(WIP)NOOKColor car stereo - Nook Color Themes and Apps

I know someone was going to beat me putting the nookcolor as a car stereo if I didn't hurry to do it but much respect for the guy that did this first . I worked on my Nookcolor, installing it as a car stereo this weekend on my 2004 Gmc envoy and still modifying my dash to make it blend in. Running Nookie Froyo.Now to work on developing a car stereo app will be great with build in FM radio and visualizer and equalizer. I'm barely learning how to develop apps reading some books on android app development and Java to make my app come to life but I do not have a lot of time, with school and work one tends to get a bit frustrated and tired. I'm hoping some one can help me out with my idea of an app if its not yet on the works. I was inspired byAndroid and everyone here in the XDA community to try and make some great ideas come to life. Android 100% right here
[Videos]
First video preview of set up running Nookie Froyo 0.6.8 sorry i recorded this at night.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mHQphUtmYs
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Until an actual interface adapter is made to bypass sound and volume control from the vehicle wiring to just a plain rca cable with 3.5mm Jack, I intend to use my tab as is. I will come up with new ideas tho.
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NOOKCOLOR Indash Stereo
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Test in dash v2.2
Rom: NookieFroyo 0.6.8(reverted to NookieFroyo for livewallpaper and video support since PhiremodCM7 does not have it yet)
Apps:
Pandora Radio
mVideoPlayer(im having issues with this app, sometimes video shows normally then next time video gets slow)
Button Savior(I replaced Softkeys with ButtonSavior)
Media Volume Bar Widget
WidgetLocker Lockscreen
ADWLauncher EX
Beautiful Widgets
Gauge Battery Widget
MortPlayer
PowerAMP
museek
StayAwake
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Test in dash v2.1(overclocked)
Still same as v2 just added a couple more apps to make feel a bit more like indash stereo.
Apps Added:
Stayawake(this works great so far on phiremodCM7 plug in USB cable and screen stays on, very stereo like feeling, better yet it dims out to save battery but still stays awake)
Last FM(working so far)
ADW Ex launcher
Miren browser(Browser of Choice)
Apps removed:
TuneIn radio(The app started giving me trouble and forcing close, worked for a while tho.)
Apps not working so far:
YouTube or flash( Flash and video playback does not work as stated before but I'm pretty sure it will soon. I tried watching transformers 2 to see how it looked and did not work on phiremod CM7 yet.)
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Test in dash v2
Changed Nook Rom to:
Phiremod CM7 (looks great very responsive, hotspot data connectivity way faster with my HTC EVO on 3g not on 4g. Will test on 4g to see how much faster it connects but no youtube)
Apps Using and still testing:
TuneIn Radio for local stations(since no bluetooth)
PowerAmp (using this app because has build in EQ and song can be change with finger swipe)
Pandora(running 100%)
MortPlayer (still sounds good but prefer PowerAmp because of the look and EQ ) "DSP Manger still doesnt work"
I still need to add volume and mute widgets.
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Test in dash v1
Nookie Froyo 6.7 (Did not test 6.8 yet)
Using PowerAmp app as main choice for stereo. It includes EQ settings.
MortPlayer Installed
Pandora Installed, works great if connected to phone hotspot.
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Apps that I'm trying to develop.
IndashStereo App.
With Navigation compatibility.
YouTube video compatibility.
Bluetooth compatibility if tab comes with it. Probably all tabs will for now on.
Facebook and tweeter song share buttons.
Meaby traffic updates.
IndashStereo Remote
This is another app I want to develop which I will need Bluetooth.
Should have Bluetooth compatibility to connect your Android Phone to connect to Indash Stereo app on the tab so you can share music and use the phone as remote control for app.
Suggestions and opinions are welcome.
Sent from my SuperHTCEvo using XDA Premium App

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I tend to like doubletwist. May want to give that a try. I know it isn't exactly what you are looking for.
Sent from my DROIDX using XDA App

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FM radio might be a dead end for you, I'm pretty sure hardware investigations revealed that the FM chip isn't equipped with a antenna or wired to the headphones for use as an antenna. Perhaps once bluetooth is working you could pair it with some sort of bluetooth radio?
Looks nice though, have you thought of applying a black theme to make look even more smooth with your car?

