Redditor Shares Guide to In-Dash Integration of Nexus 7 Tablet in BMW 3-Series E46

A recent Reddit post from forum member Brake_L8 elaborates on how it was possible to transplant a Nexus 7 Android tablet into the center dash of a BMW 3-Series E46. The photos provided prove it looks pretty good once done up and it apparently works really well too.

The author goes into more detail about how it uses custom software that is activated upon turning the ignition key, as well as the need to move the climate control unit to make room for the touchscreen.

It looks fairly easy to do, but make sure you know what you’re doing before you set out to dismantle your dashboard. If you’re not sure of how, explain your idea to somebody who is more handy (i.e. a friend or a professional audio installer) and pay them a menial amount to do it for you.

The problem with buying an older car, say from the early 2000s, is that while it may still be desirable today and still competent from an engineering standpoint, it will lack most of the connectivity features that are now commonplace.

Any car similar to the E46 is still a nice, modern car to own, however the same problem of nonexistent infotainment persists (not limited to BMW) and given the more unusual shapes of the center stack’s openings, a great solution is difficult to find – plopping a tablet in in this way is definitely one way to go!

By Andrei Nedelea

Story References and Photo Credits: Reddit/Brake_L8

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Did Ticket-Free Cecilia Abadie Take These Google Glass Videos and Shots While Driving?

Now this could become a little awkward for Cecilia Abadie, who was just cleared for driving while wearing Google Glass in California because there was not enough evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the she had them turned on when stopped by an officer last October.

After we reported about the story of a California judge dismissing the ticket she received in October, we looked at her Google Plus and YouTube pages where we found some interesting pictures and videos shot with Google Glass.

Now, while there's no question whether the photos depict Google Glass with apps running behind, we can't be absolutely sure that Abadie, a software developer in profession, is the one wearing them in all instances. For example, the second video contains a slideshow with a collection of photos shared from other drivers around the world.

She does have one video on YouTube, believed to show herself and a friend driving and recording in what looks to be a Toyota Prius, with the same car appearing in one of the two shots tagged #throughghlass. In that image, we can be certain it's her because she commented the following: "I just received a message from Noble while driving. Can't wait to see what you're on to!"

The other picture, which is from a different vehicle, taken on October 10, 2013, is featured next to her profile photo. If you're wondering, she was ticketed while driving Interstate 15 near Aero Drive on October 29.

We don't know the exact workings of Google Glass, which were handed out to some 30,000 beta testers called "explorers" before they become widely available to the public later this year, but do keep in mind that, most devices of this kind usually track and keep a history of use.

As previously reported, the legal framework remains murky at this time and it really depends on the officer and the state laws whether Google Glass wearers behind the wheel should be stopped, warned or ticketed.

What do you think about the use of Google Glass and other types of wearable devices when driving a vehicle or a motorcycle? Do you feel comfortable knowing that drivers may be using Google Glass apps on the road, and is it worse or better than cell phones? If you want my initial opinion on the matter, I believe this is an important safety issue that certainly needs to be discussed and carefully and comprehensively studied. Share your thoughts in the comments that follow.

By John Halas

Screenshots: CeciliaAbadie/Google Plus

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Judge Dismisses Google Glass Driving Ticket

You may remember the case of Cecilia Abadie, a California woman who was cited last October for speeding and driving while wearing Google Glass by the California Highway Patrol (CHP). The highly publicized case went to court and a San Diego judge ruled that Abadie was not guilty for either charge.

Commissioner John Blair stated that there was not enough evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the Google Glass device, which features a thumbnail-size transparent display above the right eye, was turned on while Abadie was driving the car.

"There is no testimony it was operating or in use while Ms. Abadie was driving," he said during the hearing, according to a Chicago Tribune report.

This is considered the first time someone has been cited for wearing the device while driving an automobile.

Abadie also had her speeding ticket dismissed because an expert did not appear to court to testify on the calibration of the officer's speedometer.

For those of you who wear Google Glass in your car, you need to keep in mind that the dismissal of the case does not give you a free pass nor does it set a precedent.

CNN reported that Google Glass wearers behind the wheel of a car could still be pulled over and cited by a cop. "Whether they get a warning or a ticket will be up to the individual officer. Getting a charges dismissed will then be up to individual traffic court judges", said the report.

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Google and Audi Expected to Announce Android-Based Infotainment System at CES

At next week’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Google and Audi are expected to announce the joint development of in-car entertainment and infotainment systems based on the Android software.

According to people familiar with the matter, Google also plans to announce collaborations with other automotive and tech companies, including chip maker Nvidia Corp., to establish Android as an important technology for future vehicles.

Google wants to offer similar music, navigation, apps and services in cars to those available now on Android-powered smartphones. Google’s move is seen as a response to Apple’s initiative launched last June to integrate iPhones and other devices running its iOS operating system with carmaker’s dashboard control panels. Apple so far has agreed to collaborate with BMW, Mercedes-Benz, GM and Honda.

“Cars are becoming more complex, and with the computing power that is going into vehicles, you need that type of system in the car,” Audi's head of product strategy Filip Brabec told The Wall Street Journal. He acknowledged that future vehicles will need computer operating systems to support the kind of apps and functions that consumers want to access while driving.

At the CES 2014, Audi is also projected to demonstrate new technologies that allow cars to drive themselves in certain situations and for short periods of time. The systems are set to arrive on new models over the next four or five years.

Ford is said to demonstrate an autonomous vehicle it has developed at CES next week. BMW has also announced a demonstration of related technology.

By Dan Mihalascu

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