Android 11 OS tablet - software options

[X5chemist]

Christmas came early. I have a new Android 11 OS Galaxy Tab A8 toy. It will be used to load AlfaODB for my Ram truck. Plus other manufactures like Alfa/Romeo, FIAT, Fiat/Pro, Lancia, Abarth, Dodge/Ram, Chrysler, Jeep, Peugeot, Citroen, and Maserati. The software will access body control modules and ODBII functions. I plan to add LED lights and change settings to avoid warning messages on my truck. Now, I all need a security gateway bypass. New '18+ and newer Rams have a security gateway installed.

Plenty of memory left, what programs do ya'll run on Android tablets or phones? An ELM327 ODBII adapter with Bluetooth will be used.

Does anyone have a good mount holder to use a 10.5 tablet?

[workingonit]

Originally Posted by X5chemist

...what programs do ya'll run on Android tablets or phones? An ELM327 ODBII adapter with Bluetooth will be used.

Does anyone have a good mount holder to use a 10.5 tablet?

As you may remember, I've been trying several Android apps to supplement the lack of data displayed on my X5's instrument panel. My X5 has the low cluster, and no MID, so I've been using an old phone and a tablet instead.

Everyone has suggested that I scrap my current set-up, and replace the new-ish non-Android radio in the dash, and use the I-bus app + Resler adapter to display pertinent data on the radio screen, as reported thru the I-bus system. That's my ultimate solution, but not yet.

Right now, my interim solution is using my 8" tablet (usually running Torque Pro, but sometimes BimmerTool or OBDLink for data, and Google maps -offline- on another screen), and using a CD-slot mount to place the tablet close at hand. I hardly ever listen to the radio, but when I do, the stations are easily changed with the tablet in place, or I'm using a USB flash drive for tunes.

The CD-slot mount eliminates the need for the small spare phone I was using for data, and the stalk-mount I used for the tablet (which wobbled, and was out of my direct line of sight).
old system, two devices, not very usable



The new system, with only one device mounted close at hand, on a CD-slot mount


a much better, safer mount

X5chemist- do you intend to use your new Android tablet just for your Ram pickup, or to use it there and in your X5 as well?
Torque Pro and OBDLink apps will work for either vehicle, I think (Mopar electronics are a mystery to me...I haven't owned one since '72, a '67 Dodge Monaco 500 2-dr hardtop). Since you probably would like a better mount for the X5 than I have, then maybe you might look at ProClip 852854, to which you could attach a heavy-duty tablet mount.
a good base for a mount

I made my own mount for my "camping" truck, since I wasn't afraid to drill into the dash, but I'm sure that's probably not an option on either of your vehicles.

[X5chemist]

workingonit,
My cell phone holder issue is solved. Mine mounts behind a trim dash panel.

Next, find lower a mount for a portable XM module. My Tradesman truck has a portable XM receiver. Since it will get an XM radio upgrade, I'll move the XM module to my X5. The lower mount ProClip will probably be my choice. Power would come from a glove box light 12V adapter.

The tablet is for RAM body control module coding. Ram has a security gateway I need to bypass. The plug in is on order. Factory options will be turned on. Adding factory options will be nice. LED, brake controller, optional power switches, and other options are available. The tablet will come in handy for X5 data readings. I assume no BMW Android software is available. Torque Pro has been installed. I'll connect it to my X5 later this week.

If you get software working on a laptop, let me know. I'll make a trip up for GMIII module coding. I would like to have a plug and play back up. There is a blue 4.4 near you with a hitch. If the hitch is available, I want go grab it for mine.

[workingonit]

You may have found a magnetic mount for your phone, but what about the tablet? I wouldn't try to mount a heavier 8" tablet, much less a 10.5" tablet, via a magnetic mount... it needs a mechanical clamping holder for stability.

I've been using a "smart"phone since 2012-3, when I finally put away my all-time favorite phone, a rugged Samsung Rugby II flip-phone (which still survives today, despite several drops from 2-3 stories, and being run-over by a golf cart). I'd still be using it if they hadn't turned off 3G, and I didn't need Android for apps. I switched to a Samsung Rugby Pro (also very rugged), just so I could use Torque Pro and OBDLink apps for my OBD2 vehicles.

