I am attempting to use tasker to create a profile for the AP to make life easier on me. The main culprit is the keyboard, I don't want to have to use Pioneers keyboard at all. So setting the phone to go back to my normal settings after I leave the vehicle is a good start. Anyone else tried using Tasker to help improve the Appradio experience.

Here's my setup so far:

Profile: Appradio - Bluetooth connected, address (deck conection)

Task: Docked:

1 Stay on - Mode (with AC or usb power)

2 Keyguard - set off

3 Auto Brightness - set off

4 Display brightness - level 0

5 Flash - text (Appradio on)

6 Rotation Locker - Configuration state landscape

7 Input Method Select (pops up a window to select Carradio or Swift-X keyboard)

Exit task: Undocked

1 Music Stop - Off

2 Keyguard - set on

3 Flash - test (Appradio off)

4 Auto Brightness - set on

5 Rotation Locker - Configuration state auto

6 Input Method Select (pops up a window to select Carradio or Swift-X keyboard)

It forces the phone to stay in landscape and stay on while connected. When I realized that modifying the brightness doesn't affect the mirror, I turn off the brightness altogether to save battery power. I still have to manually select the keyboard by pressing one button, but if I was willing to root my phone I could even remove that step and make it fully automatic. When I unplug the phone the music stops and everything goes back to normal.

Nice!

I've done most of the same as what you've done, except I can't set my screen brightness to 0 since my phone ignores that. I've also had it auto select my keyboard using the secure settings plugin so I have carkeyboard when plugged in, and it switches back to SwiftkeyX when I'm done. I also have AppRadio as a launch condition, so if the app isn't running it won't launch the task.

Nice!

 

I've done most of the same as what you've done, except I can't set my screen brightness to 0 since my phone ignores that. I've also had it auto select my keyboard using the secure settings plugin so I have carkeyboard when plugged in, and it switches back to SwiftkeyX when I'm done. I also have AppRadio as a launch condition, so if the app isn't running it won't launch the task.

Does the secure setting plugin require root? I saw a keyboard swap plugin but it doesn't work without root.

I have to try the appradio being the launch condition, Sometimes bluetooth isn't connecting automatically for me.

Yup, it requires root. Android has made it so that you can't switch keyboards without either user interaction or root. Same thing with activating the built in GPS on the device (although there is no need to with the deck supplying the GPS signal).

Yup, it requires root. Android has made it so that you can't switch keyboards without either user interaction or root. Same thing with activating the built in GPS on the device (although there is no need to with the deck supplying the GPS signal).

I just rooted my Nexus, seeing if I can set up the keyboards...

Set up the task to run off the app starting. One thing I noticed is that every time I pressed the home button on the deck it reran the task. I wouldn't normally have been able to notice but since I added the text box saying "appradio on" I saw it every time. There was no Bluetooth issues running it this way.

Bonus the keyboard flipped without any intervention on my part. When I unplugged it went back. Awesome!

I truly believe no Android phone is complete without root access. lol

I'm still working on the Bluetooth bug. I wish there was a way to have Tasker automatically click the OK button when it pops up the dialog asking me to confirm the code the deck sends to my phone every time it starts up.

That's weird, I don't get anything like that...

Once in a while the Bluetooth doesn't automatically connect. I just turn off Bluetooth and restart it. But most times it just works.

I think it's a bug with the specific ROM I'm running, but I haven't become motivated enough to change to a different ROM yet to test it. lol

I tried to have the task turn on and off Bluetooth when I was in the truck. It was a disaster. Every time I pressed the home button it would turn off the Bluetooth and lose contact with the phone. So that's out, at least as long as I have the task running off the app itself.

I know its only a matter of finding the right combination of tasks to find the sweet spot.

I'm running in to some glitches as well. Gonna have to figure something else out. It's too bad the phone doesn't automatically assume it's docked when I'm using an MHL adapter.

yah, the best one so far has been connect to usb. As I never plug the phone into a computer, and it recognises a charger differently, it's been working pretty good, The auto switching keyboard is working fantastic.

Awesome tip on keyboard switching...never thought of that....

If your root, I highly suggest an app called Root Dim along with the 3rd party plugin for tasker called open shortcut. Root dim allows you to drop your phone well below the factory "0" brightness. The factory wont let u dim past a ""safe" spot so you don't lock yourself out of the phone. Root dim installs shortcuts for up to 5 presets. Use tasker with open shortcut to auto dim your screen as dark as possible. I'm on a GN so not sure if backlit devices have a way of just killing the backlight all together but for now...Rootdim has been the best solution for me to tackle the annoying double screen.

I tried that app on the Skyrocket and unfortunately there seems to be a kernel lock on the screen's brightness. Set on 1 the screen is still quite bright.

What really needs to happen here is Google needs to make it so that the screen can be turned off while using HDMI output.

What really needs to happen here is Google needs to make it so that the screen can be turned off while using HDMI output.

Yup, just like on a laptop. It would be the perfect solution to save precious battery life. Until then we can get pretty close with tasker.

I'll give root dim a try, With my setting at 0 right now its not bad but I can still see everything just fine. I would like to drop quite a bit further then that. Just bright enough to be able to see the screen should I run into trouble so I can select my abort short cut. I figured I better have one on the screen with all my playing, sometime I get funny results, and need an easy way to reset the phone.

I have added a few more lines that kill all the pioneer apps when I disconnect the phone. Right now the last app I was using stays running on the phone. That way no matter what apps I have used the phone goes back to stock

I've done this as well, but for some reason I can't get Tasker to force the appradio app to close.

Task kill app, select app, Click on "use root" save....

works for me.

