[APP][4.0.3+] PodMode - Connect ur Android device to iPhone dock/car audio interface

spadival · Apr 4, 2013

Description

PodMode lets you connect your Android device to an iPhone/iPod dock or car audio interface.

SOFTWARE+HARDWARE REQUIREMENT

Android 4.0.3 device with the Android Open Accessory framework intact (Some device manufacturers strip this out). You can use this great app to check).
USB OTG capability is required if you use PL2303x or FT232 USB-to-Serial chip.
OTG capability is not required if you use FT311D/FT312D chip.
A Custom DIY dock adaptor/cable made up of simple, readily available components (See 2nd post for details and schematic).
For pre-2013 Hyundai car audios, A HC05 Bluetooth module can be used (See 3rd post for details and schematic).

FEATURES

No root required.
Plug and Play - the app will launch automatically in one of the 2 remote modes (decided by the accessory) and run in the background.
You can play and control media in any 3rd party media app that support media buttons.

Simple Remote Mode:
- Speaker and Clock radio docks usually work in this mode.
- You can play and control media in any 3rd party media app that support media buttons.
- Preference to set the default media app to launch and control.

Advanced Remote Mode:
- Car audio interfaces usually work in this mode.
- Displays currently playing song info on the car audio system's screen.
- Filter by Playlist/Genre/Artist/Album/Song
- Notification display (** NEW **) - Status bar Notification text (mail/text/Nav turn-by-turn/weather) is displayed on car audio system's track information screen (Album/song name) for 15 seconds.
  NOTE:You need to enable this feature in the Phone Settings>>Accessibility>>PodMode.
- Preference to set the default media app (** NEW **).

Unplug the USB and the app will pause playback and quit.
Preference to turn screen on - since some devices cannot supply USB host power in screen off/power save mode.
Preference to change the connection speed for different accessories.
Compatibility web page ( http://podmode.spadival.me/compatibility.php ) - List of iPhone/iPod accessories and Android devices where this app is working.
Supports 30-pin accessories that play analog audio ONLY (Not digital audio) and communicate via serial lines(not USB).

CREDITS

@ksksue - Android USB Serial Driver

TESTED ON (Please help me expand this list further.)
Refer to the compatibility web page - http://podmode.spadival.me/compatibility.php

Screenshots

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dobR-9ELjSVhwLPr5lsiuw1D8NN1sx_MYv39ZWNy-AUKqreAS00L3K9jFzco_EG8hw

WlyEcOMB04E0Dt2mr7nJe2I0FntrI4Tnnpb6GM5qb3KPp0ZvA46M1zwHR4jQwQdTsw

Source code

https://github.com/spadival/PodMode

spadival · Apr 4, 2013

DIY Cable

WARNING: DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK. I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE IF YOU SHORT WIRES AND DAMAGE THE DEVICE/ACCESSORY

(Mods: Not sure where this fits - If necessary, you may move this post to Hardware hacking).

COMPONENT LIST

PL2303HX or FTDI USB to serial TTL cable WITH 3.3v supply - I also managed to get one from a Nokia CA-42 cable as shown here - but pretty hard to break the plastic shell encasing.
30-pin extension cable with at least 16 cords inside (not ones that just charge/sync) or Podsocket breakout
Aux audio cable. If from a headphone cable, be sure to burn off the coating as shown here.
Assorted sacrificial offerings of USB cables for their male plugs/female sockets.
USB OTG cable.

NOTES

I am not going to tell you how to solder and what equipment you need (Get a multimeter at least!!). I have never soldered or used a multimeter before this, so hardly an expert! Plenty of guides out there to help you in the learning process.
Pinout numbers may be reversed on the pod socket (see last column here).
Most of these extension cables have pinout numbers on both male/female end PCB and all the wires are color-coded.
You can pry open the plastic casing without breaking it..or you can break the male end and trace the pinouts to their respective colour-coded wires. Since I didn't want the 5-6 unused wires hanging loose, I preferred to rip everything out and solder only the essential wires directly to the female socket PCB.
Make sure USB to serial is 3.3v and NOT 5v.
30-pin extension cable manufacturers usually have the digital(1) and analog (audio) ground(2) pins shorted in order to scrimp on one lousy extra wire. But my untrained ear hasn't noticed any major interference. Minor interference I hear only when audio is paused is probably from the crappy LCD display on my el-cheapo tablet.
USB Y Cable isn't strictly necessary, but useful for devices that allow OTG charging.

