So I broke down and bought a new 3g iPad. This thing is quite a gadget. Decided to test it out as a navigation / audio device for my f150. I'm pretty impressed so far and wanted to share some of my observations with others on this forum.

The good:
-using tom-tom app for navigation
-iPad 3g gps receiver is pretty accurate
-Maps appear to be accurate in my area except for new subdivisions
-using Sync Bluetooth connection to stream audio from iPad
-can use iPad as iPod audio device and tom-tom nav simultaneously
-voice turn by turn directions automatically fades music when activated
-no wires required with ipad's 10 hour battery life (gps might decrease that though)
-ipod bt audio quality sounds way better than output from other audio devices in stock head unit
-using 2 bluetooth connections simultaneously with sync: one for iPad & one for crackberry phone connection. Both are paired automatically when I enter vehicle.
-iPad audio mutes when a call is made/received and then automatically comes back on after the call

The bad:
-Sync USB connection won't work with iPad
-no steering wheel controls
-The iPad audio player (iPod) controls are small and a little difficult to use; need to find app that makes larger buttons

Next steps:
-design mount for truck - I have a few ideas
-test other apps like navigon which include live traffic overlays on nav maps

I'm curious how others might be the using iPad as an interface with their trucks and if anyone has found a good mount solution.

 

Nice,

Although when I 1st read I was trying to figure out Why you would want to control the steering wheel with the ipad... I't been a long morning.

Had been contempating getting an IPAD set up in my truck but the dang 3G network around my area is iffy. But have seen that the GPS display / Google maps is pretty sweet with that size screen.

I have seen a few vehicle set ups, not F150s though, on a few radar detector forums where people are using the Ipads with Radaractive (Which will allows you to connect the Ipad/Iphone to a Valentine-1 Radar detector and serve as a concealed display) and Trapster. While the Radaractive app is free... the connector is not.. I guess it would be apparent that the V1 is also not free

Radaractive on an Iphone (With a V1 attached).... would look MUCH better on an Ipad though

 

i think you should take some pics for us

 

Shibby

 

maybe u could connect the headphone jack to the aux port and use the stock speakers to watch movies on long trips off the ipad.. with a good mount you could make a nice theater out of your truck .. justsayin

 

I have an Acer 10.1 that fits almost perfect in the tray on the dash. I have garmin mobile loaded in it And all my music. I plug into the aux from my headphone jack. I also use a wireless mouse on the armrest for control. It is a little hard to see the cursor in bright light up on the dash.

Still works good for me

 

ABNP - the iPad 3G also has a true gps receiver in it so you can disable 3G and it will locate via standard satellite signal. As long as the maps are stored on the iPad, you can use it like a typical gps receiver in remote areas. The write up below helps clarify that.

http://orb-of-knowledge.blogspot.com...d-gps-and.html

I'll post pics soon showing the mount I'm making - if it works out.

 

You should be able to link the audio via bluetooth if you have Sync. I play youtub movies from droid via bluetooth audio into my truck's audio.

 

Bluetooth audio through sync system works great with my iPad and blackberry.

 

I did not know that... Dang it! Now I have to get one...