Can I still get LinuxICE 2.0?

I have a question and I am sure you guys on the Linux side can answer. After building a mega multi-zone system and being hit with so many issues, I have decided to pull the setup out and use it as a desktop PC. Thing is, I still want multi-zone. I see that they will be selling the Raspberry Pi for about $35.00. That makes building a multi-zone rig much more affordable and cost effective. Maybe about $100.00 per seat for the setups. Now because these bad boys only use Linux, that means I need a Linux based FE.

So here is where the questions start. I will be asking FE and hardware questions.

1) Will LinuxICE run on the Raspberry Pi. In the FAQ's it says newer version of Ubunti will not commit. Isnt LinuxICE based off an older version, so it will work?

2) The Raspberry Pi runs off of 5V 1amp mini USB power. I was thinking of buying 6 car chargers that meet the specs, but are they regulated? Would I have to supply regulated 12V power? I also have 7 car chargers that run 5V 2amps for the KVMP switches so I want to be sure so I dont kill nothing. Maybe I can take car pc PSU and mod it to power everything?

3) Will LinuxICE work on a SD card?

4) Any other things I should take into account?

Thanx in advance!

4. TBH I think Linux based systems may be too much of a learning curve (unless you are already using Linux at the Hotel).

I mean if you think getting Windows and CF to play nice, getting a Linux FE running with all the different hardware add ons, which apart from the fact they still don't have have the things that the leading Windows FEs do, will be a lot more fiddly than what you are already having to do.

Linuxice is really no longer supported or updated. Your best bet is probably to install Ubuntu, or some other touch friendly OS on the Raspberry Pi, then install nghost (The media player on linuxice) or whatever software you want to run. It's going to be a fairly huge headache configurationwise, since Linux in the car is almost never easy.

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Originally Posted by Enforcer

4. TBH I think Linux based systems may be too much of a learning curve (unless you are already using Linux at the Hotel).

I mean if you think getting Windows and CF to play nice, getting a Linux FE running with all the different hardware add ons, which apart from the fact they still don't have have the things that the leading Windows FEs do, will be a lot more fiddly than what you are already having to do.

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I use to use Linux at work for a internet gateway system. Its kinda like DOS. Now remember, the personal systems will not do what the main system can do. Their purpose is only internet, video, music, and maybe 2D gaming. Nothing else. Only hardware that will be on all of them is KVMP which acts like a USB hub, touchscreen, mini-pac, and a spare port for devices that the user chooses to use. So only 2 devices will be connected directly to the units.

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Originally Posted by malcom2073

Linuxice is really no longer supported or updated. Your best bet is probably to install Ubuntu, or some other touch friendly OS on the Raspberry Pi, then install nghost (The media player on linuxice) or whatever software you want to run. It's going to be a fairly huge headache configurationwise, since Linux in the car is almost never easy.

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Thing is, that Ubuntu is not compatible. Or at least the new versions arent. I figured that since LinuxICE can go on the internet, play video and music, so it would be fine as is.

So,

Here's what I suggest, given your stated objectives. Look at bodhi http://forums.bodhilinux.com/ which is using E17 as the WM. Talks about running on the raspberry are already started on the forums and basic ARM support is already part of this ubuntu based distro. This distro is based off an older version of Ubuntu (10.04) so hopefully any issues the newer version have introduced aren't within it. Use the tablet profile when installing to get a touchscreen friendly interface. Take a look here http://www.bodhilinux.com/video.php especially at the video on the Dell Duo. Plus see here http://wiki.bodhilinux.com/doku.php?id=tablet_profile.

Once you got that you have a couple of choices for media frontends... Enna (which is kinda slowed down in it's development), XBMC, enjoy (for music only), or maybe even RevFE...

Ubuntu has ARM builds (iirc, the RaspberryPI is ARM). There's also Mer. LinuxICE has only x86 builds.

