I bought and am having some issues that I'm trying to sort out with Nifty. In "factory" mode, my climate, home and other buttons often stop working. When I reset the Nifty they work finr while rebooting telling me it is a software issue. Hopefully I can reaolve it with them soon.
Nifty City CarPlay unit for LC200 (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Chris8760
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I don’t remember the last time I went to factory mode. Interested to see what they say about an update or something. They are pretty hands off from my limited experience. Would also like to know if your android side will pick up your hotspot? I can’t get my phone to show up in network options
I have been able to hotspot fine. My hvac controls arent working right/spotty, the temperature readout sometimes goes out, etc. And my birdseye camera works intermittently. When i push the hard buttons (nav, info, etc.) When in "nifty" mode, they all work. Nav turns on AA Waze, info goes to Google search, etc., so clearly they are working but the unit is interfering with the handoff to factory mode and hvac/camera. The hvac and camera not working right will be a deal killer if not fixed.
When I reset the unit holding the mode button for seven seconds all works fine momentarily. When it reboots everything on the factory side stops working. Hopefully it wlll be resolved soon.
I recommend pdanet for hotspot (install app on phone and android car unit). My normal hotspot is fine, but pdanet gets better speeds by tricking my isp to thinking it is phone side non-hotspot data.
I had the Grom unit, and it had a line on the screen they couldn't fix. This unit has the possibility to be much more functional if I can get it to work right. If not I'm going back to factory and using my phone on a wireless charger magnet mount for everything.
I have to say, I am very frustrated with this product. It was working initially, but after only two days has become next to useless. It is clearly a software issue, as the factory items stop working when the Nifty unit is booted. They want me to tear the dash apart and send a video of the install. After installing two Groms and now this, it is child's play and basically impossible to get wrong. Just becoming a waste of time.
They offered to accept a return on my dime, but only if I lie on the customs return form and state the item is worth $30. I'm not willing to lie on a customs form. They also state a 20% restocking fee.
Evidently their website also says no refunds for any item on sale (with their coupons they are always on sale). Not sure if they will pull that card.
Should have gone with EC Offroad. Buyer beware!
They offered to accept a return on my dime, but only if I lie on the customs return form and state the item is worth $30. I'm not willing to lie on a customs form. They also state a 20% restocking fee.
Evidently their website also says no refunds for any item on sale (with their coupons they are always on sale). Not sure if they will pull that card.
Should have gone with EC Offroad. Buyer beware!
Just curious - Still very little info on Nifty City - Are you still liking the unit? Would you still recommend? Are they pushing software updates? Thank you in advance!
I am still liking mine. Having good luck with it. The issue of the climate control popping up for no reason has fixed itself as well, just stopped doing it. I also upgraded to a new iPhone 14 Pro from 13...no issues with connectivity. Haven't tried the hotspot since I got new phone will try later today. One thing I notice from time to time is that when I make a quick stop, say gas station, short 5 minute turn off. Sometimes it hangs reconnecting via wireless after you restart again. Its almost like the computer needs 10-15 minutes to totally shut down. So if I wait 15 minutes between start up it connects right away. I wish the Toyota was able to lock the doors with the ignition running. Miss that from my Chevy.
As far as updates go, I am not sure I have ever really done an update with the unit. It is not very intuitive and there are 0 instructions or info on the nifty city that I can find anywhere. Even the guy at Nifty City told me once to not update...I might follow up again. Anyone who has done update lately if they could give there experience and a cliff notes version of how they went about it...thanks.
Didn't answer your last question...they are not pushing updates and the unit does not say...Update Available! You have to go into an app so to speak and enter a code to see if there is any updates available. This part is not very intuitive, at least to an apple guy because this whole thing is pretty much an android unit.
greynolds
SILVER Star
Updates always come with the risk of bricking the unit. That happened with my original EC Offroad interface unit (the older version). They wanted me to install an update to resolve a specific issue and the unit bricked when I attempted to install the update. Fixing it involved pulling it out and sending it back to Australia. In the process, EC Offroad and I worked out a deal to upgrade to the newer version of the module, which was much better overall (and likely very similar to the Nifty unit).
I have since moved on to a Tesla style unit and while I'm happy overall, those units have their own set of glitches, the most annoying of which is random reboots.
