iPad gets fitted into car dashboard, makes you an instant carpooling superstar (video)

Let's face it, the Toyota Tacoma has a long way to go before being considered glamorous, or even remotely cool, but jacking an iPad into its console might be a good start. That's what the good people of SoundMan Car Audio over in California have done with a little bit of elbow grease and knowhow, and we've got video of how it all came together after the break. They've yet to wire it up to the Audison Bit One sound processor and McIntosh MMC406M 6-channel amp that are intended to receive the iPad's audio goodies, but the important stuff of fitting and molding the dash to its new 9.7-inch centerpiece is all done. Alright, so the glossy black screen and the demure grey plastic don't exactly sing in harmony, but surely the funky aesthetics can be forgiven for the sake of accessing all your media on the move. Right, dawg?

[HDD Posted Apr 6th 2010 12:40PM]

I just got an iPad for evaluation. I'm building an Android CARPC front-end application so I am not really bias but the iPad rocks. I locked it in landscape mode and all the apps work in landscape mode. After playing with the iPad for a solid 2 days, I have some ideas I want to implement on my Android app.

The Ipad is actually very useable if you use in the context of what it is. It is not a netbook replacement but it surely performs better than one. I was able to use VNC, SSH on it so I was able to administer all my Linux servers on an iPad which impressed the hell out of me. The Built-in Cisco VPN out-of-the-box makes it worth the price of admission right there. It played all the 720o videos I threw at it. I just pointed it to my home webserver and Safari played all of my videos. No need for iTunes syncing. So working with a server, the iPad can be an awesome cloud-client appliance.

I would actually buy a 5"-7" iPad version for myself (with my own money) if Apple had one. I think the 9" screen is too big for a CARPC application. The only reason why I am skewed toward Android right now is that I can actually make money on it versus trying to compete with the other 100K Apple iPhone developers.

[techi25 Posted Apr 6th 2010 1:35PM]

@HDD damn that's nice that you've got all that going. I think i may just do something similar except without the iPad. Also, it's nice to see someone actually use the iPad and give a formal review of it. Thanks for the info.

[lemonlimetwist Posted Apr 6th 2010 12:41PM]

that is very cool but it would only be worth it if he puts the 3G version in the car so you could use a navigation app like tom tom while you drive.

[Information Central Posted Apr 26th 2010 2:03PM]

You shouldn't need the 3G version if you get the TomTom hardware.

[GoonieGooGoo Posted Apr 6th 2010 12:56PM]

How is 64GB (at most) supposed to access all my media??

You have to be kidding...iPAD = FAIL

[HDD Posted Apr 6th 2010 1:01PM]

@GoonieGooGoo With full networking, I have my iPad accessing 40 Terabytes. It supports DAV, Samba, SSH FS.

[beckhams777 Posted Apr 6th 2010 1:24PM]

i think an iPhone would've been a better fit

[TareG Posted Apr 6th 2010 1:35PM]

If only the iPad had Android's free navigation.

[Ryan Hemler Posted Apr 6th 2010 1:40PM]

Why a Wifi iPad? What good is that?

[Xashen Posted Apr 6th 2010 2:01PM]

I've thought about doing something similar in my SUV, piecing together a hackintosh to make it all work and fit well. I never even thought of just picking up an iPad and using that. I might have to look into this.

[SuperDre Posted Apr 6th 2010 2:09PM]

I'm sorry but there really has to be a law against putting stuff like this in 'front' of the driver.. I see more and more people looking at their mediascreens instead of the road these days, I've even seen someone crash into the side of someone else because he was watching a movie while driving (I was driving behind him).. People already have problems with TomTom devices which destract them..

Also I wonder how long this iPad will stay in the car if it's parked in a busy citystreet.. LOL...

[daewootech Posted Apr 6th 2010 2:13PM]

funny, all that work and it still looks like you just stuck it up to the dash and placed it there with some tape or something,... maybe he needs to spit out the gum, take off the douche glasses and get a better look at it.

