midtowndesi

JANUARY 2013

The mount is finished.
To do:
1) purchase a long (6 feet...?) lightning cable so i can run it to the bezel/mount. ( http://store.griffintechnology.com/l...nnector-cables has a 3-foot cable)
2) purchase a stereo cable that has a very VERY small connector. current connector is big and it's tough to fit it behind the bezel. (something like this: http://www.cablestogo.com/product/40584 )
3) buy the parts to have the lightning cable "hard wired" into the car. (maybe)



I finished my version 1 of the ipad mini mount/holder/whatever for the scion xb2. i built this anticipating i was getting an xb2 but i feel like holding out for the release series. needless to say, im happy with how this thing turned out. when i finally get my car, it's just going to be plug and play. i am a form over function kind of guy so while i expect to get some flack for how it looks, it does the job of holding the mini and that's all i intended on doing.

i took a bunch of crude pics while working and here they are. let me know if anyone has any questions. i am happy with how this turned out - the ipad mini sits so snug that, when mounted, i tried to shake it out and would not budge.

the ipad is being held in place in 2 ways: 1) with all of the felt on there, the area is a very snug fit and squeezes the mini in and doesnt allow it to move much and 2) the magnets that i have crazy-glued onto the back of the bezel connect with the magnets on the bottom/back of the ipad mini and holds it in place as well.

this is the back of the bezel. i crazy-glued those magnets in place so that there is enough room between them and the front of the bezel for the ipad mini. with felt on both the front and back, the mini fits SECURELY in between.



this is the final product without the ipad. i put enough felt on there so the ipad mini would not touch and rub against any of the plastics. those two rectangular pieces on the bottom are magnets that will hold the ipad mini in place - covered with felt.




here is another closeup




this is what the back of the bezel looks like with the ipad mini in place. all of the felt make the fit very snug and tight.



this is what the front looks like. it's like 10pm here so the pics are a little dark. i will take more pics when it's brighter. but i uploaded these so you could see what it looks like finally done.



Thoughts:

1) this thing is function over form. it does look a little odd with the felt there but that's not my concern when i made this. my concern was to hold the ipad mini in place.


NOW ALL I NEED IS AN XB2!! HAHAHAHAHAA. PATIENTLY WAITING FOR THE RELEASE SERIES 10 TO BE RELEASED.............




OLDER POST BELOW. MOST UP TO DATE PICS ARE ABOVE.



DECEMBER 2012 - BUILD NOT FINISHED YET, STILL IN PROGRESS.

update: i am waiting to order a 2013 xb. i was about to order a 2012 until they released the news that the 2013's were going to be released.

re: the ipad mini mount: i had originally wanted to use a book end to make an ipad mini mount (see this video for more info: ) for my xb but decided against that. i am now using a spare xb radio bezel as the mount itself because the ipad mini is small enough and is very light so i don't think i will need a dedicated mount.

PREMISE:

To have an easily mountable, quickly removable ipad mini in-dash for music / movies / navigation / etc... having heard some negative comments re: sound quality while using bluetooth, i will be connecting my ipad to the stock radio via the old-fashioned method - with stereo cable going from the scion's AUX port to the ipads headphone jack.

my plan is to keep the stock radio but to recess it back maybe 1/4 inch. with the stock radio that far back gives us space to mount an ipad mini in front of it. the ipad mini will be removable and mounting it in place will be very easy so it's a nice portable solution for my use. this way, the stock radio controls on the steering wheel (volume, mode) will still work. when i dont want to use the ipad mini, i still have the entire stock radio + cd functionality.

MY OLD SETUP:

i used an ibm x41 tablet years ago with a custom/half-assed but perfect laptop mount and that was a great solution. i ran this setup from 2006-2009 when i sold my gen 1 box. im now getting a 2013 xb and wanted a similar setup.




an ipad mini should be enough to get me back most of the features i had on my x41 tablet.


to start, i bought a spare dash bezel and hacked it up last night with a dremel. i made a cardboard mock ipad-mini and used that for test-fitting.


TOOLS / MATERALS I USED:
1) a dremel ($70 from amazon)
2) a spare scion xb radio bezel (http://www.trademotion.com/parts/201...Center%20bezel) - about $70 w/shipping
3) pliers
4) crazy glue or hot glue
5) some strong magnets (small, size to be determined)
6) some felt to put on the sides of the radio opening so the ipad doesn't get scratched up.
7) a LONG (6-foot? 10-foot...?) stereo cable to be routed under the carpeting and running it up to the radio bezel.


HACKING UP THE RADIO BEZEL:
1) cut maybe 1/4 inch off the FRONT, TOP of the radio bezel. this is bc i want my ipad to be flush with the front of the radio bezel and not protude out.

2) using a dremel, i smoothed out the bottom, inside part of the bezel. this gave me a nice smooth surface that i plan on sticking magnets to - either via hot glue or crazy glue.


LESSONS LEARNED / CAVEATS SO FAR:

1) as of now, i can only plug in ONE CABLE - either the audio cable OR the lightning connector. this is because the opening for the mini is so narrow and the way i am mounting it, one side of the ipad mini goes in first and then the next side is pushed flush into the bezel. i will think of a *clean* way to have both cables in the unit while it's mounted.

possible solution to this problem: having the lightning connector plugged in and charging the mini while streaming audio to the head unit via bluetooth. like i mentioned before, i have heard complaints of sound quality issues so this is not a solution that i like although i will try it.

2) I never used a dremel before so this was my first time. i recommend that you not put it on the fastest setting bc it can become uncontrollable when you are cutting up the bezel LOL. put it at a low-middle speed for a more controlled cut.

