[congo]

As some of you may have concerns about reliability of the service I'm extending the warranty period to 6 months.
What is covered?
If you have MIB1/MIB2 system and service stops before the end of the 6th month since it was activated and I'm not able to restore it in 2 month time then you will get 50% refund.

What is not covered?
End user action that somehow prevented the software from functioning correctly.
Isolated case where only one system is affected (i believe it's clear that is local problem)
Violation of the rules for sharing resulted disabling the service.
Activation that is not made direct from me elsewhere using my files.

Just for information - expected lifetime of the service is above 3 years. Any speculations that it will stop in a week or two are nonsense's by people that have absolutely no idea how this thing actually works.

Regards.

 

[divacic]

Congo, maybe you could explain (in shortly) how this service works.
I suppose you have some kind of server-in-the-middle as a central point between audi and nvidia users.
I also suppose that this server prepares packages and send it to your users.

If that's true users are dependable on your server which should be active 0-24.

 

[congo]

Hello,
can you tell me how this info will help you?
It is not important how exactly it works, its important that it does work.
I already give you the information you need on PM?
And what have nVidia to do with all this

Last but not least - users are dependable on many systems along the way. There were moments before when some services were unavailable and there will be such moments in the future.
Audi does maintenance every month for 2 days but i don't see you complaining about it, Google does it every month but yet ... all is quiet.

 

[divacic]

Hello,
can you tell me how this info will help you?
It is not important how exactly it works, its important that it does work.
And what have nVidia to do with all this

Ok, I guess you think i'm a fool to whom it doesn't make sense to explain how something works because - he won't understand. Good approach!

And the solution applies to nvidia devices, qulacomm users can make the update themselves (without 3rd party solution) - or I'm wrong because I don't understand a thing!

 

[divacic]

Last but not least - users are dependable on many systems along the way. There were moments before when some services were unavailable and there will be such moments in the future.
Audi does maintenance every month for 2 days but i don't see you complaining about it, Google does it every month but yet ... all is quiet.

And where did I complain? Maybe that's how you experienced it.

 

[congo]

Ok, I guess you think i'm a fool to whom it doesn't make sense to explain how something works because - he won't understand. Good approach!

And the solution applies to nvidia devices, qulacomm users can make the update themselves (without 3rd party solution) - or I'm wrong because I don't understand a thing!

So MMI 3G is nVidia then. Also this can be used on QC units that dont have active subscription (majority of the cases) in which case they will do nothing with update. I shared all software packages so anyone can try by its self but that will only work if they have active subscription for Audi Connect. But as you said - you are the man you know all this so im sorry im sharing redundant info to you.
Again, i will not go in details because i dont think i need to. For me it's not clear how this will help you. Unless you want to do by your own which is good but im not going to make task easier by sharing all the details. As some guys already said "it cant be that hard".
You registered here 8 days ago with 4 posts and want to have all information on the table.
Sorry but it does not work this way.

What is the point of posting this here? Why you have not asked on PM ? What is the end goal ?

 

[divacic]

What is the point of posting this here? Why you have not asked on PM ? What is the end goal ?

...to explain (in shortly) to the community how the system works. And (for you) to have more users and more money in your pocket. Because, consequently, nobody wants "to buy a pig in a poke".
I guess you're afraid someone will steal the idea, that is understandable, but then say so (not that it doesn't matter how it works with which you belittle users).

And yes, I registered here 8 days ago with 4 posts and it's because of you and your solution!

No hard feelings, one of the users will probably be me, but I don't know why all of it makes you so angry.

 

[divacic]

But to be constructive one question: Why Qualcomm units do not need Audi Connect and Nvidia does? And do we have to buy Audi Connect subscribtion every year for this solution to be active? As I told you, I do not have Google Earth licence active, but I suppose that's not a problem?

 

[congo]

It brings back Google to any MMI Touch(MMI 3G+, MIB1, MIB2, PCM4) on VW Group vehicles (Audi,Volkswagen, Skoda, Porsche, Lamborghini, Bentley) by making communication between MMI and Google Earth serves possible. This is as far as i can go.
Im not angry, im just curious as same questions i have been asked from another user in another communication channel that later posted in Facebook and telegram "i will soon be able to do it" If that is you then good luck, if not them im sorry i might made a mistake. I admire people that do unique things and bring to others, leaders not copy machines.