This thread caught my interest :)

I think you have a great idea in using the RPi for carputing. I'm actually in the process of developing an FE specifically *for* the Raspberry Pi :). I'll hopefully be getting one soon to start testing on. It might be difficult to get a unit from the initial run, so keep an eye on the website, since they're expected to start shipping very soon (literally any day now). There's a lot of general interest in the Pi, especially for IVI applications and I don't think it'll be too bad / difficult setting up a variant of Linux on it. Look over the forums on the Raspberry Pi website to get more information on setting up the OS. I'm planning to use ArchLinux-ARM as my distro for the Pi as it has a strong user community and I use it on my desktop without any problems (Ubuntu is pretty bloated in comparison, and not really ideal for an embedded system).

As for your front end options... RevFE is probably your best bet -- it uses a framework that should be compatible with and run very well on the Pi, so you should be able to use that on a Pi with some tweaking (you'd need to compile it for ARM). I don't think any other linux front ends will work without a lot of trouble. You mentioned that the setup per seat would be close to ~$100. Where'd you get that figure?

Keep us updated on the project.

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Originally Posted by tripzero

Ubuntu has ARM builds (iirc, the RaspberryPI is ARM). There's also Mer. LinuxICE has only x86 builds.

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D@mn.... LOL.... Let me ask, is there a way to change how these distros look, like GUI wise?

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Originally Posted by nasa

So,

Here's what I suggest, given your stated objectives. Look at bodhi http://forums.bodhilinux.com/ which is using E17 as the WM. Talks about running on the raspberry are already started on the forums and basic ARM support is already part of this ubuntu based distro. This distro is based off an older version of Ubuntu (10.04) so hopefully any issues the newer version have introduced aren't within it. Use the tablet profile when installing to get a touchscreen friendly interface. Take a look here http://www.bodhilinux.com/video.php especially at the video on the Dell Duo. Plus see here http://wiki.bodhilinux.com/doku.php?id=tablet_profile.

Once you got that you have a couple of choices for media frontends... Enna (which is kinda slowed down in it's development), XBMC, enjoy (for music only), or maybe even RevFE...

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I guess I am going to have to get it, and play with them. What size SD card should I get for the units? Also, can I set the cards as read only? I ask because I just want these units to shut off. They will be controlled by the main PC via a relay. Is that possible?

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Originally Posted by preet

This thread caught my interest :)

I think you have a great idea in using the RPi for carputing. I'm actually in the process of developing an FE specifically *for* the Raspberry Pi :). I'll hopefully be getting one soon to start testing on. It might be difficult to get a unit from the initial run, so keep an eye on the website, since they're expected to start shipping very soon (literally any day now). There's a lot of general interest in the Pi, especially for IVI applications and I don't think it'll be too bad / difficult setting up a variant of Linux on it. Look over the forums on the Raspberry Pi website to get more information on setting up the OS. I'm planning to use ArchLinux-ARM as my distro for the Pi as it has a strong user community and I use it on my desktop without any problems (Ubuntu is pretty bloated in comparison, and not really ideal for an embedded system).

As for your front end options... RevFE is probably your best bet -- it uses a framework that should be compatible with and run very well on the Pi, so you should be able to use that on a Pi with some tweaking (you'd need to compile it for ARM). I don't think any other linux front ends will work without a lot of trouble. You mentioned that the setup per seat would be close to ~$100. Where'd you get that figure?

Keep us updated on the project.

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Here is the thing. I think the RP is good for personal light use. It can never be used as a full car pc. I do think though that it opens up a world of perfecting multi zone in a cheap manner. Does Archlinux have touchscreen support?

I got it by calculating what I have bought already (Yes I have started to buy things to start the project.). For car charger I spent $2.98. For an SD Card $8.50 for 8GB. The RP, $35.00 +shipping. HDMI to VGA about $40.00. So thats about $90.00. That doesnt include the screen though.

RaspberryPi may be more capable then you think :) It can do HD video and what not so for extra zones I think it's likely awesome.

Why couldn't you run Android? It does support ARM devices :)

I think because Android is bloated. Thats what I was reading. It does blu-ray quality video. I want to play with these things so bad now. I need to do more research on how they work. I think i'll sign up on their forums.