FAQ: Which is the best front end!? - Page 6

Nerve · 04-02-2008, 04:27 PM

Voted for Centrafuse. To be honest I've been following the development for some years now and like that it's a solid product with a good GPS solution built-in. Plugins are simple to implement (I've done one myself) although the interface could do with being expanded a bit (this is being worked on). Skinning seems simple enough but some are talking about improving it further. The devs have been a bit quiet recently but this is due to an upcoming release.

Quote:

I would also like to add that, in my honest opinion, most of the commercial products are junk.

I love completely unfounded statements like that. It does make me chuckle. Some products are junk and others are not. Whether they are commercial or not is irrelevant.

HiJackZX1 · 04-02-2008, 07:09 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Nerve

Voted for Centrafuse. To be honest I've been following the development for some years now and like that it's a solid product with a good GPS solution built-in. Plugins are simple to implement (I've done one myself) although the interface could do with being expanded a bit (this is being worked on). Skinning seems simple enough but some are talking about improving it further. The devs have been a bit quiet recently but this is due to an upcoming release.

I love completely unfounded statements like that. It does make me chuckle. Some products are junk and others are not. Whether they are commercial or not is irrelevant.

I agree with you........ commercial or not, it can easily be good, or junk. Also it all depends on opinion. Alot of people seem to think SD is all that, but I find it confusing and cr@ppy, were as I love CF and its easy of use, but some1 else may think the opposite.

blk02si · 04-02-2008, 09:39 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Nerve

I love completely unfounded statements like that. It does make me chuckle. Some products are junk and others are not. Whether they are commercial or not is irrelevant.

My statement was more than founded, I've tested the available commercial frontends. Cost relevance is part of my opinion on what I consider junk. It makes me chuckle when people believe their expensive one-size-fits-all software package is somehow better than free software custom built for specific hardware and user needs. But to each their own, all that really matters is that people find a solution that works for them.

Impartialise · 04-18-2008, 05:47 AM

I have voted Road Runner, and think that it is an absolutely phenomonal piece of free software.
Credit to Guino, and others who have contributed time and effort in making it as good as it is now.

I haven't tried other front-ends, and, honestly only tried Road Runner because it was free, it was the perfect solution for me, so no need to even think about trying any other FEs, but don't want to put down any others.

Road Runner does so much and is so versatile, I couldn't think of any function that you would want to have in a car that Roadrunner doesn't incorporate.

Minor downside (for some people) - Needs a fair bit of configuration and tweaking to get it working exactly how you want it, which really is the beauty in itself - customisable! However, if you just want to hit 'install' and have a fully operational system, then maybe RR isn't for you.

If you are a bit more technically minded or fussy like me, then you might like to give Roadrunner a try.
Everyone is extremely helpful in RR forums if you get stuck.

Phil

wazza · 04-19-2008, 03:56 AM

Centrafuse latest version with the Auro skin awsome simple no mucking about and amazingly simple and stable
Awsome effort from the Boys at Flux and the support from MP3car
But next to that you cant go past RR gr8 open source and endless customization but Centrafuse is still young give a couple of months and some greate minds and RR will go the way of Media Car OPPPS did i say that only joking

BillyGalbreath · 04-28-2008, 09:55 PM

Which of these front ends can run natively on Linux?

I really like the way Road Runner looks and how well everyone talks about it, but I'm a Linux user. I flat out to refuse to use any Microsoft products (for my own personal reasons - not trying to start an OS debate here).

Will Road Runner work natively on Linux? If so, where is the code/package? If not, then what others will?

Thanks!

DarquePervert · 04-29-2008, 07:24 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by BillyGalbreath

Which of these front ends can run natively on Linux?

None. They are all for Windoze.

Quote:

I really like the way Road Runner looks and how well everyone talks about it, but I'm a Linux user. I flat out to refuse to use any Microsoft products (for my own personal reasons - not trying to start an OS debate here).

Your choices are severely limited. Have you looked at the Linux forum here?

Quote:

Will Road Runner work natively on Linux? If so, where is the code/package? If not, then what others will?

See above.

BillyGalbreath · 04-29-2008, 09:28 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by DarquePervert

None. They are all for Windoze.

Lame.

Quote: Originally Posted by DarquePervert

Your choices are severely limited.

Even lamer.

Quote: Originally Posted by DarquePervert

Have you looked at the Linux forum here?

Not in depth yet. 98% of my focus is strictly power management right now (planning stages). I'll have to head over in there soon and browse around.

CarComp · 04-29-2008, 10:36 AM

I like MediaEngine. It works good

JohnWPB · 05-04-2008, 07:36 PM

Well I have to toss my vote in for RR as well. I have tried SD, Frodo, CF and the likes over the past few years.

After I found RR, and installed it, the magic began being able to totally customize it!

I dare say there is not a single other FE out there with all of the features that RR presently has.

100% skinable (Not just the colors and graphics, but the ability to put anything you want, anywhere you want.

Supports full transparency, as well as bmp, jpg, png, gif ect for the skins as well as images loaded into the skin

COM Interface to send commands between RR and any other COM enabled program or script.

the slick new iLists that work exactly as scrolling on the iPhone

Browse by album art

VERY tiny foot print (Road Runner .exe is only 650k!!!!), and very very CPU friendly. (If I hit Ctrl Alt Del, RR is usually around 1-2%)

Music contained in a database, and is super fast to search. Sort by genre, artist, album, song ect ect (To be released to the masses soon).

Built in ability for speech recognition and text to speech

ability to use any GPS program you want (iGuidance, Destinator, Map Point, Streets & Trips ect)

Add the ability to add extension plugins, and the ability to write scripts to interact with RR and the possibilities are endless!

I actually have RR running on an in-wall touch screen and interfaced with my Home Automation program. This allows a lot of stuff! WHen there is motion at the front door, RR switched to the camera view to show me who is there, as well as being able to control the lights in the house as well as the sprinklers outside and a crapload more.

I realize this is not CarPC related, but just an example on just how flexible RR is!

Blue ZX3 · 05-05-2008, 03:17 AM

Can ANY other FE do all that.....think real hard.....

The answer is a definite NO!

danielkh · 05-05-2008, 06:21 AM

JohnWPB......that is a true sign you have WAY too much time on your hands!

Streetdeck fan here, but I gotta jump in with the other guys. For customizing ability and widest range, my vote would be RR too. That is IF you don't mind taking a lot of time getting everything you want to work together. It is definitely (by FAR) the most versatile.

RR is the closest to being the "killer" front end.

Blue ZX3 · 05-05-2008, 08:28 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by danielkh

RR is the closest to being the "killer" front end.

Correction.....RR IS the Killer FE.

PORTUGAL · 05-06-2008, 03:44 AM

I have RR and centrafuse instaled , but i use CF much more often.

Its a matter of taste, and i use the car pc mainly just for Music and Gps.