Schematic

Pinout from http://pinouts.ru/PortableDevices/ipod_pinout.shtml

pinouts by spadival, on Flickr

Top view and Front view: Note how pins 1 & 2 are shorted. Ideally, they shouldn't be.

pinout2 by spadival, on Flickr

Link to largest size pic

PodMode cable_schematic by spadival, on Flickr

PodMode_cable by spadival, on Flickr

spadival · Apr 4, 2013

HC-05 Bluetooth

HC-05 Bluetooth schematic for Hyundai Pre-2013 car audio

Since Hyundai schematic does not use 3.3v Accessory detect, HC-05 Bluetooth module connected to a USB cable can be used.

However, the HC-05 need to be configured with the AT command to the correct baud rate and the Bluetooth device name has to be changed to PodModeBT for it to work with PodMode app.

Please google for instructions on how to enable and run the AT commands on HC-05.

Code:

AT+NAME=PodModeBT
AT+UART=57600,0,0

We need only USB male plug (Shown as connector B above) to be wired to the HC-05 BT chip as shown below

594099938_799 by spadival, on Flickr

Process to connect with PodMode app
1. First, pair the android device with PodModeBT bluetooth device in Settings>>Bluetooth. (Default pin is 1234)
2. Once pairing is successful, open PodMode app.
3. The app will try to connect and once connected, the status on PodMode screen will change to "Connected.."
4. Now you are good to go

spadival · Apr 6, 2013

Change log

Changes

11/04/2013

Slight change in schematic - Moved USB Y Cable ground from pin 1 to 15/16. Note that these pins may be shorted on some of the extension cables anyway.

24/09/2013

Added support for FTDI FT311D Android Open Accessory USB host chip - Now, devices without OTG USB Host support can use PodMode in conjunction with FT311D ( http://www.ftdichip.com/Products/ICs/FT311D.html )
Minor bug fixes

9/06/2014

Added support for Bluetooth HC05 chip.

scotte9999 · Apr 6, 2013

Wow, nice hack!

Does USB go to pins 12 _and_ 16?

spadival · Apr 6, 2013

scotte9999 said:
Wow, nice hack!

Does USB go to pins 12 _and_ 16?

No. Pin 12 of the 30-pin dock goes to the TX line of the USB to serial converter. I have fixed the schematic and added more pics for clarity.(Link to largest size pic)

simulatorhck · May 13, 2013

I want to connect the ttl interface to car usb to simulate an Ipod. What kind of connection I have to do?

simulatorhck · May 16, 2013

simulatorhck said:
I want to connect the ttl interface to car usb to simulate an Ipod. What kind of connection I have to do?

I made it..It works.

i'd prefer to use it with video playing

are you working for others features?
Thank you

spadival · May 17, 2013

Great!! Can you tell me what car audio accessory and android phone you are using? Some pictures and video of the working app+hardware would be nice too

I have added a few new features:

* You can now choose a media app for playback in Advanced Remote Mode. Earlier the playback was restricted to media available on your phone and was played back within PodMode (you can still do this). Now you can play & control Pandora/Spotify etc in your car.

* Notifications - in Advanced Remote mode, if you get an sms or use Google Navigation, the sms/turn-by-turn direction text is displayed on your car audio's Track information (Album/song name) display for 15 seconds.

.. Edit: Sneak peek pics below. You can display just about any notification like weather or stock info.

* Compatibility webpage - List of accessories and Android devices where this app is working (Information to be crowd sourced on when app is launched for the first time and successful connection is established with the accessory)

* App UI layout improvements - it looks better now (At least I think so! )

Untitled by spadival, on Flickr

Untitled by spadival, on Flickr

I haven't got much spare time to fully test the changes. I will try to upload the new version into Google Play as soon as possible.

Afromac · May 18, 2013

Does the app only work with the custom cable??

Hi just bought a cable from cablejive.com called a samdock. its basically the same thing as the custom cable but without the audio jack. WIll the podmode app work with another cable or is it specifically designed for the diy cable above??

simulatorhck · May 18, 2013

Hi. I have an Hyundai i20. I bought an usb-ttl interface from ebay but at the moment the item isn't arrived...

