Carplay devices that add rooted Android to your screen. Digital gauges, On-X, Youtube etc..

[mark1031]

Im sure you've used Android Auto or Apple Carplay and its great and all but obviously not all our favorite apps run. If you didnt know there are devices out there you can buy that run a rooted (full access) Android OS which allows any app to be installed. Im interested in this for several reasons like real-time ODB port monitoring, music lyrics, youtube etc.. (when im not driving of course)

Most of these devices are not made by name brands and im my experience Ive had mixed results.

I have one called ApplePie Ultra / UX999Ultra Qualcomm662 Android 12 AI Box with 8GB+128GB - This one does not work in the Bronco. Ive tested it in a new F450 and it works fine but in my Badlands 12" it boots but wont take over the Ford screen. Stay away from this one! I was told to wait for a firmware update which I did and fixed nothing, now they wont return emails.

I also have the Carlinkit Android 11 Ai Box Plus for Original Car Wired Carplay to Wireless Carplay/AA, 4+64G Memory, 8-Core - This one works but I keep losing GPS signal when using google maps, on-x etc. You have to unplug the device and plug it back in to fix. Also no pinch and zoom in maps which is really annoying.

I had one of these but returned it. Binize Carplay Box GT0646NA - I liked this one alot as it had an HDMI port so I could install apps in my office not sitting in my Bronco. This one however would not stay connected to my ODB port scanner which was must so I returned it. Something about needing a dual bluetooth chip. It turned bluetooth off when not in use so I'd have to manually turn it on each time I wanted to the scanner. Its possible that this unit was a knockoff as I couldnt update the official firmware. Apparently there are lots of knockoffs. ugg.

Right now my Bronco is running 3.5.2 which updated 12/10. I dont have stretch screen yet, hoping that update fixes the Applepie.

UPDATE: 5/4/23 I ordered a different Binize box from Amazon. It says Android 9 but the new firmware on their support page updates it to Android 12. In Feb they posted a new firmware which works fine in my Bronco. The only annoying thing is fullscreen sometimes doesnt work so I have to first switch it to Android Auto and connect to my S21 to enable full screen, then swtich to Apple Carplay to toggle to the Binize box. So far this box has worked best for me. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09J8N3KLW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Curious what others have had experience with. Do you have working pinch and zoom in maps? Any GPS issues? I put a sim card in mine which is nice, always on.

This is Dash Command, fully customizeable you can make page after page of gauges.

Graphing gauges as well.

This is Torque, another ODB monitor. Lots of pages to flip through as well.

Lots of weather options

Of course what Bronco isnt complete without Tecmo Bowl running on an emulator. Bluetooth gamepads pair up nicely.

Using MusixMatch song lyrics will overlay either with its built in player or Youtube Music or Spotify. These are the 3 ive tested. Usually that grey box is full of lyrics but not so much for this particular lyric, a second later the Bronco went into power saving mode and shut everything down just to take a better photo lol

Obviously dont watch TV and drive but here Im using YouTubeTV so basically cabletv anywhere im at. Definitely NOT driving here!

Kodi, Netflix... even 3d games like crossy roads perform well.

Anyone else doing anything fun with these?

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[mark1031]

Well this sucks. I got the 3.5.3 update which enables wide screen and now the Carlinkit box not longer is "recognized" as a compatible USB device.

 

[BigMeatsBronco]

My new carlink t-box 11 works great...did you try booting several times? Mine goes into full stretch screen if I pair my android phone first in android auto and then select full screen, then switch back to the t-box and it reboots with new screen calibration resolution it does have the pi ch out issue but mine does pinch to zoom in.

 

[BigMeatsBronco]

Select here after full-screen AA is done

 

[BigMeatsBronco]

Full-screen is fantastic

 

[HeHateMe]

Full-screen is fantastic

Great share! Got a link to the particular one you purchased? See they range from $140 to $220 or so... Would like one that has been used in the Bronco with minimal issues. So, one like yours!

 

[BigMeatsBronco]

https://carlinkitcarplay.com/collections/ai-box/products/tbox-plus

 

[DumbAzzGuard]

Following

 

[Tricky Dick]

https://carlinkitcarplay.com/collections/ai-box/products/tbox-plus

Do you also have GPS issues like OP?

 

[BigMeatsBronco]

Do you also have GPS issues like OP?

No issues with the carlinkit GPS
...it follows the maps fast.

It does suffer from pinch zoom out...in works. But now I'm experimenting with forscan F150 12" "unreal" screen format on my 2drFE and it seems to work better so far.

Also added the full climate control tray to the bottom (f150). It looks real nice but I'm not sure I'll keep that part.

 

[mark1031]

Full-screen is fantastic

Hey thanks for the tip, got it working in stretch mode, soooo nice with all that real estate!!

No pinch and zoom which is a bummer since apps like On-X dont behave like google maps does where you tap once, then tap again but hold your finger and slide it up and down to zoom in/out.

The GPS drop is the dealbreaker though. Today I drove for an hour, lost gps twice and had to unplug it / plug it back in.

I tried the new Here We Go” app today which is a navigation competitor to waze and google maps. So far I really like it, AFTER I turned off the over speed alert. As 1 MPH over and it plays a tone.

 

[Mikejr66]

Received a Carlinkit TBox yesterday and am using it with Apple CarPlay. My Bronco has the full screen update but I am having issue getting the Tbox to work properly. The Tbox thinks it is in full screen but the Bronco pops up the right side panel when I switch to it. This creates the right side of the screen to be covered up. Any suggestions. Is this a firmware issue with the TBox?

 

[SillyPosition]

What’s the resolution of the 12” screen? Image quality looks so-so

also, does it work if you connect to any usb port? Where did you all hide the device? Armrest?

 

[mark1031]

Hiding is super easy, use a little stick on velco, theres a gap between the USB blue area and the bottom of the AC control area, fits snuggly there, the velco makes it secure. I bought a short L shaped USB cable so its pretty much invisible.

 

[SillyPosition]

Is it possible to use it with the other port in armrest or somehow require to glovebox?

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