Car Dock/Mount

[crowegreg]

I purchased the Naztech n4000 car mount/dock. I don't know how to get the Thunderbolt to recognize that it is in the car dock. Has anyone purchased a car dock that enables the car dock applications within the Thunderbolt to work? I downloaded the Car Dock app from the app store, and nothing works. If anyone is thinking about the n4000, I'd rethink it. The gooseneck's total length is 6in. This places the phone down near your knees if your cigarette lighter is on the lower portion of your dashboard. Talk about talking your eyes off the road. The mount holds the phone extremely well, but the gooseneck doesn't work for me. Does anyone know why the TB does not come pre-loaded with a car dock app like the Droid?

 

[Wanderlusterer]

The Thunderbolt does come loaded with a Car Dock application, but only works with the OEM car dock. Once you put it in place, the Car Dock activates and is more or less like the one that works like the OG Droid.

I don't personally know if there's a way to force the activation of the Car Dock any other way, but I do know that a GREAT alternative to it is called: Car Dashboard. I've been using it for quite some time and it's just as customizable as the stock application that comes with the phone. There's a few other neat features built into Car Dashboard too like a speedometer, temperature and altitude all shown on the main screen.

https://market.android.com/details?id=net.mandaria.cardashboardfree&feature=search_result

There's also the ad free version: Car Dashboard Pro:
https://market.android.com/details?id=net.mandaria.cardashboardpro

 

[crowegreg]

Thanks for the info. I downloaded the Car Dashboard app to test it. Is there a trick to adding the "Voice Dialer" to the main screen of the car dashboard app? I added the Navigation and Message to the main screen. I figured it out. I do have another question. This app states that once the phone is in the car dock, the app should start. I've placed the phone in the car mount, and the app doesn't start. Would you think this car dock does not have a "magnet" within the car dock. If it doesn't, is there anything special about the magnet needed.

 

[Wanderlusterer]

I can't say for certain. I know that on the car mount (I actually bought this from Verizon, but it's the same part #) I own: Window Car Mount w. Front Camera View for HTC Thunderbolt the Car Mode actually starts automatically. Since I've installed the Car Dashboard application, once I put the phone in the dock, the phone asks which option I'd like to use, either the Car Mode or the Car Dashboard app, which can be set permanently much like switching messaging applications (say like from Swype to the stock keyboard).

Again, I can't say for certain whether or not the phone is activated by magnets. At least with the mount I have.

I went so far as to call VZW and ask them and they don't know if there's magnets in the mount at all.

The only thing I can say is have the Car Dashboard on one of your home screens and press it once you've mounted your phone. Car Dashboard kicks in only when the native Car Mode app to the phone itself is activated. Hope this helps!