Motorola MA1 wireless car adapter review – Your ticket to a premium Android Auto experience

This should come as no surpise but we’re pretty keen on technology here at Stuff. And not just everyday tech like smartphones or laptops. New cars tend to pack quite a lot of tech in them these days. That’s usually in the form of big touchscreens for the infotainment system, Lithium batteries in the case of EVs, or a companion app that allows you to remotely control a few functions. Unfortunately for us (and any other tech enthusiast with a vehicle), most car manufacturers tend to see the infotainment system as an afterthought and aren’t willing to spend the cash to make a decent user experience.

Thankfully, there are already solutions to that problem. Apple’s Carplay and Google’s Android Auto are extensions of their respective ecosystems, designed to compliment your travels. They work by connecting a smartphone to a compatible vehicle and will use the infotainment screen to grant access to navigation, media playback, and communication through apps you’ve already set up and are familiar with.

Android Auto has come a long way since its debut in 2015 as a standalone app. Now, its integrated into the Android OS and most vehicle manufacturers support it in their mid-range vehicles and up. And if you have a slightly pricier car that already comes with Wi-Fi capabilities, its been possible to ditch the required USB cable since 2018 when Android Auto wireless rolled out.

If you don’t have a brand new whip and don’t want to have to fiddle with USB cables, its possible to have the wireless Android Auto experience, you’ll just need a little help from something like the Motorola MA1. 

Android Auto untethered

 This wireless adapter means you can say goodbye to your smartphone being tethered to your car’s USB port while using Android Auto.  There’s not much to say about the MA1’s physical attributes, it looks a bit like a tadpole… or a USB-A compatible pebble with a pairing button on the side. It also comes with a double-sided sticker so you can keep it from dangling like Tarzan when you make sharp turns. 

The Motorola MA1’s simple design matches the simple setup. Plug it into the Android Auto-enabled USB port in your car, press the link button, pair it with your smartphone, and Android Auto should show up as an option on your screen like it does when you connect your phone directly with a cable.

The Android Auto experience remains the same but now you can DJ from the back seat. It’s also worth pointing out that this little guy itsn’t a miracle worker. It’s not going to make your non-Android Auto compatible vehicle suddenly compatible. Your vehicle will have to support Android Auto already. To check if yours does, here’s a handy list. 

Another important thing to note with the Motorola MA1 is that, like vehicles that already support Android Auto wireless, it establishes a Wi-Fi connection with your smartphone through which Android Auto operates. Think about it, you’re going to need more than just Bluetooth to run an infotainment system from your phone.  

Motorola MA1 verdict

The only question left to answer is how much you value not having to plug your smartphone in everytime you climb into your car. If you travel a lot, especially in places that aren’t familiar, or if you can’t go anywhere without your favourite podcast or audiobook playing, you’ll probably get more value out of the MA1 than someone who only uses Android Auto when they remember it exists.

Is the convenience worth R1,900? Only you know what that kind of money is worth to you. It might seem like a silly way to avoid a cable but its certainly a lot less than the price of a new car that supports it out of the box. 

Revolutionizing Communication with Nology: Where Technology Meets Efficiency

In the dynamic world of modern business, seamless communication is the backbone of success. With Nology and AudioCodes leading the charge, the game is changing. By leveraging the power of advanced technology, AudioCodes is transforming the way businesses connect, collaborate, and serve their customers.

Unlocking the potential of seamless communication has never been so easy with Nology and AudioCodes' Session Border Controllers (SBCs). These powerful devices redefine connectivity by effortlessly managing PSTN and SIP connections from a single hub. Whether you're operating from a centralized headquarters or managing remote offices, our SBCs provide a unified platform for streamlining operations and enhancing connectivity across your entire network. Say goodbye to communication barriers and hello to a new era of unified, efficient communication.

In our short series of articles we will explore the future of communications.

Follow our page and Contact us today, to get a sneak preview of whats to come for 2024! 

Protect your children online with Bark parental control software and the Vilo Wi-Fi Mesh System

Vilo, a leading name in Wi-Fi mesh routers and systems, has partnered with Bark to protect your children from the dangers of the Internet.

• Learn more about Vilo’s products that come with Bark.

This adds even more value to Vilo’s popular mesh products, which are known for providing fast, stable Internet speeds and whole-home Wi-Fi coverage.

These products are suitable for homes of all sizes, as they can support over 100 devices connected at any one time, and have integrated mesh capabilities, too.

This allows you to link several Vilo routers together to create one single network, so that you don’t have to switch between networks as you move around in your house, therefore eliminating any dead zones.

Any homeowner that wants affordable, fast, stable, and reliable connectivity throughout their home should consider a Vilo Wi-Fi Mesh System. Setting up the system is a breeze, thanks to the user-friendly mobile app.

In less than 5 minutes, you’ll be up and running. The app’s capabilities extend to network management, guest network setup, and shielding your kids from inappropriate content through intuitive parental controls.

Bark Parental Controls

Vilo has reiterated its commitment to delivering the best and safest Wi-Fi experience possible through its partnership with Bark.

Bark is an award-winning parental control suite that covers almost seven million children around the world from online dangers, and include safety tools such as:

• Set and manage screen time limits.
• Block and filter specific websites or entire categories, like sexual content.
• Block games and apps, like Netflix or YouTube.
• Get key insights into your child’s online world so you can support them as they navigate technology.
• Create automatic bedtimes, restricting certain apps at bedtime, or revoke Internet access entirely.
• Set custom schedules to only allow online gaming or streaming at certain times.
• Make the browser’s “safe search” mandatory.
• Completely block Internet use.

The partnership between Vilo and Bark means that all of these controls are now available for FREE (valued at $79) through the Vilo app to anyone using a Vilo Wi-Fi router or mesh system at home.

With Bark In-Home Parental Control software being incorporated directly into the Vilo devices, everything connected to your home network will be protected, including gaming consoles, tablets, TVs and more. This is a huge benefit and advantage that the Vilo and Bark combination can offer which other products and solutions simply can’t.

• Get your Vilo W-Fi Mesh System with Bark parental control software here

The importance of parental controls

Vilo’s partnership with Bark comes at a time when children are exposed to more harmful online content than ever before.

The list of content that is now easily accessible to young people includes pornography, sexting, suicidal ideation, bullying, and more.

The importance of protecting your children from these harmful things cannot be overstated.

Data from the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention shows that the percentage of high schoolers who report sadness, hopelessness, or suicidal thoughts has risen significantly since the adoption of Internet-connected smartphones.

Thanks to Bark, almost 7 million children are already leading better online lives – and if you buy a Vilo Wi-Fi mesh system, your children will also be protected.

Parents will also be able to upgrade to Bark Premium (at an additional subscription fee), which will scan text messages, emails, YouTube, and 30+ of the most popular apps and social media platforms for issues like cyberbullying, online predators, suicidal ideation, and alert you of any potential dangers.

Additionally, parents will be able to monitor their children’s web searches and saved photos and videos, as well as track their location. Bark doesn’t just send an alert and then say, “good luck!” since they are committed to being there with you every step of the way.

Each time the app sends an alert about a potential issue, they also include information about what to do next — conversation starters, boundaries to set, and more.

• Learn more about Vilo’s products with Bark parental controls.

Nology is the exclusive distributor of Vilo Wi-Fi mesh routers and systems in South Africa.

It has been providing resellers and ISPs with superior broadband, wireless, and networking solutions for over 20 years – and has a proven track record in the industry.

It has also gained the trust of South Africa’s largest ISPs and network operators, thanks to its commitment to only offering the best products and service.