Why not get the non-cellular version of whichever tablet you choose and tether to your phone via mobile hotspot?

I have a portable HDD that uses a Y splitter as well and it works very well to supply that extra needed power. Years back I actually converted a phone charger to charge my old Creative Zen mp3 player. Think I had to drop the voltage from 5 to 3.2vdc, something like that. Anyway that's where my idea came from. Not sure how that would damage SYNC as the power would be going to the tablet only and would not back feed into the SYNC USB. At least it shouldn't. Current only flows in one direction in a DC circuit.

As far as the tablet selection goes, I vote Nexus 7, but that may be because I prefer Android over iOS and the Nexus 7 is in my future plans. Don't think you can go wrong with either one though.

 

ipad mini retina for sure.. in a soundman Side slider kit. there is not better way to mount a slide in tablet

 

How much did the slider kit cost you?

 

soundmans slider kits are 250$, but it is just the ipad shaped pan. I molded it into the dash piece and did all of the fabrication work. so for about 280 you will have the materials to build the piece as pictured, minus paint and body materials.. then the piece can be built to what you see in the pic! I have yet to see a better way to put a tablet in the dash than the soundman kits

 

Any 2013 versions available? Looks like an iPad might be too big for the 2013 dash though.

 

Soundman kits are definitely top notch, but I'd have to find someone who is good and reasonably priced to do the fabrication. I can do it, but I'm an asthmatic and so is my Mom. I can tolerate some smells better then her and visa-versa. She is bad enough that spray paint bothers her. There really isn't anywhere at my place I could do the install with a kit that requires body work, painting and spraying.

I like Android, but from what I've seen the Apple devices have buttons and interfaces designed for car dashes. They look at home in a dash.

 

As a completely unbiased party I will tell you right now I have beaten this topic dead, go for the ipad mini, get the cellular version if you plan on using it for gps as the wifi only model has no gps chip. I know im not biased as I have both a Nexus 7 and an ipad mini, the extra inch in screen size makes all the difference in the world. As far as the working getting done, TKO makes ipad dashes at a extremely reasonable price. I think people forget how many hours of molding and filling and sanding and body work goes into a dash panel. The magnets in the ipad are awesome for a float mount kit too if you go that route, the nexus 7 doesn't have built in magnets. Check out TKO's thread in his sig, there are a ton of pictures of dash kits he has done.

 

Considering the over 3000 library of applications (hundreds are universal) I have for iOS, I am considering a 32GB iPad Mini, or even 16GB iPad Mini both with LTE (on Verizon network). My concern with the 16GB is having enough space for offline maps (I want some topo maps, too) and various infotainment applications such as internet radio programs. I'd love to relocate the back camera, but with an iPad, that is out of the question. If I was going to put music or movies on it, I'd need the 32GB model.

When it comes to iPads, I'm also looking into previous models, like the first iPad mini, iPad 4th generation and 3rd generation mainly for cost savings reasons. That and the real estate of a ten inch screen is very enticing. As some people in the population say, size matters.

 

If I had the space I would definitely fit the full-size ipad in my dash, my truck is an 08 so I was restricted to an 8 inch tablet, that being said I know it may seem like an extra expense now but id go for the newest ipad now, the resale value on ipads are great and considering the cost of a double din unit it will drastically outweigh the cost considering you can have it removable. If you are comparing the original mini and the retina mini it is light and day difference in speeds, people who tell you otherwise haven't used both side by side. I have a 32gb Ipad on Verizon and it is ample space for all of my needs, that being said I don't use my maps off line but the most popular options are galileo maps and maps with me.

 

If it was a hard install, for only in the truck, I'd go for the 16GB model. As soon as I can, I plan on getting a 32GB iPad Mini w/LTE. I thought of the Android devices a lot, looked through the Play Store and App Store both before making my decision. I love both OS'es, and both have their merits. For me, it was down to one critical factor - "finger friendliness." Now, I did base it off of feedback here and other threads, but the iOS has such great finger sized buttons it made more sense. I put my iPhone up to where the tablet would be, with help, and the same with my Galaxy Tab 2. The interface on the phone made for quicker muscle memory.

When it comes to using the rear camera, when in the dash, I came up with an ingenious idea; a periscope! If it is possible, I was thinking it could be run from the back of the iPad dock to an external mount coming out of the tray area. The reason why using it in the car is important to me is for insurance, entertainment, and other reasons.