Car Builder Journal: Build a Custom Infotainment System Using a Tablet

A tablet can do just about anything a vehicle’s factory infotainment system can do. For example, radio, MP3 playback, navigation, Pandora audio, travel information, weather, engine performance, etc.

In some cases, a tablet is actually better than a factory infotainment system. For example, better screen resolution, clearer backup camera view, navigation is always up to date, etc.

There are hundreds of different tablet models and thousands of apps on the market. That marketplace provides all the building blocks you need to create a custom infotainment. A complete system can cost as little as $100USD, while a high end system can reach into the thousands. The system you decide to build is completely up to you.

This publication provides guidance on how to configure a tablet to perform all the functions of a high end infotainment system. It also describes how to customize the user interface, the accessories you’ll need, and ways to integrate a tablet into your interior. You don’t need to be a programmer. In fact guidance for 3 skill levels is included (Easy, Moderate, and Expert).

Most of the guidance in this document applies to any tablet, such as iPad, Android, Windows, etc. However, implementation examples are Android specific. For example, the launcher, apps and widgets came from the Android Play Store, but most are also available in Apple iTunes and the Windows Store.

This journal includes many photos. The size of the photos are automatically scaled down if you are using a Kindle Reader on a small screen. This can make the illustrations difficult to read. I recommend that that you view this book on a full size computer monitor so the illustrations are shown in their full size.