Touch screen overlay (mac compatible) - Page 2

surgie2 · 04-27-2007, 01:01 PM

Here you guys go, some OSX touch screen drivers can be found here:

http://www.nottrot.com/html/download.htm

ladams02 · 04-27-2007, 01:29 PM

Excellent.. I wasn't too concerned that it wouldn't work, just wanted some re-assurance. Thanks for clearing that up.

ladams02 · 04-27-2007, 01:31 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by ladams02

What about a PC w/ a video card that has TV RCA out? Such as this one.

I'm assuming this would output a fairly clean picture? But this wouldn't be an option with the Mac mini of course. It would be enough to change my mind and look for a mini PC. Opinions?

In order to not let this issue die.. I present a new option.

What about using Apple's DVI -> VGA from the Mac Mini and going into a "PC to TV converter"? Such as this one. I don't know how much feedback I will get on this particular converter, I have a feeling it may be something I just purchase and try on my own. Thanks!

Bugbyte · 04-27-2007, 01:57 PM

Nobody says it won't work. It will just output an RCA signal. That's an analog signal with low resolution and fuzzy quality because that is what the monitor will display.

It has little to do with the quality of the device that converts the signal. Well...okay...it has a little to do with that. The best quality device is called a scan converter. That will give you the highest quality ****ty RCA signal you can get.

I can understand that you are looking at the stock nav and going, "well, hmmm. It looks pretty bright and crisp. There MUST be some way I can hook up my Mac to that if only the signal gets cleaned up so it will look just as good."

It won't. It's not like you can't use the Mac, or any other PC on a TV. You can. It just isn't as high a resolution as a VGA monitor. That means you have to make all of the text on the screen much larger so it will be readable. Think 18 point font, here.

You: Trying to convert the Mac to go from high resolution to low resolution.

What you should be thinking about: Installing a VGA screen and displaying your Nav system signal on it.

Going from low res to high res it will look much better. If you get a Xenarc screen, you can switch an RCA output signal into the screen and it will automatically display it on screen for you. Switch it back and you'll get all that VGA goodness for computer use.

You don't have to believe me or take my advice. It's cheap to experiment and I'm not trying to discourage you from doing it. Either way, though, you have to hack your nav screen to show the Mac picture or hack your nav system to connect to a replacment VGA monitor.

One last point for consideration. If you go the route of displaying the Mac on the nav screen via an RCA output, don't think it will be useful for impressing your friends. The colors will be slightly washed out and the edges will be fuzzy. They'll notice and think the install looks ghetto.

ladams02 · 04-27-2007, 02:10 PM

Alright, after several weeks of hearing everyone's input, it has finally sunk in. I'm going to move past from trying to get a decent signal using composite input. Unfortunately it was the only adapter I've found to use with my stock screen. But I'm convinced it simply is not worth all the time and money for a ****ty picture. Thanks for all your input, it has definetely not been ignored or taken lightly.

Now I am not sure what options I have left. I don't wish to replace my factory screen, because I'd like to keep my stock NAV system and more importantly this screen displays my cars climate control information. I don't think I want to tackle trying to transfer this data onto an aftermarket screen. Cutting up my dash isn't very appealing to me either on an 07 car that I still owe 20k on. Oh my options are running thin..

Bugbyte · 04-27-2007, 04:44 PM

Right, but the way you describe it, it only functions as a display, right? That is, there's no touch screen to it, right? Like maybe the buttons are along the side or something?

What kind of car is this? My first thought is that you take a look at the signal that goes INTO your screen. It's bound to be RCA. You tap into that signal and put an RCA jack on it. Plug that into a VGA screen with an RCA input and bam! Your nav system on a VGA screen.

The Xenarc has an automatic input for cameras that output RCA signals. This is for a backup camera. When it detects a signal on that input it switches automatically to the backup camera. Basically, you can do the same thing if you can figure out which line is your nav screen's RCA signal.

Route it through a pushbutton switch you mount in your dash and when you press the button it will display the nav system. When you press the button again, it will switch to your PC.

You just need to confirm that the signal is RCA (it almost certainly is) and what wires on the harness have the signal in it. One will be a ground, the other will be the composite video signal. You simply switch the video signal on and off with the pushbutton.

ladams02 · 05-02-2007, 02:37 PM

The screen itself is only a display. There are buttons beneath it for control. But the screen itself is not touch screen. It is a 2007 Nissan Maxima.

I just picked up a 7" touch screen overlay, so I plan on laying that overtop the screen and plugging it into the Mac Mini's USB port.

The signal that goes into the NAV screen is not RCA. It is an RGB signal, that I believe gets routed through several wires? You can see a picture of the harness on this particular adapter. Look at the adapter on the top right and see where it says "OEM Video Harness". I believe this is what gets plugged into the NAV screen.

So I'm still looking at possible VGA to RGB converters, but not sure how I would tap this input into the NAV screen. From what I read RGB is of similar high quality as VGA. So I'm wondering why there are so many Nissan compatible RCA to RGB converters out there but I can't come across any VGA to RGB. Will keep looking I suppose.

Bugbyte · 05-02-2007, 04:35 PM

Simple, then. Just a couple of steps:

1. Tap into the RGB wires on the harness. Either by carefully pulling back the insulation and soldering or, getting/making a harness extension and tapping it from there. That would leave the original nav connector completely untouched and you could put it back the way it was if you ever sold the car.

2. Get something like this, it is called an RGB to component video transcoder:

That converts your nav's RGB to composite video.

3. Buy and install this screen

4. Plug the video out from the converter into the Xenarc screen. Plug the computer into the Xenarc VGA input.

Done.

flyboyindy · 10-06-2007, 11:36 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Bugbyte

Simple, then. Just a couple of steps:

1. Tap into the RGB wires on the harness. Either by carefully pulling back the insulation and soldering or, getting/making a harness extension and tapping it from there. That would leave the original nav connector completely untouched and you could put it back the way it was if you ever sold the car.

2. Get something like this, it is called an RGB to component video transcoder:

That converts your nav's RGB to composite video.

3. Buy and install this screen

4. Plug the video out from the converter into the Xenarc screen. Plug the computer into the Xenarc VGA input.

Done.

This is exactly what I am looking for, however, I cant seem to find it anywhere! Any ideas? I have searched every computer and video online store... .nothing... please help!

pip · 10-08-2007, 10:51 AM

http://www.converters.tv/products/vga_to_cga/40.html

tenrohle · 07-08-2008, 09:02 PM

Having a similar conflict here myself also.

Want mac in car. Don't want to change factory screen.

2003 BMW 525d with factory nav/tv/6 disc that looks like this :

No chance of an overlay or screen replacement that I can see, unless I get really creative and pull the thing apart, which frankly is not going to happen.
TV unit has a AV input which I thought would be nice to use for a simply mac addition. If its going to look like crap I don't see the point.

What are my options? None spring to mind