This app was mentioned in 20 comments, with an average of 2.35 upvotes
I use mine when driving all the time, but via a CarHome Ultra launcher, which displays useful info while driving and has giant media control buttons. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=spinninghead.carhome&hl=en
Works wonderfully as a GPS too, as mine is the 4G model and I use a free 200mb/month TMobile data SIM, which is more than enough for traffic updates and restaurant searches and what not, and with Google maps you can load offline maps.
Its a pretty sweet app, as I have it automatically turn itself on from standby to the launcher screen on bluetooth connect, with a bluetooth audio receiver in my glovebox that turns on and off with the car.
So you just turn the key, the tablet automatically comes to life, and you hit play. And because its a tablet, you can also hit the big microphone button, it will pause the music, and just speak to it "navigate to nearest Chipotle", and voila you have diarrhea 2.5 hours later.
The only thing I don't like is that it cuts out the music when the navigation is speaking, when I'd prefer it just made the music quieter faded in and out.
It's honestly not the same at all. With this setup I also have to keep a hotspot running in addition to the CC streaming as the CC needs something to connect to.
My goal was to mirror my phone's screen in my dash. A raspi woudn't have google maps/nav, wouldn't have access to my gplay music, etc. Additionally, I added a touch-overlay to the car's screen that sends touches back to the phone via bluetooth, so it's not just a display mirror but a touch mirror as well. I use tasker to put my phone into a "car mode" which uses this application to simplify the UI: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=spinninghead.carhome&hl=en
EDIT: This is the device that helps with sending the touch signals: http://www.customgadz.com/x2/
Car Home Ultra
Very customizable car dashboard, I have it set to turn on when it connects to my car's bluetooth. I couldn't live without it.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=spinninghead.carhome
Cardroid isn't the best option imo... The best car home app is definitely Car Home Ultra. Very very cutomizable, and works with a lot of music players.
Link me: Car Home Ultra
Edit: Bot linked the unlocker. You can try the free version for 30 days and decide for yourself. Once the trial ended, I couldn't live without this app.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=spinninghead.carhome
Note: You might have some problems purchasing it, but eventually it works fine.
> Edit: Apparently, its a car mode bug in 6.0/7.0, its fixed in 7.1
Have you confirmation it is a bug and fixed? According to Car Home Ultra developper, it could have been disabled by Google (quoting author answer to user comment):
> Unfortunately, Google has disable "ok google" while in car dock mode, unless you are using Android Auto.
I use Timur's custom kernel: reddit.com/r/timurskernel/
The launcher is Car Home Ultra. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=spinninghead.carhome&hl=en
Timur's Kernel is essential. With the fast charging, it barely drops. It goes into a modified deep sleep when you shut it off. I used the standard Metra dash kit. It took a lot of trimming of the vents to run the cables, but you can't tell.
I used a piece of foam and duct tape.
I wonder if using something like Car Home Ultra would serve your needs (I know it's meant for the car, but it works well for pinning several apps to an easily navigated grid, and has built-in play/ffw/rwd buttons).
Otherwise, maybe you can try a Nova launcher setup with large icons made from zooper widgets.
I use this instead of Car Mode because it's more configurable
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=spinninghead.carhome
This is another replacement I'd used in the past too.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.appsontoast.ultimatecardock
I've been using Car Home Ultra for years. It's a fantastic and super customizable launcher.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=spinninghead.carhome
I use car home ultra
You might have to tweak the settings to get it to lockdown the home button.
Is there an app similar to Android's Car Home Ultra?