7" Tab for car with front on switch or wired remote switch?

[mattrosersv]

Hi,

I am looking to install a 7" Android tablet in my car for tuning and dash display - Megasquirt + music, nav etc. The only complicated bit is how to turn it on if the battery goes flat.

So I either need to find a Tablet that can be turned on by a switch on the front, or somehow figure out how to wire is a remote switch on the dash?

Any ideas? Anyone done this already?

Cheers,

Matt

[andy-xr]

Press the on button each time?

I've thought about this as well, and short of mounting it into the dash properly, I'd want it out of the car if I'm not in it. The way I looked at it was to buy a cheap one, trash the battery and hard wire it to the vehicle electrics using a 12v cigarette adaptor in the dash wired up to the ignition live

[s2kjock]

Have you a double-din radio slot? If so, have you considered a Parrot Asteroid Smart that runs Android? Needs fettling to run non-parrot Android apps, but plenty people have done it.

More expensive than standalone tablet though.

[Type R Tom]

This will do it, will replicate your phone screen with a bit of playing around.

http://www.pioneer.eu/uk/products/25/299/35829/SPH...

More information on what is needed here

http://www.appradioworld.com/

[mattrosersv]

Thanks. It is going to be built into the dash of my TVR so no double din and pressing the button (if located on the side or back) will be a case of dash top off which is a small pain. I will be retaining my existing DAB radio and feeding it music via bluetooth (I already do this).

I think to do this I will have to end up cutting and shutting the power button with a push button on the dash. I don't really want to go el cheapo on the tablet as glare and angle viewing will be critical. I was hoping someone would have a solution for a Galaxy or similar as I don't want to wreck one with my first attempt.....

The AppRadio looked like an option until I read that it has to be hard wired to phone. The solution really needs to be stand alone.

The Parrott option I'll have to take a look at, but may not run the software required to speak to my ECU.

Charging will be via USB wired into the ign feed of the car.

Cheers,

Matt

[sgrimshaw]

Needs the tablet to be rooted, but "there's an app for that" ... if you use a samsung device

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=auto...

BTW - Where are you thinking of mounting it?

Edited by sgrimshaw on Friday 11th July 16:22

[mattrosersv]

That is interesting. It mentions phones, wonder if it supports tablets. Will have to do a bit of research.

I have not finalised location, but roughly In the centre of the dash above the radio. I was taking a look at one of Neal1980's posts of his car with a 7" touch screen for a PC so in a similar position to his. I will have to move a few dials around and dispense with clock, but should be a pretty easy install....

Matt

[stevoknevo]

mattrosersv said:

That is interesting. It mentions phones, wonder if it supports tablets. Will have to do a bit of research.

From the reviews

said:

Works on galaxy tab 2 Works with cf auto root

[sgrimshaw]

It would appear that you can do it with a Nexus7:

someone very clever said:

Having a tablet mod is cool but what if your tablet battery is drained out and you have to open the bezel to press the power button? This mod will automatically turn on your tablet as soon as it's plugged in to charge. There is no need to drill your bezel to create an external power button.

Default behaviour while charging (device in power off state): Charging only
New behaviour while charging (device in power off state): Power on to your home screen!

This mod requires you to unlock your bootloader (WARNING!!! - you will lose all your data when you unlock your bootloader. I am not sure if this mod will work on a locked bootloader - but try it out BEFORE unlocking your bootloader)

Steps to unlock your bootloader (steps for PC/MAC included):

1) Download R3Superboot.zip by clicking on the following link:

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/25213603/r3superboot.zip

2) Extract R3Superboot.zip to a convenient location. For this guide, I am going to extract it to my Desktop. Once extracted, RENAME the folder to R3Superboot (not necessary but makes it easier to open it up in step # 6)

3) Enable USB Debugging on your Nexus 7
- Go to Settings --> About tablet
- Tap "Build Number" 7 times
- There should now be a "Developer Options" in your main settings menu
- Go to Developer Options and check USB Debugging

4) Connect your tablet to your PC/Mac and power off your tablet

5) Press and hold Power + Vol Down button until you get to the bootloader screen (with the Android logo)

6) Now open Command Prompt (PC) OR Terminal (Mac)

PC - Command Prompt (go to your R3superboot directory). Type the following:

cd desktop (hit enter)
cd R3Superboot (hit enter)

Mac - Terminal (go to your R3superboot directory). Type the following:

cd desktop (hit enter)
cd R3Superboot (hit enter)

7) Now it's time to unlock the bootloader. Type the following and hit enter

PC: fastboot oem unlock

Mac: ./fastboot-mac oem unlock

You will be presented with the following two options:

Yes - Unlock Bootloader
No - Don't Unlock Bootloader

By default, it should automatically be selected to "YES". Simply hit the POWER button ONCE and wait for a few seconds until it says "DONE" on the top left side of the screen

8) Now it's time to tell the tablet to turn the device on when the charger is plugged in

PC: fastboot oem off-mode-charge 0

Mac: ./fastboot-mac oem off-mode-charge 0

• *If you ever want to return to the original set up (tablet stays off while device is charging in a power off state), simply replace the "0" with "1"

i.e.

PC: fastboot oem off-mode-charge 0
Mac: ./fastboot-mac oem off-mode-charge 0

THAT'S IT!!! Now reboot your tablet and test it out!

Enjoy and do this mod at your own risk!