour on a high volume. does anyone else have this problem also?
Hi,
I am also considering getting an Asteroid. I have several questions:
- Is there also offline navigation available?
- Can any app from the normal market be installed? Or is there a special Parrot market?
- What Android version is installed?
- Anyway to root it? (What ever functionality this would add?)
Greetings
karlv
Dysphoria said:
Furthermore I found that the device lacks some tweaking capabilities. For example, when i'm navigating my contacts from my phone, the device tries to "read" the contacts for me using text-to-speech. I've found no way to turn this off. Furthermore I could find no option in the settings to turn off the traffic announcements from radio. The device now switches to radio when i'm listening to music from my SD card to bring me the traffic information (Which can be skipped by pressing the "back" button). Finally, the device came with a Dutch language setting and i've found no way to turn this to English, which is the language I prefer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For disablieng the traffic information go to tuner, select a radio station then press the menu button there you can edit if you want traffic information on or of.
text to speech, try the menu button in the app contacts you can change it there. I like that so I didn't look at it yet.
The most options regarding a app can be found in the app it self. try to look for tweaking option there.
karlv said:
Hi,
I am also considering getting an Asteroid. I have several questions:
- Is there also offline navigation available? NO, not yet at least
- Can any app from the normal market be installed? Or is there a special Parrot market? Special Parrot market, apps that are avaible can be found on the parrot site then put on usb stick and then install.
- What Android version is installed? Android 1.5
- Anyway to root it? (What ever functionality this would add?) No, maybe also later.
Greetings
karlv
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Everyone can correct me if I'm wrong
anyone already tried getting in touch with the radios file system?
I assume those usb ports only are usb hosts?
there's a new firmware out:
http://download.parrot.com/Parrot_Asteroid_soft_update/asteroid_update_fr_FR.plf
It's nearly 90 MB, so it looks as a complete android software build.
can we get this extracted? modders, come on
EDIT:
there exist some plftools for other Parrot Devices. Maybe they can be used to extract useful stuff out of the Asteroid firmware files...
Links:
http://embedded-software.blogspot.c...howComment=1311293537224#c8852365956008835373
http://sites.google.com/site/repurposelinux/df3120
EDIT2:
part of the firmware update file:
parrotparts=nand0:256K(Pbootloader),16M(Pmain_boot),4M(Pfactory),241408K(Psystem) console=ttyPA0,115200 loglevel=8 update
maybe it is possible to divide the plf file into parts and mount them somehow? (http://plugcomputer.org/plugforum/index.php?topic=478.0)
EDIT3:
Serial output of AR Drone Update, wich also uses plf update files and is based on linux:
http://kapejod.org/download/ardrone_install.txt
Some of you must own a Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep vehicle with a Uconnect stereo in it, right?
I've been all over the google search, the Dodge Forums, calling Chrysler's Uconnect dept, etc. and no one seems to have any clue what their talking about. I know that XDA is knowledgeable about all things phone. Searching doesn't get my exact questions, here's an unanswered one for the HTC EvoLTE (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1667801). The Ford SYNC systems have a similar problem.
I have a 2012 Dodge Durango with a Uconnect 430 RBZ stereo. It announces that my phone (the Sprint SGS3 with 4.1.1 LJ7 stock non-rooted (for now)) is not compatible with the Bluetooth Messaging Access Protocol profile or MAP-profile necessary to announce and control the SMS messages on my phone. There's a service on our phones that runs constantly when the bluetooth is enabled called MAPSamsungService, which after googling/reading/searching, leads me to believe this is the messaging protocol that the Uconnect desires.
