Android in dash install

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by Dolce_Vita, Jun 10, 2011.

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  1. Dolce_Vita

    Dolce_Vita Member

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    Okay, it's more like 'on-dash'....

    A while back i looked into getting a Scangauge for my Prius, but to be honest they're kinda ugly and too small. So i looked for other solutions...

    Firstly i got an Optus MyTab ( aka ZTE V9 everywhere else in the world) reduced $99 AUD which is VERY cheap for a 7" Android tablet w/3G!

    Secondly i ordered a Bluetooth OBD adapter off Ebay for $20, and lastly i got a 30cm strip of Velcro for $5.

    My 7" in dash, internet connected, navigation equipped, text message and phone call capable costed me only $124 AUD / $131 USD / 80 GBP, a scanguage would have cost above $150...

    The black velcro was stuck over the blank (pointless) radio area, covering the disk slot, hazard light switch & clock...

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    The tablet blends into the dash better in real life than in the pictures, the piano black on the tablet ties in with the piano black dash...
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    Google's places app for finding restaurants, bars, ATMs, parking, petrol stations etc etc, it even shows you reviews of the place, it will give you turn by turn directions, you can phone the business & view it on streetview
    [​IMG][​IMG]
    ^Maps and navi etc w/traffic, super useful as my prius doesnt have Nav
    [​IMG]
    Bluetooth OBD adapter
    [​IMG]
    The best Android app ever!!
    'Torque' runs from the bluetooth OBD so i can see my engine revs, engine load, throttle position, instant and average economy, fuel level, GPS speed etc
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    You can also monitor transmission, coolant & cat temps etc, plus a whole heap of other widgets.

    Over all i'm super happy with it, well worth the cost! :)
     
    #1 Dolce_Vita, Jun 10, 2011
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  2. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    I don't like the look of velcro just sitting out there but once the unit is up it looks fine. For a quick, cheap, and easy fix this is pretty sweet. I'm considering doing the same as it is MUCH better than using my cell phone for navigation and although I have a Scanguage the unit you have and the app looks great. Thanks for posting this! :rockon:
     
    #2 F8L, Jun 10, 2011
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  3. 2009Prius

    2009Prius A Wimpy DIYer

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    Looks good but it would be better to leave the hazard light switch accessible.
     
    #3 2009Prius, Jun 10, 2011
  4. Dolce_Vita

    Dolce_Vita Member

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    I'm not too keen on the Velcro either, but i suppose black blends in decently in lower lighting and shadow, I don't know how else i could mount it though :/

    Good point about the hazard lights, although if i need them in an emergency i could just remove the tablet.
     
    #4 Dolce_Vita, Jun 10, 2011
  5. d3vkit

    d3vkit New Member

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    This is great, just the inspiration I need. I've been hoping to find some way of augmenting my Prius with Android, and this looks easy, cheap, and functional.
     
    #5 d3vkit, Jun 11, 2011
  6. timtim2008

    timtim2008 Member

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    "on dash" not in dash, lol
     
    #6 timtim2008, Jun 12, 2011
  7. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    Shweeeat !

    :thumb:

    .
     
    #7 hill, Jun 12, 2011
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  8. captainron042

    captainron042 New Member

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    Assuming you're not using the CD player, maybe you could make a metal mount that would slide into the CD slot?
     
    #8 captainron042, Jun 13, 2011
  9. Dolce_Vita

    Dolce_Vita Member

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    It would be handy, although my Prius doesnt have an iPod connection so i still have to used the CD player :(

    There's a video somewhere of a full custom mount for an iPad in a Prius, which is where i got the inspiration for my in-car tablet from :)
     
    #9 Dolce_Vita, Jun 14, 2011
  10. ystasino

    ystasino Active Member

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    I use Velcro to mount my Droid phone in the same space. SGII is velcro-mounted separately in the dashboard space above the steering column in the driver's line of sight. One problem with velcro is that in the summer the glue comes off unless the car is parked in the shade.

    Can you program torque to display kW and other scangauge and xgauge parameters?
     
    #10 ystasino, Jun 14, 2011
  11. Dolce_Vita

    Dolce_Vita Member

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    Damn :( My car is parked in the sun all day during the blistering Aussie summer :(

    It will display KW as in the metric equivalent of Horsepower, but not other more advanced stuff to do with the battery etc, I think the website for Torque lists all the gauges it's capable of displaying...
     
    #11 Dolce_Vita, Jun 14, 2011
  12. xs650

    xs650 Senior Member

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    Nice job! I have a Nook Color Reader that I am eventually going to do that with.

    Someone else here is using Torque. IIRC, he said he had programmed the same functions into Torque as are available on X-Gauge. Or maybe my memory is crap:D You should be able to find him with a search.
     
    #12 xs650, Jun 14, 2011
  13. frayz

    frayz Junior Member

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    hmm. The idea sounds cool. I have just got an ipad2, but not sure there is a great place to mount almost 10" tablet without major modifications..
     
    #13 frayz, Jun 15, 2011
  14. xs650

    xs650 Senior Member

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    I don't think Torque will run on an iJobs device, although there are probably apps available to do some of the same things.
     
    #14 xs650, Jun 15, 2011
  15. Dolce_Vita

    Dolce_Vita Member

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    I used to have an iPad 1, yet i didnt really use it that much so i sold it, but it would definitely be too big to mount where i mounted my tablet :)
     
    #15 Dolce_Vita, Jun 18, 2011
  16. richbutler1

    richbutler1 Green Commuter

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    Could you share a link or keywords/model of the OBD BT module? Thanks!
     
    #16 richbutler1, Jun 18, 2011
  17. Dolce_Vita

    Dolce_Vita Member

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    #17 Dolce_Vita, Jun 19, 2011
  18. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    The velcro I put on Pearl's dash -4 years ago- has NOT pealed off. Sun or no sun. You just have to get reasonable quality stuff. The velcro on Pearl holds the Scangauge II and the Nuvi GPS. Both are on top of the dash. The sun gets so hot the display on the Scangauge dims badly, so I put more velcro on top of the Scangauge and stick a large piece of thick leather on top of it to help keep the direct sun off the Scangauge so it doesn't heat up so much.
    I also used velcro to hold the control head of my amateur radio on the dash extension just above the floor. More is used in the back where a plastic food container has been modified to hold "Kleenex" and it sticks to the carpet on the hump back there. Also, under the drivers seat, there is a 5" external speaker for the amateur radio. I covered the back of the case with hook velcro and it sticks to the carpet. One wag commented it would come free and interfere with my foot controls. When I invited him to remove it he couldn't get it loose!
    Oh, and before anyone comments on the glue being left on the car when you try to remove the velcro, it comes off with no marks. It -may- take a little work, but it all comes off.
    I guess by now you see I'm a velcro fan. ;)

    Great idea btw. Now if we could just get an Android app. like the Windows one Ken@japan introduced to us a few years ago. ;)
     
    #18 David Beale, Jun 20, 2011
  19. LIPriusFreak

    LIPriusFreak Can I haz JDM?

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    I actually was gonna question "torque's" ability to display real live info but now noticing the BT device is OBDII compatible, I get that warm fuzzy feeling....hmmmmm
     
    #19 LIPriusFreak, Jun 20, 2011
  20. JamesBurke

    JamesBurke Senior Member

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    #20 JamesBurke, Jun 20, 2011
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