Headunit (Linux/Windows CarPC frontend) + initial screenshots

**cyber** · 07-08-2004, 05:16 PM

Yeah that could be done...all that would have to change is the image and the button target. If all the buttons and their corresponding targets were abstracted out of the application and into a configuration file these kinds of changes would be trival to perform.

**rgardjr** · 07-08-2004, 05:24 PM

Originally Posted by rgardjr

Downloaded the dll and fired up the program. It built the database, and the program loaded up. When I went to play a song I couldn't browse to the drive where the music is (program on c: mps on d: so I exited the program thinking I just restart headunit.exe. Now I just see a dos window with the following line repeating over and over-
ASSERT: "FALSE" in kernel\qtextengine_win.cpp (698)

O.K. I deleted the database file and let it build a new one and it's playing music now!

**NoPistonPC** · 07-08-2004, 05:47 PM

Originally Posted by cyber

I've browsed through the source and I'm glad to see a high quality coding job (as opposed to a lot of c/c++ code you find on the web)

Thanks!

Originally Posted by cyber

Anything in general you'd like me to work on/fix NoPistonPC?

I thought you'd never ask!

BTW, I agree with pretty much everything you posted so far:

Originally Posted by cyber

But this is in fact a new and seperate application. If another programs .ini file is used then this project is nothing but a clone of that project and thus limits it. On the other hand, a seperate application could be written to convert mediacar's .ini into headunit configuration format when that is decided on.

Exactly! Such a utility would be a piece of cake to write, and I definitely don't want headunit to be limited by MediaCar. In fact, the only thing limiting it right now is the Skin format of MediaCar. In the future, I'd like to be able to have Artist/Album/Genre based browsing like FrodoPlayer, and other cool features. However, I do agree with Custommx3 that we should make it easy for people to transition their existing MediaCar settings to Headunit.

Originally Posted by cyber

Yeah that could be done...all that would have to change is the image and the button target. If all the buttons and their corresponding targets were abstracted out of the application and into a configuration file these kinds of changes would be trival to perform.

This is trivial with Qt and it's use of slots and signals. Each app button can be configured via config file to emit a signal containing the name of the app to launch.

cyber, I have checked in all of my code now into CVS. I'd like to get all the buttons working initially. Feel free to fix whatever you think needs fixing. Let me know what you are working on so we don't duplicate our work. When you are ready to merge your code in, if things look good, I'll give you write access to the CVS tree.

Anyone can get the current version and build either a linux or win32 version of the app. For win32, you need the qt-toolkit (PM me for info on how you can get a copy) and the DirectX 9.0 SDK (free from microsoft downloads) and of course Visual Studio. Read the approriate INSTALL file corresponding to your platform.

Rock on!

**NoPistonPC** · 07-08-2004, 05:49 PM

Originally Posted by rgardjr

O.K. I deleted the database file and let it build a new one and it's playing music now!

Awesome!

**Hexerei** · 07-08-2004, 05:58 PM

I think being able to change the target of some of the buttons is a good idea. I won't be using the radio button either since this will play through my alpine head unit. Why pay for a FM card when I have a real radio already?

A couple things I'm curious about (still trying to get it to install on my gentoo box so I can't look myself).

1) Will this play DVD files off of my HDD? I want to copy all my concert/music video dvds to the hard drive that way I don't have to take the DVDs with me.

2) How well does it work with SNES/NES roms? Does it require external software? any recommended emulators for linux (havn't set them up in linux yet, only win2k)? Will it bring up a list of games to play or do I have to run the emulator then pick the game?

I hope to get this working soon, right now gentoo is being a pain but hopefully the 512MB stick I got today will speed things up.

**NoPistonPC** · 07-08-2004, 06:05 PM

1) Yes, it can play .VOB files off your hard disk (using xine-lib in Linux and InterVideo's WinDVD directshow filter on Windows). You have to rip them to your HD first to remove encryption, etc...

2) Just to clarify... this is not a port of MediaCar so as of yet there is not support for external apps (but that will come very, very soon) and therefore no support for emulator roms. I do believe there are some good emulators available for Linux though so this shouldn't be a problem.

**Hexerei** · 07-08-2004, 07:02 PM

ok cool. I havn't used media car (or any car pc software for that matter) so I mean to compare features of the two. Just planning out how I want my setup

**cyber** · 07-08-2004, 07:35 PM

Originally Posted by NoPistonPC

In the future, I'd like to be able to have Artist/Album/Genre based browsing like FrodoPlayer, and other cool features.

This should be a breeze since this player's library is db based...just change the query and there you go

P.S. I'm STILL waiting for qt to build...

**Pudge** · 07-08-2004, 10:43 PM

Yea takes a looong time. Longer if your SQLite plugin doesn't install.

**momanz** · 07-09-2004, 02:04 AM

NoPisonPC,

So the skin finally showed up on SF and I now have it installed (linux installation). I've been playing around with the software and it's usable. I haven't figured out yet how to remove songs from the playlist editor (has this been implemented?). Attached is a list of "observations" I've made using the software for about an hour. I'd like to help out with testing the software but unfortunately I have no talent coding and I'm going to be away from my system for about 6 weeks so... I'm really hoping you don't lose interest.

I'll be around for another week so I'll continue to send my comments as issues arise.

Is there any chance of you implementing the radio controls next. I just got my Dlink usb radio and I'd like to use it with the software. Check your PM for the list of obsevations.

-momanz