Thread: Mp3Car's Sean Clark on 'Why Tablets?'

Being wireless is huge here. Sure throw a car pc or sheeval plug in the trunk and have it it wirelessly transmit data in a standard format that any device could read. So somoene could make an FM tuner app for iPad and it would stream the audio from a hardware fm radio in the trunk. But the entire interface is controlled from the gorilla glass, 10 inch, multi touch display.

One big issue with the Sheeva plug is Linux itself. Put the word Linux on the box of cheesecake, and nobody will want to eat it. Linux is a scary thing, and unless you can make it zero configuration, it's never going to take.

Sheeva is pretty much your best bet though, since if you go for a Windows PC, you're pretty much installing a full-on carpc anyway, so why not just spend the money on a screen instead of a tablet. Sheeva can be a fairly painless install, especially if you manage to find one with a 12v power supply inside to hook right to a relay on your ignition line.

the idea in the end for this. Is that you have engineers like the forum members here building hardware that pugins into the "black box" Then you have software developers and UX guys, making interfaces for tablets. So that those who don't want to create, can just buy a box, buy some fusion brains or some cameras. And just run the apps. It will be plug and play for those folks.

Originally Posted by malcom2073

Sheeva is pretty much your best bet though, since if you go for a Windows PC, you're pretty much installing a full-on carpc anyway, so why not just spend the money on a screen instead of a tablet.

I disagree. Windows can be done painlessly too. Besides, good quality screens (comparable to tablets) would probably cost more than a tablet. Example, most 7" tablets with gorilla glass and multitouch screens can be found for less than $250.00 (new, used or refurb, depending on type). A comparable capacitive, transflective screen would go for $500-600 plus the capacitive layer cost (about $100) = that's a very expensive tablet.

Sheeva can be a fairly painless install.

That's not what I heard, I think from Bugbyte?

Originally Posted by HiJackZX1

My question is, have tablets come far enough to were I can have a shared environment and then they can switch to a personal setup?

Yes, using an Airplay/DLNA type of service. For instance, you can use an app like AllShare to connect a DLNA server (A PC, a Phone, or another tablet) to another device (the tablet, a TV/monitor with DLNA client capabilities, or a phone).

So I can have a galaxy tab streaming a slideshow to my tablets in the headrests. Then one headrest could stop that, launch a DLNA server and choose a file to stream to any DLNA client listening on that local network, say, to the other tablet in the headrest and maybe the one at the front. I tried that, and it works, but I'm working on the details for my tablet headrest install video. The trick is to chose apps that are 1. reliable (Android has the prize for the ****tiest options); 2. easy to use (there's where Apple's Airplay wins) and 3. compatibility with phones and tablets (where Android wins).

So in theory, if you have, like me, a (most of the time headless) carpc, and 3 tablets in the car, the possibilities are endless. Say an older kid/parent would just come in and start chosing a bunch of youtube videos for the kids in the back, etc. One thing I'm meaning to test is this. Say you're coming back from the beach, 1h drive home, and you came with your buddy, family in another car. If the cars are close enough, you could stream video from one car to the other, provided they would stay within range of a local wifi signal, no internet necessary.

Problem is, only airplay works with youtube (from my testing with the iPad/iPhone), and it's the most reliable and easy to use. If you're watching a video, you just hit the button "send to" and chose the device (say "headrest 2"). On the Android, you have to start an APP (some are server only, other client only) and then navigate through menus and file names...a big mess. To get the kids to do it can be a challenge, but my 3.5year old can do it on the iPhone...However, I don't plan to have multiple iPads in the car, so it's going to be webos or android (cheaper and I have them already), the only other way for iOS would be to have a drop down screen in the back with DLNA client capabilities...yeah, right.

Originally Posted by RipplingHurst

That's not what I heard, I think from Bugbyte?

It depends on what you're doing. I installed Debian and it took all of 15 minutes. I tried to install Ubuntu and it took an hour.

I think Sean's idea is that the end user doesn't have to play with any of that, all of that is pre-done before the end user gets a hold of it. The problem with the idea, is the same problem with any idea that comes along on this forum. You're never going to get enough people to collaborate long enough and hard enough to actually come up with a usable product. Unless a commercial entity puts forth the effort to have actual paid developers working on it, the black box will never happen (Except on a very small scale, where the users using them are the developers developing them)

Great words, Sean.
I've followed MP3Car for many years, but have considered most of what's said here hopelessly above my mental capabilities... this is changing, finally, so this is my first post here.
I think if tablets came with car kits, it would kill DIN-based autosound in short order. It's almost 2012, yet FM modulators are still the avenue the aftermarket provides.
It's easy to see that there's two schools of thought coming to a nexus here: one that enjoys the challenge and reward of build/config, and one that wants it up and running, now. I'm in the latter.

My Chevy Colorado's CD-based MP3 works beautifully, but I'm tired of handling discs (carefully). I've realized much of what you've written about features and pricing, in the process of looking for an alternative. "Bling" is scrawled in pencil at the bottom of my criteria list. Having an ample touch screen that I can actually see in daylight, and a volume control that's EASILY used -are in heavy block letters. However, I really don't need a laptop-class display size.
I already have two MP3 players, but the volume controls are not vehicle-friendly, and the screens are cruelly tiny (49 year old eyeballs) to try to read when in bed, let alone driving. There is just no way I'd live with using them in a vehicle.

I'd gotten all enthused about the latest "mechless" DSXS300BTX from SONY, and had one in my hands when I spotted the tablet,


a Sly SLT408. It was easily one-fourth the price of the car unit plus needed install widgetry. Spot-on, it's the touch screen that got me!
Notice the speaker icons are always right there at upper right (and that Good Crunchy Music is selected), I won't even have to look away from the road. I've soldered up a simple interface cable to feed my amplifiers directly, and it sounds great. Great, but not loud enough, I'm here to see what you all do in response to that...pre-amp?
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...and what's this "radio" thing people keep talking about?

As far as FM goes, some tablets have a FM rx built in to them. this is one.. http://www.synrgic.com/index.php?opt...id=192&lang=en

I only worry about audio out. And I need XM radio.

Originally Posted by Killbucket

Great, but not loud enough, I'm here to see what you all do in response to that...pre-amp?
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...and what's this "radio" thing people keep talking about?

yes, you would need a preamp then.

i believe the 'radio' is in reference to yanking the factory deck--thereby removing the factory am/fm reception-- and us carpc people wnat everything without a loss of features...