Use an iPad mini for your Tacoma A/V System!

Yeah, just responded.

 

Hey Shane just making sure you got my email and payment.

 

Subbed!

 

Yup, got it! Already ordered your parts as well. Will fix the production / waiting list as soon as I have access to a normal computer tomorrow.

 

Shane just installed the dashkit in my truck, looks sweet ease of use is awesome and a surprisingly easy install.

Will list pictures tomorrow but this guy is a good guy.

 

Hey Bry,

First, I like your truck - I have admired it before on this site. I was reminded when I went to your build page - "...oh yea, I've seen this build before". Well done.

I made an order with Shane as well. I expect to have similar expectations of my truck as you do based on your build; albiet I'm a little behind your power curve I would like to see some pictures of this setup if you get the chance.

I also have a few questions (maybe Shane could answer them too):

1. What GPS are you going to use for the offline navigation capabilities? I was thinking of the Garmin GLO, but I figured their might be other options.

2. Looking into the technological capabilities of BlueTooth, are we going to be able to play music and use the navigation at the same time?

As far as I am tracking, you can only connect to one device at a time with BlueTooth. Thus, only the iPad and Radio can be paired, or only the iPad and the Garmin, or only the iPad and an iPhone, etc. Perhaps we could turn on the radio, or control it to play from an auxiliary device hard-wired to the radio (iPod), then connect to the Garmin to run the nav apps. I guess this is a software question; but will the music keep playing?

3. Are you planning to run topographic maps on the iPad / in conjunction with the Navigation? Curious if you have found some quality "off-road" maps that can run on a iPad.

4. In my search for a Garmin GPS, I ran into the new Garmin Heads Up Display (HUD). This could be a really neat feature to integrate as well, except as far as I can tell, it connects via bluetooth. So you couldn't connect the GPS to the iPad and still transmit the date via BlueTooth to the HUD.

5. Anyone reading this try to operate an iPad below 32F? I'm curious to know how leaving one in a vehicle over the winter will be. Also, how easy / quick is the iPad to remove if I decided to take inside with me during the winter? Will I do any damage to the dash kit with constant opening/closing?

Anyways, just some thoughts that I plan on looking into when I get mine set-up. Thanks!

 

That's one of the best parts about using the Sony Radio. I'm sure that Bryant will agree when I say that it makes for a very fluid integration through the AppRemote for iPad and it allows you to keep your iPhone bluetooth connection with the radio, leaving your iPad free to connect to other devices like GPS, 12v relay controllers, etc...

 

I will put better pictures up tomorrow when its light out.

1. For offline GPS I download maps via topo maps app and use a bluetooth GPS adapter when I am out of cell range. GNS 1000.

2. Yes thats easy, bluetooth music via phone and GPS via ipad mini.
My ipad mini is currently connected via aux port and the phone is connect via blue tooth. I believe the headunit that I am using is capable of 2 devices being connected.

3. See #1

4. Ipad can be connected to more then 1 bluetooth device at a time.

5. I dont see it as an issue with it, just get a few yellow clips only time will tell there though because those may wear down. Shane is looking at easier ways to remove the ipad when you dont want it there.

Anything else please ask this thing kit is awesome.

 

Emailed

 

sorry if this has been covered or not, but as far as the 2014 models being that the back up camera appears on the head unit. would we lose that feature when installing the ipad? because the 12s and 13s are on the rearview but not for the 2014 tacomas.

 

Sub'd

 

That looks really good! Do you have any pics of the install?

 

Unfortunately. There is no good way to get video in to an iPad right now. It can be done but it is VERY expensive.

 

It can be done super easy, just get a bluetooth camera and wire so it turns on when shift to reverse and theres an app for iPad that gets the video automatically when on. Easy install, doing it when I get Shane's mount.

PS: Shane I want my mount gloss black please!

 

Which camera are you going to use? The only ones I found were wifi only and the whole setup costs somewhere around $2000. Plus there's no way to trigger the reverse camera to automatically come up on the iPad.

Gloss black it is!

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNzjoDDxoRA

$120 bucks

 

Good find! Now, if only the iPad could support multiple Bluetooth devices at once... Camera, GPS, and a relay controller would be an awesome setup.

 

Yeah that would be awesome, but it will work for me. Ill have the iPad connected via usb to an Istreamer, getting the cellular 4G for GPS, Bluetooth for rearview camera.