CarPlay AI Box - "Android headunit" dongle?

[markinhosmrk]

Hi all!

I looked on the forums here and couldn't find anything about it... have you seen this CarPlay AI Box thing?

Seems like similar hardware as the Android headunits but on a dongle and then you connect it through USB and it streams via CarPlay. I think it's interesting for folks like me with a traditional headunit with Android Auto/CarPlay to have full access to Android.

Does anyone knows about it? I guess we could have the same options as the headunits such as custom firmwares or maybe figuring out what software does that CarPlay integration and use it from an Android phone - getting full Android access...

A link of it from AliExpress:
https://m.pt.aliexpress.com/item/10...937bf1b8eb274cfe0e0f.jpg_640x640Q90.jpg_.webp

Thanks!

 

[marchnz]

Hi all!

I looked on the forums here and couldn't find anything about it... have you seen this CarPlay AI Box thing?

Seems like similar hardware as the Android headunits but on a dongle and then you connect it through USB and it streams via CarPlay. I think it's interesting for folks like me with a traditional headunit with Android Auto/CarPlay to have full access to Android.

Does anyone knows about it? I guess we could have the same options as the headunits such as custom firmwares or maybe figuring out what software does that CarPlay integration and use it from an Android phone - getting full Android access...

A link of it from AliExpress:
https://m.pt.aliexpress.com/item/10...937bf1b8eb274cfe0e0f.jpg_640x640Q90.jpg_.webp

Thanks!

Expect it to be unfinished, unreliable, 'buggy as' and unsupported.

 

[edris90]

I have been looking at this as well. I'm going to order one as soon as my wife will let me probably a month or two from now.

To my knowledge nobody else seems to be utilizing car play as a generic display output with touch screen support.

I can't wait to get a hold of one of these and dump the firmware, if we can replicate how they interface, perhaps we can replicate it In software.

Imagine Apple car play as a primary display, as an installable magisk module.
That would solve the issues of Android crippling secondary displays for DRM. It would also hola many car units to be repurposed closer to their users need. But also help to minimize e-waste and unnecessary wasteful economic activity. Too much hardware goes to landfills because of lack of standardized interfaces for DIY upgrades.


so long as no money is being made it's all good. Intellectual property is an artifact of commerce,
It has no ethical relevance in non-commercial endeavors

 

[markinhosmrk]

I have been looking at this as well. I'm going to order one as soon as my wife will let me probably a month or two from now.

To my knowledge nobody else seems to be utilizing car play as a generic display output with touch screen support.

I can't wait to get a hold of one of these and dump the firmware, if we can replicate how they interface, perhaps we can replicate it In software.

Imagine Apple car play as a primary display, as an installable magisk module.
That would solve the issues of Android crippling secondary displays for DRM. It would also hola many car units to be repurposed closer to their users need. But also help to minimize e-waste and unnecessary wasteful economic activity. Too much hardware goes to landfills because of lack of standardized interfaces for DIY upgrades.


so long as no money is being made it's all good. Intellectual property is an artifact of commerce,
It has no ethical relevance in non-commercial endeavors

That's what got me intrigued, how they manage to output to CarPlay! If it's purely software based then it might be ported.
I will try to get one of those to play around!

 

[hzr34]

I have a idea for this little box. If I get or I figured out how to mimic ios for convince car head unit . I will install or creat mode for any android phone we had same configuration in our car low price.

 

[stevenkoh08]

Hope to see further developments of this Carplay AI

It solve the android HU poor sound quality and yet have fantastic experience of Android

 

[stevenkoh08]

Now this only runs on Android 7.

 

[hzr34]

I think i find the solution which I guess this ai box using same method. Here is the think. Install android on raspberry pi and using usb c power port for triger car android auto system and run screen2auto app and viola here is own android tablet on your car android auto system.

 

[Al_Mel]

did anyone figure out how to install a custom firmware on this Android Box. I am looking to connect a Bluetooth OBD dongle to this, but don't think the stock firmware allows anything other than Phone connection via Bluetooth.

 

[Paol89]

Hi, could you share the firmware?
I try to install on Raspberry

 

[Al_Mel]

Hi, could you share the firmware?
I try to install on Raspberry

well sure can, if someone can guide me how to dump the firmware from the device?

it seems they have the Bluetooth hardware disabled for some reason, cant enables it in settings, that also mean cant connect to my OBDii adapter, that's a bummer!

 

[perfektny]

Hi I have this version of AI box
https://www.alibaba.com/product-det...a2756.order-detail-ta-ta-b.0.0.5abb2fc2wCcoEN


There is also rebranded version from Joyeauto with 4GB RAM, generally it is the same product:
https://www.joyeauto.com/mmb-multim...-for-the-cars-with-oem-factory-apple-carplay/

Joyeauto provides also download section for this device, where is a new ROM:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/oyjsw7s4q6dmvrm/AADy_yP8FC3JqnIrgjZrK-Gea?dl=0

Is there anybody who can make custom rooted firmware?

Btw. It can be plugged to any Android phone/ tablet via Carlinkit Wried CarPlay Smart Link Dongle for Android https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33038683679.html

It works like in the car, it is good for playing with and installing in home.

Bluetooth is blocked only for phone connection. I plugged cheap BT dongle to the USB port of the AI box and now I can connect anything including of OBD2.

What is annoying is autohiding on-screen navigation panel. It would be better make the always visible navigation bar and all apks opening resized in the rest of the screen.

Generally it is pretty interesting and good working device.

