Thread: Opinions on a possible new android based Front end

Originally Posted by NightJumper

Ok so its been discussed on here several different times about using an Android Tablet (or phone) as a carPC. I like this idea as everything is contained in one nice little package and no major wiring (except for sound) is needed. The major problem is that they arent designed for use while driving. There is CarHome for some of the froyo based phones and another 3rd party program called car home that work but arent that great and dont have a lot of visual customization available.

What Im thinking of doing (and its just in the idea and considering phase) is designing and putting together my own. I have some experience programming for Android (was making a game for it for fun) and the basic premise wouldnt be too hard. Making a media player from scratch isnt hard and embedded the navigation is pretty simple as well. The gui interface might be a little tricky cause I dont know much about it and would need to learn but theres plenty of tutorials that I have available. The hard part would be integrating and doing everything for things like the OBD. Also some things wouldnt be perfect like integrating other apps like pandora or iheartradio would be the normal layout for them and wouldnt be able to make a car version.

So what Im wondering is how many would be interested in something like this (and possibly helping with things like graphics), because if its something that would get used I would seriously consider taking on the adventure and starting with this.

meh. What you want is help from people 1) wanting to put a tablet in their car, 2) don't mind parting with Windows and 3) like android. This is a niche within a niche within a niche. You may be able to attract outsiders from the android community though.

Good luck.

Wasnt looking for help (just mentioned if someone else was interested in helping) what Im looking for is if anyone would be interested in the idea. not really a niche inside a niche inside a niche, its for people who would be interested in putting one of the many different size and available Android tablets coming out in their car as their carPC. And there has been lots of discussion about it on the forums so its obviously on peoples minds

Looking at the way the prices for Android Tablets are dropping, an Android based Car specific front-end should catapult a lot of people into this niche hobby.

A good capacitive screen, Daylight view-ability and sufficient horsepower is still in the clutches of the big droid boys (Samsung, Acer...) and I'd imagine the current price barriers would be dropped sooner than we think.

I unfortunately don't have the SW programming/graphics proficiency to be of any help here but has more than a decade of hardware design expertise (if at all that is of any help).

sounds good to me.

How about this mixture?

http://lifehacker.com/5653256/car-ho...stom-shortcuts
+ Android PAD1+

Works nicely on my Galaxy 9000 S phone. Fully custom icons and backrouds.
Point of this, is that this is only frontend/launcer app to launc phone or Pads navigation, Skype, Spotify or FM radio app. Plus whatever shortcut, like an address or contact...

I think i will testdrive this a little bit more...

Yeah thats pretty much what I was thinking and truthfully might end up using it, for some reason my Galaxy S phone cant bring it up in the android market so I cant test it