Thread: Production Double-Din VGA Touchscreen in the making!

Will the unit be totally enclosed, like stock HUs? Just wondering if an individual went with the option with the Nano-ITX board, if they could upgrade certain components like HD or RAM?

Originally Posted by ignignokt

Will the unit be totally enclosed, like stock HUs? Just wondering if an individual went with the option with the Nano-ITX board, if they could upgrade certain components like HD or RAM?

Yes, it will, and yes there will be different Memory and HD sizes available at the time of purchase.

- Brett

Originally Posted by FMode

Problem: someone with Windows Driver knowledge needs to hack them.
Solution: I have someone who is able to hack the driver for 800€

Wouldn't this person need access to the Windows driver source?

I think having one of these things built in would be really cool.
You would only need one USB cable from the computer to the
display/dvd player/gps/audio hardware/tuner/buttons/whatever

Pim

Brett,

First of all, hats off to you for undertaking this project. Any designer who really takes the customer's input seriously and includes them in the design process is doing the right and smart thing.

Some good things I have seen with the project:
-Simple, functional "OEM" look (I think this really seperates this project from some aftermarket "bling")
-Connectivity, functionality of having USB input, DVD/CD input on the front along with relatively large physical buttons that can be softwared into various front ends for control
-RGB LEDs to color match the backlighting of the buttons to ANY interior scheme (this in itself is something more manufacturers are foolish not to do)
-Going with that, I like the aforementioned idea of the possibility of a slight color variation to denote things with buttons that are in use.
-This goes without saying, but the dbl DIN size & flush mount
-The multiple options available for the unit so you are making a great product even greater by adding a different tier for different groups of customers trying to get specific things from this product (just screen, radio and screen, and then the works)
-I think it was mentioned that firmware updates through the CD/DVD drive would be incorporated (good idea)

Some things that I (just my opinion) am not too crazy about:
-The mention of SD card incorporation (it's a nice feature, but with USB on the front, all it will be serving is to take up space and redoing the fucntion of the USB)
-The chrome ring around the knob may be nice in some setups but please consider the "masses" if deciding to make this for all the units. I personally think simple and versatile is safe and will gather much more appreciation than complaints (aka no chrome).
-Incorporation of TOO many components (gps, bluetooth, etc, etc). These are all valuable parts of a carputer and should definitely be OPTIONS for maybe the highest model, but I would much rather prefer a simple robust system that accomplishes a few primary goals and is very durable than an intricate system with many parts that could go wrong (no matter the level of craftsmanship. Basically, keep an option for having it simple (DVD/CD, USB, multifunction knob and buttons, nice touchscreen)

Things I would like to see:
-I don't know if it's too late in the design game or if it's jsut not cost effective, but what about for the unit with a radio tuner built-in, what about HD radio instead? This way, this unit can compete with anything on the market.
-The "knob" is too valuable a commodity (and taking up nice real estate on that faceplate) to not be used to the fullest. I am a huge fan of a simple knob, but at least give it rotation and push down function. I have seen, BMW I think, with a very simple round (somewhat rubbery black) knob that could rotate, push down, and be pushed up/down/left/right very easily and was very error-free from unwanted movements. If this is something that can be incorporated (and also customized to a chosen function) then that could be like having 5 more buttons in that one round spot.

Anyway, if you can't tell I can't wait to get a hold of the finished product! Keep up the great work!

It's been 3 days. Surely there has been some more develpoments?????

Originally Posted by JC-S60

We are creating something, not dreaming away about ideal worlds

Faster processors will come with the second version... 800*480 too.

MiniITX ! Ever heard of that standard ? Why not using it ? (you need some I/O ? the VIA and the Commell boards have a GPIO connector or you can use an internal USB for an own IO device)

You are talking about the F1 ?! I would feel better if you follow MrBMW99's example and post your "blog" (what you are doing) here in the Forum...
I am looking forward to the F1...

