Google Android catch-all

Don't look at me.

Fedaykin98 wrote:

...but I have had it randomly switch from Spotify to Amazon Music several times. I uninstalled Amazon Music and it hasn't switched to anything else.

Same issue. Swapping from Pocket Casts or Play Music to Amazon. Uninstalled Amazon Music an no more issues.

But I still don't want Maps up on my screen by default all the time! I don't need directions for my commute, thanks.

Amazon Music seems to be the common denominator; I've also had it randomly switch to that from Pocketcasts or YouTube Music.

Unfortunately it's what I have the lion's share of my personal music collection on so uninstalling it isn't a good solution for me. Here's hoping they fix whatever the bug is.

Also, has anyone had a thing where they have to physically unplug and replug their USB cable like 20x before it recognizes that your phone is connected? Once it connects it's fine for the rest of the trip, but for some reason it takes a bunch of retries before it connects that first time.

hbi2k wrote:

Amazon Music seems to be the common denominator; I've also had it randomly switch to that from Pocketcasts or YouTube Music.

Unfortunately it's what I have the lion's share of my personal music collection on so uninstalling it isn't a good solution for me. Here's hoping they fix whatever the bug is.

Also, has anyone had a thing where they have to physically unplug and replug their USB cable like 20x before it recognizes that your phone is connected? Once it connects it's fine for the rest of the trip, but for some reason it takes a bunch of retries before it connects that first time.

Connected for what? Is that the data connection in your vehicle?

Yeah, for displaying Google Maps and the rest of the Android Auto interface on the car's touchscreen.

hbi2k wrote:

Yeah, for displaying Google Maps and the rest of the Android Auto interface on the car's touchscreen.

Check both your cable and phone plug. Mine was not charging consistently, then not at all. Took a coffee stirrer in the office, cut it at a 45 degree angle, and ran it around the plug. Had some pocket lint and grass in there that had accumulated. Worked perfect ever since.

Could also be a flaky cable or even dirty/bad car plug.

hbi2k wrote:

Yeah, for displaying Google Maps and the rest of the Android Auto interface on the car's touchscreen.

Ah, I don't have the built-in one. I just run it off my phone with a mount.

My wife's thinking about an Android smart watch. She's got a Pixel 2, and with two kids running around, wants something to keep on her and get notifications when she leaves the phone somewhere else in the house.

I haven't looked into smart watches at all, but it seems like basically any Android Wear watch should do that. Since she's only really looking for basic stuff like getting text and email notifications, and maybe responding to them, we probably don't want to spend a ton.

Any recommendations for watches that are good and on a budget?

Chaz wrote:

My wife's thinking about an Android smart watch. She's got a Pixel 2, and with two kids running around, wants something to keep on her and get notifications when she leaves the phone somewhere else in the house.

I haven't looked into smart watches at all, but it seems like basically any Android Wear watch should do that. Since she's only really looking for basic stuff like getting text and email notifications, and maybe responding to them, we probably don't want to spend a ton.

Any recommendations for watches that are good and on a budget?

I'm looking myself but waiting to see if Google announces a Pixel watch next month. If not im getting a Fossil Gen 5. The consensus seems to say it's the best

If she exercises at all, the Garmin Forerunner 45S is amazing and much more watch like than smart watches I've seen. It's pretty small which is nice but the battery life is still good. Very reasonable at $200. I love it for running which is what I got it for, but I wear it all the time now for checking time, date, and notifications. It's real slick.

I have been eyeing the Fossil Gen 5 too, but the Fossil Sport looks like a good model if you are looking for something cheaper too.

kazar wrote:

I have been eyeing the Fossil Gen 5 too, but the Fossil Sport looks like a good model if you are looking for something cheaper too.

I've been using the Fossil Sport since January. Battery life sucks. On a typical day not running any watch apps the battery dies after 12 - 14 hours. If I'm using a watch app - I use Golf Pad Pro when I'm playing a round - then a single round (4 - 5 hours) will use 60% of the battery.

I've ordered the new Gen 5 as it's promising 50% more battery life than the Sport.

interesting. They both use the same CPU which was supposed to be what gives the gen 5 more battery. Maybe it has a better battery in it too.

I shall report back in a couple of weeks!

r013nt0 wrote:

But I still don't want Maps up on my screen by default all the time! I don't need directions for my commute, thanks.

I disagree. Everyone should be Wazing, all the time. It will save you from inexplicable traffic stoppages at weird times of the day.

Maybe this only applies to residents of large cities.

