A Mac mini+7" LCD in 480
Moderators: jifflemon, coyote1980, Rachel
- JJ
- 480 Newbie
- Posts: 45
- Joined: Mon Jan 22, 2007 7:18 pm
- Location: Alphen a/d Ryn, The Netherlands
- Contact:
A Mac mini+7" LCD in 480
Still not finished completely (need to get the bezels for both computer and the screen, also the dashboard will get a leather cover), but already quite usable and useful. The computer can handle the usual media playback (also from an attached iPod), navigation, online services (mail reader with voice output), telephone (proprietary GSM box as well as standard Bluetoot) and some more...
- Dan the 480 Man
- 480 Is my middle name
- Posts: 2269
- Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2004 7:42 pm
- Location: No longer in a Volvo...(But not forever!)
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That's really cool! Not many Mac user's here id on't think, due to the flaming we receive I was thinking about a Mac Mini a few months back-nice and small and ready to just slot into the car. You got any pics of the connections and how it's all wired in?
I'd like one in there as a permanent solution-i have my iPod in the car but it's just hassle. My concern was that iTunes was too fiddly to use on touchscreen though-but you've obviously found a player/plug-in/program to combat that. And i as i use my Digi SLR quite a bit (i always have it in the car, never know when a good photo opportunity will strike!), it would be a good way of downloading the pictures and being able to view them straight away without just relying on the camera screen.
Did the Mac have to be modified in anyway to get it into that space?
Good work, i like!
I'd like one in there as a permanent solution-i have my iPod in the car but it's just hassle. My concern was that iTunes was too fiddly to use on touchscreen though-but you've obviously found a player/plug-in/program to combat that. And i as i use my Digi SLR quite a bit (i always have it in the car, never know when a good photo opportunity will strike!), it would be a good way of downloading the pictures and being able to view them straight away without just relying on the camera screen.
Did the Mac have to be modified in anyway to get it into that space?
Good work, i like!
[size=75]My website: ::: [url=http://www.dcmoore.co.uk][color=black][b]dcmoore.co.uk[/b][/color][/url] :::[/size]
- JJ
- 480 Newbie
- Posts: 45
- Joined: Mon Jan 22, 2007 7:18 pm
- Location: Alphen a/d Ryn, The Netherlands
- Contact:
Yes, I will have a webpage with details up shortly. This is not actually my first installation. I did my first one in 2002 (with a PowerMac G4). The connections are rather easy - Carnetix P1900 as power supply and startup/shtutdown controller, the screen, rotary controller (USB), GPS receiver over Bluetooth. Using built-in audio jack now, but I will have to switch to an USB module to eliminate the noise.You got any pics of the connections and how it's all wired in?
It is indeed. As are most of the existing applications. But I do not use touchscreen for safety reasons (althought the screen I have does have a touch panel). I am using a rotary controller (Logitech NuLOOQ) instead.My concern was that iTunes was too fiddly to use on touchscreen
Not exactly. I could not find it so I wrote itbut you've obviously found a player/plug-in/program to combat that
Something like this? Of course it also has a fullscreen mode.And i as i use my Digi SLR quite a bit (i always have it in the car, never know when a good photo opportunity will strike!), it would be a good way of downloading the pictures and being able to view them straight away without just relying on the camera screen.
The Mac was not modified, except for small piece of plastics, that holds it in place - it is glued on the bottom, parallel to the front side. It sits against the plastic piece inside the tunnel, preventing the Mac from moving forwards. But I admit, it was a little tricky to get it where it is (after removing the carpeting on the side of the middle tunnel). Originally I planned to place it a bit lower and access it from the side (close to floor air outlet), but I was worried about bad air circulation (because the bottom of the computer would be on the carpet).Did the Mac have to be modified in anyway to get it into that space?
- Dan the 480 Man
- 480 Is my middle name
- Posts: 2269
- Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2004 7:42 pm
- Location: No longer in a Volvo...(But not forever!)
- Contact:
Yeah, thats pretty cool. I'd like to do something similar but it's a long way off with all thing's i need to do though
Any pictures of your old install then? I like seeing thing's like this, it get's the creative juices flowing!
Any pictures of your old install then? I like seeing thing's like this, it get's the creative juices flowing!
[size=75]My website: ::: [url=http://www.dcmoore.co.uk][color=black][b]dcmoore.co.uk[/b][/color][/url] :::[/size]
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- 480 Rookie
- Posts: 435
- Joined: Sun Feb 20, 2005 7:00 pm
A 'mac' is a raincoat ... inspector gadget always wears one!Matthew Brennan wrote:Whats a mac mini, come to think of it - whats a mac?
sorry, couldn't resist!
