Those android car stereos!! Who's got one?

[bennylava]

Been out for a while, but still a novelty to me. Finally, a REAL computer for your car! One that you can actually modify and install new applications on. Unlike all those overpriced junkers by Kenwood and Alpine and Sony etc etc etc. Does anyone own one of these things yet? If so, how do you like it? The one that I saw, the faceplate comes off to become a tablet! How cool is that?!

With these you could install your own car apps and basically have a usable computer mounted in your car proper. Thoughts? Opinions? What's your take?

 

[chanchan05]

I know some who just mount large phones or smaller tablets on their modified dash. I saw a Porsche with the GPS stuff and other electronics removed from the dash and replaced with a Galaxy Tab.

 

[bennylava]

That's a pretty cool idea. Hadn't thought of that. I think that's basically what this thing is, with a CD player added in. But does anyone here own one?

 

[mikedt]

Most of them come from China, and they are becoming popular there as well. As for quality and if they're any good or not...
http://androidforums.com/android-lounge/631594-off-brand-phones-tablets-worth-low-cost.html

 

[bennylava]

I got a similar unit running in my Yaris that I ordered direct from China lol. Via DHgate, a chinese import website. Took it two weeks to get here. Its running Windows mobile 6.0, and its been an excellent unit for the last couple years. You gotta think, its all made in china anyway. All the best stuff that we love: Made in china. Only problem I got with it, is that when the sun hits the screen directly, its unusable. I forgot what that effect is called but its quite annoying.

 

[mikedt]

I got a similar unit running in my Yaris that I ordered direct from China lol. Via DHgate, a chinese import website. Took it two weeks to get here. Its running Windows mobile 6.0, and its been an excellent unit for the last couple years. You gotta think, its all made in china anyway. All the best stuff that we love: Made in china. Only problem I got with it, is that when the sun hits the screen directly, its unusable. I forgot what that effect is called but its quite annoying.

I know DHgate of Beijing...good luck if you have any warranty or support problems.

http://androidforums.com/android-lounge/631594-off-brand-phones-tablets-worth-low-cost.html

"Shoddy hardware:

A lot of things are made in China, like 75% of iPhone components and 50% of all Samsung parts, so how are these off brand devices any different from the name brand devices we have come to know and love. There's a world of difference between a foreign built and controlled factory and a Chinese one. Quality control in raw materials, design, and production is of a very high standard and that's why they usually cost more. The Chinese copycat factories will resource "b" and "c" grade components - whatever is cheapest this week - and sling them into an assembly workshop with absolutely no concern about anything other than shifting product."

See also...
http://androidforums.com/5839673-post5644.html

 

[SiempreTuna]

I belive many of the pre-installed units in cars actually require an Android phone to work .. or at least for the internet connection.

A guy I know had a Japanese grey import with top of the line computer system. Unfortunately, it was all in Japanese and the GPS part had pre-installed maps that only covered Japan - it constantly showed the location as the Japanese port from which the car had been exported

 

[nickdalzell]

i got a BlackBerry in my car specifically for music and GPS. the last i heard of the Android in-dash units were that they were running ancient versions of Android and supported very few apps. in a car you don't need the distraction while driving. i use my ol'e Curve just as a radio player since it's commercial free and isn't as expensive to use as a Sirius/XM radio

 

[mikedt]

i got a BlackBerry in my car specifically for music and GPS. the last i heard of the Android in-dash units were that they were running ancient versions of Android and supported very few apps. in a car you don't need the distraction while driving.

That's very much what they are. The ones I've seen so far are usually Froyo or Gingerbread. Used as like an embedded OS. As for not supporting many apps and distractions while driving...yeh it's generally not a good idea to be playing Cut the Rope or Angry Birds while driving.

 

[bennylava]

Yeah I didn't have much intention of using it a lot while driving. But there are a lot of car related apps that can be quite helpful. GPS, GasBuddy, better bluetooth options, better music player options, the list goes on. These are things that your standard off the shelf LCD screen units just ain't gonna be able to do. Cause you can't install any apps, you're just stuck with what they give ya, until you buy a new one someday. And no updates either.

As for outdated versions of android, perhaps there is a unit that you could load jellybean onto?

 

[chanchan05]

I wonder though, is the CD player the only difference? Because I just put my Android phone on a car mount and use it for music and GPS. The CD player isn't so big a deal since I can just rip them at home and put them in a phone.

 

[nickdalzell]

What's a CD Player? Lol j/k

Last time i burned music to a disc was the year 2004

 

[Dngrsone]

I wish there were a few more options out there for some vehicles, though... I have a Kia, which has a larger dash unit than most third-party makers do, and I have to either hack together a frame to mount a smaller unit in or rip the guts out of my existing unit and kludge a better one into the chassis.

Like I have the time to do either...

 

[nickdalzell]

All I know is if I wanted all the bells and horns of a 2013 Buick Verano, I simply pop my Samsung Galaxy Precedent onto my cell phone dash mount and then I have it all...hands free calls, commercial free radio, weather, turn by turn GPS, hell, like the Verano, I can even ask it to play AC/DC via Sherpa and I got everything I need and want but I can keep my 1992 Bonneville too

 

[bennylava]

I wish there were a few more options out there for some vehicles, though... I have a Kia, which has a larger dash unit than most third-party makers do, and I have to either hack together a frame to mount a smaller unit in or rip the guts out of my existing unit and kludge a better one into the chassis.

Like I have the time to do either...

You can get a good in-dash unit that looks factory. Go over to DHgate and look around. They make stuff where you take out the whole face of everything, and it comes with all new buttons on the side and everything. With the new unit already installed. That's what I did for my yaris. You might have to type in kia into the search.

 

[nickdalzell]

For those with large stereos like most GM cars got, it's not too difficult to make a Android tablet fit, almost perfectly, wire in some speakers compatible with a headset jack and tether to your phone for internet. Far more functional than some Android 2.x Chinese device with no support

 

[carpenj]

lol, this reminds me of the new Impala commercial that portrays the whole car as a really nice package for the A/V touch screen. My stereo only supports iPhone integration as that's what I had before, so maybe it's time for an upgrade!

 

[Dngrsone]

For those with large stereos like most GM cars got, it's not too difficult to make a Android tablet fit, almost perfectly, wire in some speakers compatible with a headset jack and tether to your phone for internet. Far more functional than some Android 2.x Chinese device with no support

Well, I wouldn't do a tether; my phone bill is excessive enough without forming our an extra $40 a month or so for data... particularly at 3G speeds.

Might be worth the investment in a cheap tablet and an amplifier, though...

 

[nickdalzell]

Whoa. My plan is unlimited so I'd be safe. There is also the tablet option with cellular. A Galaxy Note would make a nifty fit

 

[Dngrsone]

Mine is unlimited as well, but I have to pay for the privilege of tethering.

Which I refuse to do. It's bad enough they charge me extra for having a smart phone.

 

[nickdalzell]

I'm rooted so I don't need to pay for tethering. Worst they done was reduce my throughput to dial-up speed