Android Auto integration

[bbigras]

It would be great to support Android Auto. Especially for notifications.

I tried declaring android auto support in the manifest https://developer.android.com/training/cars/messaging#manifest-messaging but it didn't seem to work. I thought that with the notifications now using MessagingStyle we would get Android Auto support for free.

Maybe someone else could test.

was previously requested for riot-android as:
element-hq/riot-android#2811
element-hq/riot-android#698

[bmarty]

Don't text and drive :)

[fbruetting]

Don't text and drive :)

Serveral of the other popular messengers already provide Android Auto Support (Signal, Threema, Telegram, Conversations, WhatsApp, FB Messenger, Skype, Hangouts, Kik, WeChat, ICQ and even Cisco Webex).

[bessw]

Don't text and drive :)

Interaction happons through speechassistant.

Also this could give the app a little publicity, when searching in the android auto app for supported "Hands Free Communication" apps, there are at the moment only eight apps listed.

[bbigras]

Any interest in this? It's really really useful.

and all the cools kids at school (FB Messenger...) do it.

[BloodyIron]

I'd also like to point out Android Auto integration doesn't have to just be about texting, it can be about calls while driving (hands free, as in, actually safe). I think this would be a feature that would help general long-term adoption.

[bbigras]

Yes. It would be awesome to join a voice call (or video call without video) while driving. Businesses could like that.

[th0mcat]

For reference, Here is Signal's implementation of Android Auto integration. Here's another implementation from an XMPP client called "Conversations"

[foux]

Any news on this one? It's a huge missing point compared to the others, and the reason why my wife doesn't want to switch from WhatsApp to Matrix ;)

[bbigras]

I wonder if the new jetpack library could help with this:

https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2020/10/introducing-android-for-cars-app-library.html
https://developer.android.com/jetpack/androidx/releases/car-app#1.0.0-beta01

[bmarty]

Available in EA 1.3.2, see #4078 for more details

[th0mcat]

Just an FYI for anyone reading this closed issue: Here's how you can get Android Auto working on a dbg build:

· Enable Developer Mode in the Android Auto app. Settings > Tap the "Version and permission info tab" until Developer Mode is enabled.
· Allow Unknown sources. Setings > 3 button menu > Developer settings > Check "Unknown sources".

Very excited to have this working!

[JacobKochems]

Just an FYI for anyone reading this closed issue: Here's how you can get Android Auto working on a dbg build:

Hi @th0mcat,
since you spoke about the debug build and it has been quite some time I was wondering if one still needs a debug build for this to work or if it's a released feature now.
I'm asking because I tried it as you described with release version 1.6.3 and wasn't able to get a notification by Android Auto.
When I google this feature the only meaningful result I get is this thread.

[BloodyIron]

@bmarty can we get this re-opened please? I can't really see evidence this is mainlined.

[th0mcat]

@JacobKochems @BloodyIron I've had Android Auto notifications working no problem in my CR-V for the past 2 years on various Google Pixels. If you are using a dbg build of Element/SchildiChat, you have to go into your Android Auto settings, Enable Developer options (scroll to the bottom and tap on "Version and permission info" until you get the toast that Developer mode has been enabled), and enable Unknown sources (tap the three dot menu, Developer Settings, scroll down).

If you're using a normal build from Google Play Store/F-Droid, it should just work by default.

[BloodyIron]

@th0mcat thanks for the insights! :)

[bessw]

I think only receiving messages and answering to them via speech assistant works.
Sending messages via speech assistant doesn't.