Look what I've had fitted...

[AMDBSNick]

Fed up with the useless Volvo Sat Nav? Well folks we now have another option. How about your favourite smartphone Nav App displayed on your Nav screen?

Google Maps, Waze, the choice is yours



Even tells you what texts (ignore the content ) and emails have arrived just in case you need to pull over and deal...



Throw in a reversing camera whilst you're at it...





What's not to like

[AMDBSNick]

Philip0 said:

shropshireAston said:

Ooooooo... Me Likey.... Me Likey a lot.... tell us more..

+1, and which cars it will work with...

Any fitted with the Volvo system

[AMDBSNick]

L0TT0 said:

Nice One Nick...... The handy work of [e-mail] I assume

Absolutely correct Tony. One of only two currently fitted in the UK.

As with anything, the more interest there is the better the price.

I have to say I am a big user of Waze and this solution is excellent

[AMDBSNick]

Guys,

Let me have your specific questions and I will provide the answers. I will say now, cost will depend on take up.

Nick

[AMDBSNick]

Rappa said:

Nick,

Will it also be compatible with the Volvo DVD system? Or is it just the HDD system that it will work with?

I don't have the Denison system fitted already, I presume it will require that fitting also?

No don't Ed will get one of these to raffle at Burghley?

Sean

Absolutely Sean,

Its fitted to our 2007 DB9V.

For Nav and camera no need for the Denison.

Nick

[AMDBSNick]

Nijius Maximus said:

This seems very interesting indeed. Does it simply mirror your smartphone display? Is it Android compatible or just iOS? Would love to be able to have Spotify playing with the artwork displaying on the screen...

Calm down, you haven't got it yet

iOS and Android

For now we are only looking at Nav and camera. Again dependent upon demand the extra bits "may" follow

[AMDBSNick]

divetheworld said:

1. Will this solution work on a Garmin system?
2. Will it play audio/video through an iPhone app?
. 2a. If so, how will the audio quality compare to ipod connection?
. 2b. Is control through the phone or car joystick?
4. Can you fit front and rear cameras?
3. Do the cameras automatically switch on and off with selecting reverse?

Oh, and price.......

Only Volvo at the moment
Audio/Video "may" follow if enough interest
Yes rear camera activated when selecting reverse

Price will depend on take up. The bigger the interest the lower the price

[AMDBSNick]

Dan1heMan said:

I assume the link to the maps (Google Maps / Waze) has audio played back through the cars speakers?

It does indeed.

[AMDBSNick]

OK guys we seem to have plenty of interest. James is back this week to tidy up the connections to the phone so that it will be invisible. I will then do my best to create a video of the kit in action which I can post on YouTube

[AMDBSNick]

NeinFondue said:

Nick must be busy filling in forms

What are these forms you speak of

Further updates after James has been back to tidy up. The good news is I've found English Natalie on Waze who is far more tolerable that US Amy

[AMDBSNick]

Afternoon folks. We have a technical hitch around audio which will be resolved early next week. It will be worth the wait

[AMDBSNick]

Nijius Maximus said:

Spotify playing with the artwork displaying on the screen...

You will be able to stream the music but the Spotify images are not HDMI enabled so will only appear in "portrait"

[AMDBSNick]

I'm currently uploading a video to YouTube. Will post as soon as it is ready

[AMDBSNick]

OK. Here is the link to the video. First and foremost I did not choose the video to stream, James did!!! Additionally one would only watch a video whilst stationary

The point of this is to show what is possible, you have already seen the still pics of the SatNav inc text overlay plus the reverse camera. As soon as we have sorted the glitch on the audio I will post a vid of the SatNav in action.

You will notice that when we pan down to the iPhone in the centre console there is a tiny switch towards the ski slope. This is the switch to convert from Volvo to iPhone/Android.

Final piece in the jigsaw will be designing a mounting bracket for the phone as it needs to be held in landscape.

Any feedback would be excellent

Nick

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_9TM_ETtrw

[AMDBSNick]

Nijius Maximus said:

I noticed the AirPlay icon on your iPhone. Is that how you're mirroring the screen - are you fooling the iPhone into thinking it's connected to an AirPlay compatible device?

No, pure coincidence. We just need to sort the audio early next week and we will get a vid of the Nav working properly.

As its turning out there will end up being a pick and mix list of options. Nav, Video, Rear and or Front Camera etc. This will also depend on model year of your car.

We just need to get it working perfectly which it will be next week

[AMDBSNick]

dave-the-diver said:

Also interested (though I realise I'm not officially here yet, must sort out some pictures...)

Bit puzzled by this: "as it needs to be held in landscape". Does the rotation lock on the phone not alleviate this?

David

This what you get if the phone is not held in landscape

[AMDBSNick]

gpb1 said:

In the video on youtube, as you sit down and focus on the video playing why does it sound like a zip is being undone? ;-)

PM James the installer

[AMDBSNick]

Zod said:

but you can just lock the phone in landscape and turn it however you like, surely?

Having just checked it seems iOS only locks in portrait

or am I missing something

[AMDBSNick]

Gents, thanks for all the tips, really appreciated

The mount will all be down to personal choice and what car you have. In test I am sliding my phone in the coin slot thingy which is ideal. No wires visible and nice and secure. Obviously this is fine in an auto. Manual DB or Vantage and a different solution is needed. IMHO I think this will be decided at time of fitment as we will all have a personal preference.

[AMDBSNick]

shropshireAston said:

One thing I thought I would like (I think the GT12 does it) you can have diag on the screen.. looks nice :-) and to be able to have harrys lap timer on the screen would be awesome!!!

In principle