View Poll Results: Which screen/placement would you preffer? You can choose more than one.
7" Screen on top of dash above AC vents.
85
55.19%
7" Screen center dash in place of OEM Head Unit w/ AC controls moved to Cig. Tray
32
20.78%
8" Screen center dash in place of OEM Head Unit w/ AC controls moved to Cig. Tray
50
32.47%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 154. You may not vote on this poll
Dash Mold Opinons
02-01-2006, 03:23 AM
#101
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I think you're doing a great job and it looks like you have plenty of support from the forum...
Although I've got all the parts for a Car PC I'd really like to see a 2-DIN bracket option, just in case...
Another thing for me, probably for quite a few others, is the final fit and finish of the product... it's perfect that it's going to be in OEM Piano Black but if you could make it look and fit like a Mazda created piece, it would be very hard to pass up.
Oh, and I hope you plan on doing international sales!
Although I've got all the parts for a Car PC I'd really like to see a 2-DIN bracket option, just in case...
Another thing for me, probably for quite a few others, is the final fit and finish of the product... it's perfect that it's going to be in OEM Piano Black but if you could make it look and fit like a Mazda created piece, it would be very hard to pass up.
Oh, and I hope you plan on doing international sales!
02-01-2006, 07:06 AM
#102
Carputers, Touchscreens..
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Originally Posted by Argento Otto
I like the DVD loading on the bottom instead of at the top.
I'm not familiar with the software that runs these carputers, but can the display be customized to be red with a black/blacklight background, to match the gauages and the existing led display for the radio/ac controls?
I'm not familiar with the software that runs these carputers, but can the display be customized to be red with a black/blacklight background, to match the gauages and the existing led display for the radio/ac controls?
As far as the sofware you are looking at, it is a free Media/Application Player from: http://www.mediaengine.org/
They have a skin maker as well so you can make it look like anything you want.
Originally Posted by Mr Simple
I think you're doing a great job and it looks like you have plenty of support from the forum...
Although I've got all the parts for a Car PC I'd really like to see a 2-DIN bracket option, just in case...
Another thing for me, probably for quite a few others, is the final fit and finish of the product... it's perfect that it's going to be in OEM Piano Black but if you could make it look and fit like a Mazda created piece, it would be very hard to pass up.
Oh, and I hope you plan on doing international sales!
Although I've got all the parts for a Car PC I'd really like to see a 2-DIN bracket option, just in case...
Another thing for me, probably for quite a few others, is the final fit and finish of the product... it's perfect that it's going to be in OEM Piano Black but if you could make it look and fit like a Mazda created piece, it would be very hard to pass up.
Oh, and I hope you plan on doing international sales!
Once we get everything setup we will shipp them anywhere.
Last edited by CarMediaConcepts.com; 02-01-2006 at 07:12 AM.
02-01-2006, 09:39 AM
#104
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Good this makes me happy that I have to put off my carputer project yet again (damn going to a private college is expensive when you are not rich). If it can be done by just pushing the HU back a little I will be all over this
02-01-2006, 09:44 AM
#105
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I would like to forcast the future by thanking you for a cool add on for my 8, and curse you by causing my loved ones stress in finding me as I will either be tinkering with the CarPC, driving for the sake of driving or just sitting in my 8 and staring at the carputer.
.
.
02-01-2006, 10:32 AM
#106
Carputers, Touchscreens..
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Well we did push back the HU on Slim8 and the screen fit, so it has been done 
LOL...we have been staring at this thing for hours too, and watching movies
LOL...we have been staring at this thing for hours too, and watching movies
02-02-2006, 08:01 PM
#111
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You guys are doing a great job keep it up. I'm sure everyone is very appreciative.
I had another quick Q. Once you guys get a final product out, is this going to be a DIY type of deal? Or are we going to have to bring our cars into you guys in order to get it installed?
If it is a DIY, is it going to be labor intensive?
I had another quick Q. Once you guys get a final product out, is this going to be a DIY type of deal? Or are we going to have to bring our cars into you guys in order to get it installed?
If it is a DIY, is it going to be labor intensive?
02-02-2006, 08:04 PM
#112
Carputers, Touchscreens..
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We will be doing them in the traditional 7" widescreen. We only did that one because that is what we are installing in our 8s
We are going to try and make everything as diy as possible. As well as documentation to help you.
We are going to try and make everything as diy as possible. As well as documentation to help you.
02-03-2006, 12:41 AM
#113
I have an interesting idea. Is it possible to create a serial/parallel/usb device that the computer can use to determine whether or not the headlights are on? That way software can dim the screen or even switch from white text to red to match the stock HU. The stock head unit appeantly knows about it since it turns red backlights on.
I am pretty decent with software development, and implementing a UI like that to match the gauges would be a fun project - I have loads of time.
I am pretty decent with software development, and implementing a UI like that to match the gauges would be a fun project - I have loads of time.
02-03-2006, 07:16 AM
#114
Carputers, Touchscreens..
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Well the Media Engine software I mentioned before will do that by time. You just set the start end end time for daytime and it dims the screen for you. It is also an open source code so yeah you can start with it. Let us know what you come up with.
02-03-2006, 09:21 AM
#115
Actually the more I think about it, more questions are raised.
- How would the pc tie in to the stock Bose sound system? There needs to be some sort of pre-amp I think, and even a beefy one for the non premium audio systems.
- I bet the steering wheel controls don't work any more.
-How does the power system work?
-What does/will your current solution do with the factory harness?
