AndroidAuto_TextApp

An Android Auto app made to display Text messages on the Android Auto screen in car. Different text formatting, Selectable lists, loading demo, Toast notifications are also demonstrated.

App Preview

Steps to setup

• Activate developer mode in your phone.
  • Settings -> About phone -> Tap 7 times on Build number.
• Activate developer mode in your phone.
  • Apps and notifications -> Android Auto ->Additional settings in the app -> Tap multiple times on the version number.
• Start head unit server.
  • On the same screen like the previous step, click on the three vertical dots on the left and select start head unit server.

Project setup

• Create new activity
  • Automotive section -> No activity
• Make sure you have Android Auto Desktop Head Unit Emulator and Android SDK platform tools.
  • Settings ->Appearance & Behavior ->Android SDK
• In the build.gradle(Module level) - add compile options and dependencies.

compileOptions{
        targetCompatibility = JavaVersion.VERSION_1_8
        sourceCompatibility = JavaVersion.VERSION_1_8
    }

dependencies {
    implementation "androidx.car.app:app:1.0.0"
    ......
    ......
}

• Add Info about the service and meta data in the AndroidManifest.xml file

<meta-data
            android:name="com.google.android.gms.car.application"
            android:resource="@xml/automotive_app_desc"/>
        <service android:name="HelloWorldService"
            android:exported="true">
            <intent-filter>
                <action android:name="androidx.car.app.CarAppService" />
            </intent-filter>
        </service>

• Create the new xml file and class suggested by the IDE.
• In the HelloWorldService.java, extend CarAppService and implement the methods.
• onCreateSession() is the entry point of our application.
• A new HelloWorldScreen.java file is created which extends Screen and this is where we will write the code for displaying content on our screen.
• Implement the onGetTemplate() method and write your app content here.

Steps to run to application

• Change the Launch Options
  • Since this is more of a service, we don't want Android Studio to launch the application. Run -> Edit Configuration -> Launch Options -> Nothing.
• Run the application.
• Start the Desktop Head Unit
  • Upon successful build, Open command prompt
  • Forward data to a specific port using adb port forwarding
  • Run the Desktop head unit file

C:\Users\Naviate to platform-tools in Sdk\adb forward tcp:5277 tcp:5277
C:\Users\Naviate to Android Sdk\extras\google\auto\desktop-head-unit.exe

Reference Link

Developer Document