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My New Project
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Entered on: July 7, 2005 3:28 PM by Ross
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| Since I finished the pictureframe, I've been looking for a new project to embark upon. The other day, I was lamenting the fact that there is no good way to hook my iPod up to my car stereo - you can use an FM transmitter, which sucks, or a car tape adapter, which sucks worse. So I wanted to see if I could tap into my car stereo to get an an auxilary input or create one, or just generally see what other people who had my car were doing to address this issue.
Then I found this guy.
I had no freaking idea that there is this entire subculture of guys creating "carputers"! This is right up my damn alley! I don't know much about cars, but I know a lot about computers - looks like a good opportunity to broaden my horizons. This is definitely more than I was intending to spend (it will cost me upwards of $1k, by my estimates), but I'll be able to play MP3s (screw the iPod now, we're talking in-car, external USB storage), DVDs, DivX - hell, just about any media files I want. I will also be able to hook up GPS and have a top-notch navigation system.
I am so psyched about this. Now, though, I have to figure out when I'll actually be able to pull it off. Obviously with the wedding coming, I am going to have to wait awhile. Which is probably good, as it will force me to become an expert from reading online first. That site mp3car.com has a wealth of info, too.
The BertMobile is going to live up to its name, at last. |
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NEWS 296 - 9 Comments
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That is fucking SWEET!
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I am getting so psyched to do this - the more I read, the more excited I get, and the more money I know I'm going to have to spend. I have already ordered a new dash molding - since mine is a nonstandard shape - which is less than $15 so I'm taking small steps first. I think, though, I'm going to end up replacing my stereo speakers when this is all finished, too. And I'm going to have to get the OEM service manual for my car so that I have some authoritative way of knowing the right way to disassemble shit. This is some complex shit!
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I've fantasized about a modded xbox installed in my car just for playing music with media center. Would that be a good alternative to a computer?
I was at Best Buy today and saw the coolest xbox accessory. It's a little LCD screen by Zenith that you can strap to the top of an xbox. It's got a super clear screen (that swivels), sound, and it's only 50 bucks! Yeah, I bought one. Not sure what I'm doing with it, but it's so cool I just had to get it.
Maybe it could be used in a car mod...
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There are people who are attempting to integrate their xboxes into their cars, too. If I find any of the threads during my research again, I'll post them...
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That's pretty interesting, Jack. I would like to see more about their power supply. What people in the Car PC world do is get one of these:
http://www.logicsupply.com/product_info.php/cPath/4
0_63/products_id/224
With this, you get DC-DC power hooked up to your ignition that can also tell a PC that once the ignition goes off to go into hibernate mode. That way when you turn the ignition back on, it resumes what it was already doing.
Giddyup!
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This looks really awesome. I would love to be able to do some shit like that to my car. But based on the fact that it just took me many days, and many trips to the hardware store to fix a little leak in my toilet....it is probably best that I leave my car as is.
I think this is why I am a computer programmer. I can get it wrong many, many times, and the worst that happens is a compiler error, or a core file... as opposed to a small lake of water on the bathroom floor, or a car with a kickass stereo... that won't start.
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Come on Pat, that's not true and you know it - a LOT worse can happen than a compiler error - you don't have a unit test for a particularly nasty situation that occurs once in a blue moon, and when it does, it fucks shit up but good. Quicker to fix maybe, but every bit as serious. For instance, I got a fire call at 8:30 AM the morning after my bachelor party. At the time anyway, I'd rather have had a pool of water on my bathroom floor.
I dunno, I think this is the way for me to learn some new skeelz without causing myself too many problems - I don't often need my car stereo to be working in tip-top order or to have the interior spic n' span. I will undoubtedly cause myself many cursing sessions and second-guesses, I'm sure - but I'm banking on the idea that if I plunk down $1k+ I will find a way to make it work. :)
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You are right that a lot worse can happen... but at least with programming you have a development environment, and usually a test environment to try to work the bugs out.
So I guess I need to build myself a test bathroom in the basement. With big drains in the floor, and a toilet to work on. That way I can buy the wrong part, try to make it fit.... and watch the resulting mess drain away. After I get it right, I can head upstairs to the real bathroom to do it right the first time.
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