Tested News

RSS

iPad Gets Hacked into Car Dashboard

Car enthusiast installs Apple's iPad into the dash of his Toyota Tacoma.

By Paul Lilly  |  April 6, 2010

With its large, bright screen and ultra-responsive interface, it shouldn't come as any surprise that the iPad would eventually end up in someone's dash, we're just a little shocked it happened this fast. The first to do so -- or at the least the first to film the process and upload it for all to see -- is Doug Bernards of SoundMan Car Audio located in Santa Clarita, CA.
 
In the video, Doug removes the dash of his Toyota Tacoma and proceeds to grind the edges to accommodate his iPad, which he acquired on the day of its release. Right now he has the iPad nestled neatly in the dash as if it came that way from the factory, and once fully wired, the dock connector will plug into a cable that runs to an Onkyo ND-S1. As Bernards describes it, this will send the digital signal from the iPad into an Audison Bit One, which will then act as the D/A converter, and also process the audio signal. And the amplifier? A six-channel McIntosh MCC406M, of course!    

The only thing that might have made this cooler is waiting for the 3G iPads to ship, which would have opened the door to looking up sports highlights, player profiles, or even grilling recipes at the next tailgate party. Watch the installation video below.
 
 
Would you be interested in an in-dash iPad? What other types of mods are just begging for an iPad?
13 Comments
Rallier moderator on April 6, 2010 at 3:09 p.m.
Nothing says "i drive responsibly" then having a 10 inch touch screen in your dashboard. 
 
It is an interesting use of the Ipad and  I suppose that as a sat nav it would be quite useful but other then that i don't see much use for it that would not distract you from driving.
HypoXenophobiaon April 6, 2010 at 3:17 p.m.
I got the same feeling from this guy that I got playing Heavy Rain when Madison checks into the motel for the first time....
 
But on topic, I wonder how you would go about updating your music collection with it installed in the car. Or will Pandora suffice?(wouldn't know never used the thing)
Coreymwon April 6, 2010 at 3:18 p.m.
@HypoXenophobia: Aren't you able to wirelessly sync with iTunes? You would have to park close enough, but I don't see why that wouldn't work.
HypoXenophobiaon April 6, 2010 at 3:20 p.m.
@Coreymw: 
How? Turn on the PC, run to the car, then turn off both after they're done? Secondly, I wasn't aware of a wireless sync option.
Coreymwon April 6, 2010 at 3:28 p.m.
@HypoXenophobia: I don't have the slightest idea how it would work, but I'm sure it is possible.
Greenshoeson April 6, 2010 at 4:16 p.m.
@Rallier said:
" Nothing says "i drive responsibly" then having a 10 inch touch screen in your dashboard."
My thougts exactly.
SSullyon April 6, 2010 at 4:20 p.m.
Thats cool i guess, but like paul said it would have been much cooler if they waited for a 3G ipad. I guess it wont be hard to just switch them out when they do come out though.
Skytylzon April 6, 2010 at 4:53 p.m.
There is a use for an iPad!
tetracyclineon April 6, 2010 at 9:32 p.m.
That guy is going to get into a bad accident because he was screwing around with that crap.
phobicon April 7, 2010 at 4:04 a.m.
This is screaming to be stolen. 
 
@Coreymw said:
" @HypoXenophobia: Aren't you able to wirelessly sync with iTunes? You would have to park close enough, but I don't see why that wouldn't work. "
There's no wireless sync feature with iTunes. This may change with iPhone OS 4, but I wouldn't get my hopes up.
Floppypantson April 7, 2010 at 5:35 a.m.
This is the best use of the iPad I've seen, by far.  It looks great installed in the dash.
SchooledYa101on April 7, 2010 at 10:24 a.m.
@HypoXenophobia:  Actually with the battery life of the IPad you could more than likely sync it at night while the car is off and be good to go in the morning.  
 