Anyone considering any of these options to get CarPlay needs to go in expecting that it won't work 100% of the time and it will have a few glitches. I wish that weren't the case, but it's the reality of the situation. I know I would be happy to pay an extra several hundred dollars (or more) if it meant the hardware and firmware were going to be rock solid and use fully released versions of Android (if you look at the version info, most or all of these have development versions of the Android OS; most likely to save a few bucks on licensing costs). There's really no reason these units can't be every bit as reliable as a quality smart phone.
I have since moved on to a Tesla style unit and while I'm happy overall, those units have their own set of glitches, the most annoying of which is random reboots.
Anyone considering any of these options to get CarPlay needs to go in expecting that it won't work 100% of the time and it will have a few glitches. I wish that weren't the case, but it's the reality of the situation. I know I would be happy to pay an extra several hundred dollars (or more) if it meant the hardware and firmware were going to be rock solid and use fully released versions of Android (if you look at the version info, most or all of these have development versions of the Android OS; most likely to save a few bucks on licensing costs). There's really no reason these units can't be every bit as reliable as a quality smart phone.
I would throw in my 2 cents with the Grom unit.
Initially it did feel like a beta test unit but I always got a reply from the customer service and any issues were escalated to the software development team and attempts were made to correct them with each update.
I would say after a year of ownership mine is about 99% rock solid. The 1% is sometime im trying to do too many things at once and the system freezes. A very occasional restart that says CarPlay has restarted due to poor connection. Which maybe an apple issue. And a very rare flip to OEM screen and automatic flip back to CarPlay. So this maybe a Toyota issue. Seems to happen if the map is loading or the low fuel alert is triggered and the map with gas stations pops up. But it doesn’t happen all the time.
I’d say my unit function is seemless. CarPlay connects wirelessly in the AM and launches from whatever I was doing last.
The android part can run all the apps like Netflix and Disney plus.
It uses my phone hotspot for streaming and updates almost seemlessly. Once in a while (1x a month) I have to check the checkbox to allow hotspot connection.
But the quick response from customer service and their willingness and ability to update software makes it work for me.
Initially it did feel like a beta test unit but I always got a reply from the customer service and any issues were escalated to the software development team and attempts were made to correct them with each update.
I would say after a year of ownership mine is about 99% rock solid. The 1% is sometime im trying to do too many things at once and the system freezes. A very occasional restart that says CarPlay has restarted due to poor connection. Which maybe an apple issue. And a very rare flip to OEM screen and automatic flip back to CarPlay. So this maybe a Toyota issue. Seems to happen if the map is loading or the low fuel alert is triggered and the map with gas stations pops up. But it doesn’t happen all the time.
I’d say my unit function is seemless. CarPlay connects wirelessly in the AM and launches from whatever I was doing last.
The android part can run all the apps like Netflix and Disney plus.
It uses my phone hotspot for streaming and updates almost seemlessly. Once in a while (1x a month) I have to check the checkbox to allow hotspot connection.
But the quick response from customer service and their willingness and ability to update software makes it work for me.
Same, mine after some trials is set-and-forget.
That's great intel - I read some older threads about the GROM unit and the reviews seemed to be mixed. Seems like they've improved the unit.
Basically, what I'm trying to get is Apple carplay. I don't need android auto. I would like to have wired and wireless carplay. I want carplay to startup automatically without having to press up, down, left, right, B, A, start every time I get in my truck. I want the unit to not disrupt climate controls, cameras, etc. I want the steering wheel buttons to work appropriately. I want the stock microphone to be used. I want my truck to appear perfectly stock.
If the Grom can do all those things with little to no heartburn, that's the unit I'll go with. They've raised the prices substantially on the Nifty City unit since last year. Their sales aren't nearly as impressive. Thank you guys for your input!
CharlieS
GOLD Star
I have the same "requirements". Please post if you find a solution that does this without any glitches. I removed a Naviplus because of the annoying glitches, but miss CarPlay.
greynolds
SILVER Star
I'm not aware of any of these solutions making use of the factory microphone and that's largely because there's an amplifier involved rather than the factory microphone being a simple line level unit. Some of the units (Tesla style) have an integrated microphone, but I've only heard bad things about the sound quality when using them.
Unfortunately, the 100% seamless and quirk free CarPlay integration we would all like to have just isn't possible at this time. If you aren't willing to live with at least an occasional glitch and a slightly non-stock look, these units aren't for you.
Unfortunately, the 100% seamless and quirk free CarPlay integration we would all like to have just isn't possible at this time. If you aren't willing to live with at least an occasional glitch and a slightly non-stock look, these units aren't for you.
