Amazon should make a tablet with GPS

[KevinRS]

Heat is a concern for leaving anything in the car. Cars get a lot hotter than you think in the sun. I used a digital thermometer meant for outdoor weather use, and got a reading of 160F which was it's limit, on a spring day. I tested with it because I had a dash cam where the case of it had gotten all warped and distorted.
You probably want to move the phone or tablet under the seat or maybe inside the dash when you get out both for security, and to avoid heat damage. Phones and tablets don't seem to be built to operate without a battery and just plugged in, so removing it won't work, but even without the battery as a concern, the glued on glass will probably come off, and the plastic parts get hot enough to soften and warp.

 

[crownmountain]

It's pretty much the same thing with any Android phone hotspot. Only it would be way less expensive to get a generic Android table with GPS and dedicate it as your head unit.

But then is the real question will it be left in the car. If it is a purpose built unit makes sense. In my case I would likely take it out and with me. From the looks of the mounts in the prototypes theft would be easy.

 

[SparkYellow]

Currently I use this Android 13 Tablet ($60) as a hotspot ($20/mo unlimited Visible) at home. It supports more than 10 devices and has GPS. When I go camping on weekends, this tablet maintains stable connection to the network while my Moto G Play 2023 gets disconnected constantly.

Umidigi is one of the more reliable among all lesser-known budget devices. I have had 2 of their phones and both screen cracked when dropped. They still work though. That's why I figured I should go with a tablet that is cheaper and harder to drop. 😂

The screen on Moto phones never cracks no matter how many times I have dropped them. Connectivity can be an issue though, one unlocked Android 7 phone (E4) couldn't identify the SIM.

 

[Letas]

I feel like we are trying to reinvent the infotainment system... If anything, this is fun because it allows us to see why companies make the decisions they do with these systems.

 

[SparkYellow]

For Internet connectivity, I rely on Visible (Verizon) and Tello (on T-Mobile). Visible offers unlimited data/tethering. I have multiple devices with relatively low data needs. I had to check for device compatibility before signing up. Android 13 and up. For WiFi cams at my weekend spot, I have two Android phones as hotspots, each with a Tello SIM for $10/5gb/mo. If one phone is down for whatever reason, the other will still keep the cams online. $10 is for data, unlimited texts, and no talk/minutes. I don't even need texts on those lines. They work on my Android 8 and 11 phones. If I run out of data before the end of the cycle, I just renew the plan online and start a new cycle with 5gb.

To connect for free, Helium (on T-Mobile) offers a 3GB/mo plan for zero dollar. There's a low cap on tethering so it is more like a last resort for me. They require newer Android versions, if I remember correctly, 12 and newer.

I was with Mint for many years but got bored with the committed relationship.