Tomtom Go App not working on car android system

[micko8]

The app hang after installing. After following the instructions to clear the storage data, the map download hang. I am using it for my car android system.

 

[Willy875]

The application is intended to be used on the smartphone.
It is not compatible with Android in-car systems.

 

[Bajers]

Hi,
Mine works perfectly on my VW camper android app. Invaluable after just doing 2500 miles around Europe. Would never have done it without it

 

[DavidB@#8]

It is not compatible with Android in-car systems.
This is not a very clear statement; nor made clear in TomTom advertising for this App. Indeed there is every encouragement that it does.
I bought the App just two days ago to use on my Android phone AND with the intention to link it by USB/Android Auto to my car infotainment screen.
With what aspect of 'Android in car systems' does it not work?
My experience shows that it does connect and work!
Where I already have a problem, is with its use on my phone, unplugged from my car.
All of my 40+ saved Places were auto-transferred from my other stand-alone TomTom devices via my account.
However, only four of these saved Places do not allow me to request a route plan on the phone. When I select these, instead of the multi-purpose icon to set Start, Destination, Rename, Drive etc, I just see a black rectangle with the place name inside it, in the middle of what I assume to be a featureless map, with just a + - symbol on the left of the phone screen and a scale icon at bottom right. Ask other saved Places work fine.
I also find that Searching for these same few addresses, using the App on the phone, fails to find anything, despite the fact that they are real, do exist on TomTom maps used by stand-alone devices.
I have cleared cache; I have deleted and re-added these Places, restarted the phone and lodged a question with Tom Tom Support, for which I am awaiting an answer.
Unless I can obtain useful help from TT, I consider the App very poor and shall be requesting a refund, particularly if this stated incompatibility is confirmed by TTS.

 

[Willy875]

It is not compatible with Android in-car systems.
This is not a very clear statement; nor made clear in TomTom advertising for this App. Indeed there is every encouragement that it does.
I bought the App just two days ago to use on my Android phone AND with the intention to link it by USB/Android Auto to my car infotainment screen.
With what aspect of 'Android in car systems' does it not work?
My experience shows that it does connect and work!
Where I already have a problem, is with its use on my phone, unplugged from my car.
All of my 40+ saved Places were auto-transferred from my other stand-alone TomTom devices via my account.
However, only four of these saved Places do not allow me to request a route plan on the phone. When I select these, instead of the multi-purpose icon to set Start, Destination, Rename, Drive etc, I just see a black rectangle with the place name inside it, in the middle of what I assume to be a featureless map, with just a + - symbol on the left of the phone screen and a scale icon at bottom right. Ask other saved Places work fine.
I also find that Searching for these same few addresses, using the App on the phone, fails to find anything, despite the fact that they are real, do exist on TomTom maps used by stand-alone devices.
I have cleared cache; I have deleted and re-added these Places, restarted the phone and lodged a question with Tom Tom Support, for which I am awaiting an answer.
Unless I can obtain useful help from TT, I consider the App very poor and shall be requesting a refund, particularly if this stated incompatibility is confirmed by TTS.

The app if installed on your phone is compatible if you connect either via Bluetooth® or using a USB cable to Android auto

It cannot be installed directly on an Android car radio.

For information
For security reasons, the number of results displayed for Search, Favorites and Most Recent is limited to 6, to avoid scrolling while driving.

For 7 days the application is free so if you cancel your subscription you will not be charged to your account.
Do not wait 7 days if the application does not suit you, the application will be suspended but not refunded.

 

[kacnje]

I'm not sure if you understand each other.

"TomTom GO for Android" works on Android Auto (as almost all car navigations do). In this case, it has some differences compared to using it on the phone - like I have just written in the theme about Routes and mentioned on my blog.


"Android Auto" isn't the same as "Android Automotive".
"Android Auto" is running on the user's phone and uses compatible in-vehicle infotainment.
"Android Automotive" is an operating system running directly on the in-vehicle hardware.
We usually talk about TomTom for "Android Auto" where it runs normally (with some differences).

 

[DavidB@#8]

What was not explicit and therefore unclear was Willy875's original reply to micko8.
I have noted in several 'expert' replies is that they come from a position of knowledge but don't put themselves in the position of the questioner who is not knowledgeable and consequently looking for help in clear, lay terms.

 

[DavidB@#8]

kacnje,
I have read your blog. Thanks for including the link in the last reply.
It is very useful. I just wish I had been able to view it before I made my decision to buy a subsciption for the TomTom GO phone App. It would have persuaded me not to buy it.

