Fcc Car Launcher [official thread]

Hi, all!

Welcome to the official thread for FCC Car Launcher - a customizable auto launcher for android head units (Rockchip MTCB/MTCD+ and FlyAudio) as well as android smartphones/tablets.

Its major features:
- Full function launcher with supports of all standard third party android widgets
- Deep integration with head units (MCU etc). My mission here is to implement as many functions in the launcher itself as possible. In case of Rockchip devices to get rid of most xposed modules (my deep respect to their authors, great job, but they sometimes slow down the device significantly) and replace them with the normal built-in functions.
- Customization. The FCC Cat Launcher has some built-in customizable widgets which can help to make your home screen more personal (you can adjust widgets size, colors, features etc).
- Built-in music widget with support of FM Radio (with ability to give names to radio stations), Spotify, Google Music, PowerAmp, PC Radio, Neutron and Stellio players.
- One-click navigation widgets with quick route building (supports Waze, Google Maps, Yandex Navigator and other navigation apps).
- Phone calls via connected phone using 'Ok Google call [name]' request or by clicking on built-in Contact widget.
- Other features.

FAQ
1. I love MiniMap but can you put other navigation app there?
Unfortunately this is not possible. MiniMap is part of FCC and is based on Google Maps API for Android. It is not another app (not even a Google Maps app), that can be just replaced within the FCC interface. Android does not allow to integrate third party apps (navigation apps) inside another third party apps (FCC Launcher).
If your head Unit supports Split Screen (ie can display Two apps at the same time), this can be partially done with split screen.

2. Is it possible to cache maps for MiniMap for offline use?
- Yes. In the latest FCC Launcher beta version you can select Offline Mapbox map and download it to your device.
- For Google Maps - No. Caching is directly prohibited by Google license for using Google Maps API (MiniMap). Moreover, Google even does not provide developers with such a caching API. Therefore you will need a constant internet connection to use MiniMap. The somewhat good news is that the map itself does some short-term caching on your device, so it saves some data (but not too much).

3. Notifications are only popping up for a split second / flashing. How to fix this?
That means that animations are disabled on your device.
- Go to the device's Developer settings: FCC settings - System - Advanced - Developer settings (if it asks for code - it's "7890" for AllWinner T8).
- Scroll down and change 3 parameters "Window animation scale", "Transition animation scale" and "Animation duration scale" from "Animation off" to "Animation scale 1x".

4. Routing on Google Maps in MiniMap doesn't work. It asks for API key. What should I do?
- Turn-by-turn navigation in built-in Google Map fragment is directly prohibited by Google. Therefore it is not possible to use it. .However if you have your own Google Developer account (Google Maps API key) you can use it to draw a simple route line on the MiniMap. Please note that it will NOT have any turn-by-turn data like distance to next turn or estimated time of arrival.
I do not recommend to purchase Google Developer account just for this feature:
- Google Developer account will cost money for you (a one-off payment) which is reasonable only if you really want to develop android apps.
- Routing requests cost money. But currently Google provides a 200$ per month free usage for Maps, Routes, and Places every month which should be enough for individual usage.
Links: Get API key, Pricing. Don't forget to enable Maps API and Directions API in your Google Cloud Console.

Tutorial:

Translation to your language
Guys, many of you suggested your help with translation of the app to your native languages.
I have setup a translation project on OneSky site.
Here is the link: HELP TRANSLATE FCC CAR LAUNCHER

Links:
Release channel: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ru.speedfire.flycontrolcenter
Beta channel: https://play.google.com/apps/testing/ru.speedfire.flycontrolcenter
(I would suggest to stick with the release channel since beta channel can be really buggy sometimes and is intended for beta testers only)

As a developer I will be happy to discuss with you any ideas or issues.

Here is a couple of tutorials:
1) Quick look on home screen setup process:

How to write LogCat log:
You need to have ROOT:
1. Install LogCat Extreme LogCat Extreme
2. Select VERBOSE level of details (very important) Video 1
3. Write and send log: Video 2

Initial setup (do this if you see black screen):
Important checkbox during first setup:

Please make sure to check that checkbox "Always allow FCC Launcher to add widgets..".

Full setup process:

jcthorne said:

Does this run under Android Auto?

Click to expand...

Click to collapse

I don't think so. Not tested at least.

CadillacMike said:

this would be the right forum

Click to expand...

Click to collapse

Agreed. I've already asked moderators to move this thread there (along with the other launcher's threads which are located here). Hope they can do this.

pa.ko said:

Altitude. In addition to existing build-up widgets (odometer, speed), it would be nice to have altitude. For some of us enjoining off-road adventures in high mountains, it would be nice to have a snap view of GPS altitude.

Click to expand...

Click to collapse

Thank you for suggestions!
I've just sent a new version to BETA channel with two new features:
1. Auto-brightness with relatively good control on the levels:


2. Altitude widget

CadillacMike said:

Latest beta crashes of I go to FCC settings (enters the main settings screen but crashes if I select FCC settings). So I could not access new auto brightness config to check how it works.

Click to expand...

Click to collapse

Ok. Thanks for info. I'll check. What type of device do you have?
For now you can access the same setting from Brightness widget.

pa.ko said:

1.
Latest beta crashes of I go to FCC settings (enters the main settings screen but crashes if I select FCC settings). So I could not access new auto brightness config to check how it works.

2.
Altitude works nicely. I'll suggest to round it to integer (remove decimals). Decimals take valuable space in widget and are basically useless as GPS altitude precision is in meters (even tens of meters to be exact in commercial GPS units)

Click to expand...

Click to collapse

Hopefully both of the issues are fixed in new beta.

New feature:
- Ability to launch any selected app by clicking on the following widgets: Time, Distance, Av.speed, Altitude (see their preferences)

rizu3544 said:

Would you please allow to add third party music player widget in your app.

Click to expand...

Click to collapse

They are allowed. This launcher supports all third party android widgets.

Moreover it has a built in music widget which supports: fm radio (with ability to give names to radio stations), Spotify, Google Music, PowerAmp, PC Radio, Neutron and Stellio players.

HarryBk said:

Maybe a stupid question, but how do I delete a widget?

Click to expand...

Click to collapse

Hold a finger on it for a second and move the widget to the cross:

vassandrei said:

Could we get a screensaver with time, current song, speed, and weather info on a black background (like in Car Launcher pro, only there it only showed time)

Click to expand...

Click to collapse

I think I can, but first I need to understand better why don't you just setup a separate screen with large widgets (this is all possible with FCC Launcher). Many users told me that the launcher helped them to get rid of screensavers since all the info can be made large enough and is available.

So, what do you really want from screensaver what is not available now via home screen? Thanks.