There are a number of USB dongles on the market that offer wireless access to Android Auto, but what’s included in the AADongle goes much deeper into the on-board system: the USB dongle is a Full Android which is projected on the vehicle screen to improve the functionality of the car. AADongle allows installation of “normal” Android apps, lets you watch Netflix and even play games.
The car screen isn’t there for watching TV or playing games (and you should never do it while driving), but things change when we park the vehicle: in those moments, a Netflix movie would be nice, for example. But no, Android Auto does not allow these features as standard; obstacles that the developers have learned to circumvent. We have a good example in AADongle, a project that has been on Indiegogo for a few months and promises to boost the Android Auto towers.
The closest thing to a full Android in the car
Android Auto offers a telephone extension adapted to the needs of the car, but it is not as complete as it should be: in addition to the obvious lack of a variety of applications, the fact of having to connect the telephone in itself hinders the experience. Android Automotive solves the second part since is fully integrated into the vehicle. Even so, it’s still not as full-featured as an Android of smartphone.
We could define AADongle as a Android smartphone on car display. In fact, it’s exactly like that: the USB is a small computer that runs Android 9 (this version is a bit old, one of the drawbacks of the accessory) projected directly onto the console of the car. Thus, it can be used for installing applications, for system management and for playing content. Without the limitations of Android Auto.
As an Android “mini PC”, the AADongle has processor, storage, RAM and other features, both hardware and software. It is not a very powerful device, but it expands the possibilities of the system, which makes Android to run standalone
To use the AADongle, you need a car compatible with Android Auto (the list of suitable vehicles can be found here). It is a more complete accessory than AAWireless or the Motorola MA1: in addition to functioning without cables, the projected android has no limits.
The AADongle has been on Indiegogo for a few months and there are still a few units left for sale (it will also be sold in the brand’s store). It is available in different versions depending on the hardware features included.
More information | indiegogo
