iPad Mini Already Installed in Car Dashboard

[sazivad]

I wish car companies would make cars that came with, I don't know, a built-in landscape dock for your iPad mini.

So, y'know, you wouldn't have to rip out the existing (and really bad) "smart" interfaces the manufacturers seem so keen on shoving in our faces.

[ratsg]

+1.......at least kinda.

Both Ford (which you have provided a link for) and BMW (iDrive) both partnered with m$. I am not a fan of either product. I would call those products a failure, but I guess really only the manufacturer can decide that.

Just playing devil's advocate here, But assuming the auto manufacturer of your choice had provided the 30 pin connector as requested, and had been for years, the possibility exist that the connector would be obsolete due to the new lightning connectors, or they would fail in functionality and ascetics to some degree due to the new need to use some type of adapter.

I have a 3,5 mm headphone jack as an option for my stereo head, and I am generally happy with that.

Originally Posted by sazivad

I wish car companies would make cars that came with, I don't know, a built-in landscape dock for your iPad mini.

So, y'know, you wouldn't have to rip out the existing (and really bad) "smart" interfaces the manufacturers seem so keen on shoving in our faces.

[saud0488]

Originally Posted by PhoenixMac

I have unlimited data with tethering so I am good on that front, and Apple Maps has been good for everywhere I had to go, that I did not know the directions to in the U.S.

And I know you do not get the same functionality, the only functionally I need is spotify/pandora, maps and yelp. So in essence only paying for the functions I need. Plus it is portable so when I am not in my car it doubles as a regular iPad!

Of course, when you get throttled and it takes 15 seconds to reroute you, then you'll wish you had a real GPS.

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Originally Posted by sazivad

I wish car companies would make cars that came with, I don't know, a built-in landscape dock for your iPad mini.

So, y'know, you wouldn't have to rip out the existing (and really bad) "smart" interfaces the manufacturers seem so keen on shoving in our faces.

Where would you put it exactly? Seems useless. A car is for getting you from point A to point B in the least distracted way possible. Why are you worried about interfaces in your car anyways? If you really are then spend the extra cash and get something like a Camry or Accord rather than Fusion. Those are fantastic.

[McreativeH]

Thats awesome!

[MondayNgt]

Originally Posted by tod

Why, why, why would anybody want this?

I'm not talking about driver distraction. What I mean is, what on earth do you need to be doing on a dash-mounted iPad while you're in a car? Is getting to your destination not enough any more? Is having a conversation impossible? Have we reached the point where we need apps and gizmos and constant entertainment wherever we go, every second of every day?

Originally Posted by tod

All this talk of built in navigation and video screens in cars frankly sounds like rich people's toys from the future. Seriously, a car has always just been transportation to me, not an entertainment center.

Damned kids, get off mah lawn!

[deshawzn]

Of course the damn thing is removable who on earth would want to keep itin the car the whole time. Second what idiot would leave it exposed in the car put it undr the seat if u cant take it with u. this is really good i want it done to my next car!

[cprevost]

A video player forward of the driver is a violation here in Oregon.

[PhoenixMac]

Originally Posted by saud0488

Of course, when you get throttled and it takes 15 seconds to reroute you, then you'll wish you had a real GPS.

Sorry but I do not get throttled on VZW.

[Tonewheel]

Wonderful idea.

But texting is bad.

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Originally Posted by MondayNgt

Damned kids, get off mah lawn!

Mmm, no. He's right.

[activate]

I have been using an oxygen ocar head unit for an iphone in my small car. . It does precisely what soundman has showed but for an iphone.It works exactly like I was hoping to ie. music, phone calls, voice notifications, gps etc. Couldn't pick a flaw as far as functionality goes.

I am wondering if the same gadget, the ocar connector could be used for an ipad 3 or earlier instead of an iphone. This ocar has an amp and bluetooth in built. The only work would be alter it to accommodate the physical size of an ipad.

[tlinford]

Not sure what the car regulations are in the US, but here in the Euro zone... me thinks this would fall foul of the law. For example the Nav Head Unit in my Jeep, can Play DVD's yet, but this feature is disabled when the car is in motion for legal reasons...

This idea looks so cool, but it would be wring on sooo manny levels.... "hey lady, I'm sorry I drove into your pram; I was facebooking.."; "Hey dude what the problem, I drove into your rear coz I was looking at porn, ok!"

[kappaknight]

Originally Posted by tod

I do all the time, I just use pre-2008 skills to get there.

It's sad how repressed you are. I applaud you on using pre-2008 or pre-2000 skills to get to where you need to go, but a GPS is definitely a useful tool for many.

Why spend time looking up the destination, and printing out a one-time, paper map when you can just hop in your car last minute and figure it out as you go? I'm pretty good with directions myself but the amount of time I've saved from having a GPS has definitely made owning an iPhone, or a car with a GPS worth it.

[justinwebb]

My carpc will always be superior

[BRyken]

I do not understand why anyone would actually do this.

[tod]

I don't see it that way. I like the feeling of autonomy, of being away from home but not feeling lost because I have a basic familiarity with the area, where major streets are, etc. I see how many people who use a GPS all the time feel completely frustrated without it, because they are dependent on it to find their way.

Also, my lifestyle is different. I don't often hop in my car and go to random places on a whim. It's very wasteful. If I'm going to drive 35 miles into Cleveland, I try to come up with other things to do along the way to save gas. So I plan trips to save time and money.

I never print out maps either. I don't even have a printer. I just jot down a few directions (left here, right there) and that's good enough.

The more money you save on not driving wastefully and buying gadgets, the less you have to earn. To me this is the greatest reward of all: not the gee-whiz future, but being free from having to toil for a bunch of gizmos.

Originally Posted by kappaknight

It's sad how repressed you are. I applaud you on using pre-2008 or pre-2000 skills to get to where you need to go, but a GPS is definitely a useful tool for many.

Why spend time looking up the destination, and printing out a one-time, paper map when you can just hop in your car last minute and figure it out as you go? I'm pretty good with directions myself but the amount of time I've saved from having a GPS has definitely made owning an iPhone, or a car with a GPS worth it.