Janus-Design / Parrot Asteroid Smart

[Sarge135]

I recently installed my new radio, and dash kit. The Janus kit is not for the faint of heart. You have to dremel, and cut ALOT of plastic inside the dash. You leave just enough to be able to put everything back to stock.

Here are some pics of the install...

Once you dremel and cut the access plastic in the dash, you will have enough room for the double din and the kit. The pictures look worse than it is,lol





Then you place the cage, and secure the radio, and the cage to the dash. There will be alot of room underneath.



Then you install the surround that will have the A/C controls with it.



And the finished product!! (excuse the dirty screen)



The Parrot Smart is an android based radio. It has no CDs, but its very powerful. I have mine rooted to access the android market, and all the apps. The screen is super responsive, and you can zoom in and out with your two fingers just like a smartphone. It sounds incredible.

Also, there is alot of information on this unit on XDA developers.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=2118432

This is the MP3 Player.


Running Google Maps


Browser


Email


Apps


I also have a reverse camera installed. I love this setup, and I have relocated my stock head unit, so no "SOS" errors.


Overall, its an incredible deal for $475 for the headunit on Amazon, and $230 for the dash kit from Janus.

Here is a video I put together.

[Zeros and ones]

Glad you got the kit. From what I know.. cutting and such is pretty much a standard when putting in double din's in BMW's.

I had to do that in my e39. Had to go all the way to the AC duct.

The kit was worth the wait was it not?

[Sarge135]

It was hard to get mind off what I was about to do, but the end result is awesome! Well worth the wait.

Originally Posted by Zeros and ones

Glad you got the kit. From what I know.. cutting and such is pretty much a standard when putting in double din's in BMW's.

I had to do that in my e39. Had to go all the way to the AC duct.

The kit was worth the wait was it not?

[Walter K]

Sarge your setup is fresh. I'm definitely pulling the trigger on getting mine. Two questions for you; did you say in your video that you tether with your phone for the web components on your head unit? Also, do you have steering wheel functionality?

[Sarge135]

Thanks for the compliments!!

Yes, I have to tether to my cellphone to get internet access unless there is a hot spot around.It has a great wifi adapter and 4th generation blue tooth built in.

As far as steering wheel controls, Im still working on that. The Parrot Unika is the preferred method for the Parrot. But it has issues with the CAN system in our cars and the E90.

Since this stereo is like a tablet/phone Im going to look for a Blue tooth steering interface to work with it. There is one in particular that is working on the 1.

I can hide that display somewhere, but there might be another option out there.

Originally Posted by Walter K

Sarge your setup is fresh. I'm definitely pulling the trigger on getting mine. Two questions for you; did you say in your video that you tether with your phone for the web components on your head unit? Also, do you have steering wheel functionality?

[Sarge135]

Also, there is alot of information on this unit on XDA developers.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=2118432

[JimD]

Looks neat. I looked at the link but couldn't tell, do you have regular broadcast radio? Or only internet radio?

[Sarge135]

There is broadcast radio built in.

Originally Posted by JimD

Looks neat. I looked at the link but couldn't tell, do you have regular broadcast radio? Or only internet radio?

[cheshirecat79]

I have to attest to the performance of this unit- the interface is fast and the sound quality is excellent. As Sarge mentioned, the install is not for the faint of heart, especially if you want to keep your BMW Assist.

[JimD]

Have you tried running torque on it? You'd need a obdII to bluetooth adapter too but it would give you gauges and the ability to read and clear engine trouble codes.

Jim

[Sarge135]

Im sure it will work, but I have a JB4 chip so it wont allow the dongle to talk to the OBD2.

Originally Posted by JimD

Have you tried running torque on it? You'd need a obdII to bluetooth adapter too but it would give you gauges and the ability to read and clear engine trouble codes.

Jim

[cheshirecat79]

Originally Posted by JimD

Have you tried running torque on it? You'd need a obdII to bluetooth adapter too but it would give you gauges and the ability to read and clear engine trouble codes.
Jim

Yea- torque should run fine. Like sarge mentioned, though, the JB4 uses up most of the OBD cycles. It would work great with an onboard flash though such as Cobb.

[Sarge135]

For those of you that purchased this unit. Read below, and update the firmware to get full functionality on your radio. This update came out yesterday 06/04/2013.