For me a SatNav is there to enable a driver to stop focusing so much on navigating his/her route and to concentrate fully on the driving (by themselves and all other road users). It's a hazardous world out there!

Many of the issues that you identify should not under UK regulations and law be carried out while in charge of a vehicle (whether moving or not). Note my emphasis on being in charge.

I have been a TomTom user since the very first products in about 2002/3, when there were separate units for the complete kit - a separate GPS module, an HP PDA, the application S/w and individual maps (e.g. all to be purchased separately for the different US States).

I have only ever purchased TomTom stand-alone devices, never those using a smartphone for comms.
In all that time, all I ever have done is set my route and then rely on voice guidance. I don't look at the screen map, from journey's beginning to journey's end.

My short experience with this phone App together with the inf. in your blog has persuaded me to request a refund, which has been accepted. With all of the discovered limitations, it surely cannot be held to be in more than Beta mode; yet it has been available on the market for a few years now. I was only persuaded to 'experiment' with it because of TomTom's direct offer to me (as a long-standing account holder) with a discounted year's subscription - caveat emptor.

 

[DavidB@#8]

The app if installed on your phone is compatible if you connect either via Bluetooth® or using a USB cable to Android auto

It cannot be installed directly on an Android car radio.

For information
For security reasons, the number of results displayed for Search, Favorites and Most Recent is limited to 6, to avoid scrolling while driving.

For 7 days the application is free so if you cancel your subscription you will not be charged to your account.
Do not wait 7 days if the application does not suit you, the application will be suspended but not refunded.

For information
For security reasons, the number of results displayed for Search, Favorites and Most Recent is limited to 6, to avoid scrolling while driving.
During my short experience and viewing the output via Android Auto on my car's screen, I noted this point. However the number displayed (out of my total saved Places of about 40) was just three (3). There appeared to be no logic to the selection - first three in the list? alphabetical? ... So how does this help to prevent (avoid) scrolling while driving? Not that I would choose to change Destination whilst in motion. Pse read my reply to kacnje, too.

 

[BL_BL]

kacnje,
I have read your blog.

I also read it, and I agree with @kacnje.

As i said on another topic: I bought recently subscription for TomTom Go Android, for use on Android Auto, and then I discovered how much Android Auto version is stripped and "light" compared to phone version.

Route Bar impressed me when I was getting familiar with the app, I don't know if I ever saw easier way to quickly add or remove Stop Point before (and other benefits). I can tap on gas station in Route Bar and have option to add it as Stop point. Also I can tap on Stop Point in Route bar and remove that Stop Point. It is great.

So I get in the car in the same day, start TomTom Go on Android Auto, click on something on Route Bar, and nothing happened. So, to add gas station I have to use regular Search, enter it, tap on Gas Stations category, wait for search to finish, choose one gas station, tap several more times, and then I have it as Stop Point. I even don't know how to remove that stop point on Android Auto.

But main thing is that I needed many more steps/taps!
That is much less safe!
They removed from Android Auto functionality that contribute to safety during driving!
That is the opposite of making application safer to use while driving.

And silly fact is that if we use the same app as mobile version, on phone mount, then we have the same interaction, through some sort of display, it does not matter is that phone display or display on car infotainment, interaction is the same : tapping on the screen, and yet, on phone screen everything works. So through phone is safe and through Android Auto - is not (and that is why is removed)?!

Another thing, on phone I added some POI in My Places, for my next drive. I got into the car, opened My Places - and that PIO was not there. Reason? Only 6 items can be there, and that 6 is alphabetical ordered, and location that I needed was not there! Then I use phone to quickly delete other POIs (that I also need, but not in that moment) so that POI that I need came up and be displayed. That is a very sad thing, that we need to delete our items from My Places.

Limiting number of items on just 6 is just design decision, for "safety reasons", but other apps do not have that limit. Even on Apps section on Android Auto we have scrolling. I agree that scrolling is not so safe, but the way this can be resolved and remain safe is simple: TomTom can give as ability to create folders/categories, so we can, by ourselves, organise My Places to ber safe. In other application I create folder for that trip, with just few POIs, and then on Android Auto i open that folder and I have everything that I need, even without need to scroll. That organisation works great. But having this "flat" structure on TomTom that every POI is in one folder, in long list, is the worst way. And on top of that - list is tripped to just 6 items on Android Auto, so we often will not even have access to POIs that we need in that moment (hm...maybe to rename it for that moment, to add number in front POI name, I will try it).

