thecapitalizt

Since all the speculation of the "headless mac" has come out, it got me thinking about using a mac as a carpc. I'd much rather use OS X since I'm familiar with it, and more importantly since I have all my music on it. If this headless mac is released, (or even if it isnt, and people will use their old macs), what features would people like to see in their software?

The one that really inspires me is the iDrive interface. Nice and simple, not complex. The one that comes close is CentraFuse, however that doesnt run on Mac. I'd probably be coding it in applescript, since I don't really know how to do anything else. GPS integration would be achieved through Route 66, however I don't know if it can be applescripted. Any comments would be much appreciated.

DigitalExpl0it

why not realbasic be simple and fast?

thecapitalizt

hahah cause I only know applescript...

Bugbyte

I'd be very interested in using a Mac as my carputer. I went with Windows XP because I didn't know much about carputers and all of the mods and software are for Windows machines.

However, now that I've built one it seems like the basics could be covered by a Mac and it might be easier in some cases. I like the iDrive idea. A Griffin technologies PowerMate might mimic it pretty easily with an onscreen indicator to show the settings.

Features I'd want:

1. iTunes control via voice or the controller
2. Talk to me. All apps and selection ought to have the option to speak.
3. GPS navigation. Street Atlas will work as well as Route 66
4. Touchscreen would be nice but not necessary, especially if powermate or voice works
5. File synchronization to keep the audio files up to date
6. Web browsing and email. A way to have the system read your email or any web pages, for that matter.

That ought to do for a start!

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thecapitalizt

yea i've got a powermate that wont work w/ my powermac for reasons unknown
Mind linkin me to Street Atlas? Never heard of it.
File sync is a biggie, especially iTunes since I really need my music. Probably going to use iPod.iTunes.
Apparently I can use Webkit, which is drag-and-drop browser libraries. easy.
OS X has voice control built in, I probably won't have to do any coding at all. Just turn on the option for pressing buttons via the Speech control panel. Best option will probably be to use a bluetooth headset. Speeking of which, thats another idea: Bluetooth phone integration and control. There are already apps that do that, I'll find out more.

Bugbyte

Here's the link Street Atlas 6.0 but on further investigation it appears that the last release they made for the Mac was in 2000 so it's not really a very up to date product!

Regarding the voice control, I've been monkeying with the Windows Speech API and that's fine but I've thought more than once that it sure would be nice to use the Mac speech recognition combine with Applescript!

I don't know much about Applescript but I could learn it if I needed to. Let me know if you need any help.

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slffl

I will definately be getting a headless imac for my carmac. I'm all about safe and simple. The main things I want are music, videos, gps, and camera. I think just being able to do the basics would be a great start. Even though I know nothing about programming for mac, I would think this would be very simple, I'm sure a widget in Konfabulator would be able to do most of these things.

Bugbyte

I don't suppose there's any hope of getting OBDII readouts on a Mac, is there?

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thecapitalizt

Konfabulator's out for two reasons:
One its mostly for single-use things on your desktop
Second is that theyre going to stop mac development when Tiger comes out.

Oh yeah and I don't know javascript either heh

thecapitalizt

I'm not going to take the time to implement ODBII support b/c my 1993 saab doesnt have it. There are some utilities for Linux, so someone with the skills should be able to port it.

Its diagnostic system is quite neat (for the time). You do a combination of things, and the check-engine light flashes in a certain sequence depending on the error.

slffl

Well, I didn't really mean to actually use Konfabulator. I was just trying to say that all the programs' backends are already there and very good. It's just a matter of putting them to use in a frontend, and it seems to be very easy in Konfab, so it should be easy in Cocoa or Applescript. Just a matter of someone doing it.

thecapitalizt

Yea, you're right. Many of the scripts for controlling things are already out there, and its just the business of tweaking them and tying them together in Xcode. I'll register a sourceforge project the day that the headless mac comes out (knock on wood) for iDash, and i'd love to get a team of people together on this.

pengu

Why wait for a headless mac? much of it could be accomplished with either a G3 iMac (600Mhz+) taken out of it's case..

I have looked at this various times. The Clarion iPod deck nearly had me, but it doesn't do Digital out (as it's non-ipod predecessor did) so im back to mac carputer..

If anyone is fluent in applescript i would be very interested in collaborating on this. email me pengu (at) ****microsoft (dot) com

I have (had.. don't think i trashed it) the beginnins of an XCode/Interface Builder project with VERY basic controls for itunes (start, stop, forward, backward, current song displayed in itunes-style "LCD" panel

kandyman676

just to keep things interesting, there is now a dedicated forum for all mac car computer stuff:

MacCar: http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=71

there are already a few threads discussing how to pull this off:-)

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