New 2022 Ram 1500 Owner Trying To Get The Uconnect To Recognize A Multimedia AI Box/Device

[toyboy1980]

Here is a Amazon link to the new KSPIV Android 12 box...the new box is physically different from the older version ---> https://www.amazon.com/Android-Wireless-CarPlay-Adapter-Bluetoorh/dp/B0BLTKQL6B/ref=sr_1_4?crid=3NWSIYRV7QKNR&keywords=kspiv+box&qid=1670809995&sprefix=ksp,aps,784&sr=8-4&ufe=app_do:amzn1.fos.18ed3cb5-28d5-4975-8bc7-93deae8f9840

Hey @billybaloneey, when you run Netflix, does it actually give you a proper letterbox format? I have a different box, and it zooms in to fill the entire screen, cutting off a ton of the picture, with no way to change the format.

 

[Darksteel165]

I just installed the 12 box today.
I have a bit of APKs to install but so far it's pretty cool. It's basicly the auto equivalent of a fire stick without Amazon's crap.
I was playing YouTube and full screen didn't streach the picture.

I'll try Netflix, Hulu, Disney plus and report back tomorrow or Sunday.

Scaling problems are likely going to be the apps problem and not the box though.
Multi app (Split screen) works great with the aspect ratio of the 12 inch screen though.

 

[toyboy1980]

I just installed the 12 box today.
I have a bit of APKs to install but so far it's pretty cool. It's basicly the auto equivalent of a fire stick without Amazon's crap.
I was playing YouTube and full screen didn't streach the picture.

I'll try Netflix, Hulu, Disney plus and report back tomorrow or Sunday.

Scaling problems are likely going to be the apps problem and not the box though.
Multi app (Split screen) works great with the aspect ratio of the 12 inch screen though.
View attachment 146257

Netflix is the only app I’ve had scaling issues with. Not on the box you’re using though, so I’m curious to see if it works correctly. If so, I’ll be a buyer. Please update when you’ve tried Netflix.

 

[Darksteel165]

Netflix is the only app I’ve had scaling issues with. Not on the box you’re using though, so I’m curious to see if it works correctly. If so, I’ll be a buyer. Please update when you’ve tried Netflix.

I need to run back out tonight.
Ill try it and take a picture.
It had Netflix pre-installed. Not sure if it was from Google Play or not, it shouldn't really matter though.

 

[Darksteel165]

Well unfortunately I have nothing but bad news so far.

First it comes with Netflix pre-installed with a super old version also YouTube. The thing is the evice is running Android 9 despite it claiming it's running 12. They went as far as to change the settings menu to say version 12, when in fact it's an android 9 kernel.

This is very bad, for example Hulu, Disney plus, and Netflix will not install onto this.

That said with the old version of Netflix it just zoomed in the dead middle and fills the entire screen which makes it unwatchable. You can do multi app and snap it to the top or bottom and it will be the proper size though.

I am going to contact the seller because it's not a very good value unless they can truly give it android 12, or even 11. 9 is too old to be of value.

It also randomally crashes and the whole device restarts, not sure why.

This does have potential so I'm going to work with the seller and see what they can do. It doesn't seem like a bad device.

 

[Darksteel165]

Pictures for reference.

 

[toyboy1980]

Well shoot. I was afraid that might be the case. Thanks for the update. The search continues.

 

[billybaloneey]

Hey @billybaloneey, when you run Netflix, does it actually give you a proper letterbox format? I have a different box, and it zooms in to fill the entire screen, cutting off a ton of the picture, with no way to change the format.

Can't answer a Netfix question...I don't have an account...but I have yet to find any app that does not fill the whole screen using the KSPIV or MMB boxes.

 

[billybaloneey]

Well unfortunately I have nothing but bad news so far.

First it comes with Netflix pre-installed with a super old version also YouTube. The thing is the evice is running Android 9 despite it claiming it's running 12. They went as far as to change the settings menu to say version 12, when in fact it's an android 9 kernel.

This is very bad, for example Hulu, Disney plus, and Netflix will not install onto this.

That said with the old version of Netflix it just zoomed in the dead middle and fills the entire screen which makes it unwatchable. You can do multi app and snap it to the top or bottom and it will be the proper size though.

I am going to contact the seller because it's not a very good value unless they can truly give it android 12, or even 11. 9 is too old to be of value.

It also randomally crashes and the whole device restarts, not sure why.

This does have potential so I'm going to work with the seller and see what they can do. It doesn't seem like a bad device.

They sent me the Android 12 update software...all I had to do was ask...I'm sure they will do the same for you.

 

[Darksteel165]

They sent me the Android 12 update software...all I had to do was ask...I'm sure they will do the same for you.

I asked I'll see what happens. The unit should already have 12 since it's marketed as it imo.

I also responded about the Netflix bug, but that's an app bug because it's a super old version most likely.

 

[billybaloneey]

Well shoot. I was afraid that might be the case. Thanks for the update. The search continues.

