Thread: useful for controlling car mp3 box?

I have one and thought about doing the same thing you want, but I don't think it'd work like you'd want it to.

There are three ways you can use it.

1. Their layout software. You create buttons and a layout which will be displayed, but can't have any dynamic information displayed (i.e. the currently playing song, temperature, etc).

2. As a second monitor. This will only work with W2k and XP. The picture is very blurry and dim, even with brightness turned all the way up. Any sort of motion leaves a trail because this is over USB, not VGA or TV out.

3. Write your own software. Using DirectDraw, you can create you own interface and do whatever the hell you want. They have examples in VC++ and VB on their developer page.

All in all, it's badass sitting next to my monitor opening applications and controlling winamp, but I wouldn't use it in my car. It's a low quality LCD where any sort of motion blurs. I'd suggest you keep looking, but it's up to you. If you want to use it with the layout software, go for it. It'd rock. But for anything else, don't use it.

Oh yeah, if you do get it, I have a neat ST:TNG layout on my site.

Originally posted by Birrman54
actually, just looked at your layout and it looks really cool, I could definately use that.

How difficult would it be to add playlist support?

birrman54

I thought it couldn't display anything dynamic? Like track name, time elapsed, etc..

Originally posted by Birrman54
you're probably right, I wasn't thinking

Yep, no dynamic content. Here's how it works.

You create a bitmap image which will be the image you see on the screen. You take that bitmap and import it into their software. From there, you draw little squares where you want buttons. These are invisible when you're finished. Then you assign actions to these buttons which either switch layouts or send keystrokes.

One problem with using this with winamp is that if Winamp isn't the active window on your screen, winamp will ignore your keystrokes. I found a winamp plugin which will listen for keystrokes even when it's not active. PM me if you want it.

The image needs to be 320x240, IIRC. You can download the layout software at massworks.com and get started on layouts.

Here's that plugin for winamp: