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2020 Outback Software GigaThread

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#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
I recently purchased a 2020 Outback Onyx, to complement my 2018 Legacy. Love it. However, I’ve identified several software bugs, that I would like to see fixed. Are you seeing the same issues?

1. The mapping software does not provide the cross-street names on its route, regardless of how close I zoom in.​
2. The radio sound customization does not retain its settings and defaults back to a natural position.​
3. The Auto Start/Stop needs to stay in the position you choose until you change it. The same is true with the Auto Vehicle Hold.​
4. Daylight Savings Time is not working.​
5. The cell phone volume is a confusing mess.​
6. A Bluetooth-connected phone will not sound alerts for new emails, text messages, or any other type of sound alert.​

I've read the manual, checked all the settings, and worked with my Subaru specialist and she can't find a way to resolve these issues.

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As requested I'm editing first post to provide shortcuts to information so
that no one has to read through 450+ pages to find files or links to them.

Post 9075 is where discussion of latest update begins.

Posts 9078 and 9079 includes the PDF instructions for doing the update.

Update files courtesy of member chvvkumar:

If links change or new posts contain updated files, these links can be updated
by sending a moderator a pm with the new link(s). Best to include more than
one moderator in the pm.
Regards,
Micron.
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#3,288 ·
504 has been working well for me except 1) artwork on Apple CarPlay is a wash out image and 2) Waze map image is zoomed out so street names and police icons , etc are way too small for drivers to see . Wierd fact is that me girlfriend’s new iPhone 8 works fine with image size but my iPhone 11pro has that zoomed out tiny image of street sign , car and streets. Weird !
 
#3,293 ·
Google just posted an updated version of Desktop Headunit Emulator for Android Auto after almost 5 years. The big news here is it allows developers to emulate various resolutions/layouts and it appears that AA can support vertical layouts (and has been able to for a long time)... So yeah, perhaps another step (or hurdle?) into finally getting fullscreen AA...
 
#3,294 ·
Anyone know the native resolution of our 11.6" display?

Android Auto supports three video resolutions:

480p (800x480 -- default)
720p (1280x720)
1080p (1920x1080)
To support different aspect ratios other than the ones above, the head unit is able to specify a margin to letterbox/pillarbox as necessary. For example, if you wanted a 1000x600 screen, you would set the resolution to 720p (1280x720) and a marginwidth of 280 and marginheight of 120. This has the effect of adding a 140px margin on both the left and right edges, and 60px top and bottom.
So to get portrait orientation you have a maximum of 1080 vertical pixels and you can set "margins" to eliminate the extra width of 1920, to get something like 600 horizontal and 1080 vertical, or 600x1080.
 
#3,295 ·
Anyone know the native resolution of our 11.6" display?
I tried to find it earlier but either it's not readily published, or my search engine skills are lacking...

So to get portrait orientation you have a maximum of 1080 vertical pixels and you can set "margins" to eliminate the extra width of 1920, to get something like 600 horizontal and 1080 vertical, or 600x1080.
Yeah, so as long as the margins are set so that they match the aspect ratio of the 11.6" display, AA will throw out what's in the margins and then upscale the remaining area to the native resolution of the display.
 
#3,297 ·
Had an idea for the blind spot monitoring indicators. The HUD LEDs make for a good alternate display for it. In the line of sight and don't have to look at the mirror to see if there is a vehicle in your blind spot.
 
#3,298 ·
Seemed like a good idea for about 3 seconds. Then I figured that some people would look straight at that indicator and in the absence of a light, make a move like a lane change. Maybe not a good move in the end. At least if they're located in proximity of the mirror, that's where you should be looking before you make that move. What they should be doing is placing the lights inside the car in the line of sight of the side mirrors. That way, if you're unlucky enough to live where it snows, they'll never be covered up by snow.
 
#3,302 ·
Looks like Vertical Integration/Implementation of Android Auto is up to the manufacturer - Subaru and their head-unit Infotainment manufacturer.

This article makes it pretty clear that Googles Android Auto is very capable of vertical implementation.


"Then, this update also seems to include support for vertical screens in Android Auto, which is an indication that Google does allow the app to run on such displays, so it all comes down to your manufacturer to make the whole thing be rendered correctly.

As many owners learned the hard way, Android Auto is sometimes displayed only in the center of a vertical screen, and judging from this emulator update, the carmakers are the ones to blame for the whole thing. "
 
#3,305 ·
Looks like Vertical Integration/Implementation of Android Auto is up to the manufacturer - Subaru and their head-unit Infotainment manufacturer.

