Thanks! You can control all connected smart home devices from anywhere. I don’t have the best cell reception at my home, so I used WiFi just for the fear of losing cell reception while making the review.
Roav VIVA - Video & Review ... I LOVE THIS THING!
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Haha. That’s too funny. I can see how frustrating that could get. Definitely trade out the car Genie for a car VIVA. 
I finally understand how VIVA works in the car! It looks great for navigation, more safe in driving!
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Great review. Now, I really want one! 
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Great review! Thanks for sharing!
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It is an great review. We will not speak about the Alexa turn on the light thing 
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For me it would be interesting to know I you have to launch the app also on an Android phone or would it work by itself?
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Very great review! Nice to see it in action 
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@TheCharneco or any other user, I am curious if this will bypass my Galaxy s8 lock screen??
I know that I can launch my camera app pre-lockscreen and take several photos but it will lock again when I try to access anything else but that is a pre installed device app.
I would like to be able to say “Alexa add milk to my list” while I am driving without having to take my phone out of my pocket and unlock it first. Will pressing the button on the device launch the app pre lockscreen?
I usually stick my phone on my Anker mag mount anyway and right now I have to touch the finger scanner and then I can use OK Google to launch my maps but for short trips I often leave the phone in the pocket.
Thanks
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@Kopra_12 and @bobbleheaderman, I can’t speak for Android devices, but I have tried a to see if my iPhone would automatically launch the app. As long as my phone is unlocked, the Roav VIVA app has launched automatically and automatically connected to the VIVA.
When my iPhone is locked, as long as I have the app running already in the background, it usually connects just fine. I’ll occasionally have to unlock the phone and launch the app, but that’s because my iPhone is terrible and I need a new battery.
If the phone is locked and the VIVA app isn’t running in the background, the VIVA will still connected via bluetooth to my iPhone and then I’ll hear a verbal notification saying, “Please start the Roav VIVA app…”
I’ll try a few more tests to see if I can get it auto lunch the app from the lock screen and will let you know what works and what doesn’t.
I love the maps feature because it not only launches your designated maps app, but it also loads the directions from your current location. So all you have to do is hit the “GO” button to start the navigation. The feature will only work automatically if the phone is unlocked, though. Otherwise, you’ll have to unlock the phone so the maps app can load.
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@AnkerTechnical how does the viva work with Android? Is it possible that the viva starts the app by itself and bypass the log screen? I mean it should be possible with Android, right?
I mean you might have to turn off the battery optimization.
[color=red]UPDATE:[/color]
I have an update on using the VIVA without the app. This morning on my way to work I chose to ignore the instructions that say “Open your Road VIVA app and pay attention to the road.” I kept my phone locked the whole time and decided to just see what happens when I start to ask Alexa to do things. Low and behold, she worked just fine! My first test was to turn off the living room lights in my house. Boom, lights went off. Then I checked the weather. Brrr…11 degrees this morning! After that I played some music followed by resuming the audio novel I’m listening to. Everything worked perfectly and honestly seemed to work a little quicker since it wasn’t relying on being in sync with the app. I call that a major win in my book!
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Thanks for the quick update. Just to be clear, did the phone still need to be present? Did it play music that was loaded on your phone and then route through your cars stereo? Can it control the car stereo independent of your phone? Sorry for all the questions and thanks
Do you connect your VIVA to car using bluetooth or other connection?
No worries with the questions! Ask away! If I don’t know something, I’ll try it out to see if I can get the answer.
Yes it does. It uses the cellular service from the phone in order to work and allow Alexa to do her thing.
No. It streams music directly from the VIVA from your choice of Amazon Music, Pandora, Spotify, iHeart Radio, SiriusXM, or TuneIn. But, it does route all audio through your car stereo.
Unfortunately not, but you have full voice control of the VIVA just like the Echo and Genie home devices. You can say things like: “Alexa, play classic rock on Pandora.” “Alexa, play kids songs.” “Alexa, mute.” “Alexa, volume 10.” “Alexa, next song.” “Alexa, shuffle” “Alexa, play.” “Alexa, stop.” So it bypasses your stereo controls for its own, built-in controls.
When I was setting up the VIVA it connected to my phone via bluetooth. After it was connected, I had to then select my car’s bluetooth connection from my phone setup menu. From there it looked like it then connected audio to my car and the syphoned cellular data from my phone all via bluetooth. The audio quality is great! It’s crisp and clear.
Let me know if that helps answer your questions.
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One more thing. I’ve been trying to speak to it without pausing after saying “Alexa” like I do with the Echo Show and Echo Dots I have at home. All morning on my drive to work I said my Alexa commands without pausing and she responded accurately each time. When I had music playing, I did have to ask a second time in a louder volume in order for her to hear me. If the music is too loud and she can’t hear you, just press the mic button on top of the VIVA and it’ll activate Alexa’s ears.
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Suuuuuper nice review!
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Great review! I wonder, have you tried using the Alexa/Amazon app by itself, without the Viva? I haven’t myself, but it seems like it should allow most of the same functionality. The only thing I’m not sure about it is if it supports waking with the Alexa keyword. Myself, I just use Google Assistant when I’m in the car, which requires no additional hardware and can be set up to wake on keyword, but I think that only really works with Android phones which have it baked in.
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I have used Alexa app while driving, but it doesn’t function like that. The Amazon Music app has brought back Alexa functionality to the app. It’s not a full Alexa and there are a few hangups with it. It’ll play your Amazon Music, add groceries, as well as several other Amazon stock functions. The real difference between using a “lite” version of Alexa that the Amazon Music app has compared to devices like the Genie and VIVA is that you get just about a full blown Alexa device in the Genie/VIVA. Since the VIVA just turns on when you start the car and automatically connects, there aren’t any extra steps you need to take to get it started and the voice commands work flawlessly as far as I’ve experienced.