Single Din Radio Mount Accessory

[Mac-Tyson]

Slate Auto design philosophy is built around radical simplicity for the base Blank Slate and allowing the consumer what they want and don't want in a vehicle. One area that might prove to be a detractor for some is the lack of a radio. For me it's not a big deal I use my phone for my audio and one of the appeals of Slate is taking out the middleman of Android Auto/Apple Car Play. But taking out the radio completely and not offering it as an accessory (at this point in time) is definitely a bit revolutionary that hasn't been done before to my knowledge. Now it's not all doom and gloom for people who want a traditional radio in their Slate Truck though, since Slate from my understanding is designing the Truck for easy install of a Double Din Radio. But there are two issues with this. First, from what I can find most if not all the double din radio's come with an infotainment screen and for some the attractiveness of the Slate Truck is the lack of screens. Second, for a less informed consumer looking to buy a Slate Truck they might not even know that this is an option available to them. All they will see is that there isn't a radio and no option to add one on the customizer. I believe both of these options can be remedied by offering a Single Din Radio Mount.

I believe this will be a good remedy because first by having a single din radio mount advertised as an accessory on the customizer it's an easy way of conveying to the consumer that installing aftermarket radio's is an option for those who desire it. As added bonus you can even add to the description that Slate has designed the Truck around the easy install of Double Din Radio's but for those who want a Single Din Radio they are offering this easy to install mount. That way people who want a Double Din Radio with Android Auto/Apple Car play know that it's already compatible with it and those who want more options for single din radio without a large infotainment screen have this mount as option. This mount would likely not cost Slate much to produce and might help persuade an on the fence consumer to purchase their Slate Truck (even though I don't think the lack of radio is a deal breaker to most). Finally, you can also put the designs up as potential 3D Print option for those who have that option available to them.

What do you guys think about this? Should Slate offer this as an accessory? Or just double down on their marketing around the app to sell it? Since there is an argument to be made that if the app is designed well enough this potential weakness or detractor could become one of Slate's strongest differentiating factor.

 

[stEVe]

I like your idea, but I don’t expect Slate to stray far from their “keep it simple” philosophy. What I do see coming is a wave of third-party companies creating a variety of aftermarket products for the truck. And knowing this community, I’m sure plenty of creative owners will come up with clever ways to add features like a Double Din, complete with step-by-step DIY guides. Slate seems to be encouraging exactly that kind of ingenuity.

 

[KevinRS]

I'm sure before launch they will have double and single din mounts shown, that you will be able to buy, and probably files available to download if you want to customize and print your own or order it from a service.

 

[Mac-Tyson]

I like your idea, but I don’t expect Slate to stray far from their “keep it simple” philosophy. What I do see coming is a wave of third-party companies creating a variety of aftermarket products for the truck. And knowing this community, I’m sure plenty of creative owners will come up with clever ways to add features like a Double Din, complete with step-by-step DIY guides. Slate seems to be encouraging exactly that kind of ingenuity.

I agree I'm sure there will be dedicated thread on here and reddit that go over what aftermarket radio they think is best for the Slate Truck. But this idea is more for the consumer who isn't on these sites and might not even know this option is available to them.

 

[RetiredOnPaper]

Slate Auto design philosophy is built around radical simplicity for the base Blank Slate and allowing the consumer what they want and don't want in a vehicle. One area that might prove to be a detractor for some is the lack of a radio. For me it's not a big deal I use my phone for my audio and one of the appeals of Slate is taking out the middleman of Android Auto/Apple Car Play. But taking out the radio completely and not offering it as an accessory (at this point in time) is definitely a bit revolutionary that hasn't been done before to my knowledge. Now it's not all doom and gloom for people who want a traditional radio in their Slate Truck though, since Slate from my understanding is designing the Truck for easy install of a Double Din Radio. But there are two issues with this. First, from what I can find most if not all the double din radio's come with an infotainment screen and for some the attractiveness of the Slate Truck is the lack of screens. Second, for a less informed consumer looking to buy a Slate Truck they might not even know that this is an option available to them. All they will see is that there isn't a radio and no option to add one on the customizer. I believe both of these options can be remedied by offering a Single Din Radio Mount.

I believe this will be a good remedy because first by having a single din radio mount advertised as an accessory on the customizer it's an easy way of conveying to the consumer that installing aftermarket radio's is an option for those who desire it. As added bonus you can even add to the description that Slate has designed the Truck around the easy install of Double Din Radio's but for those who want a Single Din Radio they are offering this easy to install mount. That way people who want a Double Din Radio with Android Auto/Apple Car play know that it's already compatible with it and those who want more options for single din radio without a large infotainment screen have this mount as option. This mount would likely not cost Slate much to produce and might help persuade an on the fence consumer to purchase their Slate Truck (even though I don't think the lack of radio is a deal breaker to most). Finally, you can also put the designs up as potential 3D Print option for those who have that option available to them.

