Update time! I needed to get the Nook mount in place, and modify the center bezel. I had a lot of options when it came to mounting, but I wanted to keep it simple, and by default reliable. If it won’t take abuse, it’s not worth putting in a Jeep. So, I decided to utilize my existing Quadratec iVault. It has served me well for the past year or so, and now it was getting a few more holes… The idea was to eventually make a storage compartment behind the face, and use the face itself to hold the RAM mount. Now, I do realize that nothing is ever truly safe in a Jeep, but there are times I need to stash something quickly while running in to a store. The Nook itself would likely get put in there.
So, let’s start with the mods. Due to the mounting points in the RAM, I needed to move the existing iVault lock to the left. I drilled a hole, and shaped it with my Dremel. This was the result.
When I start most projects, I like to have a pretty good plan in place. With the TJ, I decided to take a different approach. Although I had the concept outlined, I knew there were so many things that would get adjusted on the fly. Compared to some of the other things I’ve done, this is a relatively simple project. That said, I’m a perfectionist when it comes to the details, so we’ll see if can make myself happy the first time around. I gathered the parts I though I’d need, and decided to just jump right in.
A car dock for my phone attached to a Bracketron mount was a good start. I’ll be able to tether the phone’s internet access with the Android tablet I’ll be using as a head unit. This mount was made just for Jeep TJ’s, and fits perfectly to the side of the center bezel. All screws are hidden behind the bezel itself, so it makes for a very clean looking install.
Project: Dirty (Android TJ) - The TJ goes Android
By · CommentsWow, it seems my front page has not been getting the love it deserves lately, so I’m about to change that. I’ve admittedly been spending a lot of time in the Losias forums lately. It’s populated with the best group of modders, tech enthusiasts, and friends a guy could ask for. A few other side projects have also been taking up some of my time. I do still have my Hutch and OSIDIAS projects to finish, and don’t worry, I’ll back to them soon enough. What I’m going to cover now regards the modding of something other than computers.
It seems that Google’s Android OS is everywhere you turn. Companies have been pumping out new phones and tablets by the hundreds hoping to compete with the iPhone and iPad. Most are mostly forgettable, but every once in a while, something truly great comes along, either because of price point, or features. In the case of the Barnes & Noble Nook Color, it definitely hits the former, and makes up for the latter with one of the best IPS screens I’ve ever seen on a tablet. The is also a huge community dedicated to rooting and getting the most out of the hardware in the Nook. It’s because of the hard work over at XDA-Developers and some inspiration from the MP3Car.com forums, that I find myself here.
