Repair-It

Double DIN sized radio is a 7" x 4".

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/metra-doub ... Id=9435541

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_905KWM730 ... 1&tp=72381
https://www.amazon.com/JVC-KW-M730BT-Bl ... B06XCL9HGT

Not sure you can really put together something better than this for less. A combination of your phone and/or this head unit can play any media you can store on a microSD card or USB flash drive. Which is a lot.

Highlights:
- $320 if Crutchfield gets back refurb stock or $328 new on Amazon
- 6.8" touch screen
- Android Auto (and Apple Car Play)
- All kinds of inputs: dual rear USB, rear A/V, rear camera
- All kinds of outputs: 4V front/rear and sub, even has an output to drive a rear/aux display
- Supports iDataLink*
- Comes with a GPS antenna which can be used to set the clock automatically and apparently also with various phone stuff like maps/nav
- Comes with a mic for hands free and BT integration

* iDataLink hilariously provides the following features on a 2009 Mazda 3:

Steering Wheel Controls
Two Functions on Each Button
Standard and Expanded Radio Functions

Gauges
Selectable Performance Gauges
Read/Reset Check Engine Codes

Radar Detector Integration
Compatible with K40 RL360di and RL200di
Display and control of radar detector
Access to Settings
Stealth Mode

http://maestro.idatalink.com/product/pr ... io_id/5077
https://www.amazon.com/ADS-MRR-Maestro- ... B00E4W1644

So for $420 you have full media stuff AND gauges. 10-15 years ago there was no COTS for this stuff, other than the ScanGauge. In 2018 it is a very different landscape.

I know this feeling well. It is the same as with Windows Media Center. 10-15 years ago, a home built machine to serve as a Home Theater PC made a lot of sense. 4-5 years ago people realized they never wanted another PC to maintain and now that there are plenty of good ways to consume media on your TV (other than cable), folks are happy to let go of a computer. I feel the same way about putting a computer in a car. You can do it for the experience or to prove you can still make something. But I don't think you are necessarily going to end up with a better product or save much money.

That looks like a good value. If I was going to go through this process now, I would definitely look for something with CarPlay support.

https://www.automotivelinux.org/software

This looks worth looking into.

http://docs.automotivelinux.org/docs/ge ... ed/en/dev/

Pioneer also makes a bunch of these things.

https://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Car/NEX

The hard part is figuring out how all the models are different.

Actually, what I posted is not really what I am looking for...

What I was hoping for was to use like a NUC or something with a 7 in touch capable screen to make something a little more customizable.

I figured Android Auto is an app now, so if I installed Android on the NUC, I could add the Android Auto app to it and tether my phone for data.
https://www.pcworld.com/article/2048220 ... ur-pc.html
(I tried this and the touch seems... bad, mouse was better, but not optimal for a car though)

Logistically, I would potentially add the double DIN kit to my car, relocate the radio to the glovebox, and have the NUC behind the 7 in touch screen in the double DIN where the radio was. NUC audio would go to my car radio 1/8 in jack input, and the radio would always be on the AUX setting. I can control the input and the volume from the steering wheel.

None of this seems plug and play like one of the units suggested. It would allow for the use of any Android app though, and have full Android Auto functionality... I think.

This all started because I wanted to make my own Infotainment thing, but quickly realized I would want more apps that are for phones (Waze, Nav, etc) than apps for computers in the car. (Unless searching shows that these exist for desktop/Linux also, and I don't need Android.

This looks very promising:

https://www.linux.com/learn/installing- ... nux-archon

I need to look at Chromium. Also free and can potentially run Android Apps too.

So the stock head unit would stay connected and functioning as an amplifier (and I guess tuner, which you wouldn't use)? Something about that sounds really janky. Bass/treble controls, fader, or even the power button are not on your steering wheel.

What are your requirements again?

It would be worth exploring the difference in functionality/UX between running Android on your dash, and running an Android Auto head unit. I think there will be pros and cons.

kevm14 wrote:It would be worth exploring the difference in functionality/UX between running Android on your dash, and running an Android Auto head unit. I think there will be pros and cons.

https://www.howtogeek.com/270947/what-i ... g-a-phone/

Android Auto comes in three forms. You can either buy a car that has Android Auto built-in (as many 2017 models do), purchase an aftermarket head unit and have it installed, or use the app version on your phone.

More recently, there’s also a third option: the Auto app for Android. As announced by Google in early 2016, Android Auto has made its way to phones. While the experience is very similar to that of a head unit, there are definitely some notable differences too. We’ll take a closer look at those down below.

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