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LineageOS ROM releases first builds based on Android 10 (Update: Builds are back)
LineageOS 17.1 is here
LineageOS is the most popular custom ROM in existence, and the project prides itself on bringing newer versions of Android to unsupported devices. However, Lineage has been a bit slow to roll out a version based on Android 10 — the Pie-based ROM was already available by this time last year. Thankfully, the next major version of LineageOS seems to be just around the corner.
LineageOS is one of the most popular custom Android ROMs available, with over two million active installations. The project officially ended support for the 14.1 (Android 7.1) branch a few days ago, in preparation for LineageOS 16. The 16.0 branch is finally rolling out, and it's bringing Android 9 Pie to dozens of phones and tablets.
Every few weeks for so, Google updates the Android Auto website with a list of newly-supported cars. This time around, though, there are far more cars (and head units) than usual from a wide variety of brands that have just had AA support added.
In theory, Android Auto is a fantastic idea. It brings a unified UI, Google's class-leading Maps, and seamless integration with your music, notifications, and calls to any car or head unit that supports it. But aside from the various bugs and issues that seem to continually crop up, I'd argue that Android Auto's biggest downside is having to plug and unplug your phone whenever you enter and exit your car. As a result, many people, including myself, were pretty excited to see wireless Android Auto debut at CES this year with new head units from JVC and Kenwood.A few months later, Pioneer announced two of its own wireless Android Auto head units: the 0 AVH-W4400NEX and the ,200 AVIC-W8400NEX. The former, which is the cheapest wireless AA unit on the market, is the one I'm reviewing today. While I love that this head unit was single-handedly able to put the latest and greatest tech in my 10+ year-old car, there are quite a few bugs that desperately need to be ironed out.
LineageOS 15.1, based on Android 8.1 Oreo, is slowly rolling out to more devices. Last month, Oreo builds for the OnePlus One, Galaxy S5 Plus, and other devices became available. Since then, more phones have been added to the LineageOS 15.1 build roster, including Motorola's 2017 flagship and the Sony Xperia XA2.
A lot of cars come with Android Auto these days, but you may actually get more features if you have an older car and add in an aftermarket head unit. Pioneer has launched two new AV receivers with Android Auto support. They aren't cheap, but that's par for the course.
There is no shortage of Android Auto-capable head units on the market, but as of right now, there is only one of the single-DIN variety: the Pioneer AVH-3300NEX. Considering that a lot of people are still driving around in cars with single-DIN slots, that's pretty incredible. Now you can buy an AVH-3300NEX for just $448, $152 off the MSRP, from Amazon and Abt.The AVH-3300NEX sports a 7.0" 480p clear resistive display that folds out from the compact single-DIN body. In addition to Android Auto, it can also run Pioneer's own software and Apple CarPlay. Of course, it can still function as a standard head unit, with its AM/FM tuning, AUX input, and so on. If your car has a single-DIN slot, this is one of the nicest models you can buy.Abt is offering the AVH-3300NEX for $448, and Amazon is as well for an extra five cents. Shipping is free from both retailers. This is the lowest price we've seen for this unit (okay, fine, it was two cents cheaper a couple of days ago on Amazon). Let us know if you decide to pick one up.Source: Abt, Amazon
Pioneer is one of the most active manufacturers in the Android Auto head unit game, and that hasn't changed for 2017. The AVH-3300NEX, AVH-2330NEX, and AVH-2300NEX were all announced earlier this year, but they haven't been available for purchase until now. Interestingly, the 3300NEX is actually a single-DIN unit - a first for Pioneer's Android Auto lineup.All of these are more budget-oriented than, say, the 8100NEX that we looked at back in 2015. The 2300NEX and 2330NEX both come in at $500, and the 3300NEX goes for $600. They all come with both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support, as well as Pioneer's standard interface.
Pioneer announced Android Auto head units at last year's CES, and it's following up with updated model names for 2016. You could think of this line as the 200 series, as each unit has jumped from 100 to 200.
You knew this was coming sooner or later. Android Auto has been viewed as a mostly closed system, if not by nature of the software itself (which is technically open source) then by the fact that it's an extension of Android running on a big chunk of metal installed in your car. But some intrepid developers over on enthusiast forum AVIC411 have discovered a way to boot software directly from the SD card slot on Pioneer's NEX series of aftermarket Android Auto head units. That paves the way for custom ROMs in your car, or at least your car's entertainment system.
For many of us, the question isn't whether we want Android Auto, it's whether we're willing to spend the money it takes to set things up in the car we already own. Doing so is an investment that can easily cost over a grand, and that's a lot to pay for the luxury of not having to look at your phone to do the same functionality. Fortunately, some prices have been dropping.Pioneer is currently offering a rebate on AVH-4100NEX head units sold through authorized retailers. Walmart is one such retailer, and it's selling the hardware for 0. This is the same price you will see over on Amazon. Abt Electronics, on the other hand, will part with the unit for 8.35. Note, you have to put the AVH-4100NEX in your cart to see the discounted price.
It's been a year since Android Auto was announced, and it's only now starting to hit the market. You can buy a handful of cars with support for Auto (with a software update), and more vehicles are on the way. There are also some aftermarket head units that can smarten up your dumb old car. Now that it's finally reaching consumer availability, we can see how Google's car infotainment platform works.
Is it a "deal alert" if the cheapest option is still way more than most people want to pay? Probably not, but if you're in the market for Pioneer's first car stereo head units equipped with Android Auto, you can save some considerable cash anyway. The new models have been heavily discounted on Amazon almost immediately after being released, often by hundreds of dollars. For example, the top-of-the-line AVIC-8100NEX, with a wallet-pounding suggested retail price of $1400, is going for just 4 on Amazon.
The ranks of Android Auto in-dash head units continue to grow at CES, but they aren't going to be cheap. While Parrot neglected to mention a price for its fancy new Android deck, Pioneer is coming right out with it. The new NEX series units will start at $700 with support for Android Auto and CarPlay.
Most of the music services available today have some kind of radio feature, automatically generating playlists based on artists, genres, and other musical variables. But what about those of us who have vast hordes of pirated music from college sensible and legally-obtained MP3 collections? Pioneer is hoping to make an alternative DJ mix from your own local music files with the new MIXTRAX app.