So I found a product that allows Android users to have Wireless Android Auto and it's a game changer. But first know that the product is not yet for sale, I backed the project on Indiegogo and received my unit a few days ago.
Pictures below. Essentially you get a little puck and a nice USB C to A cable. There is an app in the playstore called AAWireless (make sure to give it the location permission so it can find the device, it did not ask for the permission but I couldn't set up the device without it). The Pick works by creating a WiFi hotspot and acting as a bluetooth device for phone calls. Once the app is done setting up, the Android Auto app will automatically recognize your vechile and begin initiating the wireless connection. The first time it happens your car will prompt you asking the normal question of if you want to use this connection always, or one time only, or to not use the connection. Hit always and then you should see the Android Auto option on your car's home screen like normal.
Haven't tested calls but audio playback and google assistant through the wheel works flawlessly so I assume the car's microphone is being used and not your phone. Keep in mind this is brand new product and not flawless. The app for the puck does allow software updates so fingers crossed it only gets better.
Issues I have experienced (I am using a Samsung Note 9, it does have Bluetooth 5.0) the audio during music playback will occasionally stop for a second and resume. I don't think it's a data or buffer related issue, at the moment I'm guessing it's a phone lagging issue. Even with a USB cable method my phone would make my car give me an android auto connection fail warning sometimes and it would take 2 or 3 attempts to connect over USB. Over WiFi it works a lot better and loads faster. My phone doesn't appear to be lag as much using the puck vs using the USB cable for whatever reason. But Android Auto also isn't flawless.
Second issue, the puck is connected straight to the car's USB port and so in theory it becomes active as soon as you unlock the car. When the puck is active but the car isn't turned on yet, there is a weird issue where Android Auto on your phone initiates the connection but if your car isn't on and ready to use it. Android Auto app thinks it's a connection issue and terminates the connection in your phone's end and restarts the connection process. This cycle is endless. You can't sit in your car with the car off and the puck plugged in. Your phone will vibrate everytime the cycle repeats and your screen will flash as it tries to initiate Android Auto. On the plus side, if you unlock your car, load it up, etc. and start the car you will see the Android Auto option pop up within 10-30 seconds depending on what point of the connection cycle your phone is on.
Third issue, to preface my car is an early 2019 and it's fully up to date. Including the most recent software update recall for battery drain and other modules being updated by the dealership. This includes the amazing update for radar cruise control which now makes me want to use it everytime I get on the highway.
Third issue is that even though the car is off and locked the USB port typically used to stay active for about 10 to 15 minutes after wards and being that my car is attached to my house my phone can still pickup the signal and does that Android Auto cycle. Which is annoying. But what's more troubling is that it appears the USB ports don't turn off anymore or they are re-activating on their own? Last night I came in after locking the car and my phone automatically switched over to my home wifi and I did some things and set it down on the charger. About 30 to 45 minutes later (the car has been off and locked for about an hour now) it starts buzzing. It is in the Android Auto connection cycle. It does this for an hour and then I eventually go to my car and unplug the device and it stops. I think everyone here has had the common understanding that the 12v always stays on but we all thought the USB port turned off after a while. Now it no longer seems to be the case. Maybe a software update changed that behavior?
Pictures below. Essentially you get a little puck and a nice USB C to A cable. There is an app in the playstore called AAWireless (make sure to give it the location permission so it can find the device, it did not ask for the permission but I couldn't set up the device without it). The Pick works by creating a WiFi hotspot and acting as a bluetooth device for phone calls. Once the app is done setting up, the Android Auto app will automatically recognize your vechile and begin initiating the wireless connection. The first time it happens your car will prompt you asking the normal question of if you want to use this connection always, or one time only, or to not use the connection. Hit always and then you should see the Android Auto option on your car's home screen like normal.
Haven't tested calls but audio playback and google assistant through the wheel works flawlessly so I assume the car's microphone is being used and not your phone. Keep in mind this is brand new product and not flawless. The app for the puck does allow software updates so fingers crossed it only gets better.
Issues I have experienced (I am using a Samsung Note 9, it does have Bluetooth 5.0) the audio during music playback will occasionally stop for a second and resume. I don't think it's a data or buffer related issue, at the moment I'm guessing it's a phone lagging issue. Even with a USB cable method my phone would make my car give me an android auto connection fail warning sometimes and it would take 2 or 3 attempts to connect over USB. Over WiFi it works a lot better and loads faster. My phone doesn't appear to be lag as much using the puck vs using the USB cable for whatever reason. But Android Auto also isn't flawless.
Second issue, the puck is connected straight to the car's USB port and so in theory it becomes active as soon as you unlock the car. When the puck is active but the car isn't turned on yet, there is a weird issue where Android Auto on your phone initiates the connection but if your car isn't on and ready to use it. Android Auto app thinks it's a connection issue and terminates the connection in your phone's end and restarts the connection process. This cycle is endless. You can't sit in your car with the car off and the puck plugged in. Your phone will vibrate everytime the cycle repeats and your screen will flash as it tries to initiate Android Auto. On the plus side, if you unlock your car, load it up, etc. and start the car you will see the Android Auto option pop up within 10-30 seconds depending on what point of the connection cycle your phone is on.
Third issue, to preface my car is an early 2019 and it's fully up to date. Including the most recent software update recall for battery drain and other modules being updated by the dealership. This includes the amazing update for radar cruise control which now makes me want to use it everytime I get on the highway.
Third issue is that even though the car is off and locked the USB port typically used to stay active for about 10 to 15 minutes after wards and being that my car is attached to my house my phone can still pickup the signal and does that Android Auto cycle. Which is annoying. But what's more troubling is that it appears the USB ports don't turn off anymore or they are re-activating on their own? Last night I came in after locking the car and my phone automatically switched over to my home wifi and I did some things and set it down on the charger. About 30 to 45 minutes later (the car has been off and locked for about an hour now) it starts buzzing. It is in the Android Auto connection cycle. It does this for an hour and then I eventually go to my car and unplug the device and it stops. I think everyone here has had the common understanding that the 12v always stays on but we all thought the USB port turned off after a while. Now it no longer seems to be the case. Maybe a software update changed that behavior?