Thread: Two Din Droid

please don't cross post the same thing on multiple forums, it's against the rules & just creates clutter & also keeps everything divided into multiple threads... don't worry man, it'll still be seen & replied to even in just one thread you had no interest here because this thread JUST got approved & is just now visible to the public... patience man

I allowed your other post in the development thread too but there is no need to run all over the place with this...

Ah, sorry! I meant I had no interest so far over at androidforums.com, Didn't read the rules carefully enough on the crossposting thing for here it seems, though. Apologies! *embarrassed*

np, I allowed your other post in development & directed any input to this thread for you... good luck with it

if you decide this thread would be better suited somewhere else then ask me & I'll move it for you... here in general is ok for now I think...

technically, installing a carpc is a waste of time...


it is a different idea, and i try to support different(it tends to lead to other different ideas).

but i guess the question is-- other then mounting options, what would this solution offer over fabricating a android tablet into the cars dash?

I think it would be a waste of time trying to roll your own hardware for this, the world of Android Tablets are moving very quickly with new models coming out all the time, (many people would say there are too many android tablets to choose from) and tablets are already pretty cheap, I don't think you could compete with them, especially with such a limited market.

You could implement most of your feature list now with an Android tablet, then once you mounted the tablet you could focus on solving a lot of your feature requests in software.
ie. Radio, external cameras, optical media, steering wheel controls, bluetooth receiver, CAN
Personally I knew I'd be going without these when I went to do my install, and I have made do without them.

Google is releasing a version of Arduino for Android, you should look into that.

You could look into a prefabbed dock for a tablet that fits in a double-din, but with so many different tablet sizes and dash trim sizes, it would be difficult to provide a one-size-fits-all, there's still going to be a fair bit of diy involved for the customer. (Sorry, I'm not sure if you want to make a product to sell to people, or a collaborative project of plans and software)

I like your vision, but I think you're trying to do too much. I think you're better trying to base a solution on tablets already on the market, people are snapping up tablets like hotcakes, and being able to take the tablet with you when you leave the car is an extra bonus.

On the subject of tablet integration,

Chaps,m your point is very much taken. I've also been considering the fact that the tablet market is exploding and if there is something to be tapped there, the tablets are probably it. The thing that bothers me with trying to tie an android tablet into a car system is the plain lack of consistency between the hardware - some have dock-connectors, some don't, and there's the question of USB host ports, etc. Ook, I'd better shut up about that in case someone tries to persuade me apple-wards

But then perhaps I'm getting too complex

What about a head unit that had no display or minimal, but contained the hardware for the things the tablet can't do (optical disks, radio, amp control, steering wheel remote. OBD etc) and then made that available to the tablet over a combination of WiFi/Bluetooth/ADK? Then you still have the problem of physical mounting of the tablet and that's something I find to be a bit ugly (if only 'cause there's nowhere to put a 10" tablet in my car that isn't in the way!), but I guess it's not insurmountable.

There's a few ways to get it done, I guess.

I do want to create something that would have the potential for broader uptake than just us lot that are willing to modify bits of car etc. - I don't expect the man in the street to fabricate the thing himself but it would be nice to come up with an open design that a manufacturer could pick up, tweak and put into production. And I want it to be... Elegant, conceptually as well as in terms of physical construction. That part gets harder with a tablet.

Your thoughts are appreciated guys, I will keep working at it..

-GS

@godstalker, @badmonkey23 - It seems to me like you want to build an open source community generated hardware/software combo as a platform for innovation?

Great points about the challenges of docking a tablet in a car. It is a mess unless you have a few days to spare and a bunch of hardware/plastics modification skills.

Originally Posted by Godstalker

What about a head unit that had no display or minimal, but contained the hardware for the things the tablet can't do (optical disks, radio, amp control, steering wheel remote. OBD etc) and then made that available to the tablet over a combination of WiFi/Bluetooth/ADK? Then you still have the problem of physical mounting of the tablet and that's something I find to be a bit ugly (if only 'cause there's nowhere to put a 10" tablet in my car that isn't in the way!), but I guess it's not insurmountable.

This is the good idea if you ask me. We've actually talked about it on other threads in the past. If there were a open source cross platform, modular, universal translator that could pave the way to a lot of innovation in the car with not only android but with Iphone and other x86 architecture.

The evolution of the product could be modular as well. For example: Universal translator --> Add on a display--->add on your ARM chip and other computing elements for those who don't want to bring their own tablet. Each one of these steps is a significant engineering effort.

@godstalker Do you have an Electrical engineer, software, or industrial design background? Out our company meetings we've often toyed with the idea of jumpstarting a concept like this.

Also - Check out these android head units from ces 2011.
http://www.mp3car.com/mp3car-blog-ta...es-2011-a.html
http://www.mp3car.com/mp3car-blog-ta...es-2011-a.html

Originally Posted by Fiberoptic

@godstalker Do you have an Electrical engineer, software, or industrial design background? Out our company meetings we've often toyed with the idea of jumpstarting a concept like this.

Well, I'd be overstating it if I said I had these. By trade I'm an IT Infrastructure architect / project lead / sysadmin (Linux-heavy) but I have a non-work background in making stuff which includes some electronics up to arduino gadgets and analogue audio bits and bobs, I was once a software developer but haven't done anything serious since about 2001 (with the exception of coding for Arduino projects and ) and on the industrial design front, well, basically no. I've hacked things together and I have some basic machining/construction skills but nothing major. To be honest half the reason I decide to do things like this is because there's a steep learning curve for me though - if I'm doing a project I don't have to get a bunch of research and learning in for, I don't have much fun!

Right now I'm just planning out things in my head and I'm going to brainstorm some block diagrams of how a thing like this might work. I'm also heavily in the process of moving house /city / job right now and I don't have any of my equipment with me so it can only be a theoretical exercise (this is very frustrating! I'm a solder-first ask-questions-later kinda guy.) at this point.

Once things have settled a bit I'm going to get myself some new toys (Android tablet / dev board / ADK bits) and start fiddling with one or two of the modular components, for some reason the audio-control & amp are calling out to me, I just like making noisy things.

If you want to pursue this and I can help... awesome Even if I'm lacking in the highly specific technical skills, I *am* pretty good at overall systems architecture and holistic design (that's what I get paid for!) and I learn *fast*.

Anyhoo.. I'll keep fiddling about and posting what I come up with.

-GS