Is this the new carPC!!!! - Page 6

MacGuru · 01-13-2005, 01:22 AM

It's nice to see the PC community embrace the Mac. Now maybe we can get some software development going. This can be a perfect fit for a car computer. All we need now are some knowledgeable programmers and a little time with the free developer programs that come with OSX; Xcode and Interface Builder. Couple this with Apple Script (Automator) and your wish will be the command. Don't forget, OSX already has speech recognition built-in.

I currently have the G4 800mhz with a Zenarc touch screen running both OSX and VPC 6, and touch screen works between OS's. GPS only works with XP, using Street Atlas and it sucks. Hopefully we can get someone to create/port over a GPS solution for OSX. Start-up time is 45 seconds. Energy Settings are completely adjustable, hard drive sleep, monitor sleep, hibernate, and not to mention screen saver features.

Power: I had my power supply custom made by Opus, and he said they would do this for anyone. Power supply reads ATX 150W, but he may have done something on the inside. He also gave me a couple of wires (with instructions) that plug into the power switch panel. Works like a charm.

Here are a few links (some already posted) on Mac's a car computers;
http://mac-mobile.com
http://carmac.acmelab.org/index.php
http://www.mujmac.cz/art/hw/tatra_mac_eng.html
http://macxm.sourceforge.net/

Arguments aside, I thought it was interesting how easily the Mac could be installed into a din slot. Of course, some modification required, but it can fit! I'll post more pics...

kandyman676 · 01-13-2005, 01:46 AM

Finally, someone that has tried this:-)

How is the Virtual PC 6 with your box?

Also, I thought the developer tools were only free *if* you pay the yearly subscription to be a Mac Developer? I was looking at some of the Apple coding in Cocco and it seems very similar to VB, just with a bit of C++ object mixed in. I use to do some light VB/C++ coding before, so I was thinking of taking a crack at it. The quicktime music and video libary is built into the OS, so its very similar to what Windows does with media player.

Mediacar has been kind of quiet for a while actually. so I doubt that is happening.

MacGuru · 01-13-2005, 02:20 AM

I've updated my website with some pictures and video.
Check it out... mac-mobile.com

itrends · 01-13-2005, 07:53 AM

With regard to the posts in here about the problems with making a mac front end etc, I am very suprised that no one has mentioned this:

http://www.realsoftware.com/realbasic/

Im not a programmer. AT ALL! Yet even I have made applications with this awsome bit of software.

Also lets you grab all the "hooks" of the OS which makes it easy to do audio, video, dvd etc.

Dave

itrends · 01-13-2005, 07:54 AM

Oh and i forgot to mention, you can make cross platform software, so we can have one software for both linux, mac, and PC.

Mostly drag and drop too

Look at the screenshots and features list. Surely someone in here can make use of it?

Dave

itrends · 01-13-2005, 07:55 AM

And they list some software that was made with it too
http://www.realsoftware.com/realbasic/showcase/

And this one is not the best looking, but a good example of multimedia being used on both mac and pc
http://www.realsoftware.com/realbasi...ils.php?pid=41

Dave

NiN^_^NiN · 01-13-2005, 08:00 AM

If this allows me to make it in windows and have it on mac id be happy to make a frontend problem is that only mac i have is a old powerbook 1400 w00t :P

Can't do anything on that thing besides mp3 and typing

PORTUGAL · 01-13-2005, 08:30 AM

Mac install with software :

http://www.tb.pt/outros/fabio/carro/index.html

Ibook G3 500MHz

NiN^_^NiN · 01-13-2005, 09:01 AM

Mac user who's mapped iTUNES to a usb numpad

http://www.wildrice.com/BlueCabbie/

Also iTUNES has a SDK if your wondering

also

http://www.mujmac.cz/art/hw/tatra_mac_eng.html

Hecreated an App to play mpeg files etc from a filelist then go full screen so He looks like someone good to ask for programming help

drhamad · 01-13-2005, 09:13 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by NiN^_^NiN

I personally don't care for mac and it is semi useless in the car cause of no frontend whihc makes it dangerous to play with.

I'm not so sure about that. The Dock alone, set to max size, might make for a decent front end by itself.

Quote:

BUT (yes mac fan let me speak :P) as with linux you just have to wait for a frontend (im sure winamp for mac might be possible for now).

THIS has been my biggest problem with carputers. Why on EARTH would anybody use winamp over iTunes? Although I can probably answer my own question by saying "skins/plugins."

kandyman676 · 01-13-2005, 09:27 AM

these are all GREAT links! definitely keeps me interested.

I knew about the RealBasic, but I was not aware it could do Mac, Linux, AND Windows...but you can only do that with the PRO version, which is $449.95 for the package, $639.95 subscription. the standard edition only allows you to code for the platform you have the program installed with, but runs $159.95 subscription and $149.95 package.

since I don't have an apple, it would be a bit hard to stomach those amounts for Real Basic professional. I would think the FREE tools would really be the way to go, mainly since they are FREE and can do more of a group effort. more difficult to program? yes. OS specific? yes

itrends · 01-13-2005, 09:50 AM

"If this allows me to make it in windows and have it on mac id be happy"

as far as I can tell, it does! But it may be that the professional version is needed, and unless anything fancys getting it the "funny" way or paying for it, we wont see anything soon unless someone downlads the simple copy onto an osx system does it on there.

slffl · 01-13-2005, 10:18 AM

Actually making a 'frontend' by just using OSX is great. The dock icons work great! All apps can be running at once. Fonts and Icons can be customized to larger sizes. I'll work on an example this weekend and post a pic. Not to mention when Tiger comes out. I think the iDash will have some great possibilities.

As I've said before, a mac works FAR better in the car than a PC. I have used both, so unless you have too, please don't make assumptions on what you've 'heard' about macs.

kandyman676 · 01-13-2005, 11:22 AM

I will be interested in seeing the screenshots slffl. My friend has a powerbook, and I like the Mac GUI. but we are all use to a front end being fullscreen, no windows, and click and do. the Mac Gui is not like that (unless you max out all the windows). something simple that would just organize the apps and their placement on the screen would be a good hack.

unforunately, I don't own a single apple desktop/laptop, which would make development pretty hard to do.

drhamad · 01-13-2005, 01:36 PM

Well remember guys, Mac OSX is really FreeBSD, for the most part. So anything made on Linux/UNIX should be rather easily portable.