Update 30.11.2022
End of life and open source.
Due to lots of changes both in Android and in my life, I do not have the possibility to maintain / update the code any further, therefore I've decided to open source.
Code is accessible: https://github.com/borconi/obd2aa
I will like to thank all of those who supported this project.
App Requirement
This app will have limited functionality if you are using Android Auto on a your phone, the only functions you will be able to use is to see are notification about the speed cameras and street card!
Gauges and torque data will NOT work!
Previous XDA purchases can be reclaimed here: https://www.b3itlabs.com/download.php
How to purchase:
Instructions on how to get it running:
Option 1 - Will work on any phone & car/headunit combination, however the following features won't: - AutoPlay Music, 6 Tap limit remover, DPI change
Option 2 - Might NOT work on some device combination (for sure it won't work on Xiaomi phones), but if this method works all functions of the app are available
Change log
Version 3.2 and 3.3 released 04/11/2018
Version 3.1 releases 26/08/2018
Version 3.0 releases 05/07/2018
Thanks to @slash_m_a_x for the support offered on this.
- Some users have reported choppy audio when using the app, this will mainly be due to the speed of the phone, the buffer on the car/headunit and other factors which are out of my control, if that is the case and you cannot use the app please feel free to contact me for a refund.
- Bluetooth Audio output might not work on all devices, it does depend how the car/headunit handles the Bluetooth. There will be devices which completely disable A2DP/Bluetooth capabilities of the car when Android Auto is running. In this case all the sound will be heard from the phone speaker rather then the car speakers.
- Tap limit will be disabled only for cars/headunits which are equipped with a GPS.
- In rare cases it can happen that after unplugging the phone from the headunit you will see a message which says that you are still connected to Android Auto, simply Force Stop the Google Play Services.
- You always need to make sure that Headunit Server is running on the phone (unless you have root), if the icon bothers you simply hide it.
Change log
Version 2.0 releases 17/01/2018
Version 1.6a - releases 03/10/2017
Version 1.6 - releases 29/09/2017
Supported settings/Features:
How to use it?
Open app and select each PID you want to display on your screen, adjust the number or gauges you want to see adjust the preference for each PID. If you want to use custom background/needle and interested on how to, please read HERE
Locking Pid values
On some PID's Torque reports wrong min/max values, by default if while using the application a reported value is higher/lower than the initially reported range, the app will adjust the range to the new values. However in some cases this is not desired and you will like to specify manually what is the min and max value for the give PID. In this case, simple edit the minimum/maximum for the pid and they will become locked, meaning the app won't make any adjustments.
By editing, it means you have to change the min or max value, the lock is triggered by the first keypress on this input fields.
The lock will be automatically removed when you select a different PID for the same gauge.
Preferences menu
TPMS Settings
- You set up the 4 PID's for TPMS, this will be used to display the tyre pressure values on the TPMS screen inside Android Auto
Speed Camera
Export & Import
- Allows you to export your current app configuration file which can later be imported (grate way of saving time of re-doing everything) after a clean install or so. The format use for Export & Import is JSON so if you want you can manually edit/adjust the values. Please see following post for more details about the sturcture/value/meanings
Permissions
Can I create my own layout for the gauges?
- Yes, see instructions below:
How to produce bug report?
I have decided to open up my software, meaning I have made the source code available on GitHub, but it's only available for personal use, and you are not allowed (under any form) to redistribute your own version of the app. You can download and compile it yourself if you wish to do so, and you can implement your own changes for your own personal use, but you cannot create clones of the software which you redistribute under your own name. Source can be found here: https://github.com/borconi/obd2aa.
Due to the fact that there are some irresponsible developers out there, who created video apps for moving cars, which was one of the main reasons Google blocked 3rd party apps, I won't be updating the code on github any more, to try to prevent those developers to use my technique to overcome the limits. If you are developing a 3rd party app and you will like to know more about how I have done this, you are always welcome to contact me. If your project is something useful, I will be more then happy to share things with you.
This does not mean it is now a free app and apk can be freely shared!
End of life and open source.
Due to lots of changes both in Android and in my life, I do not have the possibility to maintain / update the code any further, therefore I've decided to open source.
Code is accessible: https://github.com/borconi/obd2aa
I will like to thank all of those who supported this project.
App Requirement
- Torque Pro
- OBD2 Reader
- Android Auto compatible headunit or at least a copy of the Headunit Reloaded App (see signature).
This app will have limited functionality if you are using Android Auto on a your phone, the only functions you will be able to use is to see are notification about the speed cameras and street card!
Gauges and torque data will NOT work!