And to add - scrolling is not safe if do that while driving, but in most cases we choose next POI while we are stopped, so scrolling should not the problem.

But don't get me wrong, some other aspect of the app impressed me, I really like it, and that is the reason why I would like for TomTom to reconsider, reorganize and update Android Auto app. But not jus Android Auto, because even on phone version (and on plan.tomtom.com) app does not have ability to create folders/categories for POIs, like many (or all) other similar apps have.

 

[DavidB@#8]

BL_BL
The primary point that you make and with which I agree, is that S/w coders seem to think that because a feature is possible, it should be included. But they do it their way.
Throughout my 45 year career in electronic systems development I have seen this so many times. They simply fail to put themselves in the position of the user. They are software engineers NOT systems engineers.
The only thing that would make me consider trying it again at some future date is a complete reconsideration of its functionality from the user perspective AND provide Bluetooth or WiFi connectivity with Android Auto. Too many phone connectors become damaged by the constant plugging in and out of USBs. And, of course there is also the trailing wire (which, if these so called designers were consistent, should also be viewed as a driving hazard), together with finding somewhere to locate the phone with its attached USB cable.

 

[Willy875]

The only thing that would make me consider trying it again at some future date is a complete reconsideration of its functionality from the user perspective AND provide Bluetooth or WiFi connectivity with Android Auto. Too many phone connectors become damaged by the constant plugging in and out of USBs.

You have 2 options for configuring Android Auto with your smartphone either via Bluetooth or using a USB cable.

See this link https://support.google.com/androidauto/answer/6348029?hl=en

 

[DavidB@#8]

This is becoming a pointless exchange of views. No. My car's Android Auto only provides USB connection.

 

[Willy875]

I have nothing to do with it if Android auto install on your car only has a USB port.

 

[DavidB@#8]

I made this very point in my post of May 27th. I have stopped notifications from this thread.

I am waiting for Tomtom Dev Support to provide answers / update of the App, but I am not holding my breath. They keep asking for more data, data that I have already supplied in earlier emails to their Customer Support
.
Just in case it helps other users, here is my last feedback to them: -
"I am getting very tired of being asked by TomTom Dev. Support to respond to the same questions; questions which have already been answered in my original inquiry. This will be the last time that I shall explain the problems that I have experienced after I bought and tried to use TomTom GO on my Android phone.
It was even more of a disappointment when I linked it via Android Auto to my car screen.
1. I have owned TomTom stand-alone devices since about 2003 - for an Hp PDA, a GO 1000, a GO 6000, a GO Premium (current). The last three are linked to my TomTom account via MyDrive Connect.
2. I have 50 Saved Places and some saved Routes, all sync'd to my devices.
3. I bought an annual subscription for the TomTomGo App., linked it to my account, downloaded the UK offline map to my phone and transferred all my Places to the App on my phone.
4. I then found that on using my phone to select each of the ~45 Places from the list as a destination, it was possible to obtain and be presented with a Route Plan
5. But, the remaining few Places (~5) repeatedly refused to present on screen, the usual icon to Drive, Add or Rename. Only a black rectangle appeared, with the Place name in white text. This was on a blank background (no map of any kind).
6. I deleted these problem Places from both the phone App. and from MyDriveConnect (MDC) and recreated them using BOTH, in turn, the MDC Search function and Plan.TomTom.com
7. The inability to plan a route using these same Destinations still existed.
8. All the other ~45 Places planned routes properly.

All of this information was provided as part of my initial inquiry, together with a screen shot of the unusual Destination icon.
All of the immediately foregoing information is now provided from memory.
Please don't ask for new information. I cannot provide it since I have now uninstalled the App. and cancelled my TomTom GO subscription.
You should visit the TomTom community forum to see the wide criticism of this App. particularly for Android phones.

 

[BL_BL]

Response from TomTom Support:
-------------
1: You can directly report speed cameras on your go app cellphone.

2: I'd like to bring to your attention that Android Auto offers limited support for offline apps. The issue you've encountered has been raised by our backend team as a concern to Android Auto. However, we've been informed that Google's Android Auto platform has restrictions on offline apps, and since we rely on their display to cast our app, we must adhere to these limitations.

For further information, you can refer to our FAQ at: https://help.tomtom.com/hc/articles/15097767986450-GO-Navigation-app-with-Android-Auto You can also contact Google for this as its a hardware developed by them.
-------------

Actually that was a expected response.