FUTURE PLANS:
1) hardwire-in a usb/cigarette lighter with USB ports in it ( http://store.griffintechnology.com/powerjoltiphone ) so the ipad mini can be charged while i am using it


PICS AND HELPFUL INFORMATION I FOUND THAT YOU CAN USE FOR YOUR INSTALL:

1) a double din radio is approximately 4" tall by 7" wide. the opening on the scion xb radio bezel measured 4" tall and almost 8" wide which is PERFECT for the ipad mini. the ipad mini ( in portrait mode!!) is 5.3" tall and 7.87" wide. width-wise, the ipad will be flush with the bezel. height-wise, the ipad mini will be approx 1 inch taller than the bezen which is fine bc it will not obstruct anything.

these are the dimensions of the ipad mini (1st gen)




the following two pics should explain what i did and how i forsee the mount working.








this is my only update right now. when i order & finally have my xb here (hopefully in february), i will buy a 64gb ipad mini with LTE and plug that sucker into the box!

DJ_Moonbass

its a good idea but i would be more for using a smaller android tablet. it would fit better. possibly find one the same size or close to a double din HU.

kidd

ainol is coming out with a 7" android tablet w/ gps built in.

midtowndesi

dj - very good point... the ipad mini is slightly bigger than a double din opening... i plan on buying a spare radio bezel and seeing what i can do with it to make the mini fit.

my more realistic plan is to make a mount which allows the mini to be quickly mounted in front of the stock radio - i'm even considering doing this with velcro if i can't find a better option. that way, i can just stick my mini on there and stream my music via bluetooth. i would be using velcro for all 4 sides of the mini so it will be SECURELY mounted.

and the reason im going the mini route is because i have a ton of music + movies that i currently use in my car via my 64gb ipod. i plan on getting a 64gb mini w/lte so the transition will be as seamless as possible.

midtowndesi

this dude did something very smart:

took a cheap book end and turned it into an ipad (full size) mount for is 06 xb... this is another option im considering...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wChW0c3zxG8

NastysXB

That is a awesome video. But they charge way to much to make them for someone's car.

midtowndesi

yeah, $800 minimum (w/o the tablet cost!) is a little nuts but for that price, you get something that looks like it was right out of the factory. me, i've always been a DIY sorta guy so i plan on making this thing as cheap as possible as long as it gets the job done :D the bookshelf idea seems the most promising because the price is low and keeps the dash looking as factory/stock as possible. that'll keep the thieves away.

midtowndesi

update: no longer going the book-end route. i bought a factory 2012 xb radio bezel and hacked it up to fit an ipad-mini.

I WILL POST ALL MY UPDATES TO THE 1ST THREAD ALWAYS.

exbauer

following this tread to see the progress. can't wait to see how it turns out.

Hayes

I'm interested to see the final product.

midtowndesi

I'm interested in seeing the final product too but I haven't even ordered the car yet!! LOLLLLL. Scion is taking their sweet time to put the 2013s online / making them available to order.

In the meantime, if anyone in NYC wants to come over with an iPad mini and an xb for a test fit, PM ME!! hahaha

xseveredveganx

I like where this is headed. However, I feel that maybe a smaller unit would look better and not so huge and bulky. I'm sure it'll still be rad!

midtowndesi

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2X-y6COANM0 - beautiful install of the ipad mini in a pick up truck... his mount is perfect - mine will definitely not look that nice! haha

afterlifespecialist

I'll be looking to do something very similar to this in the not all that distant future and have been doing some research on it. One thing I've seen come up a fair amount with tablet installs is the method of charging. I see you've linked a specific usb car charger you want to use. I'm not sure if it matters with the Ipad mini or not, but most tablets charge at 2.1 amps and most car usb chargers only charge at 1 amp. They do make specific ones that are capable of both though (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Griffin-2-1-...980#vi-content) is an example but there's others out there as well. I'll be keeping an eye on this thread and I wish you the best of luck with this.

midtowndesi

afterlifespecialist - thank you so much for that information! i did not know about the difference in charging amps.

i have made progress on the mount - i have added felt around the opening so the ipad will not get scratched. i have already bought the magnets to secure the mount but have not installed them yet.

i will take pictures and post it this week. i have been thinking about it for the past couple of weeks and i am very interested in the 2013 release series.... there is no information anywhere on that model yet (hell, even 2013 regular xb info is hard to come by)... i will give scion a call to see if they have any information.

i built this mount thinking i'd have the car in february but it looks like i might be without a car for a lot longer while i wait for the release series



UPDATE - mount is done as of 1/1/2013. now all i need is an xb! hahahaha

xseveredveganx

I don't care much for the finish, but overall it looks good! Stoked to see this done!

Jruless316

Man wish I lived in NYC I'd help u out lol

Jruless316

Hey could u make a YouTube video of ur mock up please to see what u did a bit better

pyroman131

REDACTED

midtowndesi

jrules - when i get the car, i'll make a video of it in use

pyro - i have not set it up for charging while mounted yet. i can modify this existing mount to do that though - i just have to purchase another lightning cable, run i to the USB port in the arm rest/console area and i'll be set.

the way the mount is now, i would like to probably route a cable in the dash for power as opposed to having a wire hanging out while i drive. this will be my next mod to the mount.

i am currently looking for a stereo cable with the shortest possible connector because the fit of the cable in the ipad is pretty tight... if anyone has any clues, please let me know! my current stereo cable has maybe a 2" long connector and THEN the wire which i can bend... the connector is too big to sit behind the housing.


EDIT -- i found the cable that will work perfectly : http://www.cablestogo.com/product/40584

it's angled at 90 degrees so this will fit easily behind the bezel.