Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

iPad Car Mounts?

I think it's a good idea depending on implementation.

Mounted in window, obviously no.

I always pictured someone inventing a one of those in-dash stereos with the removable face. Instead however, the face was the iPhone/iPad taht you pop in.

I'd like to see something like that for the iPad. Although I can't think of a system that big.
 
I just knew after the original post that this would mostly transition into a discussion about driver safety. Look, I'm not suggesting anything other than replacing functions that are ALREADY available in either manufacturer equipment or aftermarket products with the iPad, which would do all these things far better and more.

I don't want to see drivers messing with their iPad while driving either, and obviously the awesomeness of the iPad would make it a bigger temptation than other existing products. But at the same time, the UI would also be 10x easier to use (and less distracting) than things like BMW iDrive, so there is a flipside.

Anyway, like it or not, iPads will end up in cars eventually (probably starting in about two weeks I'd imagine) and we'll have to rely on the responsibilities of drivers not to go overboard with the things.

So, if anyone comes across car installation accessories, or is planning their own install, I'd love to hear about it. That's really why I started the thread.
 
iPad Car Mount Update

Late Breaking News from CNN
Toyota will be installing iPad car mounts as standard equipment on all models, effective immediately.
 
temetrepo said:
http://www.soundmancaraudio.com/home/2010/4/3/first-ipad-in-a-car.html
:eek:
:D
Click to expand...

Ah nuts, you beat me to it...I was just about to post this same link. But yeah, this thread really got off track...The OP was asking for any mounting solutions, not what we all thought of whether or not this was a good or bad idea. Sheesh people. Look at all the displays/mounts for vehicles that are currently on the market already, and have been for years for various devices, and the countless threads in other various forums over the years about the same issue...whether it's good or bad to do so. Now suddenly someone talks about mounting an iPad in their vehicle and suddenly another good/bad thread pops up like this is something new. COME ON ALREADY PEOPLE!!! This has all been discussed before.

By the way, I plan on putting an iPad smack dab in the middle of the dashboard of my Ridgeline in place of the stereo once I figure out how to properly do it so that it looks factory and not like a huge add-on. Flame me for it sure, but really, how different is it to install an iPad when my current setup is an aftermarket DVD headunit with my iPhone attached sitting right next to the DVD headunit? I use the iPhone mostly for GPS purposes(just like you would having a Tom Tom suction cupped to the windshield), and the DVD headunit I use mostly for the bigger display for the iPod function when I'm listening to music. If I could have this be an all-in-one unit(hence the iPad), then it would be bliss!

Oh, and sorry OP, I don't have any links to any in-vehicle iPad mounting options as I haven't come across anything myself in my own short searching.
 
tommyhonda92 said:
Damn, you beat me to it...I was just about to post this same link. But yeah, this thread really got off track...The OP was asking for any mounting solutions, not what we all thought of whether or not this was a good or bad idea. Sheesh people. Look at all the displays/mounts for vehicles that are currently on the market already, and have been for years for various devices, and the countless threads in other various forums over the years about the same issue...whether it's good or bad to do so. Now suddenly someone talks about mounting an iPad in their vehicle and suddenly another good/bad thread pops up like this is something new. COME ON ALREADY PEOPLE!!! This has all been discussed before.

By the way, I plan on putting an iPad smack dab in the middle of the dashboard of my Ridgeline in place of the stereo once I figure out how to properly do it so that it looks factory and not like a huge add-on. Flame me for it sure, but really, how different is it to install an iPad when my current setup is an aftermarket DVD headunit with my iPhone attached sitting right next to the DVD headunit? I use the iPhone mostly for GPS purposes(just like you would having a Tom Tom suction cupped to the windshield), and the DVD headunit I use mostly for the bigger display for the iPod function when I'm listening to music. If I could have this be an all-in-one unit(hence the iPad), then it would be bliss!

Oh, and sorry OP, I don't have any links to any in-vehicle iPad mounting options as I haven't come across anything myself in my own short searching.
Click to expand...

The display, are just that; displays. Not awesome(need a better word) multimedia devices that demand your constant attention. I doubt the displays get up to the size of the iPad (I'm not in the Fast & Furious stage anymore so I don't know), not to mention the features.

Certain displays (professionally installed) won't allow certain features to be available unless in park, that's something that will be lost w/ iPad in the dash.

So, come on already, don't get mad at people you disagree with, just ignore them. It only takes 1 second and oops. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDCPbUMRCXM I don't care how good of a driver anyone claims to be, it only takes one time to F up. So I, for one, don't oppose the idea just to oppose it, I have a family.