QualComm or nVidia(yes there is nVidia that have new software - A3,TT,R8,Q2) if updated to 5XXX will need active subscription to make it work. Delphi also have new software that is using Maxar (2035/2037) or older that can still use google 1040/1042 and so on.
Older software can be made to work w/o subscription mainly because older is using Google as source and newer Maxar thru Here MAPS.
It appears that they left only some A4/A5/Q5/Q7 not covered from the new models and all older.

Google provides better pictures as of now, Maxar is using lower quality data same as what Google used to be last year.
This year images in big cities are crystal clear.

Regards.

 

[divacic]

It brings back Google to any MMI Touch(MMI 3G+, MIB1, MIB2, PCM4) on VW Group vehicles (Audi,Volkswagen, Skoda, Porsche, Lamborghini, Bentley) by making communication between MMI and Google Earth serves possible. This is as far as i can go.
Im not angry, im just curious as same questions i have been asked from another user in another communication channel that later posted in Facebook and telegram "i will soon be able to do it" If that is you then good luck, if not them im sorry i might made a mistake. I admire people that do unique things and bring to others, leaders not copy machines.

QualComm or nVidia(yes there is nVidia that have new software - A3,TT,R8,Q2) if updated to 5XXX will need active subscription to make it work. Delphi also have new software that is using Maxar (2035/2037) or older that can still use google 1040/1042 and so on.
Older software can be made to work w/o subscription mainly because older is using Google as source and newer Maxar thru Here MAPS.
It appears that they left only some A4/A5/Q5/Q7 not covered from the new models and all older.

Google provides better pictures as of now, Maxar is using lower quality data same as what Google used to be last year.
This year images in big cities are crystal clear.

Regards.

Thanks, I'm not "that user" and I have no idea who you're talking about.
But now you have interested me with this "Older software can be made to work w/o subscription mainly because older is using Google as source". I'm in that train, so, if I understand correctly, I do not need an active Audi Connect subscription?
I have to admit that "Google Earth" and "Car Status" are only two things which makes Audi Connect reasonable for me. Now (if your solution works) I will cancel subscription right away.

 

[congo]

Yes, with old versions you dont need active subscription. If you are 2XXX, 3XXX or even 4XXX then Google will work even if you terminate your subscription.
About Car Status, that is different connect package that normally is for many years not only one. You can check its valid period in the Audi Connect menu, right func button and choose Licenses. So that should not stop if you stop the infotainment connect package.

 

[divacic]

Yes, with old versions you dont need active subscription. If you are 2XXX, 3XXX or even 4XXX then Google will work even if you terminate your subscription.
About Car Status, that is different connect package that normally is for many years not only one. You can check its valid period in the Audi Connect menu, right func button and choose Licenses. So that should not stop if you stop the infotainment connect package.

Ok, now it's clear, thanks. I'm with MHI2_ER_AUG22_K3346

 

[danbob]

Congo, is there any way possible to get this working on VW RNS 850, which lost google maps and online traffic etc. also? Is it similar to the Audi System? (Mine has sim card)

 

[congo]

Hello,
yes RNS850 is in the supported list.

 

[danbob]

Hello,
yes RNS850 is in the supported list.

Great, do you know the steps I need to do for rns850 please? Payment, SD etc. Thanks

 

[2014_S5]

@congo This whole GEMMI reprovision tactic seems to be floating around in variety of iterations here and elsewhere for about the same cost. Looking over your statements in this thread you're tying your changes to the MMI through BTMAC/VIN to identify users in your system that is tying into the original GE API through Audi backend somehow through a proxy via a valid "license" i.e. working VIN MY 2018+ to trigger the updates to flow.

When GE disabled their API 12/2015 it seems as if VAG ported a copy over to their own server and supplied the data on their own metal w/ a replication from GE to support the defunct API configured in older MMI units. So, either this method is updating the 10th character in the VIN to something post 2018 and tracking users on your side by BTMAC as the identifier or the proxy method / license bypass.