When I find the time I will test other nav apps that I have on Android Auto, to see about this restrictions. I think that Google Maps does not have restriction to show just 6 PIOs in one of the categories. And yes, Google Maps have categories, not just one flat folder like TomTom.

But I believe that there are some restrictions, because some other nav apps don't give us access to saved Routes, like TomTom. But there are also exceptions. I don't know how they bypassed that restrictions.

 

[DavidB@#8]

Somewhat pushed into it by the poor (in my opinion) functionality of the TomTom Go phone App. via Android Auto on my car screen, I have evaluated Waze and Google Maps Go.
During navigation of a chosen route, too much of the car screen area is filled with uninteresting icons (settings, menu items and ETA time and miles). So I conclude that Android Auto is the cause of these limitations.
I shall stick with my stand alone device. It does everything that I need - free maps, seemingly unlimited Saved Places & Routes, voice guidance, traffic alerts and diversions, every known type of speed camera. What more is needed to get me from A to B?

What is a waste of time?
WiFi updating - I prefer to sit in the warmth of my home rather than outside in my car as close as possible to my house window and router, engine running to keep power on to auxiliary power sockets. Just 10Mb of speed camera download and update takes four stages and ~10 mins
Voice activation - in the car noise environment, this rarely works well.
Hands-free phone calls - car system works better.

I can't see how it can be claimed that Android Auto is at the root of my reported problem of just five (5), the same 5, out of a saved total of 50 Places that repeatedly refuse to find a Route Plan on the App. All are searched and saved using the same process. All are in England. All are private addresses. Android Auto S/w can be expected to handle them all in the same way. They all provide Route Plans on my GO Premium device (and on Google Maps Go and Waze installed on the same Samsung Galaxy phone).

 

[BL_BL]

Oh, you have Samsung Galaxy phone, as I do (S21+). Do you maybe use "swipe from the left side" as "back" functionality (to go back or close apps), instead of classic "back" button on the bottom? I'm asking this because I use it, and when I swipe from the left in order to close TomTom Go app I have Samsung little arrow that means it will initiate "back" action, but often it does not work in TomTom. TomTom moves a map a little, but does not register that "back" input. Others apps, including AmiGO, do not have that problem. Often i need to do "back" several times before TomTom give me confirm dialog prior to close. If I use classic "back" button at the bottom then it works, but I don't use that, I instead use this Samsung swipe controls.

 

[fab14fr]

The app hang after installing. After following the instructions to clear the storage data, the map download hang. I am using it for my car android system.

Hello micko8,
I experienced the same problem when I started with TomTom Go on my Android Xiaomi Redmi 9 Pro. The solution for me was to disable the battery management for this application : it seems that the battery management stop the program because it is using too much energy or something like that. I searched for a long time many forums and discussions for this solution. I hope it will help you.

 

[FatHead1979]

The app if installed on your phone is compatible if you connect either via Bluetooth® or using a USB cable to Android auto

It cannot be installed directly on an Android car radio.

For information
For security reasons, the number of results displayed for Search, Favorites and Most Recent is limited to 6, to avoid scrolling while driving.

For 7 days the application is free so if you cancel your subscription you will not be charged to your account.
Do not wait 7 days if the application does not suit you, the application will be suspended but not refunded.

What a wonderfully inaccurate statement.

I've used the Android version of the 'GO Navigation' app (in its various forms over the years) DIRECTLY INSTALLED on 3 different Android head units without major issue:
1. Xtrons (PX5 based unit) for 5+ years
2. Junsun V1 Plus (AC8257 based unit for 1.5+ years)
3. Teyes CC3 2K (Unisoc UIS7862 based unit) installed approximately 2 weeks ago

All the functionality works well for me, the UI seems to scale quite well for me e.g. the Xtrons head unit only had a 7" display and the Teyes head unit has a 10.2 (high resolution) 2000x1200 display. The UI on both device is/was entirely usable, which is why I'm very happy to continue paying my annual suscription to Tom Tom.

In terms of running the application directly on an Android head unit, assuming the basic hardware requirements are met and a person isn't running a 405 year old version of Android, there's really no reason for the application not to run natively on the device (and it does).

It MAY (or may not) be correct to say that Tom Tom don't prioritise the UI/user experience for device/display sizes of 7 inches or more, but to state "It cannot be installed directly on an Android car radio" is utterly absurd and entirely incorrect from a factual standpoint.