[Updated] Full iPad mini integration, need advice
 

Update:
Finally done with the fitment and enclosure just a few little things are left but pretty much 80% done.
ill post up daylight pics tomorrow.

http://imageshack.us/a/img22/2396/uc3n.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img19/7115/0xam.jpg

I think there is a way to connect the iPad mini via Bluetooth to the Z. There's a thread around here where someone made this happen.

Thats an option too, :tup: didn't think of that tahnks.

Take pictures and keep us posted on your progress.

Scroll down and read one of the posts i made http://www.the370z.com/exterior-inte...ipad-mini.html

I used an iSimple media gateway with bluetooth module to connect to my factory bose. Steering wheels controls work with this.

You could go a step further than me and mount the tablet flush with the cubby hole and that way you can leave the cover door on and have it look oem with the tablet running underneath maybe.

damm, you beat me to it lol

Funny that this topic has come up again. I just got an iPad mini last week and have already jailbroken it. With the Cydia app “Activator” you can program the iPad to turn on and off based on power source. For instance, if the iPad is receiving power it will stay on (or turn on one it receives power), it can also turn off when the power is cut off. This is great if you are planning to integrate the iPad into your dash, as it will turn on and off based on when you turn your car on/off. I tested this the other day and it worked perfectly. As Bandit said, I’m planning to put my iPad in the cubby hole and use the OEM navi bezel to make it look stock. I’ll have to fabricate the bezel a bit to make it fit the larger screen size of the Mini, but it should make it so that the device is within reach from my driver seat. I’m also planning to make a cut in the top of the center dash piece in order to easily remove it and maybe even add an actuator to make the whole thing automated. Hopefully I will be doing this over the next couple of months.

As for the iSimple gateway, i was planning on using this to power the device. Bandit, do you need the Bluetooth module to make the steering wheel controls work?

Also, does anyone know if there is a way to connect two Bluetooth devices to our OEM stereo? This would be very helpful for Siri integration in the car.

Just remeber bluetooth will not sound the same as using a cable. Just my :twocents:

Beat me to IT!!!

Third that, however it would be nice to be able to control the song tracks via steering wheel controls. Does anyone know if the isimple will allow this?

I think people underestimate the quality of a digital bluetooth connection versus an analog 2.5'' jack. IMO, if you're experiencing bad quality over BT, the issue isn't "bluetooth", but the codec being used by the source.

If it's using a low-quality codec, you're going to get low-quality audio. However, the blutooth profile used for sending audio wirelessly is capable of sending mpeg formatted audio, which is the same as what you would hear directly out of your headphones.

The iSimple media gateway will use your steering wheel controls for anything that is plugged into the gateway that is digital (ipod connection, or bluetooth). I can't tell any quality difference between the bluetooth and using the aux cable except the aux cable has higher volume at a lower setting. I am using factory bose though so maybe it just cant replicate the distortion :D I usually keep the volume on the ipad all the way to max minus 1 and listen to the radio at 15 on the radio. ive put the radio to the max of 30 and it still sounds great but its too loud unless you like that sort of thing.

BT compression is much higher than just pumping in amplified music through a AUX port. Hence how an AUX input can sound better than BT streaming.

The Lid-Cluster (Part # 68520) is $309 from Nissanpartszone. It's pricey but it's going to look nice.

That sucks. I guess if the BT compression is that high it'll make ALAC over BT pointless.


Tapatalk2 ...

It's true that BT has a max bandwidth of 768kb. Uncompressed CD-quality music is approx 1.4mb.

I still contend that the quality of the connection (and hardware) along with the codec used by the BT connection as a result of that hardware plays a large part in the quality of the sound.

I personally wish the BT standard would be updated so that it would allow a higher bandwidth to the point of actually being able to stream "uncompressed" CD quality music (since CD music is compressed anyway).

From what i understand Bluetooth has a transferable connection of up to 1.25MB per second.

The industry has eased up on more BT technology and hasn't come up with something new within the last 2 years. But the point here is unless you are a fanatical audio enthusiast you are not going to get concert quality sound out of a vehicle. at bit rate of 512 or more your going to have a high quality sound without noticing the difference IMO.

I'm not an audio savant like some of the dudes like Bigaudio are. The transfer limit I think has to do more with the individual BT protocol (a2dp) that is used for the wireless transfer, which is the one I quoted that's a little north of 720kbps. I dunno.

From there, you're limited by the codec which can be as low as 200kbps. Some apps and some adapters cannot stream at the highest native BT codec rate which is still kinda low.

Here's some info about it. I'm not sure how current it is. I'd personally really like to see the native mp3 BT codec actually be put into play. I think sound quality could improve quite a bit from it.

Bluetooth audio quality (A2DP) - News - SoundExpert

Most BT streaming is not even close to what the max throughput is. It's like SATA 6.0 MB Throughput for hard drives, you will never see that speed. Another example is MAX power for an amp, you just will not ever see that. Most streaming in today's cars is not using the newest tech even, so your compression is much higher than the numbers would suggest. Given that I have streamed BT audio through many different head units I can certainly hear the compression even with newer head units, and that's using factory speakers even.