Version 2.1.1

IMPROVEMENTS

General

Several stability fixes
[Update] With some user conditions when changing language it will do a Factory reset

GPS

Improvements for GPS signal
Automatic update of GPS module firmware at first start after v2.1.1 update: Make sure not to interrupt the process
Add option to deactivate external ASTEROID dongle LED Settings>Location&Security
Display GPS module firmware version Settings>About>GPS version

Interface

Several texts translations changed
Improvement of voice reco prompts
Voice Recognition "Music/Contacts" screen display time reduced when launched from remote (or UNIKA)
Day/Night settings better managed
Update telephony background
[UNIKA] Update UNIKA firmware version => Automatic update of UNIKA system at first start after v2.1.1 update
[UNIKA] Display UNIKA firmware version Settings>remote control>Steering wheel
SafetyControler : Remove option to deactivate this safety feature (legal conformity reasons)
[Bluetooth] Add option to search for nearby Bluetooth devices Settings>Wireless & network>Bluetooth>Search for devices (ASTEROID must be connected to a phone before searching)
[Bluetooth] Add possibility to change default pairing code "0000"

MediaPlayer

Music Voice Recognition: Increase limitation for indexed tracks quantity [USB/SD]
All music sources listed in Music list (greyed if not ready to be used)
Next/Previous are now also available in pause state
Random list is now different at each source plug or ASTEROID power on
[Spotify] Update app logo on music voice recognition
Track playing position is saved for music sources at power off [SD/USB/iPod/Tuner]

Tuner

Automatic audio resume at startup (only if last source used was Tuner)
Improve of RDS searches

Video

Reduce startup time for rear camera and video in applications

Telephony/Phonebook

Phone>Keypad: Add cursor to be able to delete or insert number at any position
Phone>Keypad: Add shortcut to last dialed number by pressing green button
Voice Recognition for contacts with several numbers of same type (mobile, home, ...) now ask to choose between each number (mobile1, mobile2, ...)
Voice Recognition for contacts with only one number no longer ask for number type
Add explicit message if DualMode not activated when trying to connect a second phone
Add possibility to change ringtone volume with up/down slide on screen during ringing

Internet

[Mexico] Add APN for Iusacell operator
USB 3G dongle are now disconnected right after shutdown

Market&Apps

Add possibility to create ASTEROID Market account from product application Asteroid Market > Sign Up
Add specific message if product is already linked with another account
SD card free space required to download and install apps reduced
Add support for new navigation apps
[M1C Zone] Coyote Series version upgraded
iGO version upgraded

BUG FIXES

MediaPlayer

[MusicApps] Sometime ask to reboot product after launching app (LiveRadio, TuneIn, Deezer, Spotify)
Pop up repeat" still displayed when switch to TuneIn source
No sound on BT streaming for secondary phone if connected during primary phone BT streaming
BT streaming often in pause mode after unplugging iPod
Often track source changed during streaming if track found via voice recognition available on several sources
Often voice reco not functional if launched after iPod plugged
[Apple iPod Touch 5G] Wrong logo displayed in the music sources list
[Apple iPod Nano 6G] ApplicationNotResponding if selecting another song in list from music voice recognition results during iPod streaming

Tuner

Edit favorite station does not work

Telephony/Phonebook

Incoming call screen not displayed when RecentApps screen is foreground
[DualMode] ApplicationNotResponding at startup if secondary phone contains lot of contacts
Numbers deleted from phone phonebook not deleted on ASTEROID phonebook

Interface

Back action is done twice in FullScan results screen

COMPATIBILITY

Phone - New support

Update of phone compatibility (Samsung Galaxy S4 and more ...)

Phone - Bug Fixes

[Some Nokia Symbian] Sometimes BT Internet connection fails
[Some HTC Android] Ringtone still played if incoming call during startup is canceled by distant caller
[Some HTC] Sometimes phone cannot connect to telephony service
[HTC Sensation] Often phone disconnection if several outgoing calls during iPod streaming
[Samsung Galaxy NoteII] Sometimes synchronization seems endless
[Acer Z110] Bug fix: BT streaming audio on phone

Internet connectivity - 3G keys

Update of compatibility support

[dbchun]

does the use of GPS navigation require a tethered smartphone?

[Sarge135]

Nope, you can use apps like Igo, and Sygic that are offline for GPS.

Originally Posted by dbchun

does the use of GPS navigation require a tethered smartphone?

[dbchun]

oh thats great, thanks

[Maurzog]

Is this one of the setups that you have to relocate your stock HU can you show your setup for that?

[Zeros and ones]

Originally Posted by Maurzog

Is this one of the setups that you have to relocate your stock HU can you show your setup for that?

any double din solution you put in a e82 or any 1-series for that matter, the HU has to be relocated to another area in the car.

[Sarge135]

I got my Cobb today, and now I am tuned and able to run Torque!!

[dutchy91]

I have a question about the parrot asteroid smart itself.
When you are listening to some from spotify, can you switch to navigation while still listening to that music.

Normal android on your phone loses the state of spotify and will only play the sound of your navigation. How's that done on the parrot?

[Sarge135]

Yes you can.

Originally Posted by dutchy91

I have a question about the parrot asteroid smart itself.
When you are listening to some from spotify, can you switch to navigation while still listening to that music.

Normal android on your phone loses the state of spotify and will only play the sound of your navigation. How's that done on the parrot?

[mapleridge]

ever get the steering wheel controls to work?