Thread: Is there a LCD / VFD plugin ?

You know, it had occured to me a while ago to use one, but never got around to implementing it. The last thing I remember was that it was on guino's list of things to do. I don't know i it has support yet though. Without an external plug-in of course.
Would be nice though...

Sorry about bringing back an old thread, but is there any chance this would happen? I have trouble reading my screen during the day, and there are parts of the city I dont want to have the screen flipped out at night which leave me without any way to see the song or volumn information...

I know I can just download a winamp plug-in that would allow me to have the song info on the screen but I also have the Sirius interface, and it would be nice to have the song data for that without adding another app.

While I am hi-jacking the thread I may as well post a link to the LCD I am thinking of using, with hope that someone else will think its cool, make it work and tell me how. HEHE

www.crystalfontz.com
Warning this site is one of the slowest loaders I have seen in a while...

I was looking at either the 633 or the 635 since they both can come with the 6 buttons. Only major diff is that the 633 has some mainboard and fan controls but has a smaller screen (16x2). But I have been debating getting it for the smaller char resolution since the chars are bigger on the 633, just can't tell if it would be 2 small to have the 20x4 in the same space.

the reason I like these is that they are totally usb powered and all 6 buttons can be programmed for whatever. So I could have MUTE, Vol+, Vol-, Mode (switch between no sound, sirius, and winamp), next track/preset, prev track/preset.

Thoughts and comments welcome.


EDIT:
Just found how to see the dimentions on there site, never mind I would be getting the 635 of the 633 the chars are not bigger the screen is just smaller....

Around here, two weeks isn't an old thread.
And most of us know about Crystalfontz and Matrix Orbital products. Nothing new.

There are a few winamp plugins that can display MP3 info and such, but no direct RR support for external LCDs.. It'd be the case that we'd have to vote or suggest different LCDs/VFDs and then I could try to get one for development. Most likely a separate (but integrated) plugin could be done for each type of display to list menus (to control RR) and information from RR ..

Any chance anyone actually has one of these (or another with buttons)? I would love to hear some first hand feedback on how well it looks in the car...

CDR, what are your thoughts on use. In other words, do you have any particular ideas of how to use an LCD for something other than just sticking it below your screen? This idea intrigues me and I'm glad you brought it up. Now i'm thinking about potential back seat control or something.

Wow that would be a good idea...

Not sure if RR supports daul screens but i can't imagine it would be hard to get Windows to Play a DVD on the second screen (aka the RCA out) to the back of the head rests. Then the 6 buttons could control playback, and the screen could give the needed information.

I guess the next question I have to ask them is if more than 1 could be used in a system and if it would be able to have different button options for each one?

-Bad

I looked at those screens too, they seem to be ideal for CarPCs. I was toying with the idea of a replacement HU case with one of these screens, a phidget type rotary encoder and a slot load dvd drive. That would allow an "incognito" mode, all the basic controls available without a big shiny lcd screen on. I suppose I assumed it would be easy to redirect select info to these screens, rather than just winamp titles etc. There is some software available for download, CrystalControl for winamp/motherboard monitor type info.

At the moment I'm just running LCD Smartie which links with winamp to display track title.. The LCD that I have just one I bought from maplins for £20 and soldered it up myself. I would like it to just display trackname but from RR so it includes radio / video titles etc.. but I would really like FD to work through RR to display distance to next turning etc.. I've had a quick look for ocx components and dll's but cant really find anything other than a post from 6 years ago on these forums which went to a subdomain of an old mp3 which is sadly lost now.

I might have another look if I ever get 5 mins spare

CdR