Making Android Car Interface
 

So, I am about to install a new Nexus 7 (android) into my car soon. I have looked all online, can't find a good tablet home screen (called a Launcher) that is tailored to cars.

Now, what I am going to do, is the following: make my own. It will have a custom Launcher (home screen) with all of the proper applications. I will even have it be able to open any application you want to add, including widgets and such.

What is so special that makes this car tailored? Well, it will be easy to navigate of course, but I am ALSO going to build this out to allow bluetooth streaming / communication from phones to the tablets - this will allow you to make calls, stream music, videos, etc. that maybe your friends want to bluetooth into.

My other idea is that for those who have a bluetooth OBDII, that I will tap into the ELM327 interface and pull in the data you want - speeds, temps, rpms, etc.

Not only that! Most people HATE when they lose their controls to the audio parts of their steering wheel, yes I would too, that is why I am building those into it as well (via the OBDII module).

This might take me a bit to all get done (hopefully not too long). Anyone have any features / ideas they would love see added? This will work for not only the RX-8 but all cars!

Im currently trying to get all the pieces for my car tablet. This is a worthwhile project in my mind and if you can do what you plan on, it would be exactly what I would be looking for.

Good luck. I'm quite content with Car Home Ultra and just launching Torque if/when I feel the need for it. Eventually all that data because kinda pointless to have up all the time though.. at least that was my opinion. Far easier once i moved to physical gauges, not to mention far more reliable.

The whole Toqrue adding part of the app will be for later. I never saw that there was an app out there for some things I was doing (Car Home Ultra). It looks a bit funky and clunky in my opinion.

The design I have down shall be more elegant, and customizable. Basically it will do what you have there, but keep the functionality of what a true "Launcher" (homepage) should.

What is it about Car Home Ultra that you don't like? It has multiple pages that can be mapped to either functions or launching apps, it seems to be what you're looking for.

I just REALLLLY hate the interface.

Update?
 

How's it coming along?

I've been toying around with the idea to do my own in car computer for a while which involves some.... crazier ideas. lol.

I thought about doing the android tablet into my r3 last year but ended up trying the ouku android head unit off of eBay ($300 shipped) and worked out quite well. I was able to get torque working after rooting it, WiFi works, sygic nav, Bluetooth audio and phone. I have the unit since march and still works good. I just recent bought an access steering wheel control and back up camera and those are working as well. I know its a Chinese brand and I was skeptical but the thing actually everything I wanted.

Posted From RX8Club.com Android App

I haven't been on here in a while. The project is on "hold" as I just moved into Chicago and my car is at my parents place for the time being.

A few things, GROM does not work with a tablet to Bose AMP interface. I will list out the products I have and their connection.

I have a USB hub that is powered by the Tablet, I am working on getting it OTG and seeing how this will turn out (audio out from tablet via USB to USB DAC for better sound quality), while getting power. I also have the USB hub so I can hook up a USB flash drive (working) to pull stuff from there. I also have it so I can have a mini wireless mouse, so people in the back can control the tablet (it pulls up a mouse icon on the Android tablet).

I bought a bluetooth controller, that will be the median between the tablet and any other bluetooth stuff. This allows for bluetooth streaming from various phones, and for handsfree calling.

I would love to code this all into the tablet, and will at some point, I just have no time right now to do it. It was a really bigger project than I have expected. I hope in a month I will at least have it installed, at which case I will re-start working on the Launcher.