Previous XDA purchases can be reclaimed here: https://www.b3itlabs.com/download.php
How to purchase:
Instructions on how to get it running:
Option 1 - Will work on any phone & car/headunit combination, however the following features won't: - AutoPlay Music, 6 Tap limit remover, DPI change
- After installing the app from XDA Labs, sign up for beta testing here: https://play.google.com/apps/testing/uk.co.boconi.emil.obd2aa and update the app
- Once app is updated, make sure you disable auto-update in PlayStore then please uninstall it and reinstall it from XDA Labs.
- With your screen unlocked, plug in the phone to the car, when prompted which app to use make sure you select "Android Auto"
Option 2 - Might NOT work on some device combination (for sure it won't work on Xiaomi phones), but if this method works all functions of the app are available
- Install
- Make sure you do not have any other 3rd party app Android Auto app installed.
- Open the app and hopefully it will be quite self explanatory on how to set it up (choose colours, set gauge number, etc)
- Open Android Auto (on the phone), go to About, tap the "About Android Auto" header 10 times, once you are a developer from the 3 dotted right corner menu select "Start Headunit Server" (ROOT users can skip this step!)
- Close Android Auto
- MAKE SURE YOUR SCREEN IS UNLOCKED and connect to the car, when prompted which app to use select "OBD2AA" and always (this needs to be done one time only) - If you are a HUR user select Android Auto and always! (If you do not see the prompt to chose, please go to settings -> apps -> all apps -> Google Play Services -> Clear Defaults and then try again)
- Select the last tab on the right, by pressing it again you should see an app selector and choose OBD2AA
- Give it a bit of time to start pulling the data from Torque.
Change log
Version 3.2 and 3.3 released 04/11/2018
- Fix "drunk" map effect on Sync 3 units
- Fixed rooted devices not being able to start headunit server.
- Added option to change DPI for your screen!
- Added option to auto play music on start
- Added option to select default start screen.
Version 3.1 releases 26/08/2018
- Compatibility fix for Pie devices.
- Tap limit remover now working on all device
- Tap limit remover allows Maps to be searchable even when driving.
- Can be used for those who have problem with the parking brake wire.
- Freeze issues fixes.
Version 3.0 releases 05/07/2018
- Compatibility fix for AA 3.0 and above.
- Added option for overriding 6 tap limits
- Added option for Bluetooth Audio output.
Thanks to @slash_m_a_x for the support offered on this.
- Some users have reported choppy audio when using the app, this will mainly be due to the speed of the phone, the buffer on the car/headunit and other factors which are out of my control, if that is the case and you cannot use the app please feel free to contact me for a refund.
- Bluetooth Audio output might not work on all devices, it does depend how the car/headunit handles the Bluetooth. There will be devices which completely disable A2DP/Bluetooth capabilities of the car when Android Auto is running. In this case all the sound will be heard from the phone speaker rather then the car speakers.
- Tap limit will be disabled only for cars/headunits which are equipped with a GPS.
- In rare cases it can happen that after unplugging the phone from the headunit you will see a message which says that you are still connected to Android Auto, simply Force Stop the Google Play Services.
- You always need to make sure that Headunit Server is running on the phone (unless you have root), if the icon bothers you simply hide it.
Change log
Version 2.0 releases 17/01/2018
- Added new layout option
- Added styled gauged
- Option for custom background on each gauge.
- Option for custom needle on each gauge
- Removed integration for CamSam/Blitzer.de (fully integrated now)
- Possibility to change needle color
- Possibility to adjust arch (indent, position, length) when using custom bg
- Separated speed camera settings
- Option to only download speed cam db over Wifi
- Fixes for min/max value
- Speed camera warnings over car speaker (Thanks @martoreto for the how-to)
- Street info card
- Added French translation (Credit to @fbike for doing the translation)
- Added Danish (Credit to @Gunde for doing the translation)
- Added Finnish (Credit to @Pyrres for doing the translation)
- Added Spanish (Credit to @madabase for doing the translation)
- Added Italian (Credit to @ilgaspa for doing the translation)
Version 1.6a - releases 03/10/2017
- Fixed negative input for min/max values
- Code cleanup
- Added Greek language (credit to @sosimple for translating)
Version 1.6 - releases 29/09/2017
- Fixes for custom PIDS
- Fixes on Graphics rendering.
- Fixed overlapping text
- Fixed PSI/BAR conversion
- Enhanced the gauge style.
- Different approach for torque data pulling.
- Moved to service should start work automatically when connected to the car
- Added Supports PID alarms from Torque.
- Added Toggle/Collapse layout for Pid settings.
