Carputer

[limoncello]

Started work on my Carputer last week, or rather the software that will run on it, im nowhere near installing in the car yet, but the A8 does make it easy to do tests to see what it looks like.

Started it because i wanted Speed camera alerts that will POP up over the normal MMI (which i believe i can do, but will cost me to find out) plus i wanted it to look at least a bit audiish, but its escalating and i am adding more and more.

it will work from audi like controls which will be hidden in the cupholder ie rotary control centre with 4 buttons around it, at least thats the plan, now the software is done enough for testing its next on the list

Done so far
Video, Music, Speedcameras, pics, extra navigation (just for the hell of it), Google earth, Ndrive (which is basically forward InfraRed cam (poor mans Flir ) with bar for Speed in MPH or KPH and can record with imprint of gps speed etc, softwares done now depends on the hardware)

still to do
Skype, Email, phone, wifi, weather, google maps, live traffic camera view, and a bunch of other stuff, Blackberry mail(dont know if i can do this one).

also add voice commands etc. and it will eventually send Video to the rear headrests seperate to whatever the MMI is doing in the front.

looks pretty good so far, i used the new audi screens as a basis for it

i have only seen a couple of screens from the new audi so if anyone has some real shots it would help. particulaly of the Music screens, im not happy with my version of the music player at all.

Heres the Main Screen, naturally theres a long way to go and a lot of changes to be made, but this is the basis of it.



and here are some other menus

[limoncello]

no idea why the shots have come out elongated

[tonupkid]

That is fantastic. And, completed, you'll have a seriously marketable product

[limoncello]

Originally Posted by tonupkid

That is fantastic. And, completed, you'll have a seriously marketable product

Thanks, Its a skin that works on ride runner, so once completed i will post it up for anyone to download, tricky bit for 8 owners is the non touchscreen interface, im looking at making a bluetooth interface or rather pulling a 4 button bluetooth mouse apart

then set the controls in a box and mount it in the cup holder space with hopefully some matching veneer to set it off. need some nice button caps but havent found any that resemble the audi ones yet.

gatso works well, though like many systems relies on poi type data, which you will be able to auto sync whenever you want, either by having internet access directly, or being close enough to your home wireless system (so you can download new data every morning). at the moment it alerts by (configurable) bleeping,and/or voice that says warning and the speed, and on screen display with current speed and road sign mph. also has a countdown in meters to the camera with a bar display like the audi dis display.. also tells what type of camera or school zone etc it is. im looking for data which has the heading information so it only alerts when going the correct way.

you need the internet in car for google earth to work, and the second nav which is mappoint, mapmonkey or iguidance will be able to track a gps device, very james bond, nice gadget but doesnt have much use though.

[Architex_mA8tey]

Looks great! I WANNNTTTTTTT lol
if you look at this thread and the links to my other pics here you will find a load of screen shots I took from the new D4 which show some of the menus
Hope this helps!

[The_Laird]

Amazing!

It's so cool - I want one too!

[limoncello]

Originally Posted by Architex_mA8tey

Looks great! I WANNNTTTTTTT lol
if you look at this thread and the links to my other pics here you will find a load of screen shots I took from the new D4 which show some of the menus
Hope this helps!

Thanks for the pics, they should help a lot

[Conan_the_Librarian]

I have a touch screen for my Projekt. If this is backwards compatable I could have a good few beer tokens for a working solution!!!!!!

[limoncello]

no problem it will still work touchscreen, the main difference is there will be a lot less buttons available per screen, as for those without touchscreen it means scrolling through loads of options before you get to the one you need (most skins seem to have the play stop, ffwd and next, Vol+ and -, mute etc on every screen, as well as the music title), this one will have only the minimum required buttons and as much as possible keep to the audi theme, the volume can be controlled via the audi steering wheel controls anyway.

im going to make some changes thanks to the much clearer pictures architex added to make it even more authentic, but will add a few nice bits like ability to change the car in the main menu for D2 owners.

its very likely i will have to use flash to get the music lists for music to loook authentic as i dont think riderunner can handle it on its own. a lot more work but will look superb.

[graynada]

I have been dabbling with the concept of a carputer for a couple of years and played around with various front ends. I really like Ride Runner because of the ease of skinning and configuration. However a must have for me is Bluetooth phone which to date I have not got to work yet. I know it's on your to do list but have you looked at all at this area?

I would really like to go for Linux solution, and I had high hopes for Meego but this project seems to be moving v e r y s l o w l y, but these too don't seemed to have solved BT phone.

Also for me matching the Audi product is not a goal, something smart looking and in fitting with the car will do, or something I can skin.

For these reasons I had settled on Centrafuse as an all up finished product, and there as some pretty good add ons available including one that interfaces with VCDS. My main stubbling block athe moment is mounting a (touch) screen. I don't want an on dash one and with a pre FL D2 I only have a single DIN to play with. There aren't many suitable single DIN ready made solutions available so I am thinking I may have to build something myself, which is the planning stage I am at now.