No more need for a carputer
Thread Starter
|
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: San Clemente, CA
No more need for a carputer
Hey guys, i will soon install my avelectronic so i can use this new product. It is called an On3 made by fiainc.net. My brother installed one in his tahoe and is now able to watch movies on demand, listen to as many mp3's as he would like and watch a photo slide show along with it. I am surprised how low it is priced and from my knowledge it is easier to use than burning a cd. They say it is for home applications but works as well or better in cars. Check it out at http://www.fiainc.net/FIA_On3.cfm
Thread Starter
|
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: San Clemente, CA
Re: No more need for a carputer
Here you go!
http://www.fiainc.net/FIA_On3.cfm
It looks like you'll need an inverter to make it work in the car. Sometimes inverters introduce noise into your audio system.
Good luck and tell us how it turns out.
BLKSNAKE - '04 G35 Coupe
Check out my hidden sub! [img]/w3timages/icons/laugh.gif[/img]
http://www.fiainc.net/FIA_On3.cfm
It looks like you'll need an inverter to make it work in the car. Sometimes inverters introduce noise into your audio system.
Good luck and tell us how it turns out.
BLKSNAKE - '04 G35 Coupe
Check out my hidden sub! [img]/w3timages/icons/laugh.gif[/img]
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 502
Likes: 0
From: Chicago,IL
Trending Topics
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,254
Likes: 19
From: Centerburg, Ohio (the geographical center of the Buckeye State)
Re: No more need for a carputer
THere was this snazzy computer unit that they installed on this past Sunday's MTV's PIMP MY RIDE. West Coast Customs installed this carputer into this brand new Scion XB which housed 60K .mp3's, ran MS Windows, Movie-on-demand, internet access, DVD, TV tuner, NAV, GPS, etc.
I forgot what the brand was....does anyone remember?
I forgot what the brand was....does anyone remember?
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 626
Likes: 0
From: Poughkeepsie, NY
Re: No more need for a carputer
www.drivesoft.net
personally, I dislike the interface for that software. It just doesn't look good. The guy that owns that company posted on www.mp3car.com, and said the reason why it's like the way it is, is so that the normal non-computer savvy person can easily use it.
Can't blame him I guess. It does cost ~$50 for just the software, which i *think* does not include gps.
I'll stick to the free and more customizable mp3car options.
---
2004 Twlight Blue/Willow 6mt Coupe.
Bel Vector 985 Hardwired.
Grounding Kit.
Splash Guards.
Carputer. (Thanks GOC,G35Pimp, and others for their ideas)
personally, I dislike the interface for that software. It just doesn't look good. The guy that owns that company posted on www.mp3car.com, and said the reason why it's like the way it is, is so that the normal non-computer savvy person can easily use it.
Can't blame him I guess. It does cost ~$50 for just the software, which i *think* does not include gps.
I'll stick to the free and more customizable mp3car options.
---
2004 Twlight Blue/Willow 6mt Coupe.
Bel Vector 985 Hardwired.
Grounding Kit.
Splash Guards.
Carputer. (Thanks GOC,G35Pimp, and others for their ideas)
Re: No more need for a carputer
No need for a carputer? This seems more like no need for an aftermarket audio / video head unit... Wheres the built in NAV system, OBD II interface, Relay control, Voice control, Rear view camera support, XM Radio, Touch screen support, etc... All for the same price of a PC that can do all this.
And I agree that drivesoft stuff looks like crap... It looks to be more feature rich then many carputer product offerings but it looks like its no more then just another VB front end like those already available for free. And saying that you didn't build the software to be distributed on its own when it's written on a standard windows platform is just the same to me as saying that the program isn't built on a stable enough base to be run on anything but highly tweaked systems.
And I agree that drivesoft stuff looks like crap... It looks to be more feature rich then many carputer product offerings but it looks like its no more then just another VB front end like those already available for free. And saying that you didn't build the software to be distributed on its own when it's written on a standard windows platform is just the same to me as saying that the program isn't built on a stable enough base to be run on anything but highly tweaked systems.
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 338
Likes: 0
Re: No more need for a carputer
I didn't have a problem with what little I saw of the UI. Nothing to really write home about but to me it looks fairly decent. It just looks like they are trying to follow the windows XP theme.
I've been in the business of doing touch screen front-ends sort of like that for touch tablets and mall kiosks for over 10 years. It ends up being quite a bit more work than you'd expect, especially if you want it to be customizable by the end user.
-- Rob
I've been in the business of doing touch screen front-ends sort of like that for touch tablets and mall kiosks for over 10 years. It ends up being quite a bit more work than you'd expect, especially if you want it to be customizable by the end user.
-- Rob
Re: No more need for a carputer
I know exactly how much work it is... I've been developing my own product for the past few years and I know first hand the limits of what can be done and it certainly is a lot better then what there doing. IMO if your going to go through the work and expense of putting a computer in a car, you better make it worth your while. To me that means an interface with hardware acceleration... transparencies, animation, and multitasking. Look at windows media center, thats a truely good looking and well thought out interface that takes advantage of computer technology to its full extent. The bar has been set there and anything that can't compete on that level will not get my praise.
All that drivesoft did was take come software components throw them onto a window and put some buttons around it. There seems to be no real thought into the design, they just put what functions the components they used had. No thinking about what the user's wanted to do most and certainly very little thought on what is actaually safe to do in a vehicle. All the buttons are the same size and are very hard to distinguish from each other. This may be acceptable to do in a touchscreen / kiosk system, but this is NOT an acceptable input modality for use while driving.
All that drivesoft did was take come software components throw them onto a window and put some buttons around it. There seems to be no real thought into the design, they just put what functions the components they used had. No thinking about what the user's wanted to do most and certainly very little thought on what is actaually safe to do in a vehicle. All the buttons are the same size and are very hard to distinguish from each other. This may be acceptable to do in a touchscreen / kiosk system, but this is NOT an acceptable input modality for use while driving.
G35driver.com Moderator
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 3,476
Likes: 0
From: Mishigan
Re: No more need for a carputer
agreed.
there needs to be differentiation in color, or icons, and a customizable menu setup.
$50 for such a simple program is a rip-off.
its very tough to drive and focus on the LCD screen at the same time.
<font color=green>-Rambo</font color=green>
G35c-6MT-DG/Willow/HyperGround/BorlaExhaust/350Z-intake/AVIC-N1-double-din
there needs to be differentiation in color, or icons, and a customizable menu setup.
$50 for such a simple program is a rip-off.
its very tough to drive and focus on the LCD screen at the same time.
<font color=green>-Rambo</font color=green>
G35c-6MT-DG/Willow/HyperGround/BorlaExhaust/350Z-intake/AVIC-N1-double-din