- Added Preview button with random data
- Added Option to toggle units display
- Added notification cleanup on exit
- Added translation for DE,HU,RO (Credit to @FormelLMS for DE)
- Added import/export setting option
- Added option for colored text
- Added TPMS option/screen
- Added option to override car's headlights based on day/night
- Added warning screen if nothing is configured to prevent black screen with no information.
- Added more settings and move them to separate Settings options.
- Added customizable background
- Added search for PIDs
- Added Support for Heads-Up notification
- Added Speed camera warnings (powered by CamSam Plus)
Supported settings/Features:
- 3 x Colors for each gauge
- Text color
- Toggle needle, arch,units,scale,decimal and text for each gauge.
- Variable number or gauges ( 1 - 15 )
- Set warning limit for each gauge (percentage). This will be calculated relative to the given PID max value which is retrieved from Torque at runtime.
- Possibility to set gauge in reverse mode. (example fuel tank)
- Units will be converted automatically based on your Preferences in Torque
- TPMS Screen (if you have PID's for TPMS data)
- Possibility to use custom background/needle for each gauge
- Low Fuel warning
- Warm Engine warning
- Speed Camera Heads Up Warning
- Option to Overwrite Headlights state based on calculated sunset/sunrise
How to use it?
Open app and select each PID you want to display on your screen, adjust the number or gauges you want to see adjust the preference for each PID. If you want to use custom background/needle and interested on how to, please read HERE
Locking Pid values
On some PID's Torque reports wrong min/max values, by default if while using the application a reported value is higher/lower than the initially reported range, the app will adjust the range to the new values. However in some cases this is not desired and you will like to specify manually what is the min and max value for the give PID. In this case, simple edit the minimum/maximum for the pid and they will become locked, meaning the app won't make any adjustments.
By editing, it means you have to change the min or max value, the lock is triggered by the first keypress on this input fields.
The lock will be automatically removed when you select a different PID for the same gauge.
Preferences menu
- Alternative pulling - Only enable this option if you have difficulties getting gauges updated, it uses an old deprecated method of obtaining data so should not really be used.
- Enable debugging - Only enable it if you have problems with the app and I requested you to collect a bug report, otherwise it will spam the logs for no reason.
- Automatically start Torque on Android Auto - Nothing to explain here
- Launch FartKontrol on start - launches a Danish Speed Camera app (useless outside Denmark)
- Custom Background (any background you will like to use instead of the black color)
- Demo - When enabled random data is generated for the PID's just to see how things will look (in case you do not have an OBD2 adapter), so don't enable it.
- Pid Alarms section. You can set up a low level fuel warning (displayed as a heads up notification) and a notification when the engine is warmed up. There a several PID options for both of this, pretty self explanatory.
TPMS Settings
- You set up the 4 PID's for TPMS, this will be used to display the tyre pressure values on the TPMS screen inside Android Auto
Speed Camera
- Show current street card - Displays information about current street (name and speed limit if know). This information is updated once in 5 seconds and at a minimum distance of 200 meters so it's not 100% accurate it's more for general information.
- Enable speed camera warnings - This will enable the app to display speed camera warning when driving, like any app which does this it relies on a database, which means it does NOT guarantee that it will warn you of all the cameras, and it might also produce false warnings. All options are pretty self explanatory.
Export & Import
- Allows you to export your current app configuration file which can later be imported (grate way of saving time of re-doing everything) after a clean install or so. The format use for Export & Import is JSON so if you want you can manually edit/adjust the values. Please see following post for more details about the sturcture/value/meanings
Permissions
- Read notification permission - Only required so the app can read the notifications from CamSam and display them on AA scren
- Locations - Only required if you want the app to overwrite the day/night theme based on sunset/sunrise
- Storage - Only needed if you want to use your personal image as a background and/or planning to import/export settings
Can I create my own layout for the gauges?
- Yes, see instructions below:
How to produce bug report?
I have decided to open up my software, meaning I have made the source code available on GitHub, but it's only available for personal use, and you are not allowed (under any form) to redistribute your own version of the app. You can download and compile it yourself if you wish to do so, and you can implement your own changes for your own personal use, but you cannot create clones of the software which you redistribute under your own name. Source can be found here: https://github.com/borconi/obd2aa.
Due to the fact that there are some irresponsible developers out there, who created video apps for moving cars, which was one of the main reasons Google blocked 3rd party apps, I won't be updating the code on github any more, to try to prevent those developers to use my technique to overcome the limits. If you are developing a 3rd party app and you will like to know more about how I have done this, you are always welcome to contact me. If your project is something useful, I will be more then happy to share things with you.
This does not mean it is now a free app and apk can be freely shared!
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