Android in Dash Build

[loosecannon]

Let's begin that I have no prior experience with car audio and related electronics. My speakers are still the OEM speakers, and I have no plans to replace them (yet). I'm not much of an audiophile, as long as there's no raspiness/static, I'm happy.

My original plan was to purchase an OEM-like deck, like CASKA, for example. But seeing how slow and ugly the interface is, I decided to toss that idea out the window and mount a tablet infront of the OEM deck. But seeing how unclean that would be, I decided to integrate it into the dash, ultimately taking out the OEM deck.

Two things I must have while doing this project:

Retain steering wheel controls
Bluetooth Handsfree


Front End: I have not made a decision on this yet (one reason being that I'm kinda leaning towards to the Nexus 7, but it's OOS everywhere :().

Nexus 7 (http://www.google.com/nexus/#/7) - 1280x800 IPS display, features excellent viewing angles as opposed to other tablets. Problem is there is no expandable memory.
OR
Galaxy Tab 2 7" (http://www.samsung.com/global/microsite/galaxytab2/7.0/index.html?type=find) - Good alternative, supports expandable memory up to 64GB (tested). In the specs, it says up to 32GB, but if you format the 64GB card into the right format, the tablet can read it. This is perfect for my growing music collection.

The Parts (Preliminary):

A single DIN headunit - either mounted in my glove box or where the OEM headunit used to be (then putting the tablet infront of it). I'm looking for a unit with A2DP bluetooth audio and handsfree at the same time, external microphone, and steering wheel controls. Since there's so many units out there with all these features, this will cover the list of functions I need to retain in this project. This will also act as the AMP for the tablet.

Some sort of steering wheel control module - dependent on the headunit I choose.

Double Din dash kit - Metra (http://www.metraonline.com/part/99-7514B) or Scosche (http://www.scosche.com/car-audio/product/1924). I've already purchased the Metra kit from Lockdown and I'm still planning on how to hack this.

Various cables.


Here's something I'm aiming towards - having a slot open at the top to make sliding the tablet easy. Or have it hinged at the bottom like a cassette player. Not sure how I'm going to accomplish the latter one...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0o1zkqEuec

Does anyone have any comments or suggestions to my ideas? Maybe a better way at mounting/removing the tablet? Extreme heat and cold is not going to be good for the tablet.

I will update the thread as I go along with the project.

[The Wolf]

Wow I've been toying with the idea of trying the same thing with my playbook. I hope you do this.

Perhaps a ridge along the bottom to keep it in place, and magnets on top to "lock" the top in place

[rzapata]

Subscribed to your thread. Sounds like an awesome idea. I'd like something like this too. :thumbsup

[loosecannon]

Wow I've been toying with the idea of trying the same thing with my playbook. I hope you do this.

Perhaps a ridge along the bottom to keep it in place, and magnets on top to "lock" the top in place

I think the Playbook would fit nicely into the double din kits without much hacking. Hopefully this thread will inspire you!


Subscribed to your thread. Sounds like an awesome idea. I'd like something like this too. :thumbsup

Thanks! Trust me, reading all those builds on MP3Car.com makes me want to tackle this ASAP. It's going to be fun.

[Honva]

I was thinking to do something similar to this. See the thread about mounting 7" android tablets. Made the mistake of test driving the 2013 Altima. Traded my 3 in right after the test.

Just to share. One idea I came up with is to make a frame around the OEM radio then install a flip up mounting plate for the tablet. When flipped down, the tablet would cover the OEM radio. When flipped up, I could then access the OEM buttons. The usb power and audio cable could route through along the top hinge through the edge of the air vent cover for tidiness.

[loosecannon]

I was thinking to do something similar to this. See the thread about mounting 7" android tablets. Made the mistake of test driving the 2013 Altima. Traded my 3 in right after the test.

Just to share. One idea I came up with is to make a frame around the OEM radio then install a flip up mounting plate for the tablet. When flipped down, the tablet would cover the OEM radio. When flipped up, I could then access the OEM buttons. The usb power and audio cable could route through along the top hinge through the edge of the air vent cover for tidiness.

Won't it be protruding a little too much if you have a bracket in front of the OEM deck? It takes away the flush look :/

[trulankan]

that looks pretty damn amazing...beats any deck out there haha...i would love to do this one day

[XTOTHEL]

add something like this too!

http://torque-bhp.com/software/torque-android-obd2-adapters/

[slam525i]

If I had the money, I'd do it... but no money :-(

What would be great would be a 3D printer to make the mounting bracket. That would save so much hassle. I'd leave the stock stereo and the bluetooth, maybe relocate them somewhere, with the headphone jack of the tablet going to the aux of the stereo. Use Garmin Mechanic or similar software to read and log the OBDII. Tether data to my phone, and use Tasker (Android App) to automate everything. It'd basically be an add-on rather than a replacement to the stereo. I wouldn't even mind soldering and cutting a gajillion cables to relocate everything... but alas, no money. :-(

[2zoom]

I was looking at doing the same thing with the iPad. I went as far as designing and making a prototype faceplate that would hold the iPad where the OEM headunit was installed. It looks pretty cool when it was installed it sat flush so it really looked like an OEM product.