Originally Posted by pim

Wouldn't this person need access to the Windows driver source?

thats why I need someone with driver knowledge - I don't have the windows source ;(

Originally Posted by nicho3

It's been 3 days. Surely there has been some more develpoments?????

Don't expect daily updates, maybe something every couple of weeks but thats about it. Nothing special happens everyday

Originally Posted by Stryker707

Brett,

First of all, hats off to you for undertaking this project. Any designer who really takes the customer's input seriously and includes them in the design process is doing the right and smart thing.

Some good things I have seen with the project:
-Simple, functional "OEM" look (I think this really seperates this project from some aftermarket "bling")
-Connectivity, functionality of having USB input, DVD/CD input on the front along with relatively large physical buttons that can be softwared into various front ends for control
-RGB LEDs to color match the backlighting of the buttons to ANY interior scheme (this in itself is something more manufacturers are foolish not to do)
-Going with that, I like the aforementioned idea of the possibility of a slight color variation to denote things with buttons that are in use.
-This goes without saying, but the dbl DIN size & flush mount
-The multiple options available for the unit so you are making a great product even greater by adding a different tier for different groups of customers trying to get specific things from this product (just screen, radio and screen, and then the works)
-I think it was mentioned that firmware updates through the CD/DVD drive would be incorporated (good idea)

Some things that I (just my opinion) am not too crazy about:
-The mention of SD card incorporation (it's a nice feature, but with USB on the front, all it will be serving is to take up space and redoing the fucntion of the USB)
-The chrome ring around the knob may be nice in some setups but please consider the "masses" if deciding to make this for all the units. I personally think simple and versatile is safe and will gather much more appreciation than complaints (aka no chrome).
-Incorporation of TOO many components (gps, bluetooth, etc, etc). These are all valuable parts of a carputer and should definitely be OPTIONS for maybe the highest model, but I would much rather prefer a simple robust system that accomplishes a few primary goals and is very durable than an intricate system with many parts that could go wrong (no matter the level of craftsmanship. Basically, keep an option for having it simple (DVD/CD, USB, multifunction knob and buttons, nice touchscreen)

Things I would like to see:
-I don't know if it's too late in the design game or if it's jsut not cost effective, but what about for the unit with a radio tuner built-in, what about HD radio instead? This way, this unit can compete with anything on the market.
-The "knob" is too valuable a commodity (and taking up nice real estate on that faceplate) to not be used to the fullest. I am a huge fan of a simple knob, but at least give it rotation and push down function. I have seen, BMW I think, with a very simple round (somewhat rubbery black) knob that could rotate, push down, and be pushed up/down/left/right very easily and was very error-free from unwanted movements. If this is something that can be incorporated (and also customized to a chosen function) then that could be like having 5 more buttons in that one round spot.

Anyway, if you can't tell I can't wait to get a hold of the finished product! Keep up the great work!

Stryker707,

Thanks for the lengthy response! I really appreciate the input and suggestions. There will not be a firmware update feature through the DVD drive. The hardware controller in the monitor should support USB firmware updates though. The chrome ringed knob was a though since it looks nice. I have to say though that I have yet to find a decent source for knobs anywhere. Anything that I see online is old 60's style knobs or just plain fugly. Any ideas? I don't know a lot about the HD radio and if there are any tuner modules that we can purchase for this, and if there are they'd be really expensive (look @ the price of FM vs HDFM stereos). Someone else mentioned the 4-way knob a couple pages ago. I am still going to look into this. There is a 4-way and an 8-way, I believe. I am going to see what I can come up with on these. I really like the rotary knob myself, and I don't want to ditch that functionality for a 4-way rocker switch. However, if I see a rotary unit that also does 4-way rocker, then I'll see how it fits into the design.

Originally Posted by nicho3

It's been 3 days. Surely there has been some more develpoments?????

Not a whole lot. The companies in China are on vacation for their new year, so I'm expecting at least a couple weeks before I receive the rest of the LCD panels and drivers necessary for the R&D. The CAD design is coming along though!

I'll keep you posted.

- Brett