Yes I have 3 main routes to work, plus one branch that applies to 2 of those routes right now while some long term construction has a 3rd branch closed. I need traffic check every morning and night to make sure I avoid messes.

I like Waze but it's traffic cuts are not usually time cuts. Sometimes I'd rather sit in traffic than have to drive 4 miles out of the way.

EverythingsTentative wrote:

I like Waze but it's traffic cuts are not usually time cuts. Sometimes I'd rather sit in traffic than have to drive 4 miles out of the way.

Look everyone, a madman!

Fedaykin98 wrote:

Maybe this only applies to residents of large cities.

I live just outside of Chicago. And I work in Chicago.
I know every possible / reasonable route to get from my home to my job. I've used Waze plenty of times, and it's not helpful in avoiding rush hour traffic.

Fedaykin98 wrote:

I disagree. Everyone should be Wazing, all the time. It will save you from inexplicable traffic stoppages at weird times of the day.

Maybe this only applies to residents of large cities.

I'm on Waze every day and don't live in a large city. It helps quite a bit even in these more rural areas!

r013nt0 wrote:
Fedaykin98 wrote:

Maybe this only applies to residents of large cities.

I live just outside of Chicago. And I work in Chicago.
I know every possible / reasonable route to get from my home to my job. I've used Waze plenty of times, and it's not helpful in avoiding rush hour traffic.

If you insist. I have many possible routes into downtown and Waze sends me different ways on different days. I occasionally hit the Routes screen to see whether I want to pick something different than it has for some reason.

What would be next level would be an explanation of why Waze is recommending what it is, and that's actually starting to develop - I've had it re-route me with a message about how traffic is building up ahead.

Regardless of how helpful it isn't or is, I still don't need it to be the default screen. It can run in the background if it must and allow me to have my podcast/music player up on the screen.

There should be an option, is really all I'm saying.

Fedaykin98 wrote:
r013nt0 wrote:
Fedaykin98 wrote:

Maybe this only applies to residents of large cities.

I live just outside of Chicago. And I work in Chicago.
I know every possible / reasonable route to get from my home to my job. I've used Waze plenty of times, and it's not helpful in avoiding rush hour traffic.

If you insist. I have many possible routes into downtown and Waze sends me different ways on different days. I occasionally hit the Routes screen to see whether I want to pick something different than it has for some reason.

What would be next level would be an explanation of why Waze is recommending what it is, and that's actually starting to develop - I've had it re-route me with a message about how traffic is building up ahead.

Having grown up outside of Baltimore/DC and working downtown in Baltimore for a number of years, sometimes Waze isn't a help when there's just so damn many people all over the place. Sometimes the best way is to just take the damn tunnel even though you're gonna sit for five or ten minutes at the toll.

Waze was great when I lived near Denver though. Lots of wide open and fast ways around.

r013nt0 wrote:

Regardless of how helpful it isn't or is, I still don't need it to be the default screen. It can run in the background if it must and allow me to have my podcast/music player up on the screen.

There should be an option, is really all I'm saying.

I'm confused. I have my music player up on the screen a lot, including when Waze is running. What am I missing?

The word default maybe? It defaults to Maps (or Waze), let's just say Navigation - when I start the car.
I don't want it to do that. I want it to default to my current audio application.

A useful android LPT

LPT: If you have an Android phone, go to the developer options and set Animation Time to x0.5! Your phone will feel like it's gotten a huge processor update.
Unlock Developer Options:

Settings > About Phone > 7x tap on Build Number

Decrease animation time:

Settings > System > Developer Options > Set all Options with Animation Scale to x0.5 or less

Enjoy your fast phone

I just want Waze to stop zooming out so far just because I hit 40mph.

An aftermarket double-DIN screen isn't the biggest display in the world. I still want to see the name of the next cross street, thanks.

Taharka wrote:

A useful android LPT

LPT: If you have an Android phone, go to the developer options and set Animation Time to x0.5! Your phone will feel like it's gotten a huge processor update.
Unlock Developer Options:

Settings > About Phone > 7x tap on Build Number

Decrease animation time:

Settings > System > Developer Options > Set all Options with Animation Scale to x0.5 or less

Enjoy your fast phone

No such option. But then, I'm using a Note 8 on AT&T, so a historically bad track record on updates. There is no good reason why a phone with 6GB RAM should be slow.

Ahh, sorry! It worked on my Samsung S10+ with Sprint.

It will probably be called something else. You can also check accessibility and turn off animations altogether.