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It sucks no FM. I'm hoping someone does get Bluetooth working FM and navigation would work with that, it would be great. A black theme would look nice, I'm still exploring a lot of things with the nook like cm7 and honeycomb see how everything would work with that. I did this as a prototype I say. Later on I might change the nookcolor for something else but same size. I still want to develop an app for car stereo and such for any tab. I know it wount be easy but nothing is impossible specially here in XDA
SuperHTCEvo

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Syco54645 said:
I tend to like doubletwist. May want to give that a try. I know it isn't exactly what you are looking for.
Sent from my DROIDX using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its not that hard to do you just need time. Took me a whole Saturday to do this and I'm not done yet. Lol but seems to work and sounds great. I'm always open to suggestions and better ideas.
SuperHTCEvo

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Apps that I'm trying to develop.
IndashStereo App.
With Navigation compability.
YouTube video compability.
Bluetooth compability if tab comes with it. Probably all tabs will for now on.
Facebook and tweeter song share buttons.
Meaby traffic updates.
IndashStereo Remote
This is another app I want to develop which I will need Bluetooth.
Should have Bluetooth compability to connect your Android Phone to connect to Indash Stereo app on the tab so you can share music and use the phone as remote control for app.
Suggestions and opinions are welcome.
SuperHTCEvo

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I'm happy to see this thread, thanks for taking the time to share your work, JCAndroid.
I had a carpc for a few years; after getting fed up with FluxMedia's treatment of the hobbyist community as well as some issues due to outdated hardware, I returned to the stock radio when I got my Droid. The Droid provided most of the functionality of the carpc, however, I do occasionally miss having a carpc though, and I have thought about using the NC in the same manner.
The main drawback for me at this time is lack of navigation. If Bluetooth was usable, then this would obviously be a moot point as the navigation could be achieved using BT GPS.
Anyhow, looking forward to seeing your progress and thanks again the thread.

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tj!2k7 said:
I'm happy to see this thread, thanks for taking the time to share your work, JCAndroid.
I had a carpc for a few years; after getting fed up with FluxMedia's treatment of the hobbyist community as well as some issues due to outdated hardware, I returned to the stock radio when I got my Droid. The Droid provided most of the functionality of the carpc, however, I do occasionally miss having a carpc though, and I have thought about using the NC in the same manner.
The main drawback for me at this time is lack of navigation. If Bluetooth was usable, then this would obviously be a moot point as the navigation could be achieved using BT GPS.
Anyhow, looking forward to seeing your progress and thanks again the thread.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was looking at carpc's also but found it to complecated to do at least for me but it works. When I saw Android tabs were available I saw the chance to do this. I had wanted to this with a galaxy tab but to pricey, but I found my self with the NookColor and once there was a way to rooted I came up with something ofcourse I know other people have put tabs as indash stereos its much easier to use than carpc but would be better with an actual car stereo app. If Bluetooth would work on the Nook we would have more useable stuff I hope someone gets it to work. I'm just trying to come up with something new. Right now I use my Evo 4G as my navigation device. But thanks for the support motivation helps a lot.
SuperHTCEvo

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looks cool, might be funny to watch my subs shake the nook to death lol

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any update on this?
as of right now, w/out using phone wifi hotspot - i don't see any purpose to this.
it has no line-in for using a media player with more storage.
once it's installed better, you won't have much access to swap out the microsd for updating your music.
there are no applications that compare to anything that a carpc can do.
i would much rather a standard in dash cd player then leave my nook in the car.
i'm having a hard time understanding the point of this... if you have a phone that can do wifi hotspot, then your phone can run pandora and plug into the line in of a standard stereo... and probably sound a whole lot better...

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xtravbx said:
i'm having a hard time understanding the point of this... if you have a phone that can do wifi hotspot, then your phone can run pandora and plug into the line in of a standard stereo... and probably sound a whole lot better...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't over think it, it's just cool. A lot of cars nowadays come with a similar sized touch screen that runs the stereo. This is a great idea to do just because we can. Thumbs up to you sir.

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rudygetz said:
Don't over think it, it's just cool. A lot of cars nowadays come with a similar sized touch screen that runs the stereo. This is a great idea to do just because we can. Thumbs up to you sir.
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Click to collapse
:werd:
sorry didn't mean to be a downer. Just a crappy day at work and my bad mood is coming up, instead of being supportive.
Let's see what you can make happen with this!

