Appreciate the help. I left out big chunks of info to make the first question easier to answer.
One issue with factory GPS is maps. Like
@Smitty has noted above, updates are either expensive, or you can't get them at all. Then I was reading in the comments below a review of the TomTom 6010, people complaining there are no speed/redlight cam updates.
From recently installing several GPS apps on my Android phone, I know some apps are updated every 3 months - and for $0 after the initial purchase! (Sygic is one. And while I haven't used it in the car yet, it looks like a brilliant app.)
With Android it's easy to update/install POI files (from what I can work out, anyway). It also plays music, video, can have a Wi-Fi hotspot in the car, apps that calculate economy, I can scribble on the screen or record reminders in my own voice - a whole bunch of useful stuff.
Argh... It's just brick walls everywhere I turn.
I also know there are decent brand 1-DIN stereo units - with DVD, Bluetooth, but no video screen. I could pair one of those with an Android phone/tablet - and instantly have everything I'm after. Because I realised my phone already has everything installed in it that I want the car 'stereo' to do.
So if I could find a way to neatly mount a tablet/phone in the dash, all brick walls are gone. I have updated GPS with POI's, music (probably able to plug a big HDD in too), internet, etc.
Only obstacle is I want it to look neat - ideally centred in the dash. But I don't think I can do that. :-(
