Using a Tablet as an In Dash Device

[The Shag]

Hey guys, I plan on buying a car in a few months, and I have this grand dream of replacing the radio/nav stuff with a connected Android tablet, probably the Tab 7.0+ on TMo. I'd have Google Maps and all my music with Google's Car Home interface resting right in the dash.

Of course, that's my dream. To anyone's knowledge, is that, like, a thing? Can that be done elegantly? Is that something I can have done at a shop or is there a kit to do it myself? Any help or personal experience would be much appreciated.

 

[PvilleComp]

It's been done, but unless you are real handy with car dash stuff, I think a shop would do a real nice job. Plus they should be able to tie it into the eleteric system as well.

Here are some links of others who have done it.

Pics of My Dash Mounted Android Tablet - SVTPerformance

2009 Altima Dash Mount Android Tablet PC

Dash-mounted Nook Color is a perfect head unit replacement - Hack a Day

Good luck!

 

[rbess1965]

I've often believe that the in-dash stereo will become a thing of the past soon because we can get all of our entertainment needs from our devices now. Our grand kids will someday ask, what are car stereos? All you need is a unit that receives Bluetooth and has an amplifier driving the speakers. I have Sync in my Taurus & unlimited data (for now) so I rarely use the radio anymore. Use TuneIn for local shows and Pandora for other stuff. I have a profile setup that changes all my settings when the cars Bluetooth sees the phone. It's seamless & very cool. I use a modified Blackberry holster to hold the phone flat against my dash next to the radio and all looks really smooth.

Sent using Droid Razr Maxx

 

[The Shag]

Nifty! Thanks!

 

[The Shag]

I've often believe that the in-dash stereo will become a thing of the past soon because we can get all of our entertainment needs from our devices now. Our grand kids will someday ask, what are car stereos? All you need is a unit that receives Bluetooth and has an amplifier driving the speakers. I have Sync in my Taurus & unlimited data (for now) so I rarely use the radio anymore. Use TuneIn for local shows and Pandora for other stuff. I have a profile setup that changes all my settings when the cars Bluetooth sees the phone. It's seamless & very cool. I use a modified Blackberry holster to hold the phone flat against my dash next to the radio and all looks really smooth.

Sent using Droid Razr Maxx

I appreciate all of that, but I really don't like Bluetooth audio, or at least what I've heard. Is 3.0 any better?

 

[PvilleComp]

The only problem I have with touch screens in cars is that you have to look at what you are doing to touch the correct button. Sometimes you have to watch for quite a while.

With analog/mechanical buttons that are different shapes, I can adjust temp, change stations and volume without looking.

 

[RedRamage]

The only problem I have with touch screens in cars is that you have to look at what you are doing to touch the correct button. Sometimes you have to watch for quite a while.

With analog/mechanical buttons that are different shapes, I can adjust temp, change stations and volume without looking.

You have a point. That said, voice commands are getting better and better every day. I don't think it will it's too far fetched to imagine that luxury cars in the *very* near future will be able to be controlled completely via voice... That is, temp controls, internal lighting, perhaps even wiper blades and cruise control, will all be voice controlled. Put a button on the steering wheel that that activates the voice command and away you go...

 

[PvilleComp]

I agree, but for voice to be solely used there will have to be a lot more work done on accent recognition! When a native Scotsman can hop into a Hertz rental and use voice commands without a "learning curve" then we'll have something!

 

[The Shag]

Personally, I'm a very paranoid driver. Fiddling with it while driving is just not a thing I would do. When I've had rental cars and used my phone for Nav and music and an issue popped up, I would find a place to pull over and take care of it. A minor annoyance isn't worth getting killed over.