So i open an old usb-rs232 interface with pl2303 and used it to connect to car usb

I can't put in links but search
modding-pl-2303-based-usb-to-rs-232
I used only gnd, tx and rx. No 5V to charge android tablet...
I used an xperia sola and Mediacom 810c modded with ICS.
I'd like to use with another tablet with gingerbread but it's impossibile

.
When I'll receive the right adapter I'll made a compact cable and post some pics.

spadival · May 19, 2013

simulatorhck said:
Hi. I have an Hyundai i20. I bought an usb-ttl interface from ebay but at the moment the item isn't arrived... So i open an old usb-rs232 interface with pl2303 and used it to connect to car usb
I can't put in links but search
modding-pl-2303-based-usb-to-rs-232
I used only gnd, tx and rx. No 5V to charge android tablet...
I used an xperia sola and Mediacom 810c modded with ICS.
I'd like to use with another tablet with gingerbread but it's impossibile .
When I'll receive the right adapter I'll made a compact cable and post some pics.

EDIT: The app currently uses some ICS API functions, so I can't change it right now to work with Gingerbread. I'll have a look when I have time (which is in short supply).

spadival · May 19, 2013

Afromac said:
Hi just bought a cable from cablejive.com called a samdock. its basically the same thing as the custom cable but without the audio jack. WIll the podmode app work with another cable or is it specifically designed for the diy cable above??

Short answer: No, samdock won't work with PodMode.

Long answer: I don't know what's inside the samdock cable, but I am guessing it has dedicated hardware to handle the serial protocol and passe-thru analog audio lines from the phone to the dock. My solution is different in that the serial protocol is handled by the app. So my cable design is just a "dumb" hardware.

Also, I don't think samdock cable will give you the remote control feature of controlling media playback on your phone from the speaker dock remote or car steering wheel controls. I know this because it is technically not possible to output both analog audio and usb signals at the same time via the micro-usb port on Samsung phones, even though S3/4 has 11 pin micro-usb

If there is sufficient interest, I may commercialise the hardware and sell it to people who can't DIY.

simulatorhck · May 20, 2013

The usb-ttl adapter arrivet

Now work in progress.
But there is possible to control video player with new app version?.

--------
The item is made and tested

Now waiting for your software update

spadival · May 21, 2013

simulatorhck said:
The usb-ttl adapter arrivet Now work in progress.
But there is possible to control video player with new app version?.

It is possible to control any media app as long as it handles Media buttons. i.e. you need to check if the app appears on the "Select app" list in app settings.

Screenshot_2013-05-21-08-52-40 by spadival, on Flickr

You can see Samsung video player on the list. However, many video players like Youtube, Vevo etc are not supported. Besides, I don't think it is safe to watch videos in the car

simulatorhck said:
The item is made and tested
Now waiting for your software update

That was fast! I have uploaded the latest version of the app to Google Play. EDIT: Check now

simulatorhck · May 21, 2013

Tryied it. All ok. Now I have to undestand what software is better to use .

spadival · May 22, 2013

simulatorhck said:
Tryied it. All ok. Now I have to undestand what software is better to use .

Software for video? Are you looking at streaming video software or video players for media stored on the phone?

BTW, I am still waiting for those pics. And it'll be nice if you can post a review on Google Play

simulatorhck · May 22, 2013

spadival said:
Software for video? Are you looking at streaming video software or video players for media stored on the phone?

BTW, I am still waiting for those pics. And it'll be nice if you can post a review on Google Play

No streaming no youtube. Only video on microsd wioth player of the tablet.
I havent web space to put in pics. Can i send you with email?
I like the video player in gingerbread so I'll try to get it in ics as soon as possible
____

Made a review on google play

spadival · May 23, 2013

simulatorhck said:
No streaming no youtube. Only video on microsd wioth player of the tablet.
I havent web space to put in pics. Can i send you with email?
I like the video player in gingerbread so I'll try to get it in ics as soon as possible
____

Made a review on google play

MX Player works with PodMode. play/pause & Prev/Next works .. NOT Fastforward and rewind.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mxtech.videoplayer.ad

Yes, you can send pics by email and thanks for the review

.

meteoro84 · May 23, 2013

hi , there's a change to send audio from the otg intead the 3,5plug ??? would be great jeje , congratulatiosn 4 your work , very nice

[APP][4.0.3+] PodMode - Connect ur Android device to iPhone dock/car audio interface

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