On this blog we have begun to discover many solutions to make our car smart in terms of multimedia but the product I am talking about today is definitely interesting in many ways, starting with the price. A solution that we could define as stand alone and that in addition to offering Android Auto and Carplay in wireless mode brings the contents of Netflix, Prime Video, Youtube and more directly in streaming on the screen of our car. Without wasting any more time, the time has come to tell you about the new Ottocast Play2Video Pro, a small dongle that connects to the car's USB, on which Android 12 is mounted and that will bring a multimedia world inside your 4-wheeled vehicle.
Topics of this article:
unboxing
As usual, let's start with the contents of the package, which is very well-finished and attractive from a graphic point of view. Inside, in addition to our box, well protected by a high-density sponge, we will also find two cables for connecting to the car's USB and powering the box. One cable has a double USB-C end while the other has a Type-C side and a USB-A side so that it can be compatible with all cars on the road. Finally, we find an instruction manual.
DESIGN AND MATERIALS
Ottocast Play2Video Pro has a rectangular shape, with dimensions in line with the market of similar products and on one side it integrates a sort of slot for the USB Type-C connector. In this regard, I would like to point out that not all cables are compatible, in the sense that they must obviously also support data transfer and not just charging, but above all the tip of the connector must not be too thick, otherwise the risk is that the cable does not enter the appropriate power slot. It's not a big deal if we use the supplied cable, but if we were to lose or break it, keep in mind what I just told you.
On the opposite side, however, we have a USB-A port available for connecting a pen drive on which to save your music or video files, to then play them with the player integrated into the operating system. There is no slot for micro SD or nano SIM, so for the use of multimedia content, your smartphone will act as a hotspot, associating the Ottocast gadget via wifi. Finally, there is a series of vent grilles for the dissipation of heat that could be generated, although I personally have never noticed the risk of overheating.
HARDWARE
In terms of hardware, the Ottocast Play2Video Pro is animated by a dual-core processor whose model and brand I do not know but I can tell you that this element allows you to animate the Android 12 system which is accompanied by 8 GB of internal memory. Hardware that is undoubtedly basic but that allows you to make any operation that we will carry out fluid and compared to similar solutions, on the Ottocast box I have never noticed any lag in the interface or during video playback, both in streaming and locally. I specify that the internal memory of 8 GB will not be used and will not allow you to install applications, first of all because we do not find a store to download the apps, but only a store that offers the possibility of updating those already installed by the manufacturer.
In practice the 8 GB of memory, of course not all available since part of these are used by the operating system (as happens with smartphones) but it allows you to store videos locally, passing them for example from a USB stick. The car gadget is then integrated with a dual-band WiFi module, through which you can connect to the phone's hotspot but also to enable the wireless connection of Android Auto or Carplay.
COMPATIBILITY, CONFIGURATION AND FUNCTIONS
As an essential requirement to use Ottocast Play2Video Pro is that your car's infotainment system is compatible with Apple CarPlay. Generally all cars from 2016 onwards except for BMW. Furthermore, it is not enough to have a USB port in the car, but it must allow data exchange with the car's native system, since this box will elude the system by making it believe that we have connected an iOS device via cable.
In any case, using Ottocast Play2Video Pro is simple, as we should do a few steps as the basic experience is plug-and-play. In fact, you will just need to insert the device into the USB socket of your car and wait a few seconds before the home screen of the Ottocast device will appear on the display of your infotainment system. At the first start, the graphic interface will also be optimized based on the resolution of the car's screen. Once inside the interface, we find in plain sight the applications pre-installed by the manufacturer, such as YouTube, Netflix, Prime Video, TikTok Lite and an app for IPTV. No Play Store to download applications and this in my opinion is an advantage, as you will not have the opportunity to clog up the system with heavy apps that would negatively affect the fluidity of the system.
As for video streaming apps, namely Youtube, Prime Video and Netflix, once you log in with your credentials, you can benefit from all the features offered by these apps and enjoy watching videos, films and TV series with excellent quality in terms of resolution and fluidity. If we want to watch our son's play, we can import the videos from a USB stick or read them directly from it via the integrated app, in addition to having a file manager available. As for TikTok Lite and the IPTV app, I personally was unable to use them: the first returned an error when logging in while the other did not recognise the m3u lists. A real shame because it would have been really great to be able to also view the free-to-air channels of Italian TV. Let's hope for a future update that solves this problem. An update that could arrive via OTA.
I won't go into detail about the wireless Android Auto or CarPlay experience, as I wouldn't add anything new to what any device that allows a wireless smartphone connection offers, but I will tell you that you will be forced to use these features if you need GPS navigation, which is absent on the Ottocast device as is the maps app.
However, there is also the possibility of managing calls, importing the smartphone's address book, managing music both locally and via Bluetooth as well as the ability to quickly clean the RAM and terminate apps or recall them quickly via the task manager. You can also customize the home screen in a certain sense, managing widgets or apps to have immediately available. Finally, I would like to point out that the system is perfectly compatible with the factory controls of your car, including voice control, steering wheel control, touch screen control while a future OTA update will also enable navigation via knob.
CONCLUSIONS AND PRICE
Ottocast Play2Video Pro has a selling price of 153,99 euros but, for a limited time, you can buy it at a discount of 89,99 euros through the box below with the possibility of a further discount through the coupon EITech20, if you proceed with the purchase through the official website of the brand. Alternatively, you can find it on Amazon at an equally advantageous price considering the guarantees of the colossal e-commerce. In fact, by redeeming a discount code from the purchase page, you can buy this extraordinary gadget for the multimedia of your car at a super price of € 99,99.
Ideal for long journeys and to entertain children and/or passengers, Ottocast Play2Video Pro is not for everyone in the sense that if you are one of those people who even in the car seeks dominion over everything, such as control of home automation, emails etc.. here you will have none of that, not being able to install any apps despite the presence of a system based on Android 12. But if you are looking for a multimedia box, allowing you to enjoy a TV series while you are parked (never driving please) then this product is the best you can find in terms of fluidity, reliability and price. It is a product without too many frills that does what it promises, without too many problems or without the need for complex procedures for configuration.
Hi Emanuele, I have the adapter connected to an Alfa Romeo Giulia 2019 with wired carplay, unfortunately it does not allow me to log in to Wifi, the keyboard appears on the screen but it does not allow me to use it, I do not have a touchscreen and I do not have the navigation knob enabled. In your experience, is there a way to bypass the problem?, thanks in advance.
ppgad@pucrs.br