Google maps always in drive mode

BBishop123

Hi, thought I'd make a post as just found this today. Its a way to basically have Google maps always be in drive mode, it'll look like it does when launched in android auto.

You can download the Google maps android automative version with apk and install that on the head unit. Just make sure you uninstall the normal version of Google maps first or you'll get a "this package conflicts" error message when trying to install it. Here's the most recent apk:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lip3jdgyceVlblYdgzhVfybBZJhv5Dcd/view?usp=drivesdk

Or just Google "Google maps (android automotive) apk" and it'll be on apk pure.

Janebo

Very nice, but the App goes back to default maps when it's updated, I also noticed problem when trying to login, it just says you already logged in to your device

BBishop123

Janebo I never said it was perfect. Just posted that as an fyi for anyone looking for a Google maps "driving mode" 👍

rijckholt

Janebo are you saying you cannot login to the automotive version after installing?

I am kind of interested in this but would like to avoid making it more complicated ;-) have a WAF to manage in my family ;-) With this version now available it would not be difficult to have this be the standard google maps version if dudu devs wanted it to be i guess?

BBishop123

Janebo try installing this, and see if it lets you log in with this installed?

https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/google-inc/google-automotive-app-host-android-automotive/google-automotive-app-host-android-automotive-1-007-821841228-01-release/google-automotive-app-host-android-automotive-1-007-821841228-01-arm64-v8a-android-apk-download/

BBishop123

rijckholt Yeah if you try and log in, it says "this email already exists on your device" and if you remove your google account from the device and try and log in, it readds the account to your device but doesn't log you in, probably due to it not being from google directly.

And I'm not sure how that would work, but possibly as the play store seems to think its the same app as regular google maps. Maybe the dev team can weigh in? @dudu-lai @DUDU-Meng

BBishop123

BBishop123 and if that doesn't work, try this:
https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/google-inc/google-play-services-android-automotive/google-play-services-android-automotive-25-45-34-release/google-play-services-android-automotive-25-45-34-230400-831602148-android-apk-download/

BBishop123

BBishop123 There is also an android automotive version of the play store you can try and install, but you will probably have to remove the normal version of the playstore first:

https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/google-inc/google-play-store-android-automotive/google-play-store-android-automotive-44-6-15-31-9-pr-716750685-release/google-play-store-android-automotive-44-6-15-31-9-pr-716750685-android-apk-download/

rijckholt

@DUDU-Meng or @dudu-lai could you indeed weigh in on this topic: adding the Google Maps Automotive version to Dudu? I think it would be the more appropriate version of maps to be included by default having its focus on being used in cars while driving.

Thanks in advance for your time and effort!

dudu-lai

I'm sorry, I'm not an expert in this area and cannot answer your question.

BBishop123

dudu-lai basically there is two versions of Google maps, the regular version that is available on all phones, tablets, etc (including the dudu7), and then there is the version for cars that run android automotive OS. Both versions are downloaded from the playstore, and are technically the exact same app. Its down to the manufacturer of each device to decide which "version" of the app is downloaded onto their device.

Does the dudu7 device think it's a tablet, or does it think it's a car infotainment unit? If it thinks its a tablet then it gets the regular version of Google maps that can be installed on any android tablet, but it you are able to make it "think" its a car infotainment unit then it would get the car specific version of the app.

DUDU-Meng

BBishop123
Detecting apps at the system level is virtually impossible to achieve.

BBishop123

DUDU-Meng okay no worries, thought that might be the case. Thank you for the reply anyway.

rijckholt

I don't think we need the the system to auto detect? I think we just want the option to install the other version in a way the systems allows/supports it.

BBishop123

rijckholt if that is possible then yes

BBishop123

BBishop123 I just found a solution. Download aurora store (its basically a copy of playstore that allows you to change what devices app versions you can install)
https://www.auroraoss.com/files/AuroraStore/Release
then use the spoof manager and click the three dots in the top right corner and import this file:

volvo-ex30-device.txt

7kB

Rename the file, change the ".txt" to ".properties"

Then the app will restart, use the anonymous log in option, don't sign in with a Google account. Then search up maps and install it. Again make sure you uninstalled the original version of Google maps before.

Launch Google maps and it should have automatically signed you in.

You can update the app through aurora store, just make sure you have the above config file set before installing updates.

rijckholt

@BBishop123

Nice find,

What about the volvo config file. Do i need to create one for my car or is that irrelevant for this situation?

BBishop123

rijckholt just download aurora store on the dudu7 unit. And use the volvo config file as a profile in the spoof manager. You don't need to make any changes to the file or make it specific to your car. Just make sure to change the file extension from .txt to .properties, otherwise it won't show up as an available file to be imported to aurora store. And use the "anonymous" sign in option, for some reason if you use your google account on aurora store half the apps dissapear from the search results including google maps (dw you'll still be signed in on gmaps when you install it)

kselfq

I can't even install Google maps automotive, Default google maps is a system app and it can't be updated with automotive app.

BBishop123

kselfq I don't know what you mean. This thread is regarding installing the aaos ui of google maps on a dudu7 head unit. On the dudu7 device, you are able to completely uninstall google maps, and then reinstall it via aurora store using a spoof profile of a cars aaos infotainment screen