I used the same rubber "stickman" holder (shown in my previous post, hanging off the same type of A/C temperature gauge, inserted in all my cars/trucks' vents) to hold the cellphone, until I started using a tablet in my "camping" truck. At that point, I decided to make a solid mount for the dashboard, and since I didn't want to spend $$$$ on it, I copied the RAM-branded piece shown here:
it cost less back in 2016, I'm sure

I also made a removable mount for my HHR Panel, that sits in the dash-top storage tray, using another iKross holder, the same as in the truck, but now that my wife drives the HHR, I removed it.

Also on my truck, I installed a Sirius receiver so my also-self-installed Pioneer stereo could receive their satellite broadcasts. That was in 2005, and I listened to 60's-80's music, a classical music band (sometimes), but mostly their "oldtime radio" program band (I loved oldtime radio, ever since the early '50's when I listened to it at my G'parents house). Since I had a daily commute of 120+ miles a day, and towed my drag car to out-of-town dragstrips often, Sirius worked well for me.

Later, I installed Sirius receivers in our other vehicles ('92 Olds Achieva SC, '98 GMC 1500 Extended Cab, '88 Fiero 2.5L 5MT), and even later XM came already installed on our '08 Cobalt and the '09 HHR Panel, so satellite radio was in everything. But, when Sirius & XM merged, they started grouping programming in "packages", where you'd have to get certain ones to listen to what had been an open choice from all. With restricted choices, more expensive pricing, and especially after I quit driving long distances to races (but still commuting), I dropped Sirius-XM entirely (I also hated their "customer service"). I sold or gave away the add-on receivers (except the one in my "camping" truck's glovebox).

As I have related before, I use Torque Pro and OBDLink apps for all my cars, and BimmerTool (paid version) for the X5 (works best using the K-line USB/OTC cable, with FTDI chip). I tried Deep OBD, but couldn't configure it on my tablet, but will try again on my Windows 11 laptop. There are several more Android apps specifically for BMW, like BimmerLink, but they are for 2006+ X5 models, so you might try one of them, as well.

I've successfully installed Ediabas/Tool32 on my ARM-based laptop, but the other "BMW Standard Tools" downloads didn't take, so I don't have a PID database for my X5, yet. Searching for workarounds, I've also installed the Windows version of the OBDLink app, called OBDWiz on the laptop, but haven't tried it out. There's also a Deep OBD version for Windows, but I haven't downloaded it yet.

I'm still stymied by the fact that my laptop, using a Qualcomm Snapdrgon 850 SOC, ARM-based processor, can't get/use the Windows Subsystem for Android™️, to run Android apps, due to having only 4gb ram (requires 8gb) and can't even use ReadyBoost (a Microsoft program) to use storage space to supplement ram, since it thinks that the 128gb memory SSD, installed as boot drive, makes the laptop fast enough. It won't allow me to switch to any of my other storage options (256gb SD card, 32gb type-C flash drive, 500gb external SSD) to enable it. So, I've increased the page file size to double the suggested amount, and I'm trying to find another Android emulator that's lightweight, or an ARM to x86/64 system facilitator. It doesn't help that I'm in way above my experience level.

I may still swap laptops with the wife, as I could probably upgrade the memory in her Lenovo, and it won't be ARM-based, which seemed to me to be the coming thing, a few years ago; it still might be, but not quite yet. I couldn't resist buying this laptop, because it's small (13.3"), has type-c ports, has SD card slot, and a SIM card slot (for portable online use, away from my Wifi). And I bought it new, with warranty, for 64% off. Couldn't resist it.

[X5chemist]

My phone mount is not magnetic. The phone holding part was swapped with a different brand. It has four holding arms. Any phone is secure. Even mine with a heavy duty case cover. The tablet is not meant to be permanent. Later, I may upgrade the radio to an XM capable unit. Plus monitor critical parameters.

The XM module will take little space. Using the battery key off power option will help with installation. A battery to 12V cigarette lighter adapters are available on ebay.