Would love to see some pictures of this.

So finally started the project here are some pictures so far:
http://imageshack.us/a/img855/7369/uuw9.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img5/9506/igau.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img708/728/wrqr.jpg

moar pics! looks like its going to turn out sweet..

http://img547.imageshack.us/img547/4404/n17.jpg

Almost there

Why did you remove the digitizer?

How about a pic where you can actually see what your dash looks like? It's all blacked out without any light!

Not bad- post some more pics with at least the interior light on. Let's see the enclosure.

Because the way ipads are made, the digitizer and lcd are two separate pieces unlike lets say iphone 5, so i glued the digitizer to lcd with OCA to make it more durable and make lcd brighter on sunlight. Then i stripped the ipad all apart leaving unnecessary parts behind, like the metal housing just takes up space, power button no need for that, speakers didnt install those. While screen is vertical, i placed motherboard horizontally to make space readings more correct. I still have to run face camera behind the steering wheel, and rear camera to the rearview mirror, so i can record stuff while driving. Then almost done with running home button to the accessory key by cup holder.

I finished it all last night, i wrapped the bezel in permission color orange leather, but this morning in a daylight it didnt look that good so i picked up black suede and in a process of making a new frame as im typing, more good pictures coming really soon :tup:

Oh and also the headunit is giving me problems since it does not provide enough power to charge the ipad, and doesnt have bluetooth in it or aux lol so i have to buy a new one now or if someone wants to trade its Appradio 2.

I watched a YouTube video of a guy taking one apart. But all of what you did is way over my head. Great job don't think I would have the courage to do it myself though haha

I'm selling my pioneer avh-x4500bt that has all you need for $265 shipped. It's 2 months old I'm Changing to a nav unit :tup:

sent via my wrist watch calculator

Did a new enclosure looks way more cleaner than the first one, but again just finished it up but its already dark out. Thats the most i could get with interior lights


http://imageshack.us/a/img22/2396/uc3n.jpg
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Now your just toying with us. Can't wait to see the final results with some light. I have so many questions...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Heres day picture and picture of how wires are hooked up, Ill answer any questions :tiphat:
http://imageshack.us/a/img35/6718/wa8c.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img441/1647/xfqt.jpg

I've been looking at doing this type of integration as well. I found a nice little Youtube video that talks about some accessories. Did you use these for the connectivity side?

here are a few questions:
1) are the inputs (i.e. aux input, lightning cable input, SIM card input) built into the screen. Such that once you remove the aluminum backing and bezel you can still use these?
2) what did you do to the home button?
3) have you unlocked your iPad (i would suggest that you do)?
4) have you considered using iSimple to power your ipad and use the OEM radio once you do?

1) My iPad is wifi and i just tether it through my iPhone, but if you had the gsm/cdma you still could use the simcard. All the ports Sim, AUX, lightning are part of the ipad motherboard (which is about quarter of the size of ipad) which are connected by flex cables and are somewhat flexible and you can manipulate location once the cover is off. Also there is a company in china that can make custom flex cable extensions and virtually you can place inputs anywhere in the car, besides the lightning its part of the motherboard. (I ordered extension flexes for cameras:stirthepot:). I placed lightning and aux outputs to the back of the cubby compartment. Also you have to connect the battery ipad wont turn on without it, but the battery fits perfectly in the cubby

2) Well home button is activated by gestures i can pinch screen with 4 fingers to exit app, or use 3 fingers to slide screen up to get to the multitasking menu. There are so many other options and you can make custom gestures it all comes with ios 6, and ios 7 will only be better. Also i wired a simple button from radioshack to lighning cable, and when i press it i can turn iPad on, or wake it up from sleep. I put the button by cupholder. In reality if you really need home button its possible to run an actual button to the steering wheel right bellow volume control buttons, but its to much soldering.

3) Yea its jailbroken, I got the f.lux app which dims the screen in warm color once the sun is down. There so much more stuff you can do with jailbroken ipad and make it even more car friendly. Also voice recognition works well unless the fan is blasting. So if you want to send a message to someone just activate siri and talk ;)

4) I dont really want to use iSimple because I have aftermarket head unit which i still have to make to work with ipad, and once i get that done I will be able to control music with steering wheel through the headunit.

Nice, take some shots of the wired home button near the cup holder, id love to see it. Also do you have the website for the flex cable extentions?

Has anyone used the iSimple gateway for their iPad? just wondering if it'll work with it, especially if itll let you use your steering wheel control with it

I dont think they have a website, but heres their skype name sunnytechnaqing. And the button is not hooked up yet, i will hook it up after i figure out my situation with the headunit. On iSimple website it says that it works with the ipad so i guess you can use that too.

No offense but I really really dislike the black cloth/foam bezel you have around the screen. If you could enclose it in fiberglass that was color matched with the rest of the dash it would look amazing, but as of now its appearance is a bit of a turn off for me.

You effort and idea behind this project though is outstanding. Keep moving forward with it, you'll definitely get to where this project needs to be!