General [Review] Joying PX5 2GB+32GB on Android version 8.0.0 (FYT unit)

[surfer63]

Joying got in contact with me and asked me if I would wanted to test one of their new PX5 2GB models on Android version 8.
I decided that I wanted to do so, so I received for some 28 euros a Joying JY-VO130P2.

So what is it:
8" screen 2DIN unit for VW/Skoda/Seat/Audi
ARM Cortex based ARM V8, 1 processor 8 A53 cores (4 running at 1.5 GHz, 4 "low energy" running at 1.2 GHz)
FYT based SOM
2GB internal memory (RAM)
32GB storage (ROM)
Android version 8.0.0
particularities: DVD-player

I made a video review of it which you can find here:https://youtu.be/MH1snfDIU5A

The Good:

• seems minimally faster than the Sofia 3GR
• FYT/syu software the same as on Sofia 3GR.
• Android 8.0.0, longer support
• Android 8 supports split-screen functionality out of the box.
• Improved radio reception (but needs to be tested over longer period)
• Improved sound quality (I think, but I forgot to mention in the review)

The bad:

• Too high temperatures of the cpu
• No user configuration of buttons
• FYT/syu software the same as on Sofia 3GR (I mean that some "weird" things are still there on the PX5 as well)
• FYT/syu applications (radio, bt, music player, etc.) do not support split screen (and it is so simple to enable this)
• No Android 8 Automotive integration
• Chinese translations could be improved using on-line tooling like weblate.org or crowdin.com (or others) by using the user community.

The really bad:

• Too high temperatures of the cpu. It really needs better cooling.

Update Sun 13 May 2018:
There is indeed an issue with the WiFi on this new Version 8.0.0 model. I already mentioned in my video review that it did not auto-connect to my WiFi networks.
- When fully rebooting the unit, it connects automatically to my home WiFi. No issue at all.
- When coming from deep-sleep, WiFi is either switched off ór WiFi is still on, but it doesn't connect automatically to my WiFi networks.
See update Fri 18 May

And maybe some explanation: I mentioned in the review that it is very simple to alter the AndroidManifest.xml to allow resizing the app and make it function in split-screen. So why didn't I do that myself?
The Joying apps are signed. Some parts can be easily changed without touching the signing, but the AndroidManifest.xml is part of that signing as it also contains the security options the application needs. Off course I do not have the Joying signature so I can't recompile the app with the same signature while the AndroidManifest.xml is obviously changed. That is exactly how it should work or any hacker could get access.
FYT/syu should change this.

Update Mon 14 May:
There used to be a bug in the older ROMs that where you gave the BT access to your contacts, it would erase all your contacts.
Well, 8.0 also erases all your contacts!
This issue annoys me highly as it is so old and it still isn't solved.

Update Tue 15 May:
The Google Assistant with spoken searches does not work.
When trying to use the voice search function (clicking the microphone in the search bar), It shows very shortly the 'Speak now' indicator before it turns into an error message that mentions "No internet connection". I checked very carefully and my internet connection is fine. I tried with 2 home WiFi networks and via hot-spot on my phone. All internet connections work fine, but Google search still gives this error message.

Update Fri 18 May:
See post #44

Update Wed 23 May (test of Android auto):
See post #54

Update Sunday 10 June:
See post #77
- OK Google solved.

Update Tuesday 12 June:
Some update about the BT app erasing your Google contacts: Joying is now working full steam on it. Another user made a nice video on youtube about it

 

[realzoulou]

Thanks a lot for your great review video!
Huh, 17 minutes... but it's definitely worth watching it fully till the end.

You spent a huge amount of effort and Joying still took 28 EUR from you? They should be ashamed!

So, the Joying Intel Sofia users (like me) will loose your support now? You state at the end of the video that you plan to continue using it in your car.

 

[etrefal]

Interesting review, it addresses many of the questions I had regarding the new Joying PX5 units. Thanks!

Now as @realzoulou mentions above, I hope we won't lose you on the SOFiA platform! Your work on JET and on XSofiaTweaker is central to the success of those units.

 

[surfer63]

I spend a day thinking whether I wanted to spend that money, because I really didn't. Finally I did agree because I thought: "then I have a spare unit for 28 euros".

Like I mentioned: the user layer software (the apks) is the same on the Sofia and the PX5. I already decompiled it in both apktool and jadx.
I can continue the XSofiaTweaker the same way for the PX5 as for the Sofia. Same for the JET apk with some small internal changes (if Sofia then, else ..)
I already made a nokill main server (=sofia server on Sofia) using the exact same steps as on the Sofia (and as explained by @realzoulou) and I replaced the radio mod.

Android 8 for this device is that new that there is no firmware to download yet.
I don't think rooting is a problem, but I'm not going to do/try that without firmware that allows me to reflash. Same for Xposed.
I will program the option to user-select the delay time for double/triple tap today (for Sofia), or at least early next week. However, I think XSofiaTweaker is now almost ready.
I think no new developments will come out for Android 6, so no further developments are necessary either for JET. Mods can easily be added as I simply upload them and use an xml to configure installation. Upload it, add a line to the xml, simply recompile: done.

