iPad in car integration
 

anybody seen any custom ipad car integration done locally? This is like one of the first thing i thought of when apple annouce the iPad. Perfect carpc and something i can unplug and play with while at home. Want to get some ideas of how it might be done.

Most current car audio recievers do not support the Ipad and its operating system. I am sure that this will be rectified fairly soon!

What do you mean by integration? Lots of shit out there. Some cool ideas, some not so cool.

^ yes thats what i mean, basically what that video had the ipad do. Act as mp3 storage, play video with audio out via car stereo and using it as gps with the voice prompt coming out of car speakers. With the limited capablity of the ipad software I don't expect it to do anymore more that that unless we are talking a baller install like this



I don't really like the way he mounted the ipad, doesn't seem secure. I'm trying to figure out a way to disguise the fact that its an ipad while its in the car so i can go for a movie without carrying the ipad with me everywhere.

^^ Take it out and store it in a custom made car safe? Anything is possible if you have the money.

Fishman...... boy that brings back a lot of memories from the past.

http://www.termpro.com/showcars/index.asp?Page=20

I havent done an IPad yet but a few years back I was doing car pc sytems with 10+ inch touch screen monitors integrated into vehicle operating systems. IE Engine controls gauges AC controls windows etc. It's not cheap the most expensive part (back then) was writing the software to do all these functions. No headunit is needed the IPad can do all the needed audio video gps functions.

Yeah you can use a digital output and connect to a processor (low to high level input) and control your sound through the Ipad. This would work but there is really nothing quite like excellent control of your audio through a proprietary A/V reciever.

Proprietary Headunit is not needed nor better. Whenever I installed SQ systems with a PC base I most commonly used an Alpine PXA H700 bear in mind this unit is no longer available but there are other options with similar capabilities.
If not so equipped and I'm unsure if the Ipad is then most any Audiocontrol processor would work as they are equipped with a line driver and have a full line of sound restoration devices.

In my opinion its better.
Having listened to a ton of SQ systems (and judging them for IASCA), I have never heard a PC-based system sound as good or better than a system controlled by an aftermarket deck using either compact disc technology or Apple Lossless software. The only thing that would come close is a factory head using an Audiocontrol piece - and even then they don't sound all that great.

I currently have the BEST head unit on the market in my car. It is by far the nicest sounding deck I've ever heard. Could an OEM system sound the same? No. Could you rig a carputer to perform the same? No.
If you're willing to compromise on quality for options, then the carputer/iPad system will work great! I couldn't expect greatness out of it.
What kind of car is it? How much are you willing to spend? What kind of WOW factor are you looking for? How much does sound quality be mean to you?

Best by whos standards?
Best worst average. Those are all relative terms based on ones experience and opinions and individually flavored to suit.
I gotta agree with you on the OEM integration tho there is little chance an OEM stereo with an Audiocontrol JL Audio or other processor be as nice as a quality dedicated headunit. Afterall the source to a good sound system is just that, the source and an OEM unit with less then optimal sound characteristics is very seldom good as a source. Factory units are prone to a low signal to noise ratio and high distortion rates as just a couple of examples and no processor can eliminate those problems they can only make an attempt at masking them and any IASCA judge would be able to pick that apart as compared to a cleaner source.
Now when we are talking a car pc with a fiber optic or coax digi out well that is the cleanest most uncolored source you can get, it's digital and a digital signal is the easiest to maintain, clean up and modify. The trick to using that as a source tho is the all to important digi to analog converter so get a good one and nothing can touch it in the world of SQ.

Remember folks this is just based on my experiences and opinions and flavored to my tastes but intended to educate those who wish to look past the traditional.

Interesting way of looking at it Phil.
Who makes a carputer to analog adapter these days that would qualify it to meet this IASCA judges standards? I own a Pioneer DEX-P99RS. It is a true digital deck will dual 24 bit Burr Brown converters. It's got a copper chassis, 4 way crossover with a 31 band per side eq with time alignment. This deck was made for the car. I've never heard of any carputer with these options & I've searched.
Computers have come a long way in the last few years but they still don't like: dust; moisture; excessive vibration; sudden jolts and they just won't reject noise like a copper clad chassis or noise filters that are generally included with decks these days.
It still comes down to trade offs. How much are you willing to compromise? It may look great on paper, but will it survive real world tests?


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There are many sources for coax or fiber optic digi to analog converters. For years Alpine made a couple of excellent pieces that you can still find new or refurbished as close as Ebay and there are other pro audio sources for these parts. As pro audio and recording studios use plenty of pc based recording producing mediums. This technology is nothing new nor difficult to source its just beyond the means of traditional car audio thinking.

What kind of price range are we talking about?

I just want to point out, that Pioneer Head unit, is by far the nicest I have seen. I'm sure you paid a lot less than retail, but aren't they like $1300 msrp

You're right, I didn't pay the full $1349.99 retail, but yea, it's an unbelievable deck.
I have two more on the way from Pioneer...

I so wanted to get that new PRS-99 deck but its a bit out of my price range even at cost. I ended up going for the next best thing - the PRS-800. :)

http://www.alpinef1status.com/j/index.html

The North American F#1 Status site is no longer up. :(


The deck and processor retailed at around $5000.00 US. The deck was useless unless you had the processor.

http://caraudiomag.com/articles/alpi...udio-head-unit

Yup. Just another reason why Alpine is slipping. Kinda sad really.

The F#1 Status is the only thing I've ever owned from Alpine that I can say is wow. Everything else they make nowadays is just average at best.

My biggest complaint about Alpine is their lack of support in the long run. They introduce a new model and before you know it, they drop it and stop supporting it. Remember my complaint with the Blackbird II nav unit? At the time, it was the only nav unit that would work with the IVA-W505. When I bought the useless POS, it was already three years behind on maps. They kept on telling people they would come up with new maps shortly. Now they don't support the damn thing at all. You have to buy a whole new nav unit. To add insult to injury, I now have this message that says, "Your NAVTEQ maps are now over a year old. Please contact your nearest Alpine dealer for updates." Every fucking time I turn the unit on, I get this message. I don't think I can disable this message. Anyone here know how to delete the annoying "Alpine just fucked you over," daily message?

I know how to get rid of that notice... make one of your own that says something like, "for sale".

Buy the Pioneer.

An update (pun mucho intended). Actually, an upgrade. I phoned Alpine USA this morning and before I could start ranting over the phone, the guy goes, "Have we got news for you."

Apparently, Blackbird II customers are eligible to receive and update/upgrade for 125 bucks. Not only that, Alpine will replace the Blackbird with one of their latest Navigation units and supply people with bluetooth and a few other things. They will ask you how you use the Blackbird. If you say standalone and not mention that you use bluetooth, you won't get the bluetooth accessory. I use the Blackbird in my other car for the bluetooth.

The only thing I'm not wild about is the fact this new unit might not be dockable with the IVA-W505.

Anyway, I'm sort of happy. Not finalized yet, so I'm going to cross my fingers they will go through with their promise.

Well at least they offer some sort of solution. Too bad you have to shell out more money.:(

Yeah, but at least it has new maps and shit. $125.00 update doesn't seem too bad, especially when you get a new unit.

you got pm