Rob Wray, from mp3Car, looks into a solution for controlling massive amounts of music on your carputer. One great feature of using winamp for your music system is that there is an iPhone app called iAmpRemote which allows you to control winamp via an AdHoc connection. So you just need your windows computer to broadcast a signal, have your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch connected to it, and now you have a wireless remote.

Rob Wray, from mp3Car, takes a closer look at forum member PaulF's Volvo S60. He vehicle was one of the most 'teched out' at this year's AFKFest 2010.

One of the main features of his car is the SheevaPlug, which runs 24/7 on an optima battery next to his standard carputer. The SheevaPlug acts as a webserver with a custom Centrafuse app that interacts with it. From the internet, he can turn his lights on, roll up or down his windows, start up his standard computer, and even hit play on his favorite song before he reaches the vehicle. He can even text message his vehicle to do many of these same actions.

Checkout Parts 2 and 3 below

Introducing Lilliput's latest rendition of their 7" touch screenmonitor with HDMI, DVI, and VGA inputs. 50% brighter than the standard669GL-70NP/C/T. 5 wire resistive touch screen instead of 4 (with the standard 669) makes touch input control more precise.

Key Features:
-HDMI, DVI, or VGA inputs
-High Brightness: 450 CD/M²
-5 Wire Resistive Touch Screen, USB Interface
-1 Year Warranty

Rob Wray, from mp3Car, talks with Steve about his Delorean. He was a great last minute and unexpected surprise at this year's AFKFest. This car is nicely restored and fully customized from the lights to the wheels and body.

Steve fabricated the headlights and front facade of the car himself as the original parts had either been damaged or weren't to his liking. The gull-wing doors aren't the only cool feature though. The car has a built in touch screen and a 3 port USB hub built into the console. The computer is a laptop installed in the back of the vehicle.

Steve's Delorean won 4th prize for best install this year.

Rob Wray from mp3Car takes a look inside Marie-Jessique Gonzalez's Ford F150, the winner of AFK Fest 2010 best in show award.

This truck is decked out with redundant power systems. In the event one battery fails, one of two other batteries will support the on board electronics.
Marie also has a remote video system with her web cam enabling her to pull up her dash camera display from home.

The next stage in the build for Marie is to install a servo motor on the dash cam to enable her to pan 360 degrees for remote video access.

Well folks, it's finally been done. With the help of ifixit.com, Mikegyver Computer & Tech., Inc. has posted illustrated instructions on how to bypass the internal AC to DC power adapter inside all new Mac Minis. This will make it relatively straight forward (definitely not easy) to use a CarNetix CNX-P2140 power regulator to power your Mac Mini in a mobile environment. Here are the instructions, courtesy of the MCT, Inc. website:

Ok, so here’s how we did it, however we don’t like re-inventing the wheel (rather then to improve on it) we going to refer you to ifixit.com on disassembly first.

http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Mac-M...eardown/3094/1

Please do steps 1-14, and 22. Then come back here.

After you have disassembled your Mac mini, remove the power supply and re-assemble everything like so. Reconnect the power supply on the outside of the Mac Mini.

We are at it again, giving stuff away for free to innovators. This time, we have partnered with the guys at Centrafuse.


The Challenge - Build the coolest "connected car" plug-in you can think of.
We're talking about a location-based or "location-aware" app here -- like when your mobile phone knows of good restaurants nearby... but in the car... and way cooler; like if your car could let you know if you were entering a high-crime area and automatically lock your doors for you. Neat stuff like that. The winner will be the entry demonstrating the most creative and innovative use of GPS location in a plug-in application for Centrafuse Auto as determined by the voting forum members.

First Prize
Lilliput 7-inch Touchscreen LCD - courtesy of Mp3Car.The first prize winner will be chosen using a poll where forum members will cast their vote for their favorite submitted "connected car" app over the span of 10 days, following the contest deadline. On day 11 we will count the votes and the first-prize winner receives a brand new 7" Lilliput touchscreen LCD, compliments of our friends at Mp3Car along with a free t-shirt from the Centrafuse Gear Shop. The first prize winner will also have their app featured in the upcoming Centrafuse "app store" which is now underway. More info on that later.

Second Prize
Free map upgrade and item of choice from Centrafuse Gear ShopSecond place prize will be awarded to the developer with the 2nd most votes, and will receive a free map upgrade (when available) and a free item of their choice from the Centrafuse Gear Shop.

The MeeGo IVI software platform is designed to enable rich internet and multimedia consumer experiences for vehicles. MeeGo IVI builds on the foundation laid by Moblin IVI for rich multimedia, CE device management, internet, and automotive connectivity.