[Android Head-Units] alaninsitges:
I'm updating this post so as to provide an overview of what is discussed in the thread (and in hopes that people will quit asking the same questions over and over that have already been answered).

There is a ton of great information in the wiki here. Please read through it before asking questions here - this thread has gotten very, very (very) long and it's tough to keep up with what's happening when people keep asking questions that are in the wiki.

The below info is from November; current info is in the wiki.

WHAT IS IT: The Newsmy Carpad NU3001 is a dual-DIN Android head unit that runs KitKat 4.4.2, has a 7-inch screen, and no physical controls. It's nice-looking, very well made, and comes rooted out of the box. The manufacturer seems to be quite responsive to bug reports and feature requests, releasing frequent ROM and MCU updates to fix problems and usability issues. Oh, and we have full source code. ;)

MAJOR FEATURES:

Quad-core 1.6GHz Rockchip RK3188 CPU and 1GB RAM

FM radio (RDS currently not working, awaiting a software update, priusfan figured out how to hack station names if you really must)

8GB Flash

Android Box that contains CPU and most of the Android guts connected via cable that can be unplugged and removed from the car

Built-in Wifi

1024x600 Capacitive Screen

Dual Bluetooth: one is standard Android BT for use with ODB etc. The second is hard-wired to the phone app and only works for phone calls and streaming music.

Pure Android, no fugly launchers, minimal other apps that aren't bad.

4x25W amplifier

WHERE TO BUY: http://www.aliexpress.com/item/News...eral-Android-only-without-DVD/2035002543.html COST USD$339. People are reporting various delivery times, mine shipped next day and arrived a week later. Note: this is the actual manufacturer on AliExpress, other pages are resellers. Do with that what you will. There is a dealer in Spain if you'd prefer to buy from Europe, it's 417€ plus shipping with VAT included. http://exclusivecarauto.com/android-quadcore-carpad-wifi-p-1001.html

BASIC Q&A:

Is it any good? Yes, it seems to be stable and work as expected

Is there a version for my car? No. It's only a universal 2-DIN package

But I saw one for a... No, you didn't. That's a Windows CE/Android frankestein thing made by the same company. You don't want it.

Does it work with Torque? Yes.

Does it work with my SWC? Supposedly, nobody has tried it yet. There is both CAN bus and resistive connections.

Can I talk on the phone and use Torque at the same time? Yes.

Can it be rooted? It comes rooted out of the box.

What ports does it have? USB Host, USB OTG, little bitty HDMI for when you take the Android Box out of your car and hook it to a TV

What connections does it have for my car? 4 channel high-power speakers, FM antenna, 1 set of line outs, 1 set of line ins, 3 composite video ins, CAN bus low and high (confusingly labeled + and -) and the usual complement of battery, acc, ground, dash lights, reverse switch, etc.

Does it run ....? Yes, think of it as a 7-inch tablet with built-in amp and radio that looks great in your dash.

AliExpress? Yes. It's like the Chinese eBay. Buying from them is not complicated. Summer, the girl who handles orders, is responsive and helpful.

HELPFUL LINKS:

New custom ROM from user red13dotnet de-chinese-afies the unit, fixes root, adds some useful utilities, and a bunch of other stuff http://xdaforums.com/android/genera...smy-carpad-t2865525/post56381346#post56381346

Full source code to the current firmware was found, um, on the internet. We're going to have lots of fun with this device. Mirror here, careful it's over 4GB. ftp://nu3001.ddns.net/

Software to fix problems some have reported with root http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=56296349&postcount=292

Unboxing http://imgur.com/a/ECRtE

Android Box teardown http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=56237758&postcount=245

Firmware and utility repository http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=56227326&postcount=242 (note there is no reason at the moment to update the firmware)

Video walkthrough https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YC8_jyVUErE

Video of software update process https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BVZXn9n3LM

CAVEATS:

There are no balance or fader controls, no equalizer, etc. You get 25 watts to 4 speakers and a single line out to hook up your subs or amps or whatever. Fixed in firmware 1.0.9

RDS doesn't work at the moment, they say a software update is in the works.

The microphone input is hard-wired to the phone-specific BT module. This means among other things that you cannot use Google Now voice control with this unit until we figure out how to connect a mic to it. There is plenty of USB connectivity, so it's only a matter of time. USB microphone works, including "OK Google". http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=56386685&postcount=359

OTHER INTERESTING THINGS:

There are extra wires in the AV harness that are for old-school steering wheel keys that use a resistive matrix. It ought to be possible to hook up all sorts of buttons and controls in a car for various stuff. The MCU is aware of these.

It sounds really good.

Screen is bright and crisp.

Using the Android box with your TV requires a DC adapter that is not included and nobody knows what the specs are. It's 5V DC, appears chargers from old Nokia phones with the teeny tiny plug will work

I'll try to keep this post updated but it's my busy season at work so don't have a lot of time.

Here's the original post that started it all:

I've been wanting to buy a H/U for a while now but nobody makes one of the Huifei ones for my Saab 9-3, and the universal ones are so gaudy and fugly that I've just kept searching, hoping to find something better looking. Today I came across this Italian guy on eBay, selling a very attractive universal double DIN with Kitkat. The one he's selling is a dual Android/WinCE unit (not interested) and claims to have both an 8-inch and 10.2-inch screen, so not really trustworthy.

BUT. I did a reverse image search on all the stuff he copy/pasted in the wrong aspect ratio and came up with a different model from Newsmy which claims to have a quad core A9 @ 1.6Ghz and be pure Android 4.4.2 with no WinCE.

Other stuff:

- Works with steering wheel controls

- 7" display @ 1024x600

- NO optical drive

- Dual bluetooth (one standard BC5 for the phone, one for OBD).

- Good TDA7851 amplifier (28Wx4)

- All the usual crap like car DVR, TV, etc.

- Screenshot shows a stock launcher, no sign of any UI that looks like it's from an 80's sci-fi movie.

- I am aware that it appears to be a cheap tablet stuck to the front of a 2-DIN chassis

- No line outs that I can see, one of the sockets on the back is labled AV IN and looks to have a lot of pins, and another that seems to be a firewire port labeled Key Accessory Interface. No idea.

The only way to buy one seems to be either for USD$299 through a reseller on Aliexpress, whose listing is mostly incomprehensible, or direct from Newsmy on EC21 for USD$200. I have no experience with either site.

I guess I'm going to roll the dice and see if I can get one of these shipped to me and find out if it's any good.

ETA: found a ton of pictures; apparently you can pull the front panel off and connect it to your TV via HDMI.

EATA: not allowed to post links so you'll have to Google I guess.