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Phonocar VM007 Android head unit?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Audio and Electronics' started by R-P, Jan 9, 2012.

  1. R-P

    R-P Active Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Netherlands
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Price is unknown, but seems extremely interesting, especially combined with an OBD-connector with an Android app.

    So what app would I need? Torque?
    And what OBD-thingy? I think I read somewhere that one works particularly well with either the Prius or with Torque?

    Saves me from fiddling with the MFD to hook up a reverse camera :D And I can drop the simple OEM radio and the excellent Parrot carkit (phone is excellent, but internal amp (used for USB/line-in/iPod/SD-card) is ghastly). Obviously more details should be known before purchase (can it handle the bluetooth OBD-reader AND two bluetooth phones at once?), but I' keeping an eye out.




    Specs headunit:
    Description :
    6,2” LCD Touch Screen Monitor - Digital Panel
    Freescale Cortex a8 processor - 256 mb ram - 4 gb rom
    Android 2.2 os
    Wi-Fi Dongle 802.11 included
    3g hspa modem ready
    Screen resolution 800x480
    Video and Navigation GPS Three Zone
    GPS Navigation Built in (map excluded)
    Internet Wi-Fi and 3g Surfing (3g modem excluded)
    iPod-iPhone control with playlist management
    Dvb-T Ready (optional vm210)
    Automatic rear camera input
    Rotary volume and scanning controls
    Customizable background
    Pictures slideshow with background music
    Dynamic graphic interface with scrolling screen
    Front mini usb port and micro sd card
    Id3 tag - cover album ?????
    Music playlist management
    5 bands equalizer with presets
    Adjustable loudness
    Bluetooth (iPhone support - Phonebook download)
    Audio streaming a2dp
    External microphone
    Resistive steering wheel control built in
    Can-Bus steering wheel control ready
    RDS Radio tuner - 36fm - 12am
    Last position memory
    Electronic shock protection
    1 audio/video input
    2 three zone audio/video output
    4+2 preamplifier output (front-rear 2 subwoofer)
    Power 4x50 watt max
    Playback avi-wmv-mp4-mpg-m4v codec mpeg4-h264-mjpeg-xvid
     
    #1 R-P, Jan 9, 2012
  2. jpadc

    jpadc Type before I think too often

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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    #2 jpadc, Jan 10, 2012
  3. R-P

    R-P Active Member

    Joined:
    Dec 6, 2011
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    Location:
    Netherlands
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Just read this today: Parrot released a double din Android too (they had a single din already).
    I have one of their carkits, which is excellent (bar the internal class D amplifier, which isn't much good).

    I may try it first with my own USB-OBD reader. Which strangely got recognised by my computer as a bluetooth device, so I may end up opening it up shortly to see if, to save money, they have used one PCB for the bluetooth and the USB version :D I doubt it, but you never know. (Guy I bought it from had a USB and a bluetoothversions based on the ELM327 chip, but I stupidly chose the USB (40 vs 60 euro, didn't have a bluetooth phone back then..))

    Will add prices if I find them. Prepped the wife I'll be buying this, so I'll try to talk to her next week once she's calmed down that we REALLY need it :D
     
    #3 R-P, Jan 11, 2012
  4. frenchie

    frenchie Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    France, not far from PARIS
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Bonjour,
    I am planning to test very soon this VM007. (maybe next week)
    The official price in France is 1000€ without VAT.
    It should work with Torque and a BT dongle, but I am not sure if you can connect 2 phones at the same time.
    If I like it, I will buy it and use copilot live for navigation. I tested this app on a tablet and it seems very well done.
     
    #4 frenchie, Jan 19, 2012
  5. R-P

    R-P Active Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Netherlands
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Thanks! I think I saw it for 900 euro (incl. VAT!!) and the quote from the UK is 800 pounds.
    I am definitely interested in a review!!! Especially if you will be using Torque on it. Via bluetooth or via USB? (I have a USB-OBD reader but will buy Bluetooth Kiwi if necessary)

    I am very tempted to go for this one though... 345€ to my door... Quite a different price than ~900€

    Of course it is Chinese junk, but the difference in price is mindbogling. (Quick test of said unit but with the previous tablet (less memory, Android 2.1 instead of 2.3 and slower chip I think)

    EDIT: after much searching I found one (!) worthwhile thread about this unit. A quote from it (Q&A):
    So stricken from the wishlist. It was too good (=cheap) to be true...
     
    #5 R-P, Jan 21, 2012
  6. R-P

    R-P Active Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Not even Android, but still thought I'd post. Ugly, but wouldn't mind having it ;) do not know how he plugged in the sound to the factory radio. Through the aux input that I don't have?



     
    #6 R-P, Jan 21, 2012
  7. frenchie

    frenchie Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Bonjour,
    I got one today, I will test it next saturday.
    Sorry, the car is a gen3, I am maybe in the wrong discussion [​IMG].

    Never mind, I will come back with some feedback.

    I do confirm this thing called vm007 is this one with an european documentation (and price tag also).
     
    #7 frenchie, Feb 23, 2012
    1 person likes this.
  8. frenchie

    frenchie Member

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2004
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    Location:
    France, not far from PARIS
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    this device is not interesting as it is now :

    no SPP via bluetooth.
    no access to market.
    only one BT link for a phone.

    that means:
    IMPOSSIBLE to use Torque.
    IMPOSSIBLE to install & use Copilot.

    Radio FM is quite good (RDS is OK with station's name)
    IPOD support is good (but no album image).
    Steering wheel control is great.

    Sound is quite good.

    Backup Camera & radio are usable from the start.
    android is operational after 20 seconds.
     
    #8 frenchie, Feb 25, 2012
    1 person likes this.
  9. R-P

    R-P Active Member

    Joined:
    Dec 6, 2011
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    Location:
    Netherlands
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Wow... Simple tablet it is then... (for now the aftermarket old Pioneer + AUX-input for the Parrot carkit for the MP3's will do though...)

    So a few of the main reasons for buying it simply won't work...

    Any idea if you could use Torque through the USB with a USB-OBD-reader?
     
    #9 R-P, Feb 28, 2012
  10. frenchie

    frenchie Member

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2004
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    Location:
    France, not far from PARIS
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    IMHO, better to wait for this one

    Regarding the use of torque using USB, as they are not able to use SPP on BT, I would be surprised they would do it on USB.

    Anyway, as there is no access to android market, you can not install torque.

    ps: no regrets, the screen is low end chinese junk (luminosity and contrast are poor in daily conditions).

    addendum: it is a pity because the audio section and FM are really good.
     
    #10 frenchie, Feb 28, 2012
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