Am I the only one who wants tablet in their car??

[strangeday]

I mean, all of those touch-screen navigation systems that people have with iPod integration (such as the Pioneer AVIC series and all others) seem crappy to me. Their touch screens don't respond well, which is something I expect once getting accustomed to the iPhone.

People here ask what a tablet will be good for, and it drives me crazy. I need the fast multi-touch that apple offers to make it easier and faster to select music or a driving destination (via navigation apps) while driving. This will be much safer than what many people are doing now. Why? Because the screen would actually respond to your touch right away, meaning less distraction. I'm sure you guys, like me, have used a TomTom device and had to pull over because the screen is such a pain in the @ss!!

How about music interfaces? They SUCK on most devices, and are just plain ugly. I want cover flow or front row in my ride! Currently, I use my iPhone to play my music library, but I have to look down and it but can only glance quickly at the small screen. It would feel safer to have a larger screen that sits higher up on the dashboard. Voice recognition would make it even safer.

With the tablet installed right where the stereo unit normally is, everything would be snappier, quicker, more responsive and less distracting while driving. I mean people already do this with 7" screens, but again the touch response and interface just plain SUCK.

So, something like this, but with new optimized touch-interface would be just right:

 

[miles01110]

I am generally against the ridiculous invasion of the automobile by various a/v technologies. People can't even handle text messages while driving, there's no reason to think that touchscreen systems are any safer.

 

[strangeday]

I am generally against the ridiculous invasion of the automobile by various a/v technologies. People can't even handle text messages while driving, there's no reason to think that touchscreen systems are any safer.

Well, that is true, that many people use certain technologies (like their PHONES) unsafely. But if you read my thread, I look at the tablet more like a replacement for existing multi-function stereo units. People can use their phones (no texting while driving) for other stuff. I mean, touch screens in cars aren't anything new. They just don't work very well right now. And what about portable navigation devices? They're out there and people seem to be handling those well. It would just be nice to incorporate that into a larger, more responsive touch screen with an elegant music interface built in.

 

[Paul B]

Title should be "Am I the only one who wants to get his car burglarized?"

 

[sammich]

Well, it won't work that well for me down in Australia. I'm right handed, and multi-finger gestures with my left hand is going to be crap. Just give me the iDrive and I'll be fine.

 

[ajohnson253]

naw, I would rather just bring it with me where I want and not have to worry about it my car broken into and that being stolen.
The great thing about this tablet is, of course its portable. Having it installed into your vehicle would take away that purpose of the tablet being, "portable".

But I hear you on the idea though.

 

[miles01110]

And what about portable navigation devices? They're out there and people seem to be handling those well. It would just be nice to incorporate that into a larger, more responsive touch screen with an elegant music interface built in.

What about them? I'm willing to bet that in the vast majority of cases someone enters the address where they want to go before they start driving.

 

[aquabella]

I see it's functionality in the car to be one of the best things about it. Integrated hands free phone, NAV system, music player, plus. I will be looking for a way to mount it over our piece of junk NAV system built into the dashboard. It will take some time to get used to carting it back and forth from the car, but I seem to have mastered that with lots of other stuff I have to cart around (with a small child).

 

[bobfitz14]

if i was a cop and i pulled someone over for driving erratically and saw a Tablet of some form on the passenger seat i would be HEATED.

 

[Tinknock71]

lets see. Radio, Phone, text, GPS, TV, eating, drinking, friends, spouse, kids, Sex " I have not done this while driving but have seen this a few time on the freeway" but some say its not sex just oral relations Other distractions like kids running out in front of the car, drunks, I'm sure there is a few more. I can see where the tablet would fit in nicely

I myself just have a hard time driving with all the morons on the road!

 

[strangeday]

lets see. Radio, Phone, text, GPS, TV, eating, drinking, friends, spouse, kids, Sex " I have not done this while driving but have seen this a few time on the freeway" but some say its not sex just oral relations Other distractions like kids running out in front of the car, drunks, I'm sure there is a few more. I can see where the tablet would fit in nicely

I myself just have a hard time driving with all the morons on the road!

Okay. Point taken. But I don't want to use it for all of that. I want the navigation, and music player. Pretty much the same thing people are already using comfortably, just with a more responsive screen.

I'll find a way to hide it while parked and also a way to be docked and undocked to bring out any where I would like. This can be done. I'll post pics when I have mine installed

That's better than a separate crappy navigation system, fumbling around with CDs, or continually having to glance at iPhone.

 

[t0mat0]

Mmmm. Voice Control for OS 4 doing some useful Turn by turn? that'd be handy.

Ford with Sync shows it's eminently possible. With a physical dock built into the car, there ain't much to steal. I'd imagine more tablets will be used by passengers on journeys though.
It's too darned hard to balance a laptop for most journeys - a tablet will be just right (and a much bigger screen than using an iPhone to catch up on emails, news, video...)

 

[strangeday]

I see it's functionality in the car to be one of the best things about it. Integrated hands free phone, NAV system, music player, plus. I will be looking for a way to mount it over our piece of junk NAV system built into the dashboard. It will take some time to get used to carting it back and forth from the car, but I seem to have mastered that with lots of other stuff I have to cart around (with a small child).