This article makes it pretty clear that Googles Android Auto is very capable of vertical implementation.


"Then, this update also seems to include support for vertical screens in Android Auto, which is an indication that Google does allow the app to run on such displays, so it all comes down to your manufacturer to make the whole thing be rendered correctly.

As many owners learned the hard way, Android Auto is sometimes displayed only in the center of a vertical screen, and judging from this emulator update, the carmakers are the ones to blame for the whole thing. "
While the article claims that I don’t think it is so clear and don’t believe the claims. An existence proof would help make the statement believable and the article did not offer an example of a single manufacture (including after market head units) that support a vertical layout.
 
#3,304 ·
So Google updates the emulator after FIVE YEARS of not updating it, and instantly all the blame falls on automakers for not instantly fixing their head units to display Android Auto in a vertical orientation?


Video Configuration
Android Auto supports three video resolutions:

480p (800x480 -- default)
720p (1280x720)
1080p (1920x1080)
To support different aspect ratios other than the ones above, the head unit is able to specify a margin to letterbox/pillarbox as necessary. For example, if you wanted a 1000x600 screen, you would set the resolution to 720p (1280x720) and a marginwidth of 280 and marginheight of 120. This has the effect of adding a 140px margin on both the left and right edges, and 60px top and bottom.
So the maximum vertical size is 1080 pixels and the car manufacturer will set the marginwidth to 1320 so that we end up with something like 600x1080 vertical?

It sure seems like a clumsy way to "support" vertical orientation but I'm not a developer so what do I know.
 
#3,308 ·
So Google updates the emulator after FIVE YEARS of not updating it, and instantly all the blame falls on automakers for not instantly fixing their head units to display Android Auto in a vertical orientation?






So the maximum vertical size is 1080 pixels and the car manufacturer will set the marginwidth to 1320 so that we end up with something like 600x1080 vertical?

It sure seems like a clumsy way to "support" vertical orientation but I'm not a developer so what do I know.
Unless the functionality has always been there but hidden and not documented/supported by Google, which would be "very Google" of Google, if that makes sense ;) I have a hard time believing that Subaru wasn't (or currently isn't) in contact with Google re: vertical AA.

It is interesting that the margin customization only shows up in the documentation for the latest version (2.0rc1 or whatever it is). Again this is probably just specific to the emulation software.

I think @Rsonnens is right though, the implementation on the actual head unit likely isn't as simple as setting a couple of margin widths in an .ini file.
 
#3,306 ·
Yeah, I'm not defending subaru here because nobody knows exactly what is going on, but with the implementation of carplay, clearly their intent is to have vertical smartphone integration. My guess is that if AA made adapting the head unit to it not overly complicated, they would have it implemented for them as well.
 
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#3,307 ·
don't have to look at the mirror to see if there is a vehicle in your blind spot.
Seriously? :eek:
So why bother installing the side view mirrors if you don't want to have to look at them? Heck, let's do away with all the mirrors and just use lights and cameras. You don't really want to see that semi riding up your back bumper anyway, right? But hey, don't eliminate the makeup mirrors.:rolleyes:
 
#3,321 ·
It annoys me that the reverse camera display is at the front of the car and if I turn around to look directly at the back I can't see the monitor, so you're either blind to what's outside the window, or blind to the camera view - you can't see both simultaneously.

Similarly it would annoy me if the "blind spot monitor" were located where to see it I would need to look away from the actual blind spot. It just seems self defeating. I want these aids to enhance/augment my natural vision, not replace it.
 
#3,329 ·
If you drive in Hawaii and signal, someone will let you in, but you're expected to wave thanks to acknowledge the courtesy. That's how we have perpetuated the "aloha" spirit in driving. If you don't wave thanks then people get VERY upset and you might get a coconut thrown through your window or be forced to go to a Luau and eat Poi.
 
#3,336 ·
I miss Seattle, where people went out of their way to let you in when you used a turn signal.
I have another aunt and uncle living in Seattle. When I went to visit them back in 2007 and 2012. I noticed that and also cars yield to pedestrians. :oops:
 
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#3,339 ·
I know this is way off topic but since we're here:

 
#3,342 ·
For me it was Manhattan. I quickly figured out that if you have what would be the 'right of way' anywhere else in the civilized world, you take it, otherwise a pedestrian or car that doesn't have it will take it from you. As a passenger, nothing I've ever seen beats Rio de Janeiro for driving. It is SO important for a driver to get in front of whom they're following that they will make any move that puts them there. That includes driving up the sidewalk, onto the gas station lot, ZIP past the pumps and squeeze back into traffic to move up one or two cars. I could hardly believe my eyes.
 
