A company is coming out with a dash that allows complete car control via an iPad (video below).

Unfortunately, from what I understand this will not be offered for aftermarket applications. If I handled the iPad user interface part of it, is there any way to do this with the help of a skilled auto shop?

http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/06/v...ands-on-video/

 

I'm pretty sure that there have already been quite a few 1-off ipad installations as a car audio source. A skilled shop could definetly integrate an ipad into a car, but like so many other things, you'll pay a premium for all of that convenience.

I'm certain that adding an ipad to a car presents similar problems to using a PC in car. You have to make the turning on/off of the match the switching of the ignition. The other problem is getting the music out of the ipad and to a set of amplifiers. It can be done, but you wouldn't get the best sound quality out of the phono jack, and that leave you requiring a dock or usb hook up.

The easiest solution for this is an aftermarket radio that will allow you to still operate the ipad from the ipad, and most dont.

You probably need to do some research at one of those in car pc type forums and see what has been done as a springboard to what you might be able to do.

I'm waiting for a nice android driven solution to come down the pipe.

 

Touchpads in cars are an awful idea. You should be able to operate most countrols by touch, without taking your eyes off the road. Sure, to find a song or such requires some finagling, but the basic countrols shouldn't require you to look away.

This seems to be an area where cheapie cars like the tC do better - no crazy displays for the HVAC - just three *****. The radio can be mostly operated by touch without having to look away (esp with the wheel controls).

 

I agree that the total lack of tactile response that a touchscreen gives being a huge downfall in a car. Its easy to remember the way a **** or button feels without looking at them. I think the reason so many are wanting a ipod/ipad like experience in their cars is that the current crop of touchscreen head units leave so much to be desired when it comes to the quality of the interface. iPods and Android phones are much easier, sleeker and consistant. Alpine's w900 has a retarded limit on 1000 songs to access at a time, and you only get the same screen in one of 4 colors. Pioneer allows access to your full music collection, but it won't read the album pictures off the id3 tag when using a thumb drive. You spend a small fortune for some of these all in one units and they have gps systems that are dwarfed by the function of a mere $100 separate gps unit.

 

the stock pioneer radio has a setting where you can use the dock connector/usb and control the music from the ipod/iphone etc.

 

I'll have to respectfully disagree with the argument that no tactile feedback = bad idea. So long as the buttons don't move around, aren't crowded together, are color-coded, and are large enough, there's no need to look at the screen while driving. Muscle memory will take over after a month or so. Until then (again, so long as the buttons aren't crowded and are big), quick glances will suffice.

I'm hoping to not only control a/v but also have HVAC and window/door lock controls. Any more ideas?

 

There is a car alarm type product called "Drone" and it allows for alot of versatility and allows you to use your smartphone to arm/disarm your alarm and unlock, remote start, etc. It's a fairly sophisticated system that has alot of possibilities. A product like this might help get you where you're going, but I must reiterate that this is car-pc territory. If you had the know-how to do much of what a project like this entails, then you wouldn't need our advice.

Anything is possible, provided a long enough timeline and big enough bankroll. Asking about this sort of thing is like asking about how to put a small block chevy under the hood of your tc and making it RWD. Sure, it can be done, but at what cost, and for what gain. The folks that have the know how AND interest are going to be very few.

 

i could have fun w/ someone that has this....use pcanywhere or remote desktop to get into it and mess w/ the settings while they're driving (crank the heat while its hot out or roll windows down when its snowing lmao).......

 

Kill the driving portion, and all that mess, as long as it's remote accessible and cheaper than a remote start, I'm all for it. Except for the whole apple thing, make it Linux and I'm happy.

...i should really just make a carPC for my tC.