Why the iPad love, but nothing else?

[malcom2073]

The ipad is not going to be replacing in-dash systems any more than the ipod replaced the portable mp3 player. A bunch of people will buy it and use it, just like a bunch of people will still buy and use the in-dash systems. Apple products simply have more marketing associated with them, and as bugbyte said, there is more money to be made off of accessories for that than for custom solutions.

[CraziFuzzy]

I think the general complaint here is that this is a product that could have been made many years ago for, say, a commonly sold 7" screen (like the EBY701, for instance), for a few popular car bezels.

[SenatorIvy]

I think the general complaint here is that this is a product that could have been made many years ago for, say, a commonly sold 7" screen (like the EBY701, for instance), for a few popular car bezels.

Exactly. There's only so many screens that seem to exist for this hobby, and this site certainly existed long before the iPad was ever on anyone's mind. I guess it is just frustrating that people seem to think of the iPad like it is some amazing crossover device, and not just a niche product.

[DarquePervert]

I understand the iPad is the hot new bauble, but I don't understand why there was a poll question for what car(s) should mp3car's store develop an iPad dash kit for, when there are numerous screens that are both immediately usable by numerous people in the mp3car community, and readily sold by mp3car's store that could use replacement bezels for as well?

It's simple.
The iPad is a hot item. The brass at mp3car are trying to get a piece of the iPad pie.
I guess that would be iPie?

[malcom2073]

It's simple.
The iPad is a hot item. The brass at mp3car are trying to get a piece of the iPad pie.
I guess that would be iPie?

mmm... iLove iPie

[SenatorIvy]

Would it not be an appropriate thought that other items could also be manufactured at the same time as this proposed iPad dock?

[jr4284]

Haha true.

I'm trying to find the thread (it was either on here, or on a Charger forum) wherein a user had their own 3d scanner setup and rapid prototyping gear, as well as the CAD/CAM knowledge of how to adjust the resulting model. I'd love to see if I can get them to scan + print a custom bezel. There's just a way larger potential for something like this than there is for any iPad one-offs.

I've got my own 3d scanner setup and access to rapid prototyping services. However, I would never, ever ever ever, recommend a rapid prototyped part to be sold as a finished product. The quality is NOT there. I do a lot of work to my prototyped parts so that they look close to good, but still think they're pretty miserable all around. They just are for fit/function checks rather than final finish quality.

And quite an intrest it is. The results so far are very interesting.

OoooOooOoO.. Do share!

Exactly. There's only so many screens that seem to exist for this hobby, and this site certainly existed long before the iPad was ever on anyone's mind. I guess it is just frustrating that people seem to think of the iPad like it is some amazing crossover device, and not just a niche product.

Ah ha! You, sir, are dead on. I've been a 1 man team on this project, and it takes a LOT of time (I'd say there are ~200 hrs into this bezel and I work a full time job and travel a lot). I started this back in September, I think, before I even knew about the iPad. You can search a little bit, but this project was originally intended to handle the Lilliput629. I actually still have the first prototype that came back from that.

The solution mp3car sells now, while it functions great, doesn't interface with the stock bezel correctly... and that's no fault of the designer of the case -- it's an issue of the limitation of the mounting locations in the Impreza. In order to get around it, you needed a whole new bezel. The project was ~80% there, then the iPad gets announced, I put 2 and 2 together, and the direction has changed.

So yes, custom solutions can be made for any piece of hardware for any car, but it's not cheap. Honestly, I don't think there's a huge piece of "iPie" out there to be grabbed. Right now there are solutions for EBY and Lilliput bezels... there aren't solutions for iPads. This was filling a need, 'cause I thought those other guys basically released crap products.

The process, however, is much more difficult than you're thinking it is. Lot of time, lot of work. Lots of things that I threw.

[CraziFuzzy]

I don't think the complaint was directed at you, and your decision to build an iPad bezel. It was more directed at mp3car's survey asking about desires for making iPad bezels for other vehicles, but NOT for standard touchscreens. It would seem they'd care more about the carpc community by inquiring not just for what bezels people would want to stick an iPad on, but what cars and WHAT DEVICE they'd like a custom bezel for. I'm betting MANY would partake in the survey, and indicate that they'd probably request 7" or even larger (8", 10"? - depends on the bezel) screen bezels be made for many cars, and many REAL screens. From THAT data, the prototyping could be done with the most populous requests.

Forums posts would indicate there are a LOT of really tech saavy people here, that could develop some very impressive carpc solutions, but are timid with the fabrication part of things. It seems that would be a higher population here than those who just want to put an iPad on their dash... those probably aren't really drawn to the site in any great numbers anyway.

[chunkyks]

My original thought was: Why fab ipad-specific bezels at all?

Why not use a common connector between the dashboard and a unit-holder? That way you could fab bezels for cars [presumably the current front-page survey would work for that] using that connector. Then design holders/caddies for your unit of choice. eg, an ipad caddy, a lilliput 7" caddy, etc.

For bonus points, that way you get things like swivelling screens, well-hidden wires, etc for free if you design it right.


Of course, then I thought a couple things:
1) This is someone else's project. If they want to do this, that's their prerogative and it's not really my prerogative to pee on someone's actual work [although I'll pee on their dreams, if those dreams involve ipads, all day long :-)]

2) It's a commercial exercise. If a smarter businessman than me [ie, anyone at all] thinks that "Object X" is a worthwhile investment/moneymaking attempt and wants to take the financial risk themselves, then who am I to comment?

3) I'm not a hardware designer/fabber; my idea almost certainly has a thousand reasons it can't work

Gary (-;

PS An ipad is too ridiculously huge to put in my car anyway [especially with the ridiculous amount of space wastage on the ipad face bezel].

A while ago, I sarcastically took some photos as a "visual aid" for anyone wondering how well an ipad would fit in my car: ipadvisualaid. I took those after someone linked this laughing-in-the-face-of-catastrophic-danger product

[jr4284]

Why not use a common connector between the dashboard and a unit-holder? That way you could fab bezels for cars [presumably the current front-page survey would work for that] using that connector. Then design holders/caddies for your unit of choice. eg, an ipad caddy, a lilliput 7" caddy, etc.

This is my goal in any design... Modularity is good for everyone. Unfortunately, the iPad (as you eloquently mentioned) is way too large to be modular. A modular bezel for Lilliputs, iPhones, Displays-X-Y-Z-that-fit-in-standard-bezel-area, hells yeah. I'm all about that.

My original design (the Lilliput629 one) actually had this built in.

So pee on my dreams! But all of these constructive criticisms are very well received. This is a user driven thing. If the community wants modular bezels for their vehicles, let the mp3car guys know... they've been very receptive in my talks with them.