Tablet headunit, check this out

steinooo

steinooo

steinooo

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Was wondering what you guys think to this double din head unit?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Road-Term...Technology&hash=item19d24933a8#ht_6018wt_1166

Rather novel idea of using a detachable tablet as the faceplate.

I'm after a double din headunit OR a Parrot kit to interface with mine, and this caught my eye, wondered what people's thoughts were.

my thoughts are - if it's Android, it's surely customisable to look better than the "cheap" fonts etc that look like come on similar Chinese units.....
 
would you use it ? i personally cant imagine browsing/watching videos/games/other android things in my car. ever

expensive if your not going to use it all the time

all im bothered about is audio which any headunit does but we dont know your circumstances
 
"andy" said:
would you use it ? i personally cant imagine browsing/watching videos/games/other android things in my car. ever

expensive if your not going to use it all the time

all im bothered about is audio which any headunit does but we dont know your circumstances
Click to expand...

I would use it for music (iPod), Bluetooth phone calls and GPS, I wouldn't use it as a tablet as I've read since posting here that it's a resistive screen.

My circumstances are that I need a double din HU with bluetooth (and preferably iPod and SatNav) but don't want to spend more than £300. Happy to buy second hand but can't see anything that fits the bill other than these chinese things
 
I think an android based tablet would be fantastic for use as a HU

Tomtom
Google Maps/Streetview
Location based search
DashCmd
Music
Possibility to wifi sync with home for mp3s/data
'Find My Friends' if iOS based, other android alternative

Other general usefulness of having net access away from home, like checking film times/booking cinema tickets, or even logging onto facebook to say 'where the hell is @Late friend' (while parked ofc)

The thing that turns me off is the lack of any tablet designed specifically for the purpose of fitting a double din slot and being powered from a car
 
It wouldn't be too difficult to just buy a cheap tablet and rig something up yourself.. Probably wouldn't look that great though :D

I'm thinking make a frame to hold the tablet out of mdf and paint/plastidip it. Have the 3.5mm jack with an RCA adaptor to plug in to my amps and bobs your uncle. Would have to stick the power cable in there somewhere, I guess you could take the existing stereo wire and splice the USB cable on there somehow?
 
Looks like a nightmare to me. For £300 you can get a cracking double din unit that integrates with your phone and iPod and will take memory sticks and play movies etc. Thats the best bet IMO.
 
placeholder said:
Looks like a nightmare to me. For £300 you can get a cracking double din unit that integrates with your phone and iPod and will take memory sticks and play movies etc. Thats the best bet IMO.
Click to expand...

got any examples please? I am happy to buy second hand.

On reflection this morning I think I agree with the comment "it looks like it does two jobs badly". If it's not a premium quality Android tablet (HP Touchpad, Xoom, Nexus etc) then I wouldn't use it as a tablet, and if it's not much good as a headunit, then the idea is flawed really.

I do think going for a headunit that is a headunit is probably best for me. Plus I might not remember to unplug a tablet from the HU when I leave it parked somewhere sometimes!
 
steinooo said:
got any examples please? I am happy to buy second hand.

On reflection this morning I think I agree with the comment "it looks like it does two jobs badly". If it's not a premium quality Android tablet (HP Touchpad, Xoom, Nexus etc) then I wouldn't use it as a tablet, and if it's not much good as a headunit, then the idea is flawed really.

I do think going for a headunit that is a headunit is probably best for me. Plus I might not remember to unplug a tablet from the HU when I leave it parked somewhere sometimes!
Click to expand...

I don't really understand? Check any double din head unit and see what it does? Go on Car Audio Direct (at the risk of naming a site) and look at what you can buy for £300. Job done!

Edit: I dunno what the wee yellow wink is all about, sorry!!
 
I thought the Headunit that docks an Iphone was a better idea, will not see one for Androids as there are too many different models.
 
Dr Who said:
I thought the Headunit that docks an Iphone was a better idea, will not see one for Androids as there are too many different models.
Click to expand...

I'd prefer a separate unit from it being my actual phone that'd docked, whatever the model of phone. I think anything less than a 6" screen is too small for use in car personally
 
if your not in a rush id see keep an eye on ebay and see if you can pick up an alpine s900r double din. has bluetooth,satnav, ipod and usb support all built in. the last two i seen on ebay went for £300 and £335
 
flexo786 said:
if your not in a rush id see keep an eye on ebay and see if you can pick up an alpine s900r double din. has bluetooth,satnav, ipod and usb support all built in. the last two i seen on ebay went for £300 and £335
Click to expand...

wow now that looks nice! I would pay £300 for a nice condition used one of those and pay someone to fit it so the microphone etc is nicely concealed .

Are the Alpine / Pioneers etc a world above the cheap Japanese ones you see on eBay for like £150 new? Is it the build quality, sound quality or the GUI that is much better?

Anyone know of anything a bit older for cheaper?
 
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from reading around when ive been looking for one the ebay ones tend to have rubbish sound and build quality but ive never had one so cant comment.

if your after something cheap id recommend having a look at the kenwood ddx5022/5024/5026 range as they tend to come up around £200 onwards second hand and have satnav,usb,ipod and bluetooth built in as well and from reading around the only difference between the models are map updates. i think you can update the maps yourself but not something ive really looked into it

the other option is the pioneer f900bt but after having one of these previously id rate the kenwoods higher due to them having better support for audi files from usb plus they boot up quicker. pioneer takes about 40-50secs to boot which doesnt sound too long but if your often making short journeys can get annoying
 
flexo786 said:
from reading around when ive been looking for one the ebay ones tend to have rubbish sound and build quality but ive never had one so cant comment.

if your after something cheap id recommend having a look at the kenwood ddx5022/5024/5026 range as they tend to come up around £200 onwards second hand and have satnav,usb,ipod and bluetooth built in as well and from reading around the only difference between the models are map updates. i think you can update the maps yourself but not something ive really looked into it

the other option is the pioneer f900bt but after having one of these previously id rate the kenwoods higher due to them having better support for audi files from usb plus they boot up quicker. pioneer takes about 40-50secs to boot which doesnt sound too long but if your often making short journeys can get annoying
Click to expand...

Don't you have to buy the sat nav unit separate for these?
 
This is the coolest thing ever on paper. I mean who wouldnt want all that functionality in a car?

The answer is you, 2 weeks after you fit it and the novelty runs out. Because day today nobody really uses apps in a car. You just want decent music/music library, a good navigation system and and a decent radio. Thats it. Other stuff, even DVD players etc, are just gimmicky **** you soon tire of.

Focus on the best solution for entertainment and nav. Thats all you need.
 
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