My In-Dash Nexus 7 Project

[Flat6Estate]

Monkey,

Do you think that the Gen 1 tablet (if I can find one) would fit with a modified cubby???

Would love to save some $$$ instead of having to buy an original from Japan.


Timbo

[bigBADbenny]

I had thought the idea was to make it work regardless by reinforcing the vents etc.
What is the sacrifice in screen real estate, if any, with the cubby vent and 2nd gen nexus 7?

Hey guys, I recently bought a 2nd hand surround, vents and cubby for $75 to cut down to fit my Nexus 7 2nd gen (2013). Apart from being cheaper than buying the Japanparts 7" panel kit, I was hoping to use the hinge mechanism from the cubby to create a removable install with the surround opening at the top.

Using a cheap Dremel copy and cutting wheel, I had pretty good results until I discovered that the 2nd gen Nexus is about 10mm too wide to be cut down to fit between the vents, so I kept cutting until I could get it flush but It meant that my vent mechanism had no proper frame and fell apart. So this is basically a forewarning to anyone else attempting it - you cannot modify your existing surround/cubby to fit a 2nd gen 2013 Nexus.

So my question is now, has anyone had success fitting the 2nd gen with the Japanparts panel kit? If yes, can you please post a pic?

Thanks

PS. If anyone wants the left over cubby box and vent tunnels PM me.

IMAG2084.jpg

IMAG2087.jpg

[Viper]

So my question is now, has anyone had success fitting the 2nd gen with the Japanparts panel kit? If yes, can you please post a pic?

Given the unit is only 2mm longer, I'd say it fits.
I'm gonna do down this path I think and order all the bits from Japanparts.

[Monkey]

So my question is now, has anyone had success fitting the 2nd gen with the Japanparts panel kit? If yes, can you please post a pic?

Given the unit is only 2mm longer, I'd say it fits.
I'm gonna do down this path I think and order all the bits from Japanparts.

Let us know how you go if doing it soon and using the 2nd gen Nexus. Fortunately the JDM panel has dropped a bit - now down to $205 + $35 delivery.
I'm still yet to do the amp gain mod and Polk install. I'd be keen on doing a group Nexus install / audio upgrade if anyone else is?

[Monkey]

Monkey,

Do you think that the Gen 1 tablet (if I can find one) would fit with a modified cubby???

Would love to save some $$$ instead of having to buy an original from Japan.


Timbo

Timbo and Benny, I'll answer both in one post.

A Gen 1 tablet might fit but it would be very close.
The official stats have the Gen 1 at 198.5mm long and the Gen 2 at 200mm (which accords with my measurements)

There are 3 approximate measurements I have taken:
1. cubby opening (ie. width viewable from the front): 172mm (sufficient since the screen width on the 2nd gen is only ~152mm wide; 1st gen is probably less)
2. distance between vent frames: 187mm (ideally you wouldn't want to cut beyond here as it might affect operation of the vents
3. distance between vent louvre mechanism: 200mm

So in theory, a Gen 1 Nexus might fit if you cut back to (3). The problem is that your USB cable will interfere with the mechanism - unless you're willing to remove one vent blade - that might work?
But it would be quite hard to cut to this point without breaking the louvre mechanism as I did - and then all the vent blades just fall out.

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The other issue is that even cutting back as far as I have the tablet doesn't sit flush on the panel because it's curved. I am wondering if the JDM panel might be a bit flatter to accommodate flat screens. Below pic shows what I mean.
You could of course back out the sides a bit but if you manage to get it in as flat as possible it's still recessed almost 10mm.

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Finally, the 2nd Gen's height in landscape mode (114mm) is probably a touch short to easily mount on the back of the panel. Mine just passes through the cutout, so the Gen 1 at 120mm might be easier to mount.

I would say if you are doing a permanent install, happy to reinforce/glue and pack out all the gaps, and willing to potentially compromise one one side of your air vents (ie. reducing full range of movement and/or removing at least 1 blade) you probably could modify your stock surround to make this work with a Gen 1 Nexus if you took your time. Bear in mind though most people use a Nexus cover on which to glue mounting brackets, so the possible 1.5mm of available width will likely be taken up.