Ideally I'd like to build a small circuit that you plug the factory harness into. It would pass all the right power and signals through to the climate control board and myabe the power for the pc? It would then look for steering wheel controls and headlight signals (or anything else pertinent) and report that to the pc, using the serial port.
I'd need to find the same connector that is found on the back of the stock head unit. Maybe I can appeal to someone who has theirs out to take some pictures and find the part # that is probably printed on it. Perhaps order it from digikey.com or so if they have it.
Just thinking out loud here....
- How would the pc tie in to the stock Bose sound system? There needs to be some sort of pre-amp I think, and even a beefy one for the non premium audio systems.
- I bet the steering wheel controls don't work any more.
-How does the power system work?
-What does/will your current solution do with the factory harness?
Ideally I'd like to build a small circuit that you plug the factory harness into. It would pass all the right power and signals through to the climate control board and myabe the power for the pc? It would then look for steering wheel controls and headlight signals (or anything else pertinent) and report that to the pc, using the serial port.
I'd need to find the same connector that is found on the back of the stock head unit. Maybe I can appeal to someone who has theirs out to take some pictures and find the part # that is probably printed on it. Perhaps order it from digikey.com or so if they have it.
Just thinking out loud here....
02-03-2006, 05:02 PM
#117
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I was thinking. Why not have your panel extend farther down to also include the relocated AC controls eh? That would be slick, seamless/OEM look? Make it the same piano black, too... nice
02-03-2006, 10:36 PM
#118
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Originally Posted by pieter3d
Actually the more I think about it, more questions are raised.
- How would the pc tie in to the stock Bose sound system? There needs to be some sort of pre-amp I think, and even a beefy one for the non premium audio systems.
- I bet the steering wheel controls don't work any more.
-How does the power system work?
-What does/will your current solution do with the factory harness?
Ideally I'd like to build a small circuit that you plug the factory harness into. It would pass all the right power and signals through to the climate control board and myabe the power for the pc? It would then look for steering wheel controls and headlight signals (or anything else pertinent) and report that to the pc, using the serial port.
I'd need to find the same connector that is found on the back of the stock head unit. Maybe I can appeal to someone who has theirs out to take some pictures and find the part # that is probably printed on it. Perhaps order it from digikey.com or so if they have it.
Just thinking out loud here....
- How would the pc tie in to the stock Bose sound system? There needs to be some sort of pre-amp I think, and even a beefy one for the non premium audio systems.
- I bet the steering wheel controls don't work any more.
-How does the power system work?
-What does/will your current solution do with the factory harness?
Ideally I'd like to build a small circuit that you plug the factory harness into. It would pass all the right power and signals through to the climate control board and myabe the power for the pc? It would then look for steering wheel controls and headlight signals (or anything else pertinent) and report that to the pc, using the serial port.
I'd need to find the same connector that is found on the back of the stock head unit. Maybe I can appeal to someone who has theirs out to take some pictures and find the part # that is probably printed on it. Perhaps order it from digikey.com or so if they have it.
Just thinking out loud here....
02-03-2006, 10:54 PM
#119
Carputers, Touchscreens..
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Originally Posted by pieter3d
Actually the more I think about it, more questions are raised.
- How would the pc tie in to the stock Bose sound system? There needs to be some sort of pre-amp I think, and even a beefy one for the non premium audio systems.
- I bet the steering wheel controls don't work any more.
-How does the power system work?
-What does/will your current solution do with the factory harness?
Ideally I'd like to build a small circuit that you plug the factory harness into. It would pass all the right power and signals through to the climate control board and myabe the power for the pc? It would then look for steering wheel controls and headlight signals (or anything else pertinent) and report that to the pc, using the serial port.
I'd need to find the same connector that is found on the back of the stock head unit. Maybe I can appeal to someone who has theirs out to take some pictures and find the part # that is probably printed on it. Perhaps order it from digikey.com or so if they have it.
Just thinking out loud here....
- How would the pc tie in to the stock Bose sound system? There needs to be some sort of pre-amp I think, and even a beefy one for the non premium audio systems.
- I bet the steering wheel controls don't work any more.
-How does the power system work?
-What does/will your current solution do with the factory harness?
Ideally I'd like to build a small circuit that you plug the factory harness into. It would pass all the right power and signals through to the climate control board and myabe the power for the pc? It would then look for steering wheel controls and headlight signals (or anything else pertinent) and report that to the pc, using the serial port.
I'd need to find the same connector that is found on the back of the stock head unit. Maybe I can appeal to someone who has theirs out to take some pictures and find the part # that is probably printed on it. Perhaps order it from digikey.com or so if they have it.
Just thinking out loud here....
https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...ght=audio+link
Everything factory can stay, you just trim a few peices in the back and wedge it back.
Originally Posted by blacxicano
Since you guys are in dfw, will I be able to just pick one up when you guys go into production 
Originally Posted by Argento Otto
I was thinking. Why not have your panel extend farther down to also include the relocated AC controls eh? That would be slick, seamless/OEM look? Make it the same piano black, too... nice
02-06-2006, 10:43 AM
#124
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Man the amount of strategery and conceptual thought to this is pretty astounding..thanks for your efforts....I am sure you are taking lots of stuff into play and hopefully taking lots of digipics to help people along.
so can you make a noise cancelling white noise emitter that washes out female voices that say "you spent what on a carpc? Why dont you spend that on me"?
so can you make a noise cancelling white noise emitter that washes out female voices that say "you spent what on a carpc? Why dont you spend that on me"?