As an insight providers like TM / ATT / etc. have devices called "Google Cache" that store searches for faster response w/o sending an external lookup to GG each time thus cutting the bandwidth needed and lower latency to EU devices in the process. They're very effective in cutting down the need for WAN bandwidth after they scrape GG information for download to the cache itself. I'm guessing that something similar is in play for the GE "product" that VAG disabled for older models and left in place for current systems.

The whole excuse that the HW in older models doesn't support an overlay image tied to a spontaneous download from the API is stupid as it's been working for at least the last 5 years w/o issue and it's also damaging the VAG brands by saying they can't support their own products. It's either a waiting game for them to turn it back on w/ the backlash they've produced or lose a customer base that had been loyal to the technical abilities no one else had shown in the past. In the past VAG has been a forerunner in tech in vehicles and now the innovation seems to have subsided.

 

[congo]

Hi,
its a bit foggy ...
Actually Google have not stopped the service back in 2015. They might disabled some options like streetview but the sat map remained.
VW Group never made anything to make it work, they just had agreement with Google that expired 2020 and Google decided to move on and implement changes that were on hold for years.
VW Group never renewed the contract because On 3 August 2015, Here was sold to a consortium of German car makers Audi, BMW, and Mercedes. A bit later same year Here was given a task - to make Sat Map functionality. In 2018 A8 was the first to get this new SatMap. Although the Google logo remained as the customers get used to it, the new Sat Map have nothing to do with Google. It have lower quality photos at the moment, it use other sources and it uses completely different protocol. If you look close enough you will notice slight difference in the Google logo of the new Sat Map and the old one.

VW Group will not make anything for the models older than MY17 that's for sure, those model as outside of standard warranty period. The whole MMI 3G project is closed. Also because of the fact that they don't want to pay two times for same service, once to Google once to Here. Yes they do pay Here regardless of the fact that they own the company. It is the way it works in enterprise organizations.

As for the MY18 models, they do cover some of them leaving very small percentage of cars that are not covered. They dont care about the guys that have activated Google w/o active subscription (the notorious remote_HMI tweak) so on paper the percentage of affected vehicles is really small.

VW Group is ignoring reports for software vulnerabilities that can cause serious problems for the equipment ... so that's it with customer care. They don't care about so its unlikely that they will cover the only one hardware type that is not yet covered - A4/A5/Q5/Q7 nVidia units which were installed till 2018. All the rest are covered as long as they have active subscription - that is a must now.

If we look at the new models VAG is still leader in the infotainment technologies and not only. The only one other brand that is actually ahead of its time is Tesla but that is not very popular on EU soil so that keeps VW at no 1.

If we look from other angle we can see VAG like Apple, they do the innovations that later are copied by others and improved as expected. It is one thing to get something that is ready and just tweak it a bit it's other thing to carry on the whole R&D from 0.

As for the information "floating around in variety of iterations here and elsewhere for about the same cost" - its normal as it does have only one source

p.s. As i said elsewhere when we talk about Google Maps (the original) Audi have nothing to do here.

 

[2014_S5]

remote_HMI tweak

Not sure about this as it's not something I needed to do other than put a different sim in the unit and apply the appropriate APN in the connection screen to make it work.

As to the MMI 3G+ not being supported that's fine but the reasoning behind disabling it just doesn't jive with the HW being incompatible reason that was given. Sure it's a bit antiquated in comparison with what's on the market these days but, it's still more powerful than the systems that supported the Apollo missions in the 60's.

Anyway... I shot you a PM the other day on another matter regarding UMTS activation....

As to the whole buy from yourself enterprise issue... yes, same here in the states as some TV stations were having the same issue with broadcasting rights / fees in dispute with other carriers outside of themselves under the corporate umbrella. What doesn't make much sense though is if you install the new FW on the MMI and the Maps get updated (30GB) why can't the system just run the overlay based on the HD images preloaded instead of that 90's look that shows up?

 

[zspatak]

Hi Congo,
PM sent.
thx
zs

 

[zsolie]

Hi Congo,
PM sent.
thx
Zsolie