Thread: Google Android as a FE Platform

I am using the Archos 5 Internet Tablet with 500 GB and 5 inch touchscreen now for two weeks in my car. It does come with Android 1.5 plus some custom media center app from Archos.

It is very usable in a Car environment believe me!

However there are two things that are not ideal and therefore a Car OS app would be great:

a) Using Copilot 8 as GPS navigation does not allow to run in background. As soon as it is not the frontmost app, it wont announce next turn or next speedcam (very bad) instructions anymore. The app itself is way better than anything seen on Windows basis

b) The Archos media player app is good for music, video, radio etc. but it needs the integration of other things. A fronted allowing to embedd others (i.e. Copilot) such as Road Runner would be great.

Regarding the size and easyness of the install, packaged with 500 GB, bluetooth, GPS, Wifi, fm and dvb-t in one device and a battery to allow it to run if engine not on and not sucking your car's battery IT IS A BIG THING!

Software comes always after you got the right hardware. Now it is upon us to code the right app for Android

How does this work if Open Mobile is C# and needs Media Player libraries. Android is Java and Linux?

mono, macos - wow i am learning a lot. linux and c# sounded impossible to me but looks like promising. so you are saying that this will run on android (1.5/1.6 or 2.0)

check out the archos device. it currently has 1.5 with 500 gb and is the ideal media player for a car. it has wifi, bluetooth, fm, gps, battery, 5 inch touchscreen.

only the software is not really car tuned, i.e. big buttons, one app to start/embedd music, video, gps and going back and forward. the archos media player is a good start but only for media.

This new tablet is currently available if you need some test devices for OpenMobile. Its $155 stripped down and $200 bucks fully loaded. http://enso-now.com/n/index.php