Have a nice day :)
 
YayMayorBee said:
With the accelerometer you could easily have video turned off at speeds of more than 10 miles an hour.
Click to expand...

No offense intended.... but you might want to take a refresher in freshman calculus. Accelerometers measure acceleration, which is the first derivative of velocity. A car traveling at any constant speed would have acceleration of zero.

Now the GPS measures absolute position... so by taking the derivative of that, you would have velocity... which could easily be used to lock out the video at a pre-set speed.

You had the correct concept, but the wrong sensor.

/Jim
 
stealthman1 said:
I'd love to see the mounts...but they used flash for an iPad accessory! Mooreons!:D
Click to expand...

Ohwww. I didn't really think of that when I posted the link as I was on my Mini. Here's the pics, left to right, in the order that they appear on that site...
 

Attachments

  • 1ipad.jpg
    1ipad.jpg
    106.9 KB · Views: 117
  • 22ipad.jpg
    22ipad.jpg
    71.3 KB · Views: 154
  • 44ipad.jpg
    44ipad.jpg
    104.1 KB · Views: 124
  • 33ipad.jpg
    33ipad.jpg
    163.3 KB · Views: 128
  • 5ipad.jpg
    5ipad.jpg
    382.9 KB · Views: 125
troop231 said:
Looks kind of cheap lol, and on the boat, seriously?
Click to expand...

and what about that windshield mount? Californians just got permission to mount their GPS units in specific places. I'm thinking CHP isn't going to be amused with people driving down the road with a billboard stuck to their windshields :)
 
its so annoying all these threads have to turn into safety lectures. Its a GREAT idea. Just use your head. Dont try to use it well driving.
 
CrAkD said:
its so annoying all these threads have to turn into safety lectures. Its a GREAT idea. Just use your head. Dont try to use it well driving.
Click to expand...

Exactly. And I'd argue that the iPad might be a SAFER in-car music player/GPS/traffic device than many of the in-dash products out there. Why? Because the UI is fast and simple. Less time spent mucking around with confusing controls and more time spent paying attention.
 
tommyhonda92 said:
Ohwww. I didn't really think of that when I posted the link as I was on my Mini. Here's the pics, left to right, in the order that they appear on that site...
Click to expand...

An iPad does NOT belong in the center of a windshield. Might as well drive with your sun shield in place!

But the other installs are cool, especially the airplane one.
 
tommyhonda92 said:
Here you go: http://www.ram-mount.com/NewProducts/AppleiPadMounts/tabid/2614/Default.aspx

RAM makes some excellent products. But that suction cup window mount...WOW!!! I can't imagine too many people using that...at least I hope not. Think of how much this would block your view out the window!
Click to expand...

I second this! I have a Ram mount for my iPhone in my car. One if their largest customers are police departments for mounting computers. I toured their facility for work and really liked their products (that's how I found out about them). One of the big draws for me was their lifetime warrarnty.
 
Apple-Man23 said:
A friend of mine who is a huge car enthusiast showed me this link...it's pretty cool but it could definitely get a little distracting ;)


http://erictric.com/2010/04/06/ipad-built-into-a-car-dashboard/
Click to expand...

Again...refer to post #29.

I know, how about everybody post different links on this thread of Soundman's install and see how many different indirect links we can come up with. Sheesh. Does nobody ever read the threads they post on? Might as well keep the posts coming too about how one should not use an iPad/iPhone/pick coffee up to drink/look at the climate controls as you change them/heck even glance at the speedometer/look in the rear view mirror posts coming, while we're at it, cause all of these things takes your eyes off the road to do, after all.
 
tommyhonda92 said:
Here you go: http://www.ram-mount.com/NewProducts/AppleiPadMounts/tabid/2614/Default.aspx

RAM makes some excellent products. But that suction cup window mount...WOW!!! I can't imagine too many people using that...at least I hope not. Think of how much this would block your view out the window!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the link.

If an iPad GPS nav system does come out, the mount and the seat rail mounting kit looks like it would work out well. And the business aspects of the iPad and GPS with OS 4.0 seems to boundless IMO.
 
I have a VW Westfalia, and I was thinking the iPad in landscape mode in the apple case will fit nicely on the dash below my view out the window.
Plan to try it out anyway. VW buses have large front windows. :D
 
redman042 said:
But damn, I'd love to rip out the in-dash nav on my Acura TL and drop this baby in it's place. How cool would that be?
Click to expand...

Ha. I have the same car and I thought of the exact same thing. If the iPad were integrated in the car, it'll make every deck or factory nav system look primitive.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back