How to use mirror link on corolla 2019

[TazUddin]

Don't have a clue how I would connect and use mirror link. I've plugged my Samsung s9+ into the car usb (next to the gear box). My phone just turns off completely and I can't use the phone until I disconnect. Any ideas guys?

[AndrueC]

There are at least two different versions of Mirrorlink. It's possible that the version implemented on the car is not the same as the one on your phone and when I last looked the most recent two were incompatible. There was a suggestion that the later version would eventually support the older version but I don't know if that ever happened. The impression I got from looking at it (and still get) is that it's always been a bit of a bodge and although several car manufacturers got behind it the truth is that car manufacturers are primarily hardware manufacturers and hardware manufacturers don't understand software.

In recent years Apple's CarPlay and Android Auto have come to the fore and since they are backed by actual software companies (or at least companies that do software) they are better and have become the preferred solution. MirrorLink is the ugly step-child that no-one asked for and no-one really nurtured.

Anyway your experience sounds like what my S7 Edge did when I tried to connect to MirrorLink on my Jazz. The Jazz definitely supported the older version though. Does the Corolla head unit not do anything? On the Jazz when you did that head unit would blank out then a message would appear. Either something like 'Do you want to link to this phone?' or in my case 'The version of MirrorLink is not compatible.' I think on the Jazz the phone was then supposed to be represented by an app but I never got that far. I don't think anyone on the forum I used to visit ever did.

Update: From comments here. "this is some info for those who was looking for a solution how to connect new phone like Samsung Galaxy S8 via MirrorLink and found this blog via google. I’ve registered a case (CASE1001193) via Toyota support in order to find out official position and maybe solution. There is no way to connect newer phones because they are using protocol MirrorLink v1.1, but Toyota Touch 2 (released on 2013) is supporting only v1.0. Versions of MirrorLink are not backwards-compatible, what basically means that MirrorLink v1.1 does not support connection to device which has MirrorLink v.1.0 integrated."

So it sounds that it too, like the Jazz, is using the old version and the newer version on your phone is not backwards compatible.

Supposedly Apple CarPlay and/or Android Auto are coming to the Corolla eventually.

[Iian88]

I was going to try connecting my phone to the car via Mirror Link don't know if I'll bother trying if it doesn't work. I did go to a Toyota dealer yesterday and asked a couple of guys about the release of Android Auto, no one knew much about it at all. The sales manager was just looking at the brochures for the Corrolla and I think the Aygo, telling me it wasn't on the Corolla and that it wouldn't ever be made available to Corolla's that have been delivered. He seemed confused as to why I'd even want to use Android Auto, and that if I really wanted it I should wait a year and order a new car with it installed!! I said that sounded wrong and that it should just be a software update to the system. He then got defensive and started to question if I even had a new Corolla (it was at the time parked right outside their front door).   

[AndrueC]

The problem with software updates is that they can be hardware dependant even if not functionally because they might require more RAM than is available. Another issue might be licensing costs. It's a bit irritating that Toyota went with MirrorLink let alone the older version. But..as I wrote - hardware manufacturers don't understand software. Touch 2 is actually quite good as such things go but clearly has rough edges and hasn't been updated much. They might also be hoping that it'll persuade people to pay for the sat nav functionality.

One mitigating excuse is that car manufacturers want to get things right first time and will therefore not be keen to be on the 'bleeding edge' of software development. They also won't be keen on providing adequate update infrastructure. They usually get a third party to write the software and manufacture the head unit which in theory would improve the situation because as specialist in software development they will know how to do updates and bug fixes in a timely manner. Unfortunately what probably happens is that a bid request is raised and various companies vie for it and we end up with the cheapest bidder.

But hey - I've seen a few of these infotainment systems now and Toyota's is far from the worst. It's actually quite good. At least none of the bugs I've found so far have been crippling. For the first six months of owning my Jazz the infotainment unit would crash on startup and then take two minutes (!) to reboot. So that's over two minutes driving without any music unless you listen to some ancient technology called 'analogue radio' whatever the hell that is :)

[PACorolla]

7 hours ago, AndrueC said:

analogue radio' whatever the hell that is 🙂

It what made Marconi world famous🙄

[chicken_george]

Hi, only just ordered my Corolla last week. Apparently got to wait until October.... 

I've been doing a little reading on this subject as my local dealer mentioned MirrorLink after I'd made a comment about Android Auto... On page 122 of the Navigation and multimedia system owner’s manual (OM12L60E) it says.... 

'Compatible devices
Mobile devices (smartphones) 
which passed the CCC (Car Con-
nectivity Consortium) MirrorLink™ 
1.1 or later (including MirrorLink™ 
1.2) Certification Program.' 

However, I appreciate that it does not work with modern phones. Which is a nuisance.... 

Edited July 21, 2019 by chicken_george
Typo

[AndrueC]

57 minutes ago, chicken_george said:

'Compatible devices
Mobile devices (smartphones) 
which passed the CCC (Car Con-
nectivity Consortium) MirrorLink™ 
1.1 or later (including MirrorLink™ 
1.2) Certification Program.' 

However, I appreciate that it does not work with modern phones. Which is a nuisance.... 

Well that's interesting since it refers to 1.2 and 1.1. Maybe Touch 2 has been updated.

[Devon Aygo]

The car is Mirrorlink compatible when connected to an Android phone which also supports Mirrorlink on which Mirrorlink compatible apps are installed.

The head unit will not simply mirror everything on your phone it will only display mirrorlink compatible apps see: https://mirrorlink.com/apps note the lack of Google maps etc as Google withdrew mirrorlink compatibility when they introduced Android auto.

[chicken_george]

Excuse my ignorance. How does Miracast function then? Not a great deal comes up on a forum search. 

Page 125.

'Miracast™ is a function that 
enables the audio/visual sys-
tem to display smartphone’s 
screen and play the 
smartphone’s sound by con-
necting the smartphone to the 
audio/visual system with 
Wi-Fi® connection (P2P mode).'

[Devon Aygo]

Miracast only works with compatible Android phone paired via wifi with the cars head unit, so long as the car is stationary with parking brake applied. When playing audio/video the phone should give you an option to cast to the head unit  

[Cbatoday]

Have managed to get the data head to display google maps, youtube and spotify by connecting a usb lead into the usb socket th the left of the lower display using Samsung note 9

The apps I used were. Floating apps (£5) and rock scout (free)

Really want toyota to get their finger out and give us android play and Apple car play

Check out this link

https://blog.floatingapps.net/category/floating-apps-for-auto/

 

 

[Heidfirst]

I see that BMW are now adding CarPlay, chargeable for install & then £80 per year ... AndroidAuto not an option ...

https://www.fudzilla.com/news/automotive/49104-buying-a-car-with-apple-play-will-saddle-you-with-a-yearly-bill

[eyemdee]

On 7/21/2019 at 9:47 PM, chicken_george said:

Hi, only just ordered my Corolla last week. Apparently got to wait until October.... 

 

I ordered mine on 16th June and was told that delivery would be "September/October". It arrived at the dealers on 16th July and I collected it on 25th. Be prepared for a possible early arrival...