My questions are:
1) Why won't this radio identify the MAP process of the SGS3 and connect to it Are there ROMs that do support this? (CM10 reportedly does support this http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1916902 - but I don't like the CM10 camera....so...yeah)
2) Has anyone had success in getting the SMS messages functionality on their Uconnect
3) Has anyone had luck with getting your contacts to properly sync? All mine are Google Contacts, and it is VERY random which ones show up. (I have just less than 1000 contacts, which is apparently the upper limit for these radios)
[just in case this shows up in google searches, I have learned that USB drives connected to the Uconnect need to be in FAT32 format and you can only move 2048 songs over at a time to the HDD, so load up multiple flash drives for the transfer. must be constant bit rate not VBR, 1000 folders is limit and 20k songs]
as a former u-connect owner and current audi interface owner, let me offer the following:
When sold, the technology in any car is about 2-5 years old. meaning it was designed to interface with phones 2-5 years ago. so if you have an old phone, it will probably work great!!
Chysler never offered a flash or upgrade to the original uconnect system, but that was supposed to change with the RBZ. My brothers at the LX forum have reported that is not really true. There are some systems that allow you to get around this with aftermarket HU but not what you are looking for.
No way to know what ROM's will work or not because of your specific situation. There is a mammoth black hole where all BT protocols go...no one seems interested in making it generic.
We currently own 2 vehicles under the VW/Audi brand and a Ford with a Pioneer HU in it. My EVO LTE phone book will update in the VW, but not the Audi. Same system, right? In the Audi, it will frequently not sync. one vehicle has different software and Audi cannot flash it. no worries on the Pioneer HU though.
TLDR -> Car companies suck, wha, wha, wha
-----
Thanks for the reply and your experiences. Speaking separately for all the tech they put into every aspect of the car...... I would figure that in 2012, these car companies and their stereos would learn their lesson and start to evolve. I guess we need a Uconnect forum on XDA to really get things heated up! If anyone knows of a site for ROMs and such for these systems, please let me know, I'm willing to take the plunge.
I had an aftermarket Kenwood in my 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee that I traded in. It synced with my phone perfectly, downloaded all my contacts, but didn't have the ability to read SMS messages (it also had a tiny display). Bluetooth worked well, etc. it just became a real piece of **** car that needed to be replaced.
The latest CM10 logs indicate that MAP functionality was fixed on 11/23: http://mobile.cm10log.appspot.com/?device=d2spr
I really wish that the CM10 camera and data connectivity didn't have so many issues, otherwise this would be a non-point and I'd be happy as can be with full functionality. What I find troubling is how many opinions there are about these different car systems and their compatibility. I understand your point about Bluetooth standards being quite a jumble. You should be required to support them all if you are going to use it in your device. I'm going to back to dual booting CM10 to see if I can get the MAP to work with the Uconnect system.
Then there's the confusion of all these systems. I have read links where a Stock Sprint SGS3 running 4.1.1 worked perfectly with MAP in a toyota prius. You ask Samsung and they say that MAP is not supported by the SGS3, their fact sheets would indicate the protocol is missing. But it was supposedly included in Android 4.1.1, but no one can confirm that.
It's just very disappointing when a company touts a technologically advanced car that can do things like read your SMS messages, display album artwork for songs, play songs from USB sticks, has ipod connectivity, etc. Can't seem to A) do any of those things well and B) offer absolutely ZERO tutorials and guidelines for making the above features actually work. You have to sift through forums to find out that a USB drive needs to be FAT32 formatted!
I just added 26.5GB worth of music to my HDD in my Uconnect 430 RBZ. I ensured that the album artwork was correctly linked with the ID3 tags in all of my music, a painstaking venture to say the least that I was meaning to do for a long time, however NO artwork actually shows up. It did finally all sync over and there are some things that it does "well" but far more that just miss the mark for no other reason than laziness and profitability. Just saying you can do these things is more profitable than actually making them work consistently - OR having knowledgeable people that can help you when you call in.
Overall, I guess I should be happy that it does what it does in the least. I understand the product cycles for cars and the tech is most likely 2-5 years old. Like everything else in this world, hopefully they'll improve their cycle time for updates. Then again, out of sight, out of mind. They have your money, who cares if they add any new functionality. Most cars aren't impulse buys like phones tend to be.
