Digital Dash Documentation, Part 1: Apps and Add-ons

This is the first part of my digital dash documentation.  Although the digital dash is, of course, a Tasker project, it relies on a number of other pieces for its functionality.  This section of the documentation lists those and briefly describes what they’re used for. Later sections will break down the Tasker code in great detail.

Apps

Tasker – Obviously.  Without this app I couldn't have created the project.  The mere existence of Tasker makes Android vastly superior to IOS for projects of this type.

Torque – The foundation app.  Provides engine information, mileage, and GPS data.  Other information on the main screen is provided by scenes overlaid on Torque.

Google Maps – Used for Navigation and just generally knowing where I am.

MyRadar – Provides localized weather radar; important when you are out in a convertible and there are dark clouds coming up in front of you.

TWC – The Weather Channel app.  Gives more detail about localized weather conditions and forecasts.

GPS Status – Used mainly to download updates of GPS Assist data.  It also has a wealth of information about satellite connections that is best viewed when parked.

PowerAmp – Local music playback.  Chosen because it is well-supported via Tasker actions.

Pandora – Internet radio.  Also easy to work with in Tasker.

Scanner Radio – Provides localized access to LEA radio and weather alerts.

Add-ons

ActionBox – Used to control PowerAmp's EQ functions

AutoInput – Used to simulate screen taps to turn multi-touch operations into programmatically controlled functions.

AutoLocation – Used to get GPS bearing data that drives the on-screen compass.  Also used to get GPS speed data for display over Google Maps.

AutoNotification – Used to scrape track and artist info from Pandora’s “now playing” notification and bring it into Tasker.

AutoRemote – Used to send messages from the phone to the tablet. (Mainly just temperature data at the moment.)

AutoShare – Used to play specific songs in PowerAmp by sending a “Search and Play” intent.  It also acts as the media control interface for PowerAmp.

(As you may have guessed from the last five entries, I’m a big fan of joaomgcd's AutoApps suite of Tasker plugins.)

BusyBox - Used for its inclusion of the “tail” shell command which allows for the reading of the last line of a file.  This is used to read Torque’s data log to bring in the “Estimated Distance To Empty” value to Tasker.
Keyguard - Used to turn on the tablet and phone.

Secure Settings – Used to initiate the Bluetooth tethering connection between the phone and the tablet.