 

[Al_Mel]

Hi I have this version of AI box
https://www.alibaba.com/product-det...a2756.order-detail-ta-ta-b.0.0.5abb2fc2wCcoEN


There is also rebranded version from Joyeauto with 4GB RAM, generally it is the same product:
https://www.joyeauto.com/mmb-multim...-for-the-cars-with-oem-factory-apple-carplay/

Joyeauto provides also download section for this device, where is a new ROM:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/oyjsw7s4q6dmvrm/AADy_yP8FC3JqnIrgjZrK-Gea?dl=0

Is there anybody who can make custom rooted firmware?

Btw. It can be plugged to any Android phone/ tablet via Carlinkit Wried CarPlay Smart Link Dongle for Android https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33038683679.html

It works like in the car, it is good for playing with and installing in home.

Bluetooth is blocked only for phone connection. I plugged cheap BT dongle to the USB port of the AI box and now I can connect anything including of OBD2.

What is annoying is autohiding on-screen navigation panel. It would be better make the always visible navigation bar and all apks opening resized in the rest of the screen.

Generally it is pretty interesting and good working device.

Hi! Which Bluetooth dongle did you buy/install?

did you had to install any other software to use the bt dongle? Or just plug it in and turn on Bluetooth on setting menu?

thanks!

 

[perfektny]

Hi! Which Bluetooth dongle did you buy/install?

did you had to install any other software to use the bt dongle? Or just plug it in and turn on Bluetooth on setting menu?

thanks!

I tried 3 different what I found at home and all work fine. No need to install any software or driver. These work: Gembird BTD-MINI5, Trust Bluetooth USB 4.0 Adapter , ASUS USB-BT400 . But I think you can try any.

One more thing: you need to access full settings to pair Bluetooth, I installed ADW launcher and there is access to all settings.

ADW Launcher 2 – Apps on Google Play

ADW Launcher 2, beyond tweaking your android desktop

play.google.com

ADW launcher would be fine set like default one. But they packed the factory launcher also with phone application, so you need to start both launchers. Then the Home button is launching factory launcher so it is better to use only the factory one. This would be solved by custom rom.

 

[Al_Mel]

I tried 3 different what I found at home and all work fine. No need to install any software or driver. These work: Gembird BTD-MINI5, Trust Bluetooth USB 4.0 Adapter , ASUS USB-BT400 . But I think you can try any.

One more thing: you need to access full settings to pair Bluetooth, I installed ADW launcher and there is access to all settings.

ADW Launcher 2 – Apps on Google Play

ADW Launcher 2, beyond tweaking your android desktop

play.google.com

View attachment 5191769

Thanks, I have ordered 2 seperate type of Bluetooth dongle. Will try later tonight.

just confirming you been able to connect a external devise (not your phone or a speaker/audio device) via Bluetooth? Where did you go in system setting to search for the Bluetooth devices?

 

[perfektny]

Thanks, I have ordered 2 seperate type of Bluetooth dongle. Will try later tonight.

just confirming you been able to connect a external devise (not your phone or a speaker/audio device) via Bluetooth? Where did you go in system setting to search for the Bluetooth devices?

Hi, I connected OBD2, also I tried to connect phone to this dongle, it works only for sound playing from the phone. Phone must be connected to the native BT for dialing and calling. You can use both BTs, native and dongle same time. Full android setting console is accessible when you run ADW launcher - there is a Setting icon among apks. Good luck with dongles.

 

[Al_Mel]

Just received the BT dongle ($10 cheap ones). And it works perfectly fine!

thanks for all the help!

hopefully someone can make a customFirmware for this now. Also noticed the device already got Root access.

 

[Paol89]

Hi I have this version of AI box
https://www.alibaba.com/product-det...a2756.order-detail-ta-ta-b.0.0.5abb2fc2wCcoEN


There is also rebranded version from Joyeauto with 4GB RAM, generally it is the same product:
https://www.joyeauto.com/mmb-multim...-for-the-cars-with-oem-factory-apple-carplay/

Joyeauto provides also download section for this device, where is a new ROM:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/oyjsw7s4q6dmvrm/AADy_yP8FC3JqnIrgjZrK-Gea?dl=0

Is there anybody who can make custom rooted firmware?

Btw. It can be plugged to any Android phone/ tablet via Carlinkit Wried CarPlay Smart Link Dongle for Android https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33038683679.html

It works like in the car, it is good for playing with and installing in home.

Bluetooth is blocked only for phone connection. I plugged cheap BT dongle to the USB port of the AI box and now I can connect anything including of OBD2.

What is annoying is autohiding on-screen navigation panel. It would be better make the always visible navigation bar and all apks opening resized in the rest of the screen.

Generally it is pretty interesting and good working device.

Hi, i try to flash on ad card the files but i have an Issue of partitino table.
how can I solve this problem?

 

[videojo]

Hi, i try to flash on ad card the files but i have an Issue of partitino table.
how can I solve this problem?

this store :

https://de.aliexpress.com/item/1005001666879123.html?spm=a2g0x.12010612.8148356.10.49748857IIu65e

is oem factory of this ai box ,
he has a firmware full recovery.img , inside of this box is a recovery flash button
for flash with allwinner h6 tool
i have order liitle brother box cp-21 ,from audisource factory( mmb wireless carplay + adapter
same chipset) ,flashtool works with full rom img
I asked for a firmware update
and get the update.zip with flashtool and the recovery.img as a link
my box:

https://de.aliexpress.com/item/1005001682547542.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.6845430cXz9VeG&algo_pvid=21045ab5-e788-49e9-804c-2cba0dc3410c&algo_expid=21045ab5-e788-49e9-804c-2cba0dc3410c-1&btsid=2100bdec16117849287626269e91d6&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_,searchweb201603_

 

[aliosa27]

ive extracted most of the important bits over here
aliosa27/linux_carplay_dongle_reverseeng: Reverse engineering efforts for the cp-xxxx android->carplay boxes (github.com)

 

[aliosa27]

@videojo do you have the update for thje cp-21? I have that box as well as the 4g/32 box.