Finally, someone who understands! Of course you're not going to do all of the other things (like browse the web, look at porn, read emagazines) while driving. It's just going to do a much better and easier job in the car as the other common devices.

All the other stuff I can do while I'm not driving.

 

[Tinknock71]

Okay. Point taken. But I don't want to use it for all of that. I want the navigation, and music player. Pretty much the same thing people are already using comfortably, just with a more responsive screen.

I'll find a way to hide it while parked and also a way to be docked and undocked to bring out any where I would like. This can be done. I'll post pics when I have mine installed

That's better than a separate crappy navigation system, fumbling around with CDs, or continually having to glance at iPhone.

What's a CD? Is that something like a 8-track tape
You want to make sure and hide it well just another thing for people to break into cars for. but it would be nice to have in the car when your sitting in bumper to bumper traffic.

 

[strangeday]

if i was a cop and i pulled someone over for driving erratically and saw a Tablet of some form on the passenger seat i would be HEATED.

"License and registration please. The reason I pulled... Sir, I'm going to have to confiscate that!"

 

[MisterMe]

"License and registration please. The reason I pulled... Sir, I'm going to have to confiscate that!"

Unless there is a specific law that outlaws the device, it cannot be confiscated and maybe not even then. The Commonwealth of Virginia used to mandate confiscation of radar detectors. The courts stopped the practice. Radar detectors were still illegal in Virginia the last time I checked. However, they cannot be confiscated.

 

[liquid stereo]

No more b.s. in cars

There's too much crap there now.

 

[rayward]

I remember seeing a an article about a Land Rover concept car which had an integrated iPhone dock in the centre console. When the iPhone was docked, the screen became a giant "start" button to start the engine. Pretty cool.

Having a tablet dock in lieu of an integrated entertainment / nav system sounds like a cool idea, but the problem would be that everyone who drove it would need a tablet. Most of these on board systems are also used for other stuff too, from the heat/cool settings to warning messages. Without a tablet, none of that would work, and you'd have no music or navigation.

Lastly, the tablet isn't likely to be your everyday cell phone, which means you'd still want your iPhone or whatever to connect to the car via Bluetooth. If you're going to connect an iPhone, why not have a "proper" iPhone dock that truly lets the car utilise the power of iPhone? At least pull phone calls and contacts directly from the phone, instead of via Bluetooth. How about putting album art on the screen (my beamer has a split screen and would be perfect for this)? And I've still yet to see an option for an iPhone-driven rear seat entertainment system: that would mean music, movies, internet and games all in one system!

 

[macmermaid]

Finally, someone who understands! Of course you're not going to do all of the other things (like browse the web, look at porn, read emagazines) while driving. It's just going to do a much better and easier job in the car as the other common devices.

All the other stuff I can do while I'm not driving.

Right, I will absolutely do ALL those things, only while I am in the passenger's seat, which is a lot of the time. And, the NAV screen is even more crippled when you try to set it from the passenger's seat. I am trying to look addresses up on the iPhone and then input them into the NAV system, since it is impossible to find places on the NAV system unless you have the address.

I suppose it is a good point that some of these systems provide info about the operations of the car. Ours doesn't, so I won't miss that.

 

[robfromabove]

I would love to be able to use a third-party mod to be able to clip the slate onto the dashboard, but nothing as permanent as your mockup. Also, I doubt Apple would ever even consider getting into the touch-screen nav systems... I think they're finally starting to figure out their niche, and it doesn't involve releasing products that less than 1% of the population is interested in - I think for the most part they like releasing products that at least have the potential to be a great success (the AppleTV being the only example of one that just didn't work out)

 

[steve-p]

I'd rather have a car with a built-in touch screen nav and iPod interface, rather than mess about with some clunky mount and some wires, and having to take it out every time you park. Granted mine is 7" not 10" (the screen that is ) and the interface is not as nice as an Apple interface, but it's an acceptable compromise.

 

[redboxcar]

OP, I see your point and I would LOVE to have one in my car the exact same reasons. For those saying everyone would have to have a tablet, why? It's not something that would come stock in a car. If you have a tablet, and you have space on your dash/console area, then you get it installed. Much like people do TVs, game systems, in-dash DVD players, in-dash Navigation systems, and much more in their cars.

I think the Apple/iPhone OS would be soooo ideal for managing all of my media in the car, and yes, while I'll still keep my iPhone as my primary portable device, I won't have to worry about connecting it and looking at the small screen every time I get into the car. Like the OP said, having these things in a car (navigation, screens, music players, and even movie players) is nothing new, so it's not like having one in the car would all of a sudden make people drive more crappy - they already drive crappy, this is just another option instead of that in-dash DVD player!

If I'm worried about someone stealing it, it can [ideally] be concealed (done during the installation process) like certain in-dash screens, or it can be mountable (and thus, un-mountable).

GREAT IDEA!!!

 

[bobfitz14]

"License and registration please. The reason I pulled... Sir, I'm going to have to confiscate that!"

not totally sure where you were going with that.

the reason i said this:

if i was a cop and i pulled someone over for driving erratically and saw a Tablet of some form on the passenger seat i would be HEATED.

is mainly because i think this:

There's too much crap there now.

i don't necessarily think the stuff in cars nowadays is crap, but there are so many things that can distract people so why add onto the list...? i don't know this is just how i see the topic.