What do you guys think about this? Should Slate offer this as an accessory? Or just double down on their marketing around the app to sell it? Since there is an argument to be made that if the app is designed well enough this potential weakness or detractor could become one of Slate's strongest differentiating factor.

At one of the events I asked about the radio and was told there is room for a single DIN. But I keep haring people say double DIN???? As one who has installed many after market radios and knowing a little about the tooling issues of a new product line...I recommend waiting until Slate in in production, or at least pre-production, and publishes the specs for the dash.

More importantly will be a good 12 VDC fused connector in there. NOT a stupid cigarette lighter style plug! A good grounded mounting surface and have a selection of faceplates. The radios available on line will give you a choice of systems from very simple and retro to next-gen modern.

 

[zipn]

I think metal mounting post pre drilled for double,din radio chassis is a no brainer. Strategicly bolted behind one of the dash removable panels and an option for a precut panel (or cut your own) makes sense. 2 12v taps ( on on all the time, the other switched with the aux/on mode) a good place to secure a ground,and idea,ly a preeningeered antenna location, mounting option would do the trick. Having preengineered wireing paths for,speakers would be great too.

Double din mounting is preferred as it allows both double din and single din stereos, but even if they only offer a single din option there are plenty that have a large extended display screen, often larger than the ones built into,double dins.

 

[hbuck]

Slate Auto design philosophy is built around radical simplicity for the base Blank Slate and allowing the consumer what they want and don't want in a vehicle. One area that might prove to be a detractor for some is the lack of a radio. For me it's not a big deal I use my phone for my audio and one of the appeals of Slate is taking out the middleman of Android Auto/Apple Car Play. But taking out the radio completely and not offering it as an accessory (at this point in time) is definitely a bit revolutionary that hasn't been done before to my knowledge. Now it's not all doom and gloom for people who want a traditional radio in their Slate Truck though, since Slate from my understanding is designing the Truck for easy install of a Double Din Radio. But there are two issues with this. First, from what I can find most if not all the double din radio's come with an infotainment screen and for some the attractiveness of the Slate Truck is the lack of screens. Second, for a less informed consumer looking to buy a Slate Truck they might not even know that this is an option available to them. All they will see is that there isn't a radio and no option to add one on the customizer. I believe both of these options can be remedied by offering a Single Din Radio Mount.

I believe this will be a good remedy because first by having a single din radio mount advertised as an accessory on the customizer it's an easy way of conveying to the consumer that installing aftermarket radio's is an option for those who desire it. As added bonus you can even add to the description that Slate has designed the Truck around the easy install of Double Din Radio's but for those who want a Single Din Radio they are offering this easy to install mount. That way people who want a Double Din Radio with Android Auto/Apple Car play know that it's already compatible with it and those who want more options for single din radio without a large infotainment screen have this mount as option. This mount would likely not cost Slate much to produce and might help persuade an on the fence consumer to purchase their Slate Truck (even though I don't think the lack of radio is a deal breaker to most). Finally, you can also put the designs up as potential 3D Print option for those who have that option available to them.

What do you guys think about this? Should Slate offer this as an accessory? Or just double down on their marketing around the app to sell it? Since there is an argument to be made that if the app is designed well enough this potential weakness or detractor could become one of Slate's strongest differentiating factor.

So you want a 500 dollar add on? Wait! Do you want a radio or the ability to have an app like TuneIn which has more radio stations than you can fit on a radio. We use TuneIn for local stations, primarily I heart and npr. Have you checked out the app options on apple or android stores? Check out iTunes. We use the free version, and any I heart stations or npr where ever we travel to.

 

[E90400K]

I have a classic Sony Walkman cassette player WM-EX7 that I just sent out to an electronics refurb guy in Ohio in preparation for use in my Slate. I figured if I'm going with manual crank windows, I should go with the low fidelity of cassette tape (though the WM-EX7 was state of the Art for portable cassette players at the time - LOL).

 

[AZFox]

At one of the events I asked about the radio and was told there is room for a single DIN.

That might be what's going to happen: single DIN, not double

 

[Dorbiman]

I hope double din is an option too. I know they have the mockup in their design lab, which was seen in some of the early walkthrough videos, but single DIN doesn't cut it for me anymore

 

[Daemoch]

Just give me the truck and get the hell out of my way. Seriously. These arent problems and they keep being brought up like they are. The radio one in particular has been beaten to death on here.

 

[Imhotep]

Just give me the truck and get the hell out of my way. Seriously. These arent problems and they keep being brought up like they are. The radio one in particular has been beaten to death on here.

And here I thought I had settled this when I took my tape measure to the Space Needle event.

 

[bartflossom]

this is where she says double din radio. I'm thinking the newer interview above was a mis-speak but who knows. They may have changed their mind. I'd prefer double. I like the adapter kits that let you put a single din headunit in a double din space and add a cubby hole for your wallet or whatever.

 

[bartflossom]

Like this.