The Mac OS (10.3/4) AS a carputer frontend... - Page 2

Bugbyte · 01-15-2005, 11:51 AM

If you already own a copy of Windows, VirtualPC for Mac version 7 is going for $109 at Amazon.

Virtual PC for the Mac

EBFoxbat · 01-15-2005, 12:56 PM

The mMac is going to catch on like the iPod. It is all the computer that most people need. If you don't game, then it's perfect. My mother, father, sister, grandmother will all fit in well. It's not a power machine, so it's not for me thats all.

I havn't worked on a Mac in 6 years. How are the power supplies? I read that this has no PSU in it, but runs off a brick on the AC line. I assume 12v which means a carnetix unit would suit it well... detailspending.

I also read in another post that Macs take nativly to the common touchscreens in this forum. Is this true?

I also assume there are players to play all the standard media that we use.. divX, etc.

I'd need an OBDII program for Mac (OBD-II widget anybody?)

Also, from a mac-pro.. is this enough computer for us?

Mike00 · 01-15-2005, 01:57 PM

My understanding at least in terms of power is that it will blow away the Via M10000 which is rather popuplar among us.

MikeH · 01-15-2005, 05:41 PM

Quote:

I read that this has no PSU in it, but runs off a brick on the AC line. I assume 12v which means a carnetix unit would suit it well.

I am waiting "patiently" for someone to take a close look & pics of their brick so I can see if we have a product match. I've been told that I at least need to paint it white and rename it i1260...

meatwad · 01-15-2005, 06:27 PM

In terms of software available for the Mac on playing back media files there are:

VLC (Video LAN Client)
mPlayer (of the Linux fame)
Quicktime Movie Player (will handle MPEG-2 file if you throw $20 at it...yeah, I find that absurd too)
Windows Media Player 9 (sucks, does not handle DRM encoded files properly if at all)

Between all these choices there is something to suit everyone I believe. I just downloaded the mPlayer on Friday and found it to be MUCH better than a version I used about a year ago (DUH!)

In terms of audio, there is:
iTunes, and a million and one ways to talk to it (various scripts and frontends).
Audion (which is now free and supports skinning as iTunes does not and likely will never).
Winamp for Mac (which I THINK is Audion anyways?)

for TV stuff there is the Eyegato setup which is an MPEG-2 USB 2 setup for watching and PVR for TV

There is probably more, but I am late in picking up my GF

...so later!

chipset · 01-18-2005, 11:43 AM

I have written some utilities for Mac OS X. I am thinking of putting together a system for myself using my space 12" PB.

I have done some Applescript (yeah, weak) and Cocoa development. I am a reforming Windows programmer!

thecapitalizt · 01-18-2005, 05:05 PM

I'm figuring out how to drop in support for quicktime. I've got some example scripts that I am using for reference. However, I'm now trying to figure out the basics: how to make a button switch between tabs.

thecapitalizt · 01-20-2005, 11:44 AM

I've been using Virtual PC to upload maps to my Garmin GPS, and it is slow to the point where it is almost comical. Crunching a route takes forever, as does looking POI's up.

kandyman676 · 01-20-2005, 01:00 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by thecapitalizt

I've been using Virtual PC to upload maps to my Garmin GPS, and it is slow to the point where it is almost comical. Crunching a route takes forever, as does looking POI's up.

Which version of Virtual PC? They are saying 7.0 is about 2x faster then 6.0, but that is on G5 processor. Please advise:-)

NyO · 01-23-2005, 07:46 AM

Consider that you are running a heavy kernel (WinXP i.e.) on an allready heavy operating system! The 256MB of the mMac will do things a lot of worst! And finally why should I buy a Mac if I have to run Windoz(

) on it? For my needs the only thing is missing from the Mac to be my ICE "heart" is the support for GPS maps here in Greece. I also don't know about the support of a touchscreen! If I can find some answers to these questions then the mMac will probably be my choise (Im allready a "switcher"

)

Delivery_Guy · 01-23-2005, 03:05 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by NyO

Consider that you are running a heavy kernel (WinXP i.e.) on an allready heavy operating system! The 256MB of the mMac will do things a lot of worst! And finally why should I buy a Mac if I have to run Windoz(

) on it? For my needs the only thing is missing from the Mac to be my ICE "heart" is the support for GPS maps here in Greece. I also don't know about the support of a touchscreen! If I can find some answers to these questions then the mMac will probably be my choise (Im allready a "switcher"

)

Both Lilliput and Xenarc (spelling?) have mac OS X drivers for touchscreens. If you need it, I can search around for the thread where I found the links. I think they are one their websites though.

GPS is one of two areas we are still really lacking...the other being OBDII. Some people are using Route66, others say it's no good, so who knows.

mattdisaster · 01-23-2005, 03:48 PM

I'm no mac person by anymeans, hopefully this new minimac will make one, but can't you run linux programs on a mac through osx? If so, are there any good linux gps programs that can be used instead of route66? Just an idea.

-matt

NyO · 01-23-2005, 06:33 PM

I may say, a brilliant idea!

Because YES! you can run ANY BSD application on Panther (you can even compile it for Linux use!). So the next thing is left for us is to make a research about GPS programs for Linux, though there are plenty of receivers compatible with Macs (the only thing that may be a problem is that the receiver would not be compatible with Linux, but finding an appropriate one is an easy task by reading its specs)

mattdisaster · 01-23-2005, 08:00 PM

This one looks pretty awesome.
http://www.gpsdrive.cc/index.shtml
I'm not crossing my fingers again!

-matt

edit: I also though I read somewhere that the .net framework was available for mac os x - is that true? If so would we be able to run a pc htpc frontend that is based off of that framework?

kandyman676 · 01-24-2005, 01:12 AM

GPS drive is just a static map...and that's about it. yes, the .net framework is available for mac OS x, but complied into Cocoa....which would require you to have the MS Visual Studio. you can get an educational edition from colleges, but otherwise, cough up some major $$.