Finally, here is a video of my "Alpdroid" head unit.


It's made from a stock head unit and Android. The number of buttons was reduced to make space for a 5" touch screen. All dials work including the steering wheel remote. It has an audio player, an SDR (software defined radio), mapping/navigation (osmand), a video player, an equalizer and Torque Pro. Additional apps can be installed from the Google app store as needed. It comes with a rear view camera (enabled when in reverse or per button on dash board) and an external 10Hz GPS receiver (to be installed on the roof for better reception). The dimensions are the same, so it fits exactly into the existing head unit bay.

EDIT: pictures added

 

Wow that's awesome! Did you do the modification yourself or purchase it from somewhere? I'd love to get one or make my own if you're willing to share how you did it.

 

It was not hard to make, since I am familiar with Android, Arduino and electronics. The motivation was to get many of the functions of modern cars combined into single unit without disturbing the Discovery look&feel. It took me some time and it was more a project for the fun and to learn something new. If I find enough time, I will post the parts list, schematic and code.

 

That look so cool!

 

Wow! Looks like a great project.
You don't mention Bluetooth. Does it/could it have hands-free connections for phone, including mic input?

 

Awesome work! I have been having issues with my radio thinking the rear headphones are plugged in even though the controls are not installed. This might be a decent way to resolve that issue.

 

Also, are there USB inputs? I'm assuming the Arduino has something.

 

That is too cool, way to go!

 

It has bluetooth. I can connect my phone to the unit, but then there is no audio from the unit. I haven't found a better solution yet.

USB for memory sticks is possible, but I am not using that. Since the unit has Wifi, it connects to a media server in the car. Also, the unit has 64GB of SD-memory for storing content.

 

So you can connect the phone but not use it for anything?

Where is the media server in the car? 64GB is pretty small for the amount of music I normally have onboard so I would be looking for an additional storage option -- preferably something that would normally stay plugged in but that could be removed for easy updating.