cross-posted from: https://programming.dev/post/24458085
Hi guys.
I have an android head unit for my car that only manages multimedia, navigation and stuff. it also has multiple physical buttons and knobs. It’s offbrand so can name the particular brand or model.
can I for example upgrade the OS?
can I for example upgrade the OS?
I mean, technically, sure.
But what I suspect you’re really asking is “has someone else done the legwork to create a stable build of a modern version of android for what is probably a very underpowered device since it’s in a vehicle.”
The reality is you would probably have to dig into the hardware, find appropriate drivers, and then dig into the AOSP and build a stable Android build for it from there. And depending on it’s age, you might only be able to upgrade it to a certain point and not all the way to current Android. (For example, LineageOS no longer directly supports Google Nexus devices because their hardware is simply too old to work with the new versions of Android)
Because sadly, the likelihood of someone already having done it for an obscure vehicle head unit is less likely than, say, a flagship phone that tons of people own. It’s not impossible, someone may have already done the work, but I’d wager on that not being the case, because I’ve had just slightly unpopular phones that there are no LineageOS builds for, for example.
Drivers even existing outside an NDA with whoever made the SOC inside that unit is already a best case scenario.
If you’re lucky someone has created a rom and jailbreak solution. The XDA forums would be your best bet to find out.
But it is rather unlikely unless it was very popular.
