Opinions sought on alternative to RNS-E
 

Came across this guys and gals - any comments or observations?

http://www.preston-i-c-e.co.uk/audi-002-android.php

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1420839157

Looks alreet. You'd want to see it in action or at least see it on YouTube. The lag alone could render it useless.

I do study in Preston, if need be I could pop in, but I've not seen an RNS-E in the flesh, so would have little to compare it to.

Screen res is quiet low, if your used to an android tablet you'll be disappointed.

i think you should buy one and let us know how good it is :)

here is NOT same unit on ebay. ... £260 ono but uses windows CE and i would not touch it with a bargepole!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/for-AUDI-A...-/221601091925

or go direct to the manufacturer via alibaba
http://www.alibaba.com/trade/search?...oid+double+din

theres lots of choice out there, quality is unknown!

Interesting.

I wonder how compatible and straightforward to fit that is from a connectivity point of view. Presumably it won't talk to the DIS in any case.

If something like this became available that was a direct replacement and was able to communicate with the DIS, I'd be sold. The DIS sat nav information is the main reason I've stuck with my OEM RNS-D.

Alternatively, I would probably give up the DIS for a fully fledged car-puter. While Android based stuff is ok, and a step in the right direction, I'd much rather have a proper x86-64 'car-puter' that I can load my own OS and software onto; I'm amazed they're still relatively unavailable. For a few hundred quid, I can buy a fairly powerful Windows-compatible computer, just a few inches square, yet most car stuff is little better than a cheap tablet in terms of spec and performance, despite there being plenty of room inside a double-din unit for a very capable small-form-factor PC board. I've been tempted to build my own car-puter on a number of occasions and probably would if I had the time.

given a few evenings and enough will, you could probably make something pretty awesome with a raspberry pi or one of the other SoC boards out there.

integrating it with the dash might be a pain, you would want full touchscreen for normal use. sod using a USB keyboard to change radio channel! :)

edit: people are already on the case... https://www.suprmasv.com/projects/83/raspberry-pi-carpc and http://www.engineering-diy.blogspot....13-update.html

Using a Raspberry Pi would certainly make it an interesting and cool project. I'm thinking something more powerful though, like an Intel NUC motherboard. Something that can run Windows and any software I need, such as my IT remote assistance/administration software so that I can control and repair customer's computers from the side of the road. I have laptops and tablets already of course, but it would be nice to have a fully integrated solution.

I have considered installing a system in the boot in the past, with a remote touchscreen fitted into the dash, but there are a number of moderately powerful systems now that are small enough to fit inside a double-din unit.

Some of these units are horrendous and some are great. Keep eyeing up the Dynavin N6 for the X5, but there isn't a version for the older Audis, and that may be the issue with trying to source a 'fast' unit.

I'd probably start looking at the likes of the Raspberry Pi and a touchscreen monitor, or an embedded tablet.

On the subject of car-puters, coincidentally it seems they may be about to get a lot more commonplace.

Some news from this year's CES:

Nvidia Shows New Mobile Processor, Automotive Computer
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2015-0...-computer.html

At CES 2015, Connected Cars Will Steal the Gadget Spotlight
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-1...nics-show.html

Why not an original RNS E? You can pick them up fairly cheap now. Having a cheap knock off in the dash would bug me.

I'd much rather keep the RNS D.

Will give you a heads up if I see an RNS E for sale.