Thanks Sous. I'm certain the Amazon return ship has sailed (pun very much intended...). Supposedly I do have an ATOTO warranty on the unit 'till February, which I'm about to test. I've fired off two messages to them about the issue in less than 24 hours, and expect a reply overnight.

The whole reason I bought the S8 was because of the newer version of "Android" (assuming it's actually licensed code, which I have come to doubt), figuring that stability would be improved. Bad idea. I'm pretty sure the problem is in the software, as resetting to factory defaults does fix the problem, for a seemingly random period of time. Similarly, the "Uninstall" button on apps often fails to respond, but I've figured out that pulling the radio fuse and letting it hard reset fixes that, again for a time. The radio does have a hard button for home, so I can sort of work around the misbehaving "back" button, but there is no equivalent hard task list button, so the only way to kill apps is to pull the fuse.

I have learned at least one handy S8-specific trick: If you have a backup camera, the screen defaults to a split rear view and virtual overhead view. The latter is not accurate, and you will run into things if you depend on it. I just wanted the full screen backup camera view, anyway, but it's not a menu option. It turns out opening the Settings app, then pressing System 4 times in succession, then entering 3368, will bring up a hidden menu that includes the full screen backup camera option. There is other stuff on it, too, but nothing that interested me.

Mark

 

They were always very prompt to return my questions or ask me more questions when I had a configuration issue. Like you said though, it was clear their support was based overseas and they would reply overnight.

I can tell you with confidence the Android OS on these systems is NOT licensed. If it is, then it is only because it is many generations old. As you may know, each smartphone manufacturer has their own "flavor" of Android OS. Samsung will be different than LG in how they operate and settings. The core and base OS is still Android when you get down to it, but the features and every day functionality of the Android OS is tailored to the device manufacturer to an extent.

If there is no return option, you could look into "rooting" the device. There is nothing to loose at that point and maybe you can work your way around the OS in order to find what is causing the issue.

If you revert back to factory defaults and do NOT update the firmware or software, does the issue still present itself?

Another option may be to install a third party app that brings the "app list" up for you based on how you configure it or as it is set to default. My wife had an abused Samsung S7 (abused because she is VERY, VERY hard on phones) and I downloaded a third party app that allowed me to override the Samsung Android OS button commands and insert my own. Coincidentally, her app list soft button was no longer working either, so I changed the "home" button on a long press to be the "app list" button. That worked for a long time until she cracked the screen... I bought a used Samsung S7 for her off Amazon on sale and all has been well. Except for when she made the volume buttons freeze due to coffee being spilled on it...

Sometimes new software or marketed as newer software is not better. As a matter of fact, I almost NEVER recommend anyone go with a new version of software like Windows 11 or anything. I get it that the S8 has an old version of Android by todays standards, but the A6 Android OS has been around a long time and is said to be quite reliable from some people I trust with my life.

I have tagged @BWST as I know he has an S8 in one of his vehicles as well and was messing with the split screen option. He may benefit from your trick you posted and I thank you for taking the time to post that.

 

Thanks for the tag on this Sous, and for the backup cam trick, Mark.

I wondered if the virtual bird's eye view could be disabled when needed. I have had good luck with the virtual view by putting in my truck dimensions in the calibration mode slightly larger than actual, so the truck outline in the view is bigger than actual, providing a buffer.








I've had to play with camera placement. I still cannot see the lower left and lower right corners of the backup view due to the tailgate handle keyhole mounting position - I need to modify the mount to extend the camera further through the handle so those areas are not cut off.




So far, the S8 has been stable and workable, though it has "taught" me how it prefers to be used at times. I'm sorry you are having trouble with the back button and having to do hard resets - that would not be acceptable to me either. If asked, I'll continue to recommend the A6 to folks as the most stable version of this product line for these trucks. I have threatened to pull the A6 from the Yukon and use it in my truck, but my youngest son drives that rig and would rather it stay put.

 

It looks like ATOTO is going to replace the radio, after asking me to upload videos demonstrating the issue. The Gen1's are effectively extinct, and they are going to want money to "upgrade" me to a Gen2. We'll see how that works out. There support is good, but you get exactly one email per day, no matter how quickly you reply, so this could drag on a bit. I'll post progress, and results.

Mark

 

At least they are working with you in an effort to warranty the product and replace it. How much "money" is a question that you still have to sort out it seems.

I posted the timeline of my interaction with support a while back above. Yes, one email per day, but I was satisfied with that as my head unit and dash camera were on my test bench working out the customization bugs and whatnot before installing. I understand your frustration and am sorry you are dealing with this, but at least they are working with you instead of giving you the bird and not replying at all.