[bonedog73 Posted Apr 6th 2010 2:19PM]

Awesome

[jasonkburden Posted Apr 6th 2010 2:23PM]

Tacomas are cool! smi.sh

[Zuiko Posted Apr 6th 2010 2:51PM]

Drive over a speed bump to refresh...the owner can now get a motion controlled racing app and play it while driving on the road! Gotta love it!

[TestSubjectNameHere Posted Apr 6th 2010 3:24PM]

Now i'd like to see how he syncs HAHAHA

[uShak Posted Apr 6th 2010 3:30PM]

@TestSubjectNameHere

I would buy a discontinued wireless USB hub and sync it outside my home, since my computer is right at the window.

[lrn2swim Posted Apr 6th 2010 4:02PM]

so what makes exactly the toyota tacoma not even remotely cool?? i have a newer one and it's a great truck. plenty of power, very durable (except for the tailgate), and very reliable. plus i think tacoma's and tundra's are easily the best looking trucks on the market. so what's not cool?

[ofishel Posted Apr 6th 2010 4:15PM]

That is TIGHT!

[pekosROB Posted Apr 6th 2010 4:20PM]

In reference to the Tacoma not being thought of as "remotely cool" surprises me.

I've had a Tacoma in the last 5 years, ever since they switched out the body style to what they have today. In Texas (at least), other than the F-150 and comparable Chevys and Dodges (1500), the Tacoma is by far the most popular truck on the road.

Yeah, the 2WD versions look like complete crap - the 2WD Prerunner looks like a 4WD (what I have).

I've also had my iPod hooked up via cable and controlled on the touchscreen via my Alpine double din DVD player. It controls, chargers, and plays the music on the iPod. I've had it for the LAST FIVE YEARS as well. Suffice it to say, I have THE BEST way to play and control an iPod out of every single person I know.

But I digress - Tacomas are considered "trendy" and "cool" in other places - just not in California or on the East Coast since people actually buy trucks to do thing trucks were made for... unlike us here. haha :-P

[knwldg0010 Posted Apr 6th 2010 4:37PM]

Trendslut.

[Gu3st Posted Apr 6th 2010 4:55PM]

and to get to portrait mode, you only haffto go offroading!

[morsch Posted Apr 6th 2010 5:08PM]

Wow, now the Dashboard has at least some not-so-cheap plastic... Such a cheap car does not deserve ANY gadget!

[Ebaydan777 Posted Apr 6th 2010 5:55PM]

Haha wow, why put a wifi model in? I'm sure that's expensive enough to do why not wait for the 3G model so u can netflix it WHILE you drive, it IS handsfree haha

[sdcrow Posted Apr 6th 2010 6:58PM]

Deadmau5!!!!!

[Ducman69 Posted Apr 6th 2010 8:26PM]

That is the ugliest and laziest install I have seen. At least cover up the huge bezel.

[Dragotequila Posted Apr 6th 2010 11:30PM]

Ok so...How are they going to load content other than being near a WiFi area? That's not the 3G version.
And...
Are they going to rip it out to do a Hard boot when Apps start to crash or when it freezes.

[SamsonOsztreicher Posted Apr 7th 2010 2:56AM]

THis is over kill

[derrickONLINE Posted Apr 7th 2010 8:21AM]

I've always wanted a 3G capable PC in my car. Just not an iPad

[eh270 Posted Apr 8th 2010 10:05AM]

The only downside I can see is that your car is about four times more likely to get broken into

[collide007 Posted Apr 9th 2010 3:43PM]

Funny how the cut to him yanking the existing housing out of the dash coincided with some sirens going of in the backround. Sounded like an alarm going off. Coupled with the locale looking like a mulit storey car park, taken out of context, that clip could look like a heist, lol.

[ingenuodesign Posted May 17th 2010 1:36PM]

The NEW Ingenuo iPad stand will give you the option to keep the iPad charged in three different positions slightly inclined “reading mode”, landscape “video mode” and portrait or “writing mode”. More info at http://www.ingenuodesign.com

[AMMCorp Posted Jun 2nd 2010 12:49AM]

Janky!