I typically don't use the box to view videos...but this morning I clicked on the NetFlix app...I was hoping they had free video previews...not so...they wanted me to sign up...I decided not to. I clicked on YouTube and watched a couple videos...sure enough videos only appear on the top half of the screen. Which makes sense...due to the screen aspect ratio...the videos would be very distorted if the video filled the full 12 inches of the screen.

 

[billybaloneey]

I asked I'll see what happens. The unit should already have 12 since it's marketed as it imo.

I also responded about the Netflix bug, but that's an app bug because it's a super old version most likely.

See my reply above to "toyboy1980"...I don't think full screen videos of any type will display on the 12 inch screen.

 

[Darksteel165]

See my reply above to "toyboy1980"...I don't think full screen videos of any type will display on the 12 inch screen.

He's talking about a different problem. YouTube displays correctly.
On Netflix it attempts to play full screen and it fills up the whole screen and does a large zoom in the middle, resulting in unwatchable content.

If content doesn't fit you can either, center, streach, zoom, or crop.
On most apps like Netflix and Hulu you don't get to choose the method. Netflix chooses to crop to fix the awkward resolution resulting in most of the content not appearing on the screen. Stuff like mx player and vlc you can choose to zoom, crop, or whatever but realistically you just want it to play on the top or bottom to get a normal aspect ratio.
If you are watching content that was recorded in a portrait style format it would play great on these screens, but almost no one does that except by mistake.

 

[Darksteel165]

They responded late last night and sent me a link to download a 1.3GB update zip but unfortintuly it takes 2 hours to download.
I downloaded it alst night and today it just doesn't work.

I emailed them another 3-4 times for support and just gave them my personal Dropbox link for them to send me the file as I think it's getting corrupted it's taking so long to download.
So far no good but hopefully they are able to give me the working file.

 

[Darksteel165]

Update:

I was able to get the patch they gave me applied.
It was a combo of the first download being bad, and the SD card slot not working properly (it killed 1 of my SD cards and can't read the other anymore).
I transferred the file via wifi and ran the update.

Thing is they still gave me an Android 9 update.



the build number is in the picture 190414.001, and that's an android 9 build from roughly 2018ish.

This is what I get for almost every single app I tried to download in the play store.




I'm getting ready to return this. False advertising, it's not Android 12 and there doesn't seem to be anything I can do about it.

The MMB box is around $100 more but it claims to have Android 11 which should be salvageable. Getting into the pricing I want to avoid where I don't think it's worth it.
I wonder if it really has 11, or 9?

 

[toyboy1980]

Update:

I was able to get the patch they gave me applied.
It was a combo of the first download being bad, and the SD card slot not working properly (it killed 1 of my SD cards and can't read the other anymore).
I transferred the file via wifi and ran the update.

Thing is they still gave me an Android 9 update.

View attachment 146546

the build number is in the picture 190414.001, and that's an android 9 build from roughly 2018ish.

This is what I get for almost every single app I tried to download in the play store.

View attachment 146547View attachment 146548


I'm getting ready to return this. False advertising, it's not Android 12 and there doesn't seem to be anything I can do about it.

The MMB box is around $100 more but it claims to have Android 11 which should be salvageable. Getting into the pricing I want to avoid where I don't think it's worth it.
I wonder if it really has 11, or 9?

Ha. Good Lord. What a mess.

 

[Darksteel165]

Ha. Good Lord. What a mess.

Pretty much. It sucks because the unit seems to be running smoothly. Faster then some phones I have used in the past.

The update they have me seemed to help with wireless performance, almost like the base image was missing the proper drivers. I was getting 1-2.1Mbps on my home wifi pre update, after the update it looks like it auctally connected to the 5ghz band and transfers over wifi flew.

I might keep it, but having android 9 is really terrible epically since I paid more for the "android 12" version.

 

[billybaloneey]

Pretty much. It sucks because the unit seems to be running smoothly. Faster then some phones I have used in the past.

The update they have me seemed to help with wireless performance, almost like the base image was missing the proper drivers. I was getting 1-2.1Mbps on my home wifi pre update, after the update it looks like it auctally connected to the 5ghz band and transfers over wifi flew.

I might keep it, but having android 9 is really terrible epically since I paid more for the "android 12" version.

What is KSPIV's response when you point out that your box has Android 9, not 12 as advertised?

 

[Darksteel165]

What is KSPIV's response when you point out that your box has Android 9, not 12 as advertised?

No response yet when I sent them that.
I sideloaded some apps outside of the play store and it does currently run what I need to but it's frustrating claiming 12 but getting 9.

If I get an update I will definitely post it here.

 

[Brangun]

Anyone try the kspiv android 11 version? I just got mine but the screen just shows connected and nothing appears. I get the main menu for 1 second sometimes but goes blank again. By the looks of it I might just return it since @Darksteel165 claims they use android 9 instead of 11/12.