#3,343 ·
what's the general consensus on ios14 with 504 (particularly compared to ios13)? besides the bigger and rearranged icons, is the stability as good, better, or worse than ios13 & 504? i haven't updated my iphone 7 to ios 14 yet, fearing slowdown/battery drain, etc. planning to upgrade after new phones announced next week.

i updated to 504 back in july. it worked great most of the time, though recently i've had the system lockup, audio cuts out, etc and have had to reboot the system a few times. lately, i've been using just bluetooth and have had no issues at all. from my experience, all the issues i've seen happen when using/starting carplay.
 
#3,344 ·
I have had similar issues with it. I'm not sure if it is the head unit itself or the IOS. But just this week I have had the audio just randomly stopping (when played via bluetooth). I have ad the screen go black on my a couple times this week (in less than 115 miles...as I don't drive as much working from home now). I have also had my system not recognize me more and more now, yet still in the list and actually just re-did my profile. I think its a combination of those. I have also had the screen not respond to pushing buttons, to skip songs and such. I couldn't even make a different selection on the info center, which also randomly changes away from the widgets and such.

I have dealt with the dealer and they said they cannot replace the head unit. I have been working the corporate Subaru and they told me that, as an example the info center selection such as widgets should stay in place until I choose to view a different option, and they cannot explain why its happening and have no solution. They have both stopped responding to me, so I take that as them washing their hands of it and pretty much saying I'm stuck with something that is not working as it should. So frustrating and disappointing.
 
#3,350 ·
What's funny is a car brand renowned for safety. Is stumbling introducing all these new technical safety features. Like the new infotainment system that you have to interact with so much the driver monitor system will tell you "Keep your eyes on the road". :confused: Or the fact only one side mirror will tilt down in reverse. Yet you still have to go to a dealer to active it or not. And I noticed this with a MY 2018 Forester and it carried over to the newer Outbacks. Every look up the proper way to adjust side view mirrors. Well the one's on newer Subarus don't even adjust out far enough to follow proper adjustment. But yes, their form of current HUD. Just some colored lights seems a little distracting and not very helpful. Hopefully they'll improve.
 
#3,351 ·
Any chance you are so tall (or so short) that your seat position makes it impossible to achieve the mirror adjustment you're looking for? I believe I've used the method of adjustment you refer to for a long time, and I was able to achieve it with my new OB. The comment about tilting mirrors is interesting in that I've noticed that my passenger mirror tilts down, but I haven't noticed if the driver one does. It's not something I had to have a dealer fiddle with as it just did it from day one, so I'm not sure if that's what you meant. I have to go out later, and for sure will watch to see what the left outside mirror does when backing up.
 
#3,352 ·
but I haven't noticed if the driver one does. It's not something I had to have a dealer fiddle with as it just did it from day one
The driver one does not tilt. The passenger side one does without any dealer interaction, it just works but is affected by the driver settings.

As to the driver’s side mirror I had always had mine cranked out away from the car so that once a vehicle in the lane to my left began to disappear from my rear view mirror it would appear in the side view mirror. And when it began to disappear from the side mirror I would see it in my peripheral vision out the window. On my new Legacy I’m unable to adjust the mirror out as far as I did on my 2006 Legacy. But the blind spot alert mitigates that inability to follow the vehicle from one mirror to the next to my peripheral vision.
 
#3,356 ·
That's only 1" taller than me. All I can suggest is that it could be your seat position, or maybe what you believe to be "proper" really isn't, or maybe you're not using them correctly. You should not have to lean forward to make it work for you. I mention that because I know someone who thinks they do it right, but leans way forward to look to make a lane change.
 
#3,357 ·
You should not have to lean forward to make it work for you.
I will say that there is less adjustability in the mirrors that are on my wife’s Onyx and on my Legacy compared to our previous Subarus that were 15 years old. However she doesn’t have a problem with hers. But I initially had trouble getting my drivers side mirror adjusted out far enough to give me the same angle of view my previous car did.

Part of the issue is the seat adjustment which I have set. I have the seat back reclined a fair bit because of an issue with my neck. Put it forward the way my wife or others would have it and I get neck pain. So between the back reclining and the seat itself pushed back to give me the leg reach I want I’ve had to pull the steering wheel out towards me.

So I’ve got it dialed in pretty well but I’m assuming because of the housing and electronic connections the mirror just isn’t capable of going out as far as the (much)older models.
 
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