I've been running my carputer for a while now and have come to the conclusion that 95% of the time, all the functions of the carputer can be done on Android. Benefit of android being a more car-suitable user interface.

What I'm proposing is a double-DIN headunit with a 7" capacitive touchscreen running Android Jelly Bean. It will have, at a minimum, 3G access (service provided by T-mobile probably), compass, 3-axis accelerometer, GPS, and hardware buttons with a rotary volume dial.

Trying to gauge interest in this before I go ahead and start ordering parts for the prototype.

The target price is around $600-700

 

The sell Android 2.3 headunits on ebay and I have seen some able to upgrade them to Jelly Bean. Really all they are is a tablet with a docking interface for the car.

The problem you will have though with a 7" screen is real estate is going to be limited.

 

Kenwood DNN990HD

 

the accelerometer and 3G access would be pretty unusual. I'm sure 7" would be fine for honeycomb at least, the most popular tabs out there are 7"

 

1500$ seriously?

Mart

 

I'm definitely interested in something like this. What board and chip are you planning on using? Where do you buy something like this? PM me if you'd like to discuss off the thread

 

I'm evaluating the options right now. The easiest option would to be to cut up a tablet and modify it to fit in a double DIN enclosure.

Otherwise, maybe something like a Pandaboard.. but that would require piecing together every other component

 

I don't think you'd have to cut up a tablet... the Nexus 7 or something similar will fit in a modified double din enclosure. The size is pretty similar. The only concern I have is the quality of the line-out sound on those tablets. Which is why I'm considering making something from scratch where I can choose a good DAC.

 

yup the Nexus 7 bolts right in no problems, but they suck for sound
Right now, there's an app called APunlocker that lets the Pioneer APradio mirror any Android device. The only only drawback is it's limited to bluetooth audio, and there's no aux input.

 

I was using ARLiberator with my Appradio2.. was fun for a while but I had to constantly deal with getting everything synchronized and connecting that I ended up ditching it.

Nexus 7 is slightly larger than the Double DIN opening. I mean I could definitely mod a double-din install kit for the Evo to accept it, but I'm looking to build a universal product

Pandaboard or one of the Exynos developer boards look like viable options.. just need to figure out how to properly interface a touchscreen to them

 

The display should be the easy part. You can buy a kit like this and it makes it really simple and it comes with all the other gadgets and sensors.
http://www.svtronics.com/panda?product_id=28

I really think the problem you're going to have is the audio. If you run this line out from the pandaboard straight to an amplifier I don't think you'll be gaining anything over just doing the same from a Nexus 7. You need a higher quality audio chipset and a good DAC. All said and done this project, when done right, would probably exceed your 500-600 price target by quite a bit. Might be better off waiting until this July and seeing what the new Nexus 7 offers...maybe it will have better audio.

 

Welp, looks like this project will be useless as Evoscan just announced that they will be working on a Double DIN headunit with all the features of the Evodroid7 tablet

I'd much rather buy that with the capablity of displaying Evoscan gauges on the screen haha

 

Make themes for it! You clearly know what you're doing, maybe you can make some $$$ by becoming a themer for mobile/DIN setups? Why not???