MP3Car and StreetDeck Developer Part Ways after Two Year Partnership to develop Mobile Platform

After over two years of partnership to develop the StreetDeck software mobile platform, MP3Car, Inc. and the creator of the software, DigitalWheelz, LLC, have decided to part ways. This strategic decision was reached after years of investment and support of the StreetDeck software by MP3Car.

Over the last year, MP3Car and DigitalWheelz have diverged in terms of vision and goals. It is expected that this decision will benefit each company’s respective customers by allowing MP3Car and DigitalWheelz to focus on providing better products and services going forward.

“While the decision to separate has been a difficult one to make,” said Robert Wray, owner of MP3Car, “we are confident at MP3Car that this is the best decision for StreetDeck customers and the future of MP3Car. It is time for MP3Car to focus on the needs of the forum users and provide better support to the forums.”

MP3Car has decided to shift away from product development and toward supporting innovators via the MP3Car Forums and the MP3Car online store. DigitalWheelz will continue to pursue StreetDeck software development initiatives.

MP3Car and DigitalWheelz recognize that this announcement follows six months of silence regarding the future of StreetDeck. However, with this decision, StreetDeck users can expect support and communication to improve immediately. “DigitalWheelz is very excited about achieving StreetDeck’s full potential and we will begin the process immediately.” says Chuck Holbrook, creator of StreetDeck and managing member of DigitalWheelz, LLC. All inquiries regarding StreetDeck software products and services should be directed to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

It is expected that StreetDeck will continue to be sold at MP3Car.com as well as through other venues.

  The Mp3Car store strives to be the leading online source for cutting edge, low power computing technologies.  The addition of Flux Media’s Centrafuse infotainment and telematics interface is yet another step in offering a diverse selection of products specific to the low power computing market.


  With over 200 products in stock, the Mp3Car store is searching every day for that next innovation, collaborating with leading companies and innovators from around the world.  The Mp3Car store was created to meet the overwhelming demand among hobbyists for products that allow mp3s to be played in the car.  Today the Mp3Car store supplies car computing hobbyists with products that allow them to do far more in the car than just play mp3s.  Hobbyists use their car computers for navigation, infotainment management, and real time engine tuning just to name a few applications – and we are just getting started!


  “Mp3Car has come a long way – growing with the car computing hobby,” says Heather Sarkissian, Mp3Car Manager, “We are really excited to offer Mp3Car customers the opportunity to choose – in this emerging market it will be the choices of customers that define the future of low power computing.   We are pleased to offer Centrafuse as a front end that has been designed with extensive input from the hobbyists on the Mp3Car Forums.”


  And what do the guys from Flux Media/Centrafuse say about joining the Mp3Car store?

 
  “We are very excited for this opportunity to offer Centrafuse as part of the Mp3Car store line-up of cutting edge products. Mp3Car is an ideal distribution partner for us as knowledge leaders in the mobile computing space.” says Reagan Cooper, Director of Channel Sales at Flux Media.


  The Centrafuse Mobile Desktop™ is a complete software front end for Windows XP and Vista-based mobile PCs such as the CarPC and the Ultra-Mobile PC (UMPC). Centrafuse seamlessly integrates entertainment, navigation, and communication functions into an intuitive user interface designed for safe and easy touch and voice control.  With Centrafuse, you will have quick and easy access to all of your music, pictures and video as well as GPS navigation, AM/FM radio & Satellite radio with pause/replay, DVD, Bluetooth phone integration, WiFi manager, web browser, email,  engine diagnostics and much more, all easily accessible with the touch of a finger.

Interested in buying Centrafuse now?

Follow this link and add your desired edition to your cart!

Intel, Switchback, American Choppers & StreetDeck worked together to put together this 250 Horsepower beast.

Intel notes that the versatility of the SwitchBack-PC is nearly “boundless,” and the modularity of the Black Diamond solution creates a lot of optionsvfor the design of the chopper. “Instead of a computerized dashboard affixed permanently to the bike we can use the BackPack technology to make it portable,” explains Intel’s Reed. “So theSwitchBack-PC not only controls and monitors the chopper, and integrates with its electronic subsystems, but it also functions as an Ultra Mobile PC, allowing the user to surf the Internet, do email, write reports, and so forth. You can snap it off and take it with you, preventing any unauthorized person from operating the vehicle.”

But it’s not just a snap-on PC either. “Everything on the bike is integrated with the computing system, and vice versa,” explains Justin Dyster, president of Black Diamond. What that means is that the ignition system is controlled by fingerprint recognition software. The sunlight viewable digital dashboard displays all of the traditional vehicle indicators like speedometer, tachometer, fuel and oil gauges, battery life, and turn signals. Black Diamond used StreetDeck* infotainment software to integrate audio and video applications like GPS navigation, Wi-Fi connectivity for quick updates on traffic and web-surfing, and touch-screen access to the radio and MP3 files, all of which are also integrated with the handlebars and headset in the helmet. Rear-mounted USB cameras replace standard rear-view mirrors to display rear-view images on the digital dashboard. This “dashboard” is also a fully functional PC, complete with QWERTY keyboard that can be disconnected from the vehicle and taken with you, to create, edit and view presentations, spreadsheets, do email, and so forth.

Dyster also notes that the SwitchBack-PC used on the Intel Chopper is just like the off-the-shelf version that Black Diamond makes for other applications, with a few minor differences. “We used a custom paint scheme, and we increased the performance of the SwitchBack with the new Intel® Core™ Duo processor to allow for more features.” Battery life of the SwitchBack-PC has been extended in several ways. Besides the engineering efficiencies that give the device a long battery life to begin with, hot swap capabilities allows the user to replace the battery on the go. Plus, the SwitchBack-PC battery will be recharged while the bike is operating. So the user will always start with a fully charged battery when the UMPC is detached from the vehicle.