Doesn't work for me. It's the only app I've ever seen Tasker have trouble with.

I think there's a collision going on so Tasker is cancelling the task. I just have to address that.

I'm also going to go the NFC route to make things simple. Throw the phone into the dock with an NFC tag on it and have NFC Task Launcher launch a Tasker task to start up the AppRadio software and activate Bluetooth.

I've been wanting to get some nfc tags myself to play with. One of the difficult parts is trying to find stable ways to start and keep tasks running.

Hi All,

Picked up the App Radio 2 a couple of weeks ago and am loving it - especially love dashcommand - connected via bluetooth to an ODBII adaptor - looks great in the dash (Alfa Romeo Spider 2008).

I have an HTC sensation running the Revolution 6.6.7 rom. So far, the only Tasker profile I have tried is to switch between the 2 keyboards. I have set up a profile that switches the keyboard (using the Keyboard Swap plugin - root only) when the device connects to the appradio bluetooth profile, works perfectly.

What I really want though is for the screen to unlock as well when the phone connects to the appradio bluetooth. I tried using an app called BlueUnlock - which does unlock the screen - but when I open the Apps section on the appradio - a message is displayed saying something like 'You must unlock the phone if the AppRadio application is already running'. I can't remember the exact words and I am not near my car at the mo. The phone is unlocked already and screen is on, if I press ignore the screen shows the appradio app but when I try to select an app - i get the annoying finger in the corner with red cross.

Any idea's would be really appreciated - basically I want to get in my car, connect my phone to the HDMI cable, start the car and drive. So I need tasker to switch the keyboard, turn on the screen and unlock - and for the appradio app to work without any messing about on the phone...

Thanks in advance and if anyone has any questions about my setup feel free to ask.

Ali

Hi All,

 

Picked up the App Radio 2 a couple of weeks ago and am loving it - especially love dashcommand - connected via bluetooth to an ODBII adaptor - looks great in the dash (Alfa Romeo Spider 2008).

 

I have an HTC sensation running the Revolution 6.6.7 rom. So far, the only Tasker profile I have tried is to switch between the 2 keyboards. I have set up a profile that switches the keyboard (using the Keyboard Swap plugin - root only) when the device connects to the appradio bluetooth profile, works perfectly.

 

What I really want though is for the screen to unlock as well when the phone connects to the appradio bluetooth. I tried using an app called BlueUnlock - which does unlock the screen - but when I open the Apps section on the appradio - a message is displayed saying something like 'You must unlock the phone if the AppRadio application is already running'. I can't remember the exact words and I am not near my car at the mo. The phone is unlocked already and screen is on, if I press ignore the screen shows the appradio app but when I try to select an app - i get the annoying finger in the corner with red cross.

 

Any idea's would be really appreciated - basically I want to get in my car, connect my phone to the HDMI cable, start the car and drive. So I need tasker to switch the keyboard, turn on the screen and unlock - and for the appradio app to work without any messing about on the phone...

 

Thanks in advance and if anyone has any questions about my setup feel free to ask.

 

Ali

I am close to having that with tasker. I am using the tasker command "Keyguard = off", then I run "Stay on = with USB or AC".and it works fine in keeping the phone from going to sleep or making me unlock the phone. I feel that my set up is 90% there, but I am just trying to wiggle that last 10% out of the set up.

I am hoping that I'll be able to use torque soon with my ap2. Fantastic obd2 app and at 5 bucks its way cheaper then dash command.

Profile: Appradio - Bluetooth connected, address (deck connection)

or I use USB connected, . I play with both just to see which is more reliable until I can get some NFC tags...

Task: Docked:

1 Bluetooth = on

2 Stay on - Mode (with AC or usb power)

3 Auto Brightness - set off

4 Display brightness - level 0

5 Wifi= off

6 Keyguard - set off

7 Rotation Locker - Configuration state landscape

8 Secure Settings = Configuration (Input method/CarKeyboard)

9 Flash - text (Appradio on)

Exit task: Undocked

1 Kill App = App Appradio (use Root)

2 Kill App = App Carmediaplayer (use root)

3 Kill App = App aupeo (use root)

4 Kill App = App waze (use root)

5 Music Stop - Off

6 Keyguard - set on

7 Auto Brightness - set on

8 Rotation Locker - Configuration state auto

9 Secure Settings = Configuration (Input Method/Swiftkey 3 beta)

10 Flash - text (Appradio off)

My goal in all this is I want the phone to handle everything with zero user input when I connect with the radio, and I don't want to see any after effects of using the deck when I leave. I am still not quite there. The apps do close but not 100% of the time. I think I might need some delay time between the app commands. Once in a blue moon the Bluetooth doesn't auto connect to start the whole process. But I think its more to how I plug it in then the phone itself. I have been waiting until the deck says connect the phone and then docking it and its been fine.

I agree, much nicer price - big fan of Torque but decided to get dash command when I got the AppRadio - if/when torque starts working with AppRadio I might switch back, DashCommand isn't as responsive as Torque and seems a bit rougher around the edges - does the job though and looks pretty awesome. I did read somewhere that Torque was being modified to work with the AppRadio - although I am hoping there will be full Android control sometime in the near future.

Will try out your tasker profiles later and let you know how I get on. Which version of Android are you using?

A few people have asked the Torque dev about it and he seems game but doesn't know how to go about it. I even emailed Pioneer about how to go about it and never heard a reply back. No idea if I was emailing the right people but some sort of response would have been nice. Right now I think Pioneer is going to the app devs themselves.

Gnex Stock 4.0.4 rooted and unlocked. (I wasn't planning on rooting but there were just too many things that required root to work with tasker, so what the heck)