Android car stereo?

[midwestfx]

I wasn't sure where to put this, so I figured the Unicorn thread would probably work.

Question, Do we live in the future?
Answer, According to Back to the Future we do!

Has anyone, and if not, why, hasn't anyone created a car-dock for our Android phones that integrates with the stereo head within our vehicles? I was thinking about this the other night while driving home from work. I have a Samsung Fascinate and have one of the 3rd party car-docks that slips into my cd drive, and my phone is suspended just over the actual stereo "monitor." I think it would be great to swap out my factory stereo and put one in that had a dock built into it where I could slip my phone into it and use handfree calling, google maps navigation, and listen to music, right from the comfort of my already nearly perfectly positioned car stereo.

I'm sorry if this seems like a bit of a rant, or run-on but I just had to get this down and see if there were others with this idea.

*by the by, I'm copyrighting and patenting this idea!* lol.

 

[GTvert90]

An android based head unit would be cool.

I can't see them making a dock built in like they do for Iproducts when there isn't a standard location for the charging/headphone jack.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

 

[Balthazar B]

Parrot was showing an Android-based head unit at CES.

If someone had a head unit that could receive A2DP audio from the smartphone, and send AVRCP (assuming the smartphone supports that profile), the head unit (and steering wheel controls, etc.) could control A/V playback. It would likely require an app on the smartphone side to enable everything, but that's not rocket science.

Charging a <your smartphone here> could be challenging to do cleanly, but availability of USB ports at strategic areas in the car would take care of most issues (with a little cable mess). Advances in Qi technology could make that easier, but i don't see that in automobiles for another year or two.

 

[Phil Nickinson]

I saw the Parrot thing. Have video of it still to post. If you didn't know it was running Android, you wouldn't know it was running android.

 

[tropper]

Many stereos these days come with built in bluetooh receivers, leaving you almost completely hands free.
Bluetooth Car Stereo Selector
Fords Sync technology is now andoid capable, an GM offers bluetooth available stereos prolly soon to be android ready
leaving you with OEM steering mounted thumb controls.

 

[RUSH]

Most things are possible - then there are those that aren't. Remember a few years back when we thought about having phones that could video chat...haha.

 

[tomgillotti]

I would like to see fully integrated car stereos with Android based OS. And I mean I would like to see this direct from the factory. As much as I hate toyota, I could see the scion brand being the one to jump on this.. but unfortunately they'll probably want some *pple version-- this would be counter-productive!

Full integration ensure seamless interface and usability. This would also allow for safety protocols to be infused into the system, by ensuring that it passes all standard national auto safety checks.

Biggest things- 3g/4g, google maps, google sync, google voice, bluetooth interface with Android based handset, and most importantly would be the built in microphone (placed similarly to how GM has utilized the OnStar microphone)-- couple this with hands-free voice commands and you've got a winner!

I wrote a paper on this for a class not too long ago and if THAT comes out, I'll claim a patent on IT! lol