I recently upgraded from a 2018 Akera to a 2023 Akera, expecting the infotainment system to be substantially improved. It's changed, but I not as much improved as I'd hoped and I think it has a bug, so I am looking for some confirmation or a workaround.
1. THE BUG. When it connects to Android Auto it ALWAYS triggers my phone to fire up Tethering and launches Google Maps. While that may seem an advantage, in most cases I don't need Google Maps or Tethering so all it succeeds in doing is draining my phone battery,. I've tried setting it to "Don't Connect" and "Always Ask" to connect to Android auto, but that only works once. The first time I connect to Android Auto after choosing my preferred setting, the infotainment system automatically resets the setting to "Always Connect". That seems like a bug to me. Is there a workaround, is this a bug that has a fix, or is it a bug that no one cares about?
2. THE DISAPPOINTMENT. The old infotainment system didn't have a fancy display of the music that was playing, it just displayed in big, legible plain text. The new Mazda displays a fancy radio station logo, with super-tiny text that is very difficult to read without extreme focus and glasses. I know I can manoeuvre to display a slideshow, which is bigger and more readable, but that adds to the inconvenience. Is there a setting somewhere that allows me to revert to plain text to make it easier to read?

Rob

 

What phone are you using in your car? As far as the radio, it plays and shows the words very clearly on my car (2021). I think you could enable bold text or something in the Android Auto settings for music through there.

 

Thanks for your comments.
I am using a Samsung S24 Ultra. I can't find any control on the phone that affects the console display.
I've attached a couple of photos to show what I mean.The first is the whole console and the second is a close up of the display. It's easy to tell what radio station is playing but hard to read the artist.

The only potential solution I found to the connection problem is to write a script in Tasker that prevents the phone from Tethering for 10 seconds after the Bluetooth connects. That would supposedly prevent Android from connecting but it would remain available if I ever wanted to connect. I haven't tried that yet, but hoped there would be a more Mazda or Samsung native solution.

 

Your infotainment system may need a software update.

 

Yes, I was wondering about that. However I bought the car from the car yard that had serviced it from new, and they told me the software was up to date. I raised a question on this forum to see if anyone else had encountered the same issues. Do you think the local dealership would know the answer, and do they keep a record of whether I have the latest software loaded?

 

I don't know about the S24, but my Galaxy Flip 5 has a setting under Android Auto for connecting. The three options there are (a) Always, (b) If used on last drive and (c) Default (Set by Vehicle). I would check to see if that is set to a or b. If so, that might be changing the vehicle setting. If it's set to c, you might want to change that setting and connect to the vehicle and then change it back to see if that might change the vehicle setting to something else which would stick. It could be that you just need to reset the infotainment system. I believe Callisto recently posted the procedure for that which might or might not work in Australia's setup.

 

"If it's set to c, you might want to change that setting and connect to the vehicle and then change it"
It was set to c so I have changed it to a. I'll take it for a drive today, then set it back to c, as you suggest and see if that makes any difference.

I'll have to hunt around to see how to reset the infotainment system to pursue your other suggestion.

 

This is what mine looks like normally. I'd double check your car's settings for the radio.

 

Alexmed2002, That's what I'd like mine to look like. I've hunted through the settings but cannot find one that gives that option. There is one there about text but it's greyed out. Does your show the same on FM and DB radio, or just FM?

schmieg. I've tried going back and forwards with different settings but it always does the same thing. As soon as I connect once, it resets my settings to Always Connect.

grim_reaper I've sent an email to the local dealer asking for some support under the warranty. That will hopefully trigger them to check what the latest software is and if that might fix the issue.

 

Looking back it seems your car is using "DAB", which seems to be different than traditional AM/FM that we have here in the states. My theory is that with using the "DAB" radio, the stations broadcast the info like the photo you showed and can't be changed.