Best BASIC FrontEnd?

chrisyoon · 03-22-2008, 12:12 PM

Started messing with CarPC's since 2004, and have gotten pretty adept to what's out there. Actually started doing it for money, then grew tired of tearing apart cars. Thing is, for my own vehicle, I've realized I don't like any of the frontends out there due to their over engineered complexities...

Example. I'm STILL using MediaCar 1.9.1 today. Why? because it's basic. All I want is Music, Video, and GPS. I love how it still even embeds my iGuidance 4.0 and uses very little system power. And now that iGuidance goes full screen, it's beautiful. I would, however, like it to be able to sift through my mp3's a little more easily, as well as be able to scroll through the music without the playlist text being so small.

Other than those minor complaints, I really don't have any others, and in reality... they're not deal breakers.

BUT. If there's a frontend out there I'm overlooking, and does the basic, and does it well, and clean (think of Infiniti's new GUI in their cars), I'd be willing to try some out. Don't need wireless internet, bluetooth, gas prices, etc... iphone does all that for me... So what's out there? I've serached through all the different ones on the boards, but there's SO many, when including skins, that I guess I'd just like to see what people have seen, that I haven't.

Thanks!

Chris

Sal R. · 03-22-2008, 12:35 PM

RR can be as basic or as complicated as you want.

Haven't tried any other front end. I don't need too.

I have a home media computer running rr and all it runs is music, video, & internet.

chrisyoon · 03-22-2008, 12:52 PM

I guess then, is there a uber-basic skin then? uncluttered?

Sal R. · 03-22-2008, 12:56 PM

Lots of uber basic skins. Unclutter is a relative term. Have a look:

List of RR's available skins

jmbickham · 03-22-2008, 01:18 PM

RR can do it, but haven't been a big fan of any (and there are many!) skins available. Would consider taking a hand at it myself, but I just really haven't gotten to seeing what's involved and I'm not much of a photoshopper either.

You might want to try FreeICE. If you have no foreign language music, etc. then it would be a worthy choice. Clean interface, easy to use, pretty intuitive and pretty fast. What more could one want?

Kimota · 03-22-2008, 01:37 PM

I'd have to agree with jmbickham as far as simplicity you can't beat FreeIce is has all the basic feature's you mentioned looks great, stable and tiny.

Although I am a big fan of a few RoadRunner skins I'm particually partial to Lsx Void.

If you like the look of the Infiniti's new GUI RoadRunner has a skin Carwings which is almost identical to it ( I have an 08 G35 seden in know

)

ronjon228 · 03-22-2008, 02:11 PM

+1 for FreeIce.

I used RR in the past, but FI is definitely my new FE. So simple and fast. Love it.

Woofnstuff · 03-22-2008, 04:04 PM

i started using irunner skin for RR, but found it annoying for a few functions and while mostly good found it a bit clunky.

I liked the flow of it tho so ive kept that, i pulled it apart and am re making that myself, but dumbed down alot...

all i need as well is music, video and gps.

i might put a page in for other apps if i want..

jmbickham · 03-23-2008, 12:38 AM

If FreeICe had double-byte character support (RR does.... depending on the skin too though.. fonts) then it would be my FE. no question. I've tried many RR skins, and found one that might have been ok, but it wasn't compatible with my video setup (got the intel mini-itx board)... so it was out. Carwings is a consideration right now...