Android tablet to live in car forever?

[TacoHolder]

Anyone ever find a way to automate turning your hotspot on and off with say the bluetooth to your car being the trigger?

Search for "task automation" in the app store. I used one called Trigger in the past, but there are several others.

Sponsored

 

[sunismymed]

Wait! This thread is about tablets. Please don’t mention phones

Where are the thread Police when you need them???

 

[gametyme89]

I feel like I followed this thread pretty well and didn't miss anything. With that being said, why not just get a Garmin or similar GPS-only device and be done with it?

No point in rigging a tablet when they already make standalone car devices specifically for navigation, in my opinion.

Just unnecessary extra work for the same or similar result.

 

[sunismymed]

I feel like I followed this thread pretty well and didn't miss anything. With that being said, why not just get a Garmin or similar GPS-only device and be done with it?

No point in rigging a tablet when they already make standalone car devices specifically for navigation, in my opinion.

Just unnecessary extra work for the same or similar result.

A Garmin would likely cost a lot more, be in an inferior location, and not take advantage of the Maverick's built in touchscreen with optional voice control. It seems the Garmin approach is the extra work, for an inferior result.

While all of the posts are appreciated, it seems many are stuck on a tablet being somehow 'more work' than a phone. An Android Tablet or an Android Phone are running the same version of the Android OS. My understanding of AndroidAuto is that you plug a (ver 9+ or 10+) Adroid device via USB and the Maverick prompts you to configure whether you allow the AndroidAuto app (an app running on the Android device) to take over the Maverick's screen.

My idea is, why look for your phone before you go somewhere (no offense to the majority of people who go nowhere without it) when you can have a really inexpensive Android thing (mini tablet or phone w/o sim card) with somewhat recent version - deadicated. Just sitting there?

Seems it will work. Saw a good post where someone hacked the USB port.

tldr - This should work, the Android device's version is important, you might want special apps running to automate ON/OFF/SLEEP etc, YMMV

 

[TacoHolder]

My idea is, why look for your phone before you go somewhere (no offense to the majority of people who go nowhere without it) when you can have a really inexpensive Android thing (mini tablet or phone w/o sim card) with somewhat recent version - deadicated. Just sitting there?

Get a cheap $60 TracFone from eBay. It will be a budget model with Android 9 or 10 and a year of low limit service. Use it for the purpose described and also as a backup phone. Repeat after a year to get something with a more recent version of Android.

Having said that, I just use my daily phone and plug it in every time I start driving. Inconvenience is minimal.

 

[HappyCat]

I'm using an older Samsung phone running Android 6 and the Spotify app via Bluetooth and like the functionality. It automatically starts and stops the music with the car. I have a few playlists I've downloaded to the phone so it doesn't need wifi/cellular.

My one, very minor, complaint is that it doesn't continue in shuffle mode on restart. It picks up the playlist on the last song it was playing.

 

[Qwillex]

Not sure if it's the same for Android auto, but an iPhone will trigger apple car play, but an iPad will not. Likely due to the fact that it's actually a different OS even though they are virtually identical.

Personally I can't stand the limitations and restrictions that the factory radio imposes.

 

[sunismymed]

Personally I can't stand the limitations and restrictions that the factory radio imposes.

Android is the same on a tablet, like a phone without a sim card. It triggers AndroidAuto. I've heard Apple's integration is a bit better, but I've never taken a bite

What's bad about the factory radio?

 

[sunismymed]

I plan on adding an obd device as well so I can see more detail about what's going on in my truck.

Didn't know I wanted that yet, but now I do. Would love a low cost OBD2 adapter that is easy to use states things in plain English. Newer cars have sooo much electronics, it's needed for so many problems.

 

[PanchoBarrancas]

I read the whole thread and I don't think anyone mentioned the drawback of having to take the tablet with you everytime you park (if that's a problem and you don't carry a backpack/suitcase with you everywhere).

Not necessarily for theft prevention, but for sunny summer days where extreme interior temps are likely to kill the battery and at best ruin the tablet and stink up the interior and at worst burn down the truck.

Sponsored