Thread: What are you using for front end?

I'm using Infill Station, and like you I had to abandon Street Deck because of so much bugs and instability on T3. I really wish all the bugs can be worked out because I really like the program. Besides, I paid for that program!!! But I just couldn't tolerate the bugs with the sound and crashing while in Navi.

So, here's my take on Infill Station.

Pros:
1. Customized strictly for T3. Absolutely no errors running the program.

2. Speaker configuration. You can configure for 4 speaker or 5.1 with center and sub. You can configure the volume level for each speaker in your vehicle. You can also customize the volume level by adjusting the master, wave, TV/Radio, mic, and aux.

3. Rearview camera. Because the Infill Station service loads up in the startup, rearview camera kicks in whenever you shift into reverse regardless of what program you are running. Even when the actual Infill Station is not running, and whatever program might be running in Windows, the rearview camera screen pops up without error.

4. Excellent TV. The scanning function for station catches all the signals in the area and memorizes the channel. You can either add or delete them from the list. As I have discovered from its use that the picture quality has everything to do with the position of your antenna (hence the direction of your car) to the TV station towers. So, here in Southern California, if I'm in North-South direction, I usually get excellent picture quality on majority of the channels, when the car is not in motion. Picture quality is so so while moving, but since my eyes are on the road, I'm happy with just hearing the sound from TV.

5. DVD. The player works perfectly just like any other DVD players. But you have to use a specific codec just for T3.

6. Radio. FM sounds awesome.

7. Music. mp3 files play fine with ID3 tags. It also has a 3D sound button that once activated, makes it sound richer.

8. Touchpad integration. The round touchpad screen allows direct access to TV, radio, DVD, music, Main menu, Windows, Alt-F4, Alt-Tab, and applications of your choice.

9. Touchpad mouse function. In windows, you can use the round touchpad as a mouse, just like a touchpad on a laptop.

10. Application button. You can customize the round touchpad to access 4 different appications of your choice. I've set them for: turning on EVDO, starting iGuidance, starting Windows Media Player and starting Firefox.

11. Does not clash with other programs running simultaneously. For example, Infill Station can be running in the background playing radio while iGuidance is on the front.

Cons:
1. Setup. Setup dialogs are in Korean.

2. Language. Most of menus in the configuration page are in Korean.

3. Radio. AM digital dials are in different increments. Instead of increments of 10, it goes up in increments of 9. I guess that's how it's done in Korea. For example, I can't get 640 AM, it shows as 639. So, in essence I don't get AM stations.

4. MP3. The music player plays fine with excellent sound, but searching for music and having them in playlist is not very user-friendly. I just use Windows Media Player for this function.

5. DVD. You have to use a specific Korean codec to get it to work. I've tried many before contacting Infill and getting the right codec.

6. Navi. No navigation for USA.

7. Touchpad. You have to press a hard button next to it to cycle through different touchpad buttons of your choice. It shows 4 buttons at a time.

8. Program Menu. Unlike Street Deck, you have to always exit out of your current module to go back to main menu. However, you can have radio or music keep playing and still go back to the main menu by pressing the touchpad button form main menu.

9. Speedometer. The speedometer in the main menu doesn't work. It needs to have a signal from the GPS, but for some reason Infill Station can't seem to detect it even with correct Com port and baud rate. Windows and iGuidance has no problem seeing the signal. This may be due to the fact that I'm not using the dedicated PS/2 connction for the GPS. I'm using USB port for the GPS.

10. Rearview camera. There is about 2-3 second delay after shifting into reverse and screen popping up. I wish there were no delay.

Not using a virtual keyboard. I keep a usb keyboard and mouse around as I am constantly updating and working on some mods.

I use my phones keyboard to connect also. There are several ways to do it if you have a mobile with a full qwerty keyboard. To list some:

PDAKEY - In development still, but gives a gui interface on palm or windows based phones and passes all keyboard. Uses bluetooth only.

Remote2pc - Full remote control with view. Passes keyboard and touchscreen on windows mobile phones. Can use wireless or bluetooth pan

PPC Tablet Remote - RECOMMENDED. This one allows for you to either full remote with view or just pass the keyboard events. You can even make your own custom skin to send hot keys or open programs and scripts. Wireless or bt pan.

I have an htc wizard that I dont use as a phone anymore and just keep that in my car. I can even hand it off to people around the car for them to search for tunes. Its like having a portable second display. If you have internet in your car you could even remote to your car over the internet and control it.

Originally Posted by TheJuggler

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A virtual keyboard would be nice. Anyone have good keyboard solutions for their Infill T3?

I use iGo Stowaway Bluetooth Keyboard. It's very compact when folded, but when open, it's a full size keyboard. I like the fact that once it's open and you type something, it automatically connects within a second. No need to turn on from the computer or push a button on the keyboard to turn it on. It shuts off automatically when not in use and shuts off when folded. When folded it's about as big as a PDA. And since it's bluetooth, no need for a direct line of sight to IrDA.

Here's a link: http://www.thinkoutside.com/products...e_product.html