Hey guys,
I'm always around stalking everyone's thread and I thought I would just share something I just did that I don't think anyone else has done to their tc2 yet!

Bought a decent $110 android tablet and installed it in front of the OEM head unit. In order to do that all I had to do was remove the brackets holding the head unit and move it back as far as I could.

It's not installed yet but I figured I'd take some pictures to show what the final results would basically look like. As you know, an Android tablet can do WAY more things than a $800 head unit can and it looks nicer. At least the screen does. What do you guys think?

 

How will you be getting sound. You gonna get a DSP unit

 

The head unit is still behind it and fully functional so I'm going to run the AUX wire behind everything down to where the usb and aux inputs are.




I'll just cover up the up that part with a cap just like clintox's hidden iPod tutorial

Pictures from clintox's thread:

 

Imo its pretty cool and smart for saving money, but also it would be even cooler if the tablet was like an ipad where you can do almost anything. Just not the size of the ipad lol. Great idea, just would like to see exactly where your going with this.

 

Lol I agree an ipad would be quite nice to have instead with a size that will actually fit in the dash. Although the tablet I got can basically do everything and ipad can, just not nearly as well. I wanted to install this tablet so I can do simple things like listen to music with nice interface and touchscreen (I use powerAmp app which has a very nice equalizer so the music sounds fantastic through the AUX), check emails (of course not while driving), play some youtube and movies, have google navigation and such. When it's finished I'll be sure to upload a video of how it runs

 

Saw this when i was on the gencoupe forums (fiance owns one) but looks like it comes from the factory on those. Check it out very cool.
http://www.gencoupe.com/media/88215-...b-install.html

 

Props! Looks pretty dope!

 

Wow that looks so much cleaner than mine!
and it definitely looks factory lol

Thanks!

 

Not bad, but should've went with Android 3.0 at least. It just looks like a giant phone that can't make phone calls, but it's nice to be able to browse your music right there.

 

how do you plan on adjusting volume? via steering wheel controls?
what about when you want to use the radio, or other functions?

also: how's the sound quality running off 1/8 inch? I always found it to be WAY inferior to actually bypassing the iPod or device DAC (Digital Analog Convertor) and having the headunit do the conversion.

 

There's actually on-screen volume buttons on my notification bar that's always there since my tablet has no hardware buttons at all. You can see it in the first picture top right of my tablet. And the volume on steering works also but I usually keep the stock head unit at a certain volume and use the tablet on screen ones.

When I want to use the radio I just click the mode button on my steering wheel. It actually works out perfectly fine. CD, iPod and usb mode is pretty much worthless at this point since all of my music is on my tab.

The sound quality running of the 1/8 inch is okay, not that great BUT since I'm using my purchased app powerAmp it has a very good equalizer that makes the sound actually a little better than stock. I wish I could upload the video and show how good it sounds but I don't think you could tell through a camera mic lol I'm sure you could try it out if you had an android phone. Just download powerAmp trial and play some songs off your phone into the car aux and see for yourself. Of course you have to tweak the eq to your liking

 

A ghetto alternative is to duck tape an ipad to the dash

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Looks clean, I wanna do this with the new nexus 7. I have the alpine premium audio though and the **** stick pretty far out.

 

Thanks. I also have the alpine premium audio head unit and it's really going to depend on the dimensions of the nexus 7. My tablet was 8in long, 4.25in high and .5in thick. I had to shave 2 small tabs behind the console piece and it fit perfectly. You'll just have to measure and see if you could work with the size and hopefully it should be fine.

 

Never really taken anything apart in my scion but how did you get the radio that far back? can you just push on it or do i have to get behind the HU?

Edit: took it apart to look inside, The radio itself is sticking about a 1/4 inch outside the trim. Did you remove the bolts and brackets holding it to get it that far back?

 

Wow sorry I haven't been on here for a while..been on vacation haha
but all you have to do is remove the 4 front bolts and then remove the brackets on both sides of the head unit. Then just try to push it in as much as you can and since its plastic around itll just push them outwards a little.

You probably figured it out already though haha

 

Yeah, Unfortunately the Nexus 7 is too wide. oh well. I just got a dash mount that covers the deck. Thanks though.

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/7-2-Din-HD-C...#ht_7810wt_906 this one is about $400


i just searched it up and already had something made for it lol not cheap but basically what your trying to do

 

Thanks for the link but I already found an alternative. I bought this from amazon
It works for what i was looking for and its sleek enough without going the expensive route. They also have one for larger tablets ipad and bigger.

 

This is awesome. I've wanted to do this but my XOOM is way to big.
Here's maybe a few ideas.
Just run a auxiliary cord from unit to aux jack.
See if you can find a CPU place that can remove the back panel of the tablet (if possible) and measure how deep you can set screws in attached to brackets the line up with original bracket holes on dash.
Hope that makes sense. I can draw it if that helps.
Really like the idea :thumbup:

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