$100.00, ebay or used, Android tablet as headrest screen?

Okay, so I bought the Coby Kyros 7024 after concerns about multiscreen/multizone use on RR and CF. Nothing better for multizone than a computer/tablet for each zone, in theory. I ended up spending much more than I initially planned, and I'm still not sure about this.

Alright so the tablet arrived, it's my first Android device, comes with Froyo. It kind of sucks badly as a tablet, mostly due to the resistive screen. Not impressed with Froyo so far, expected more (why everybody wanted Froyo so bad, what were they using before? OMG...). Lots of odd little things all around, but I don't like to download apps from the Amazon app store (like tasker) and I can't install it no matter what.

The size is perfect for everyday use, I wanted to use it at all times, one hand operaton only. I'm realy looking forward to a 7" personal tablet in the future, but with capacitive screen. So far the HTC Flyer and the Playbook look tempting, except for the price.

However, as a headrest screen, this Coby is more than passable. Side by side with my once $400+ 500nit Xenarc (also resistive) 700TSV, this sub $200 tablet it's not bad at all. You have more contrast and brightness on the Coby unit (go figure), but more glare (guess they saved on AG coating, but had a much brighter panel to start with). Bad viewing angles for both. However, it was way cheaper than a brand new vga/touch screen (except for the MiniTouch), but you'll also won't get multiscreen/multizone issues to deal with - CF in particular has been very frustrating to me.

Installed Mario Bros, Angry Birds Rio, etc. from the Appslibs market, it all works smoothly. Surprising playable on the resistive screen, but that's it. The on screen keyboard is really bad, but I blame the resistive screen.

Biggest issue for me so far is that it requires 9v input. It would be so much simpler if it were 5v or 12v...

So basically you are saying it is a POS?

Don't say that or I'll return the thing...29 days to do it...

As a headrest screen, it's thin, comparable to a $300.00+ Xenarc and plays Angry birds, reads emails and plays HD videos. So not bad at all!

However, I realize now that I really should have bought the nook color deal for $200.00. I can't justify $250 now for the headrests only...Maybe 6 months from now, the way Android devices lose value I'll get a capacitive droid and put this one (and the next, after I got everything configured) on the FX.

Now I'm struggling to install Google market in this. I'll get there eventually.

by "power off" what exactly are you looking for. You want the device to be completely off? Thus requiring androids 60 second reboot process each time you get in the car? You can use sleep which drastically reduces power consumption to save using the battery while the car is parked. Doing this could net you 45 hours or so depending on the model of the device of course. If you use sleep, and set the android device to keep screen on while charging (easily done in settings) you have instant boot and access as soon as you start the car.

Another problem you'll have to overcome is the fact that.. while they technically will charge off a cig adapter and its low amperage, android devices take FOREVER to recharge on them. My droid X takes probably a good 4-5 hours to charge in the car from a 30% battery. I know android devices have different power characteristics but all the ones i've used (droid X, droid 2, mytouch, g2) just barely charge in the car.

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Originally Posted by Sonicxtacy02

by "power off" what exactly are you looking for. You want the device to be completely off? Thus requiring androids 60 second reboot process each time you get in the car? You can use sleep which drastically reduces power consumption to save using the battery while the car is parked. Doing this could net you 45 hours or so depending on the model of the device of course. If you use sleep, and set the android device to keep screen on while charging (easily done in settings) you have instant boot and access as soon as you start the car.

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I mean sleep, turning off the screen. The important part is to turn off the screen as soon as the IGN is off, so I can leave the car behind in the dark in a parking lot (it will also help unload the kids from the car too).

I've also see the setting to turn it on when I start charging it, but it does not unlock the screen. My idea is to use tasker for that: it will turn it on (from sleep); unlock (showing the main screen with few icons: pandora, music, video, weather). One tablet will immediately begin playing a random video store in the SD card (strapped 3 year old won't be able to click anything); another will be under a 6 year old/passenger and no auto play/resume is required. If I got that working, it's a win for me.

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Another problem you'll have to overcome is the fact that.. while they technically will charge off a cig adapter and its low amperage, android devices take FOREVER to recharge on them. My droid X takes probably a good 4-5 hours to charge in the car from a 30% battery. I know android devices have different power characteristics but all the ones i've used (droid X, droid 2, mytouch, g2) just barely charge in the car.

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I realize this may be an issue. Coby tablet AC wall charger produces 9v @ 2A; all I got here is a DC charger with 800mA. For the iPad I use a USB one with 2A and it charges real fast, I'd say even faster in the car than at home...it's amazing. Great for the iPhone too. I could use that with Nook Color (it's car charger produces 5v at 2.1A); but there is no car charger for the Coby. So I have to find a 2A charger for the Coby and hope it will be enough.

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Originally Posted by RipplingHurst

I mean sleep, turning off the screen. The important part is to turn off the screen as soon as the IGN is off, so I can leave the car behind in the dark in a parking lot (it will also help unload the kids from the car too).

I've also see the setting to turn it on when I start charging it, but it does not unlock the screen. My idea is to use tasker for that: it will turn it on (from sleep); unlock (showing the main screen with few icons: pandora, music, video, weather). One tablet will immediately begin playing a random video store in the SD card (strapped 3 year old won't be able to click anything); another will be under a 6 year old/passenger and no auto play/resume is required. If I got that working, it's a win for me.



I realize this may be an issue. Coby tablet AC wall charger produces 9v @ 2A; all I got here is a DC charger with 800mA. For the iPad I use a USB one with 2A and it charges real fast, I'd say even faster in the car than at home...it's amazing. Great for the iPhone too. I could use that with Nook Color (it's car charger produces 5v at 2.1A); but there is no car charger for the Coby. So I have to find a 2A charger for the Coby and hope it will be enough.

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you can have your screen shut off as fast as 5 seconds through the stock settings. Thats gonna be before you leave the car basically. Also, there is a trick that you can do to get around the lock screen with tasker (it only actually works on some devices). You can create a task to start the car dock app, then close the car dock app upon power connected. This happens on my phone fast enough so that you dont actually see the car dock app at all, it just comes back to my homescreen.

NICE. Thanks for the tips, good to know stuff. I'm a bit concerned about the tasker not working on some devices. I thought the Froyo version would work with all froyo devices, and so on, etc. Oh, Android...got research that to make sure.

I'm not sure its necessarily Tasker wont work with your device, it might be a RAM/CPU type limitation which doesnt allow it to perform the same on one device versus another. If you find out tasker wont do whats necessary i may be able to create an app that can, though i'll advise i'm not as versed with android apps as i wish i was lol.

I'll check it. Thanks for the offer man. Tasker is a killer app for the Android platform, if I can't make it work, I think I'll get another tablet!

Still playing with the nook. Very cool and all, but just the weekend the AT&T Galaxy tab refurb is selling for $200.00. Adds gps, 3G and no contract required, just you subscribe to one month and cancel it no problem. I got one already. Should I get another and sell the nook?

Decisions, decisions. Only think I didnt like on the nook is the BT, apparently it has no antenna for it, the range is like 6 inches...