Grom VLINE 2 Android 12 Update

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The Grom VLINE 2 Android player was updated to Android 12. In this video I review the update and go into how well it works in my 2008 Lexus LS 600h (it has problems).
My orgininal review of the Grom VLINE 2: • Android and Car Play i...
Grom Vline VL2:
gromaudio.com/...
Alternative from Aliexpress:
vi.aliexpress....
Car Launcher:
play.google.co...

[@swisscarguy]

Anyone brave enough to try one of the chinese units and report back?

[@kimariunrulyanimal]

You're part the reason I ended up getting the vline 2, so it's only right that I check with you about if I should get the update or not

[@swisscarguy]

So far, the update still has some problems: sometimes it crashes, it makes the popping sounds starting up and since the latest update it doesn't always automatically connect to my WiFi hotspot.
Some more refinement needed.

[@gr0ggi]

I have a GROM for my Volvo V50 as well. Works great!! But it is the GROM without screen. MST4 is believe.
Good Video thanks.

[@avalandiel]

the most recent update a few days ago fixed the landscape issue with apps. I don't like the new way of navigating with the unit as the icon will stay even when running videos in full screen. I would have to say the old navigation bar was better as it would auto hide after a few seconds.

[@TheN4UM4N]

I updated mine to 12.0 and I notice that connecting to my phone from cold start, auto resume AA/CP from warm start, and UI is generally much faster than compared to older android version. The CP UI is the exact same (they should definitely update this to reflect the newer A12 UI to match) but the other pages, settings, button icons are much nicer and sleeker. I bought the pre-order and got it for $24.99 and I had the update ready to install within the second day of release. I also get the speaker pop-in noise when I cold start the car. One other thing I noticed, maybe just a Apple/CP bug, but CP Maps will freeze and stay in place. I just have to turn on and off the ignition and it fixes itself quickly and is not a huge issue in daily usage.
This time, before the A12 upgrade, I did install all the GApps and it caused the head unit to factory reset, which it does warn you about when you try to install. Just make sure to read carefully. I did notice that it did keep my iPhone as an option both after the GApps install, and the A12 update, which was nice.
Overall I’m pretty impressed but there’s still a long way to go. I still think $35 is highway robbery considering I paid $600 for mine in November 2021.
If I had a choice to do it all over again from the start, I’d still probably go with the GROM VL2 or if I really wanted to save money, go with the chinese knockoff with the vertical Tesla-style screens.
On reporting for Apple devices: it’s smooth, seamless, and does a great job of auto-launching CP when I get in, loaded up before I put the car into D. It seems like it also improved the sound quality of music but could be a placebo.

[@TheN4UM4N]

FWIW, I have it installed on a 2008 Lexus GS350, which is the VL5 system, but I believe is identical to Mario’s system for his LS (iirc).
I also purchased the Factory Mic retention cable, and installed it, in involves tapping into 2 mic lines (- & +, red/black) from the back of the main unit.
I disassembled my sunroof overhead panel where the factory mic and sunroof controls reside, cleaned/dusted it all out, and added some foam around the crevices where the factory mic seats into to reduce vibrations and road noise to the mic while driving.
You have to tune the mic gain and I let the car do it using its function on the VL2 settings.
I tested the call quality using method of calling my Google Voice number and leaving long voicemails at 5, 35, and 60MPH using cell calling and also Facetime Audio. It was working fine and was a big improvement over the included mic but I adjusted the mic gain again and it’s just bleh now so I’ll have to re-adjust again.
I also want to see the utilization of the secondary HDMI to plug in a nicer capacitive touchscreen and perhaps overlay it on the original screen. We’ll see what GROM does in the future though.

[@f0nko203]

Thank you for remembering about the rear screen test ;)

[@theSwede318201]

I am looking into buying one of these for myself (which is why I'm watching review videos) but I saw in the PDF manual on the GROM website that the HDMI Out port is not active/not used for any function. It's probably because the mainboard the GROM is built on was originally manufactured for some other device that used that port (like a video capture unit or something like that). They make no claim that the HDMI Out is a function of the device or that it works in any way. They explicitly label it as not useable in the user manual.

[@danielhanna160]

Great video as always Mario. I've purchased the update also but I've been holding off on the update for now and following the various Facebook user groups to make sure it's stable before I install it.
I use Android Auto wirelessly with my Vline in the LS460. You can also adjust the DPI in the menu for Android Auto and get more real-estate on the screen (I like mine between 115 and 125)
I think GROM also released an update for that Portrait mode issue recently.
I recently heard of a company here in Australia that makes a Linux based integration for Android Auto called Crown Focus. Anything happens to my Vline, I'll go down that route personally.
That POP is concerning. It could blow up the speakers. Hope it gets a little better for you eventually.

[@dwindeyer]

For me the Android 12 update feels faster, I estimate about 60% faster in most things, even things like the time from connecting the phone to when carplay appears. I was surprised really. The biggest difference for me is now there is a display size option in the settings which allows you to increase the DPI making android apps like youtube much more usable.
I see there has been some updates since the initial release a month ago, so maybe my experience is not the same as this video suggests. I expect there will be a lot of tweaking in the coming months, if they can restore the way the navigation bar worked instead of the popup menu button it would be better, constantly going in/out of the popup navigation is a bit annoying.

[@RyKoMedia]

The Andriod based headunits in the US are just as problematic. Id look into the Sony/Alpine units. The UI on those are way more stable and have better sound options.

[@dvspeter]

Mario I feel like your update is a lot more buggy than mine. I installed it last week on my 600 and noticed it was considerably faster to boot up, and none of the weird effects you have dealt with. Could be that your hardware is a little older as well - I know they made minor changes over the years and I bought my vline in 2020. BTW - I had a great result using the rear seat entertainment with a chromecast - that way I can cast from the vline to the rear screen while continuing to use the functions in the front. I'm not sure what Grom's implementation of the HDMI out would be other than a secondary screen output and honestly if that is the case it's probably better not to use it!

[@swisscarguy]

Good idea with the Chromecast!

[@theSwede318201]

Chromecast is a great idea. I'll keep that in mind for my installation. As for the HDMI Out, it is noted in the user manual PDF on their site that this port is Not Used/Not Functional. My best guess is that the mainboard the GROM is built on was originally manufactured to be used for some other device (such as a video capture box or something like that) that did use the HDMI out, but for GROM's implementation they chose not to use/activate it. I could be wrong though.