I also had a buddy that designs and creates apps for the iPad design an interface for the ipad (i.e. radio, MP3, Nav) also was looking at a way to connect the OBDII system to the iPad so I would be able to see the cars info. Something like what the AP does.

We got as far as making the radio, MP3, nav system play throught the speakers but we really never tackled the steering wheel controls along with the bluetooth intergration. As for intergration with the OBDII system thats where we hit a road block.

Sorry to say the intergration didnt go to well. It needed alot of tweaking and I really didnt have the time to complete it.

I'll try to find pics of the set up and show you how it looked.

[The Wolf]

^good to know.

I think my Android phone has the capability of creating a small wifi hotspot, haven't checked it yet, but I'm hoping my PlayBook is compatible. I think I'd be satisfied being able to just play music and the odd video though the car speakers. Perhaps Loosecannon has a bigger vision, but I would essentially just be trying to create a clean mounting spot for the tablet to connect in through an aftermarket deck located elsewhere (glovebox likely).

Do you have any more info about your faceplate? What materials did you use, etc?

[2zoom]

^good to know.

I think my Android phone has the capability of creating a small wifi hotspot, haven't checked it yet, but I'm hoping my PlayBook is compatible. I think I'd be satisfied being able to just play music and the odd video though the car speakers. Perhaps Loosecannon has a bigger vision, but I would essentially just be trying to create a clean mounting spot for the tablet to connect in through an aftermarket deck located elsewhere (glovebox likely).

Do you have any more info about your faceplate? What materials did you use, etc?

I made the prototype out of foam then after when I was happy with the way it looked I sent it off to a plastic company that makes trim panels for cars and they made the final product out of plastic same color as whats in the mazda now. Let me tell you its not cheap for a one off design.

Its kinda shelfed for the time being but not to say I wont try and revisit the idea at a later date.

[trulankan]

this post shows a custom single-din in the glovebox setup: http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?62998-Decided-to-change-my-system

[GSXi]

apparently a lot of Genisis are doing something similar:

*that's a nexus 7" there
http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h343/BryanJca/nexus2.jpg
http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h343/BryanJca/nexus3.jpg
http://www.gencoupe.com/interior-2008-2012/104259-google-nexus-7-tablet-install.html

[mikey32235]

how the hell do u get an in dash that gives you all those readings!! does it connect to the obdII I'm assuming! how do us ms3 owners get something like that! it looks like the same as a gtr or the r34 skyline in fast and furious 4

[Lockdown]

Don't be fooled by what was in F&F
I tried that software out, albeit not the completed version and it wasn't very accurate which is odd because its all based off of obdII

There are a lot of obdII programs out there that can send a display to a headunits or tablet/phone
Even one for app radio.

[gabbygenier]

Don't be fooled by what was in F&F
I tried that software out, albeit not the completed version and it wasn't very accurate which is odd because its all based off of obdII

There are a lot of obdII programs out there that can send a display to a headunits or tablet/phone
Even one for app radio.

+1 i have a hacked pioneer that can do that. its kind of kool but i never use it haha

[Seshan]

I've wanted to do this for my none existing car for years, now that I have a car I'm interested in doing it, but I am also poor now :( Here's a thought to keep bluetooth control and other controls.
You could strip down the OEM unit (remove all the plastic) and see if you could push it back and fit the tablet in front of it with out the tablet sticking out too far. You could then connect the tablet with bluetooth or AUX (To bad you can't use AUX for sound and bluetooth to control the device :( )

Also as said before see if you could find a 3D printer or laser cutter, that would help. Look for some local hacker spaces, they may have these.

[loosecannon]

I've wanted to do this for my none existing car for years, now that I have a car I'm interested in doing it, but I am also poor now :( Here's a thought to keep bluetooth control and other controls.
You could strip down the OEM unit (remove all the plastic) and see if you could push it back and fit the tablet in front of it with out the tablet sticking out too far. You could then connect the tablet with bluetooth or AUX (To bad you can't use AUX for sound and bluetooth to control the device :( )

Also as said before see if you could find a 3D printer or laser cutter, that would help. Look for some local hacker spaces, they may have these.

Removing all the plastic could work, but I believe the buttons come off with the faceplate as well. (Someone correct me if I'm wrong)

And yeah, too bad AUX takes over everything, once plugged in.

I haven't started the project yet as I had other commitments to take care of. I'll look into the 3D printer thing first before I start hacking away at my double din dash kit.

[TheMaterial]

www.soundmancaraudio.com

probably find all the info there, they will even make the dash piece for you. Jordan there one installer, retains steering wheel controls, factory xm, factory bluetooth, and fm/am radio in his truck. As sesh said, you strip away your factory radio and tuck it away.