I like to tinker, but I'm also a simple user that doesn't need that much. Especially when (or more probably: if) Joying/FYT/syu will make more hardware buttons and steering wheel buttons user configurable, there is even less need for special apps. (And I think I forgot to mention that GPS speed indication is correct on this units, but that should actually not be necessary to mention: it should simply work)

I just read on this forum Yesterday that on the standard Joying when you press the Navi button, the assigned (Navi) app will be started. If you press the button again, the previous app will be brought to front. Pressing it again the Navi app will be brought to front again. Etcetera. I did not even know that, but it is very handy. Of course that no longer works in the XSofiaTweaker (or in Gustdens mods).

Only that little overheating barbecue inside is worrying me.

 

[RoNeReR]

https://www.joyingauto.eu/blog/category/update-firmware/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXQ4tsXO0Y0
@surfer63 what do u think? it will fit?

 

[surfer63]

https://www.joyingauto.eu/blog/category/update-firmware/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXQ4tsXO0Y0
@surfer63 what do u think? it will fit?

No it is not suitable. The 2GB-RAM/16GB-ROM and 4GB-RAM/32GB-ROM models are NOT FYT based and NOT compatible with the 2GB-RAM/32GB-ROM models.
The version I have is a FYT based 2GB-RAM/32GB-ROM version. There is no Android version 8 firmware for it yet.

 

[surfer63]

Update Sun 13 May 2018

There is indeed an issue with the WiFi on this new Version 8.0.0 model. I already mentioned in my video review that it did not auto-connect to my WiFi networks.
- When fully rebooting the unit, it connects automatically to my home WiFi. No issue at all.
- When coming from deep-sleep, WiFi is either switched off ór WiFi is still on, but it doesn't connect automatically to my WiFi networks.

And maybe some explanation: I mentioned in the review that it is very simple to alter the AndroidManifest.xml to allow resizing the app and make it function in split-screen. So why didn't I do that myself?
The Joying apps are signed. Some parts can be easily changed without touching the signing, but the AndroidManifest.xml is part of that signing as it also contains the security options the application needs. Off course I do not have the Joying signature so I can't recompile the app with the same signature while the AndroidManifest.xml is obviously changed. That is exactly how it should work or any hacker could get access.
FYT/syu should change this.

(also added to first post)

 

[gtxaspec]

There's a 4gb version now on the joying website that is FYT based...

Probably will pick one of these up as a spare, at least the SoM, if anything to test or generate a rom, and get Xposed working on this!

Once root is ahcieved, the manifests can be changed, the program only needs to be granted root, and it'll work fine.

Questions:

Did you look at the clock speed? Is it variable? What governor is used?

What is the three lines present in the system bar do?

Did you open the unit? Haven't found any photos of the interior of the new units yet.

 

[carter.w.jason]

What is the three lines present in the system bar do?

Should be just the Menu icon, 3 dots.

---------- Post added at 02:58 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:57 AM ----------

Testing Unit on Standby!

My PX5 is just sitting here, doing nothing. Will help test anything.

 

[gtxaspec]

Should be just the Menu icon, 3 dots.

---------- Post added at 02:58 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:57 AM ----------

Testing Unit on Standby!

My PX5 is just sitting here, doing nothing. Will help test anything.

You have the fyt model right?

 

[carter.w.jason]

You have the fyt model right?

Correct

 

[gtxaspec]

Correct

Are you able to get us some pictures of the internals?

 

[carter.w.jason]

@gtxaspec

 

[gtxaspec]

Nice looks like a drop in replacement for the 6021...

---------- Post added at 05:51 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:14 AM ----------

Should be just the Menu icon, 3 dots.

---------- Post added at 02:58 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:57 AM ----------

Testing Unit on Standby!

My PX5 is just sitting here, doing nothing. Will help test anything.

You have the 6.0 os installed? Want to try a custom ROM ( if I can figure it out). You can reflash stock if needed.

 

[carter.w.jason]

Nice looks like a drop in replacement for the 6021...

---------- Post added at 05:51 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:14 AM ----------




You have the 6.0 os installed? Want to try a custom ROM ( if I can figure it out). You can reflash stock if needed.

Yes, should be 6.0, what ever is stock. I'm down to try a custom ROM. I've felt like this is the better unit, if it could be tamed.

 

[surfer63]

Update Mon 14 May

There used to be a bug in the older ROMs that where you gave the BT access to your contacts, it would erase all your contacts.
Well, 8.0 also erases all your contacts!
This issue annoys me highly as it is so old and it still isn't solved.

 

[gtxaspec]

There used to be a bug in the older ROMs that where you gave the BT access to your contacts, it would erase all your contacts.
Well, 8.0 also erases all your contacts!
This issue annoys me highly as it is so old and it still isn't solved.

That's a bug in the SYU dialer app, it never went away. The solution is to use Xposed app settings to deny contacts write permissions. Ouch.

 

[surfer63]

Did you look at the clock speed? Is it variable? What governor is used?

Overlooked this one. Will check tonight. It is variable from 216 MHz to 1.51GHz, but I will look at the specifics tonight.

 

[Zeze21]

Update Mon 14 May:
There used to be a bug in the older ROMs that where you gave the BT access to your contacts, it would erase all your contacts.
Well, 8.0 also erases all your contacts!
This issue annoys me highly as it is so old and it still isn't solved.

I have this bug on the 7.0 Android as well - this annoys the **** out of me!

 

[surfer63]

I have this bug on the 7.0 Android as well - this annoys the **** out of me!

I reported this bug immediately to Joying, like I did last year and like other users did as well: users from the XDA forum as well as the previous carjoying forum.
Joying reacted really surprised on my mail.
That surprised me again a lot (with some other emotions as well).