Keep us updated Mark.

 

They have agreed to replace my Gen1 S8 Pro with a Gen2 S8 Premium. It's a slight downgrade, in a way, as it doesn't have quick charge capabilities and only soft buttons, but the Gen2 S8 Pro comes with a 4G chip I'll never use, and they wanted some amount of money to upgrade to it. They offered me a straight trade to a Gen1 with a 10" screen, but that's just a theft magnet, which I don't need.

The catch in all this is they want me to ship the old radio back, and then, they'll ship me the new one. That's a royal pain, so I'm trying to get them to let me buy the new radio, then they credit me when they have the old one back. At one email a day, this negotiation could go on awhile...

Mark

 

I have the S8 Premium - not sure the generation. Yeah "soft" buttons for power, home, volume on the left side. I was bummed not to have the fast charge the Pro had, and even the A6 Pro had, but I use a separate cig lighter charger.

What about trading for an A6 Pro? You'll keep the quick charge and hard buttons.

 

Mark, I hope you get it sorted out quickly and the outcome is something you are happy with.

 

ATOTO got back to me this morning, and they are going to ship the new radio and let me return the old one after the swap. No cost involved. Other than the clunky daily communications (which I asked about, and was very politely told, 'That's how we do it around here, boy'), it's hard to fault their response to this. We'll see how long the replacement takes.

Mark

 

Good news Mark, I hope this one works out for you.

 

Spent some time today repositioning the ATOTO rear camera through the handle to expand the field of view, and also see the hitch for fast hookups.

You do trade a somewhat distorted rear view for the virtual birds-eye function, given the fish-eye lens on this camera model. I still might try the full view code you provided, Mark, if this modification does not work out.




The view is better now. Will try it out on the camping trip next week.

 

Looks good Jeff. We hope the repositioning of the camera helps next week.

 

ATOTO sent the promised S8 Premium Gen2 radio, and it arrived last week while we were traveling. However, I'm not sure it's going to work, and I'm hoping one of you guys can help me figure that out:

The S8 Pro Gen1 I have has two USB "connectors" on the back, each of which is split and exposed as USB A female connectors. One connection on each port is labeled "external storage", and I'm using both of them. One for an ATOTO dash camera, and the other for my OBDLink adapter. The remaining connectors, one labeled "phone link", and the other "quick charge", are unused.

The new S8 Premium Gen2 only has one USB connector, split into one port labeled "external storage" and one labeled "phone link". Unless I can reliably connect either the dash cam or OBDLink adapter to the "phone link" connector, this radio won't work.

Have any of you done this, and do you know what the actual differences between the USB ports are? I've asked ATOTO, but I'm at least as interested in your experience as their answer.

Mark

 

I'm interested to hear what they tell you, Mark. I wondered what a wired OBDII dongle would connect to with this S8 Premium. I'm still using a bluetooth OBDII adapter with this model. I don't recommend it though because every couple of days I have to go into the ATOTO's settings and turn on bluetooth2 so that it will connect. It turns off by itself every few times I get in the truck. Hardwired OBDII is the way to go with this headunit.

I've only tried the phone link USB to try out phone mirroring. I hope it can be used for your dashcam or OBDLink adapter.

Hey @udsuth78 , I was reading on another thread that you are using a Vgate brand bluetooth OBDII adapter, vLinker FD+. You were saying it's been working well for you. I wanted to see if they made a wired version. I checked FORScan.org and see that they have a new USB OBDII adapter from Vgate they are recommending, vLinker FS, in addition to the OBDLink EX and SX. I'm trying to understand the differences to see which one to order. The Vgate is the same price as the proven OBDLink SX, but a couple of folks on FORScan's forum have received defective vgate units and had to exchange them before they worked.

I'm not seeing confirmation that any of these wired adapters work with android - they are advertised for Windows. How do we know they will work with Android, other than trying them?

On the backup cam topic, the repositioned ATOTO unit worked very well.

 

Possibly a USB splitter or hub? I was wandering about USB myself a few weeks ago since I was considering the S8 as well. Asked about using a USB hub on an Atoto Facebook group and got two replies from people saying that they had successfully used a splitter or hub with theirs.

These are the hubs/splitters they said they were using and what they said. I replaced the Facebook links with the actual amazon links.


I haven't tried any of this myself, don't even have an atoto yet, so I can't confirm that it works. When I eventually get one, if I want/need more USB ports I'll be trying it.