You can use any camera it does not have to be the cm camera. You can flash the stock or the 4.2 or even the note2 camera.apk. Also you xan flash your uconnect with a new firmware
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium
I have been running SkyNote 8.2 for a while now and have really liked Sean's ROM. I flashed Liquid last week (also a great ROM) and noticed something that I found confusing. With the TW Bluetooth (including the stock ROM), my 2009 car didn't really react well to the Bluetooth in my Note II. The connection between the car and phone would constantly connect and then drop off, connect again then drop off. Once I was on the phone (call), after initialing disconnecting me, the connection would stay but once I hung up it would go back to the on off cycle. My contacts would not sync either and yes I did grant access to the contacts. I just assumed it was because the phone has a newer Bluetooth profile (4) than my car (3). But after flashing Liquid my Bluetooth connection was fine, never dropped off and my contacts were all visible. I don't know much about the inner workings of Bluetooth, is the difference a TW thing?
Just looking for some insight from folks smarter than me.
Bump.... I would also like to know
AOSP only has Bluetooth 3.0 right now, so that's probably why you get more information. I have a FitBit and it only works with TouchWiz since it uses Bluetooth 4.0.
This is a fairly well known issue, but I haven't see a good summary anywhere, so I'll try here.
The problem isn't so much TW vs AOSP, it is Jellybean versions 4.1.x vs 4.2.x. Touchwiz is 4.1.2 and most maintained AOSP ROMs are 4.2.x.
Google, though their ultimate wisdom, decided to effectively castrate 4.2 by switching the Bluetooth stack.
From Android.com
New Bluetooth stack
Android 4.2 introduces a new Bluetooth stack optimized for use with Android devices. The new Bluetooth stack developed in collaboration between Google and Broadcom replaces the stack based on BlueZ and provides improved compatibility and reliability.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So...
Jellybean versions 4.1.x use the opensource BlueZ stack
Jellybean versions 4.2.x use the quasi-opensource Broadcom/Google stack called Bluedroid,
4.2.x has documented issues with audio streaming which are attributed to A2DP, or the Advanced Audio Distribution Profile. Google has proposed a fix, but the community consensus is that the issue remains.
Another problem with 4.2.x is that it doesn't support AVRCP 1.3 like 4.1.x did. This means that track metadata is not available to devices on 4.2. This is bad for me since I like to see track information when I connect the phone to my BMW M3.
I'm sure there are some workarounds on this problem, but I am not aware of a single, silver-bullet solution to make BT work flawlessly on 4.2.x Roms.
In summary, if you want to use Bluetooth in any meaningful way, stick with 4.1.x builds until Google gets their **** together. This is a fairly large miss on their part and they have been slow to address it.
Anyone know of any updates to this? There are so many 4.2.x ROMs out there that i love, but without a good BT A2DP connection, i just cant use that as the regular ROM.
ZoinksS2k said:
In summary, if you want to use Bluetooth in any meaningful way, stick with 4.1.x builds until Google gets their **** together. This is a fairly large miss on their part and they have been slow to address it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm a new member and have recently purchased an XTRONS TR100. I've already spent countless hours trying various apps, with mixed luck.
I purchased this head unit for GPS (with offline capability), Bluetooth for Telephone Calls, and Music. I also intend to install a Rear-View Camera (already purchased). I am also considering the FCC Car Launcher. So far, all that works well is the supplied music player. I've tried numerous GPS apps, but either the sound is chopped up, the maps disappear from the screen during a trip, or the app just stops working abruptly, and won't restart during the same trip. The supplied Bluetooth app has a nasty echo, and I consider it unusable.
For GPS, I've tried TomTom Go, CoPilot, Sygic, Offline Maps and Navigation, and several others that don't come to mind at the moment. In case it makes a difference, I'm located in Northeast US.
I would greatly appreciate any ideas that would give me a relatively stable operating head unit with the described features. The specifications are as follows
XTRONS TR100
UltraOcta-T9
MCU: 5.3.19-94-10-E06101-180111
Version: V9.2.2_20180518.151736_HC2-FD
32 GB ROM
2 GB DDR3 RAM
I am not above tinkering with the firmware, and have already installed updated firmware provided by the manufacturer, without success.
Thanks in advance for any help.