An Apple-plus-Google adapter that’s AI in name only (sigh)

Is there actually any AI in the “AI Box”? Highly doubtful. That said, it’s still reasonably durable, along with being platform-nimble. And the price-attractiveness is indisputable.

Sorry, readers. To quote baseball terminology, when it comes to teardowns of Apple CarPlay and Google Android Auto wireless adapters, I’m “0-for-3”. Not when it comes to fundamentally doing them, mind you; here are the two that EDN has published so far:

And the “combo” conclusion is appearing today. But none of them match the ones I told you, at the end of my initial conceptual coverage published in January, that I’d subsequently be dissecting.

Why? Well, as I mentioned at the time, the original CarPlay one I ordered never ended up getting delivered, so I’ll deflect any personal responsibility for that particular change in plans. And as for the Android Auto one, I realized upon further reflection that the device I was planning on disassembling was already obsolete, so I instead went with something more up-to-date and otherwise interesting; that NFC subsystem, for example.

In this case, as I re-read the initial January coverage, I realized that I’m being a bit overly harsh on myself. I’d actually never published a promise to subsequently tear down one of the combo devices (with both Apple CarPlay and Google Android Auto support) I’d gotten working in my wife’s Land Rover, although that was always my “inner voice” intent. Specifically, I’d been targeting the one from VCARLINKPLAY as my patient.

But it’s admittedly difficult for me to destructively disassemble perfectly good (and already setup and ready-to-go) hardware, as anyone who’s seen my editorial celebrations after successful re-assemblies and subsequent donations already realizes. That said, from past experiences with the CarPlay- and Android Auto-only devices, I doubt I’d have similar back-together success this time. So, when I came across a cool-looking alternative on eBay for only $9.98 plus tax, I couldn’t resist.

AI? Really?

This first photo of the outer packaging for the actual product I was shipped will, I think, explain the AI references in the title and subhead, not to mention in this particular section header.

As I recently wrote, regarding a different device I was in the process of dissecting:

Is there something explicitly artificial intelligence-related to this product (and/or the manufacturer, more generally), or is it just one of those cases nowadays where “anything sounds more important if you tack “AI” onto it”?

I think we all already know the answer to that question, right? Anyway, onward with the remaining few meaningful sides of the outer packaging.

As usual with products like this, there’s an FCC logo suggestive of certification printed on the packaging, but no actual certification ID to be found anywhere. Again, sigh.

And now let’s open ‘er up.

A sliver of literature, and a nicely included USB-A to USB-C adapter.

And now, last but definitely not least, our patient, initially complete with protective plastic on both the glass (presumed) top and USB-A plug.

A vented metal (aluminum, again presumed) chassis.

Once again, no FCC certification ID. But at least we now know the product code: Q1AS. Not that it helps us much. Google it and you’ll find devices in multiple shapes, sizes and colors, and in both CarPlay-only, Android Auto-only and combo flavors, the latter suggestive of common hardware differentiated solely via software.

I’m guessing this is for attachment to a keychain? Or a leash, mebbe?

And, wrapping up the overview, let’s ditch the plastic bits.

Diving inside

I’d previously mentioned that I thought the topside was glass, therefore the “reasonably” qualifier alongside “durable” (referencing the otherwise-metal body) in the subhead. Let’s test that hypothesis.

Where have I seen something like this before? Ah yes. Yep, glass.

And we’re in.

That glue you see on both ends of the PCB doesn’t seemingly do much; popping out the circuit board was easy.

Let’s look more closely at the topside first.

A nifty marking pattern atop the largest IC, presumably the application processor, although the absence of any meaningful accompanying info isn’t helpful. Arm-based, presumably. Albeit not definitively.

The other two ICs, both above it, include XTX Technology’s XT25F128F serial NOR flash memory, presumably storing system firmware along with various data bits, and to its right a smaller chip marked as follows, whose identity escapes me (readers?).

B11
3959
2512

At bottom right is a 24-MHz crystal, presumably feeding oscillation to the application processor. And on the right edge is the multi-function LED, whose illumination heads out the top via an integrated light pipe, and from there to the outside via a translucent void in the otherwise black glass.

Now for the PCB’s other side.

The largest silicon sliver this time is the AIC8800M40, a dual-band Wi-Fi-plus-Bluetooth controller from Shenzhen TrolinkTek Technology. The PCB-embedded antenna is to its left, although reiterating what I’ve said before, I only see one of them and I therefore don’t know how it’s capable of handling both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz duties.

Also located on this particular piece of PCB real estate are four odd-lead-count packaged devices, three of them (all five-lead) marked “t50KfP1” and the other three-lead one stamped with “ADAA” on top. I’m guessing they’re transistors (duals in the five-lead cases) but again welcome reader suggestions. And once again we find a user-inaccessible SPST switch, in the diagonally opposite corner from the aforementioned antenna. Freakish.

Thus concludes another editorial series. I hope you’ve found it to be as educational and otherwise enjoyable as I have. Closing reader thoughts are as-always welcome in the comments!

—Brian Dipert is the associate editor, as well as a contributing editor, at EDN.

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