Thanks for the feedback guys, some good and some a bit negative. I have done quite a bit of reading/research before asking the questions and did not find answers, that is why I posted. I am excited and want to know more, sorry for asking questions that some of you think has already been answered. Links are VERY helpful, but I have already read those and yet the questions remain. I also know that this is still EARLY in development, so things are still fluid. Please humor me and answer the questions if you can or point me to the links.
I just saw the new photos of the
SMC Panels and it clearly shows a single DIN for the radio. The question about a 2DIN is still in the hands of the design team. Given the P5 dash picture fitting a 2DIN looks like it would require a redesign, I think that the odds of a 2DIN for the first model is unlikely. There are "all-in-one" units with a pop-up display that can still fit in this space and automatically disappear so as not to tempt bad guys from breaking my window.
Clearance might be an issue and I really liked the Continental phone clamp.
The value proposition of Skyz coming in at a 1/3 of the vehicle cost(~$2,000) is concerning. I do find that after market products tend not to be as good as the manufacturer provided (ie. a "made in China" knock-off GPS/XM/Radio/SD/Backup Camera/etc...just try to get an update or even a manual that is more than a couple of pages long that actually explains something!). With that said, I am back at the value proposition: $2,000+ vs <$500 and what am I willing to tolerate. I am
not ruling out the Skyz system and understand that there will be different $-$$$ offerings, but it had better be really cool/tight for me to jump that high$$$. Yet a fully integrated system (AM/FM/XM/SD/GPS/360 Camera/Backup Camera/G-Force DVR/Security/Remote Start/etc...) linked to my Andriod Phablet would probably have me pounding on the door with $2,000! We used to make fun of the kids who's stereo was worth more than their car! Guess I can't do that any more! The link
http://www.infiniteskyz.com/hardware/elio_app.html specifically identifies iPad or iPhone, not Android. Coss, thank you for the link and chiming in with your recollection of Windows/Android/iOS support, a clarification from Skyz would be really nice.
Thanks to EKH for chiming in on the "infotainment controls". Anyone got any pictures? Since the steering wheel is from another vehicle this should be identifiable. We already know that Elio will brand it appropriately like they did in the P4. The other option would be a controller like BMW
offers:
View attachment 6726
That way the steering wheel can be left alone. That SHOULD then tie into the Instrument cluster. Is Skyz/etc... looking at anything like this? Having the tablet so close with a touch screen might seem like a good idea, but that requires you looking at it to make changes. Anyone with a touch screen TV remote control will immediately understand. With a dedicated physical interface you can feel for the correct button without having to look.
I seem to recall that Continental is doing the wiring harnesses/etc... and Skyz has come up with the cool tablet integration. I am trying to get clarification as to who is providing what services. If some of the sensors (GPS, Camera(s), microphone, etc) are through the wiring harness (Continental), then aftermarket becomes an easier option. If these features are proprietary to Infinite Skyz, then that limits aftermarket. If these features are part of the CAN then I am going to need new interfaces and thus I am back to the Skyz system or probably pulling my own wires. If I go with the Skyz system, then I am going to need a place to lock up the tablet (really don't want to do that).
There was also mention of Tilt/Telescope option for the steering wheel. I presume that is going to be an option.
Last thing, slightly off topic: Arm rests? All of my cars have a right side arm rest over the emergency brake handle.
Thanks.