If anyone wants my left over parts to experiment on let me know.

[bigBADbenny]

Nice one

[seanmau5]

The 1st gen Nexus does fit in behind the standard fascia however it requires you to cut in to the inside sides of the air tunnels. To avoid the issue of it interfering with the operation of your air louvres, modify the Nexus and move the I/O assembly from the bottom of the tablet and reroute your ribbon cable through a hole in the back cover. I had the JDM fascia kit and modified my Nexus as well, works a treat.

[gradg]

Can anyone help me out with the phone connection on this setup?

I can only seem to use bluetooth to tether the tablet, not actually use the phone for handsfree etc? When I hit the bluetooth menu, there's only the option to use my phone as a shared internet device, not to use audio or calls?

I'm running a galaxy s5, not that it should really matter I guess.

Nexus 7 1st gen with timur rom.

[Monkey]

Can anyone help me out with the phone connection on this setup?

I can only seem to use bluetooth to tether the tablet, not actually use the phone for handsfree etc? When I hit the bluetooth menu, there's only the option to use my phone as a shared internet device, not to use audio or calls?

I'm running a galaxy s5, not that it should really matter I guess.

Nexus 7 1st gen with timur rom.

Tablet Talk: https://play.google.com/store/apps/deta ... talk&hl=en

[gradg]

Theres nothing that will route the phone audio from the phone/tablet connection to the car speakers? You still need a bluetooth kit to do this? Tablet talk is just a remote dialler basically. Useless. Need audio.

[Monkey]

Theres nothing that will route the phone audio from the phone/tablet connection to the car speakers? You still need a bluetooth kit to do this? Tablet talk is just a remote dialler basically. Useless. Need audio.

Yes, a bluetooth kit will connect the phone call audio to the car's speakers if you have the AUX 3.5mm jack input (centre console).
Alternatively you could use the tablet's loudspeaker. There is probably a way to set this to on as default.

Others have used Tablet Talk successfully - see the start of this thread.

[gradg]

Theres nothing that will route the phone audio from the phone/tablet connection to the car speakers? You still need a bluetooth kit to do this? Tablet talk is just a remote dialler basically. Useless. Need audio.

Yes, a bluetooth kit will connect the phone call audio to the car's speakers if you have the AUX 3.5mm jack input (centre console).
Alternatively you could use the tablet's loudspeaker. There is probably a way to set this to on as default.

Others have used Tablet Talk successfully - see the start of this thread.

Yeah, I understand that, it's just a bit of a bummer that it hasn't been 'hacked' yet. In any case, looks like it's a Parrot Kit for me. Basic one should do fine if the tablet is still going to display the call info.

I've got the AUX jack input, will I need to switch audio sources from the head unit to get the bluetooth kit to come through on whichever audio source I have on? i.e CD to run the tablet audio? Will I have to change this to AUX for the bluetooth speakers?

[Flat6Estate]

http://www.android.com/auto/

I assume this will work on a Nexus device, might be interesting to tinker with once i finally get around to doing this addition to my car

[Monkey]

Great to see Android finally seeing the demand for in-car use!

But what is it? And when's it out?
I'm guessing it's probably an option which will be offered on new cars: a touchscreen radio running Android, at a cost of around $1500+
I believe the wikipedia entry suggests that you use your Android device to control an existing screen in the car. Presumably then, it would only be useful for newer and high-end cars with factory screens(?)

As far as using on your Nexus, apparently it's only for Android L (5.0), and I doubt the Nexus 2012 will ever get this. 2013 (2nd gen) may, but I think it will go to Nexus 6 and 9 only.
And with regard to the app itself, there's already similar things available - eg. HTC Car app, or Car Home Ultra (https://play.google.com/store/apps/deta ... home&hl=en)
I use both which are good.

[bigBADbenny]

My guess is that car manufacturers may develop systems that can accommodate either Android and Apple versions of in-car connectivity apps, I hope so anyway.