Obviously the Tesla style screens aren’t the stock look so those are a non starter for me. When I say “stock look” I mean on the hardware side. I don’t want a Tesla screen, a screen on top of a screen, etc…
Interesting comment about the mic. I was under the impression Nifty, EC, Grom vline 2 all use the stock mic. What unit are you running?
CharlieS
GOLD Star
The suggestion that we need to lower the bar and just accept sub par quality saddens me. I'd rather not have CarPlay and live with the rock solid stock system than deal with the glitches offered by these vendors. Life is too short for that.
From a technology standpoint, it is completely doable to produce a well integrated and reliable system. The more likely issue is that isn't economically advantageous to spend the R&D time/investment make the solutions work as well as the stock system on such low volume infotainment systems. especially when consumers gladly pay for marginal solutions.
The Naviplus unit I tried used the factory mic.
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greynolds
SILVER Star
The EC Offroad module uses an external mic. I previously used both the old and new version of EC Offroad's interface module. I am currently using a Tesla style unit and that has it's own mix of quirks.
greynolds
SILVER Star
I'm not suggesting that we should have to lower the bar and simply accept living with less than perfect solutions. I'm saying that if we want to have CarPlay, then the choices that are currently available come with some downsides. If one buys ANY of these units expecting perfection, they're setting themselves up for disappointment. If one goes in knowing there are going to be some glitches here and there, the odds of being happy with the end result are much higher. It's unfortunate, but it's where we're at.The suggestion that we need to lower the bar and just accept sub par quality saddens me. I'd rather not have CarPlay and live with the rock solid stock system than deal with the glitches offered by these vendors. Life is too short for that.
From a technology standpoint, it is completely doable to produce a well integrated and reliable system. The more likely issue is that isn't economically advantageous to spend the R&D time/investment make the solutions work as well as the stock system on such low volume infotainment systems. especially when consumers gladly pay for marginal solutions.
I agree that it's technologically possible to produce a unit that works well. We just aren't there yet and cost is probably one of the biggest factors. Like I said in one of my above posts, it ought to be possible to have smartphone caliber reliability in these units. The tesla style unit I'm using is maddeningly close. It has random reboots (often with a loud pop in the speakers) and CarPlay disconnects. I can sometimes go for a 2+ hour drive without a single issue or sometimes have a reboot and CarPlay disconnect on a 10 minute drive to the grocery store. Other than when it is in the process of rebooting, the heating controls, backup camera, etc. have been working 100% reliably for me. It's not clear if these are hardware or firmware issues as either could easily be the culprit. I also need to do some further testing to see if USB devices that I have hooked up (USB hub with network port connected to my mobile router plus a wireless keyboard dongle and a 2TB drive attached) might be causing these issues.
sleepycruiser
I will get by….I will survive -Touch of Grey LC200
I’m considering a Tesla screen or a GROM. I’ve had both and aware of the glitches. Not sure why anyone buys EC when the same units are on Alibaba for way less. Same with Phoenix. And the Alibaba sellers will typically offer service and upgrade capabilities.
$769 for a Tesla that is 8 ram 128GB. 9 days door to door. Just trying to talk myself into dealing with the small quirks again.
$769 for a Tesla that is 8 ram 128GB. 9 days door to door. Just trying to talk myself into dealing with the small quirks again.
greynolds
SILVER Star
I went with EC Offroad initially because nobody had tracked down the less expensive alternatives yet. When my original unit bricked, upgrading to the newer version they had at that point was close to free (just the difference in price), so it made sense to stick with them at that point. I got my Tesla style unit direct from the manufacturer for about $800 including shipping, which is a LOT less than the same hardware would have been from EC Offroad ($2000+).
One thing to keep in mind is that the current Tesla style units are coming with Android 10 and community support for those units is still in the infancy stage. The Android 9 units like I purchased have support in the form of Sergey's firmware and a larger user base. Support for the newer units will surely happen, but it will take time to get established. There is the chance that they'll be closer to perfect though... If you do get one, please post your results (it probably would make sense to start a new topic for that discussion).
Anyone had any experience with the Belsee branded android units? Skimmed through the thread and don't recall seeing anything. Have quite a few of the options that are on AliExpress and seem to be priced pretty good. Their options for LX's are pretty cool as they have one for 07-15 that just replaces the upper screen section and they have one for the 16-21 that says it has touchscreen (be interested to find out if that's actually true).