That said why is it that with the touches, Iphones, and now IPads you still cant sync over wifi?
Wolverineon April 7, 2010 at 1:35 p.m.
I don't know about you but I doubt I could use majority of the apps on the iPad while driving. Picture frame mode might me nice though.
Popular News
How To Rip DVDs to Play on Any Device—For Free!

Our ultimate DVD copying guide shows you how to use Handbrake to rip discs for playback on your laptop, Xbox, PS3, iPhone, Zune, netbook, iPad, PSP, iPod, and pretty much anything else

Tested: Apple Mac OS X Lion

The $30 upgrade from Snow Leopard seems like a no-brainer, but that's not the full story. Read the official Tested review.
Apple iPad 2 Review

Our definitive review of the iPad 2.
Tested: Nvidia GeForce GTX 580 Video Card

The green machine comes back swinging.
Apple iPad Wi-Fi Review

Apple's device isn't magical, but it is going to make the tablet a real category--for better or for worse

Video: How To Build the Best $1500 Gaming PC, Step-by-Step

Do you like saving money? What about playing PC games? Have you ever considered building your own PC? We show you exactly what you need to know to build an awesome $1500 gaming PC.
How To Build an Awesome $500 Windows Home Server

We pick the best parts to build a lean media backup and streaming machine.
The Best Android Phone for Your Network (February 2011)

Don't get locked in with the wrong phone.
Living with Technology: Building My Annual Production PC

Is in January yet? Then it’s time for a new production system. Here's what Loyd put in his daily work and gaming rig.
Report: 2GHz Samsung Tablet with 2560x1600 Display at MWC This Month

In one month, the first ARM Cortex-A15 device could be unveiled. Sounds like Samsung will be going all out.
The Best Android Smartphone for Your Network (January 2012)

Can you wait for the next big thing, or is it time to settle?
How Android OEMs Miss the Mark with TV Commercials

A one minute Super Bowl commercial is wasted if the ad doesn't win any converts.
Will These Be the Major Technology Trends of 2012?

A design firm predicts the course of technology for 2012. These are big-picture ideas, not products: you won't find smart fridges or smartphones on the list.
AMD Radeon 7950 Benchmarks Measure Up to GTX 580 Performance

The second-tier 7000 series card offers cooler, quieter performance than the GTX 580 of 2011, but performance between the two is competitive, depending on the game.
How Security Cameras Can Provide Anonymous Shopper Statistics

A video processing company takes security camera footage and turns it into useful data for retailers.
Intel Updates Sandy Bridge Family with 7 New Desktop CPUs

Sandy Bridge gets seven new processors, including a trio of i5 CPUs without built-in HD graphics.
Living with Technology: Building My Annual Production PC

Is in January yet? Then it’s time for a new production system. Here's what Loyd put in his daily work and gaming rig.
Kinect for Windows Launches, Here's How it Differs from Xbox

Kinect for Windows leaves beta, gets an official retail release and a new and improved SDK.
Windows Phone 8 "Apollo" Features Revealed in Insider Video

Pocketnew spills some juicy secrets on the Apollo Windows Phone 7 update, due out late this year. Windows Phone 7 becomes Windows Phone 8.
How Many In-Store Shoppers Actually Check Prices Using Their Phones?

A new study looks at how the ability to compare in-store and online prices affects purchasing decisions.
Neil Young Worked with Steve Jobs on 24-Bit Audio Standard

A famous CEO and a famous musician talked about music, compression and a potential 24-bit iPod.
Report: 2GHz Samsung Tablet with 2560x1600 Display at MWC This Month

In one month, the first ARM Cortex-A15 device could be unveiled. Sounds like Samsung will be going all out.
Here's What's New in Mozilla's Just-Released Firefox 10

Firefox 10 has moved out of beta and into full release. Here's what's different that you should care about.
Microsoft Tweaks Windows 8 File Management Due to User Feedback

In the first of a series of posts based on customer feedback, Microsoft lists some tweaks made to Explorer, the Ribbon, and copying files.
help  |  terms and conditions  |  privacy  |  advertise  |  rss