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Update Peeps!
Yea you can use a carpc and it can be better but it is just something new to try. You can use your phone but sound has no difference believe me I did a number of test and if your worried about leaving it in the car at night there is no problem it gets pitch dark you can even see it but the point is that you want something portable and cool, that is why i did this mod.
I updated to to Phiremod CM7 and let me tell you hotspot connectivity is way faster but youtube doesnt work. So far so good. Still testing it.
Since. No! Bluetooth im using TuneIn Radio App and works nice on Phiremod CM7 with my HTC Evo hotspot on 3G Not on 4G so it can be much faster but will try.

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xBryan said:
looks cool, might be funny to watch my subs shake the nook to death lol
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Click to collapse
Lol my does not shake. I have two 12" Kickers with a 700w pioneer amp. It pounds but the Nook stays intact. Well at least with my dock.

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Do you have any power management going on? I couldn't tell but I would imagine if you did some sort of modification to the power cord so it would be as flush as possible to the dash and ran it to a USB car charger, you could theoretically make it so all you had to do was slide the Nook in from right to left, thereby connecting it to the charger as it is secured.
I personally have begun to explore the possibilities of using it as a carpc myself. I'm planning a drive down to Florida from New York in April and I'm hoping to use it as a the Nav/Media hub (I have a GPS, Pioneer BT sound system with an amp, and there will be two Dincs in the car but still, you can't beat a 7" version of any of those). I''l either be mounting it in my Civic or my Altima, depending on which we decide to use. The Civic as much better DIY mounting possibilities, and I've already drawn up some ideas. The only thing I'm waiting for is the BT
EDIT: For comparision, here is the link that shows the inside of my Civic, and if you Google the interior to a 2007 Altima, you'll see how theres little to no possibilities for mounting without cutting into anything.

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Xephik said:
Do you have any power management going on? I couldn't tell but I would imagine if you did some sort of modification to the power cord so it would be as flush as possible to the dash and ran it to a USB car charger, you could theoretically make it so all you had to do was slide the Nook in from right to left, thereby connecting it to the charger as it is secured.
I personally have begun to explore the possibilities of using it as a carpc myself. I'm planning a drive down to Florida from New York in April and I'm hoping to use it as a the Nav/Media hub (I have a GPS, Pioneer BT sound system with an amp, and there will be two Dincs in the car but still, you can't beat a 7" version of any of those). I''l either be mounting it in my Civic or my Altima, depending on which we decide to use. The Civic as much better DIY mounting possibilities, and I've already drawn up some ideas. The only thing I'm waiting for is the BT
EDIT: For comparision, here is the link that shows the inside of my Civic, and if you Google the interior to a 2007 Altima, you'll see how theres little to no possibilities for mounting without cutting into anything.
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Click to collapse
O that's right I never mentioned what I did for power management. I use to have a Kenwood double din stereo with 6.5" screen but took that off. I had to cut and trim in order to put my dock were the stereo was. I used the nookcolor leather case and cur it, I was going to make a dock myself like the way the HTC Evo car dock is but I just wanted to try this like this first. Then I went and bought me a cheaper stereo. The stereo I put it in the passenger compartment box that's y you don't see it on the pics, it is hidden. I modified my compartment box also, I had to cut and trim the back of it to run cables out and to make space for a small computer fan for the the heat of the stereo to be exhausted out. When I dock my Nook I just plug my 3.5mm headphone Jack and USB charger. I'm still trying to modify the connector of the USB charger, I don't like the cable just hanging there. But works great so far.
SuperHTCEvo

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Since DSP manegers EQ does not work I'm going to try and see if the new LifeVibes app works later on.
SuperHTCEvo

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what are you using to hold the nook in place around the edges?
i'm thinking of making my own 'case' and just contemplating different types of ways to hold my nook in place.
btw: from one fellow hardware modder to another - very awesome work.
pointless or not somethings are just to cool to not try.

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pxldtz said:
what are you using to hold the nook in place around the edges?
i'm thinking of making my own 'case' and just contemplating different types of ways to hold my nook in place.
btw: from one fellow hardware modder to another - very awesome work.
pointless or not somethings are just to cool to not try.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the complement.
Before I did the mod I went looking on eBay for case holders but none of them looked as durable as the original NookColor leather case holder, so I bought the the leather case holder for the NookColor it was pricey but I took a chance and used it to incorporate it to my dash. What I did was cut the holder and just use that as the mount dock. So far it has been working really good throughout bumbs and speedhumps it stays intact in its mount holder. I'm still thinking of changing it tho to a better looking angle or adding angle adjustments.
SuperHTCEvo

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I imagine if done well such a mod would be an excellent complement to any dash while garnering many compliments from passengers (even would be thieves).