Current:
Honda Civic ES I-VTEC
previous:
BMW E46 330i SE Touring
VW Mk4 Golf V6 4Motion
Toyota Celica GT-FOUR ST205 WRC
1995 (M) Dark Grey Metallic 480 Turbo
1994 (M) Flame Red Metallic 480GT
1992 (J) Black Metallic 480ES 1.7i
Honda Civic ES I-VTEC
previous:
BMW E46 330i SE Touring
VW Mk4 Golf V6 4Motion
Toyota Celica GT-FOUR ST205 WRC
1995 (M) Dark Grey Metallic 480 Turbo
1994 (M) Flame Red Metallic 480GT
1992 (J) Black Metallic 480ES 1.7i
Perhaps you could give this one a go : http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=140
I guess you optimalized the software for the logitech, but i dont see any saftey problems with a touchscreen... Ofcourse you need to have software to match thick fingers. but outside from that its the same as pushing a button on your radio ?
There are loads of frontends for windows (go with roadrunner), i know you can run windows on the newer macs perhaps also on the mac mini with a hack or two.. (prolly going to get flames by the mac fans now ).. or port a linux frontend to mac .. dunno if that is possible.
Cant you port the interface to windows, have to say that i really like it.
Wish i had the time to put the screen in like you did, very nice job when the bezel is in place i think.
I guess you optimalized the software for the logitech, but i dont see any saftey problems with a touchscreen... Ofcourse you need to have software to match thick fingers. but outside from that its the same as pushing a button on your radio ?
There are loads of frontends for windows (go with roadrunner), i know you can run windows on the newer macs perhaps also on the mac mini with a hack or two.. (prolly going to get flames by the mac fans now ).. or port a linux frontend to mac .. dunno if that is possible.
Cant you port the interface to windows, have to say that i really like it.
Wish i had the time to put the screen in like you did, very nice job when the bezel is in place i think.
White 480 Turbo '91, full leather, white blinkers, daily driver.
- JJ
- 480 Newbie
- Posts: 45
- Joined: Mon Jan 22, 2007 7:18 pm
- Location: Alphen a/d Ryn, The Netherlands
- Contact:
The buton does physically exist and you do not need to look at it to press it. With touchscreen it is quite difficult to hit any button, that does not take up *a lot* of screen space, without looking at it.ForZe wrote:Ofcourse you need to have software to match thick fingers. but outside from that its the same as pushing a button on your radio ?
Right. I can run Windows on Mac mini (without any hack, it is officially supported). I can also jump out of window (7th floor) or move from Holland to North Korea. I just do not have any reason to do any of these thingsThere are loads of frontends for windows (go with roadrunner), i know you can run windows on the newer macs perhaps also on the mac mini with a hack or two.. (prolly going to get flames by the mac fans now ).. or port a linux frontend to mac .. dunno if that is possible.
Perhaps over time when .NET and C# get more better - at the moment, they are still missing some of the capabilities of Cocoa/Objective CCant you port the interface to windows, have to say that i really like it.
Just install road runner and try it on a 7" works like a charm for me... does help that you made a frontend that is able to work with it.. there hardly are any.. if any frontends around that work with a .. well 'idrive' like wheelJJ wrote: The buton does physically exist and you do not need to look at it to press it. With touchscreen it is quite difficult to hit any button, that does not take up *a lot* of screen space, without looking at it.
True tought about using linux myself but couldnt be botherd with taking the effort to making a perfect install.JJ wrote: Right. I can run Windows on Mac mini (without any hack, it is officially supported). I can also jump out of window (7th floor) or move from Holland to North Korea. I just do not have any reason to do any of these things
Any plans for hooking it up to the pc, i can remember rpuen was looking into something like that. Still have not got the time to try anything myself
White 480 Turbo '91, full leather, white blinkers, daily driver.
- JJ
- 480 Newbie
- Posts: 45
- Joined: Mon Jan 22, 2007 7:18 pm
- Location: Alphen a/d Ryn, The Netherlands
- Contact:
Amost done. I will need to redo the surface of the Mac front cover and the screen bezel, but except for that, everything is up and running nicely. I have an appointment for APK (MOT in UK) in two weeks, so I wonder whether I will hear any comments. I may remove the controller in order not to provoke too much (it is rather close to the stick) but other for that, I hope I will be fine.
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- 480 Rookie
- Posts: 433
- Joined: Fri Mar 23, 2007 8:56 am
Sorry for only reading this now, but I am very intrigued and impressed by your work here.
Is it fully working now for you?
Ian
Is it fully working now for you?
Ian
[url=http://s52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/muddyfox470/480bilt/][img]http://www.sloganizer.net/en/image,480ES,white,black.png[/img][/url]
[url=http://s52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/muddyfox470/480bilt/]'93 480ES 2litre - Steel Grey Metallic - 70k Miles - Bought March 07 :P[/url]
(Click for pictures :D )
[url=http://s52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/muddyfox470/480bilt/]'93 480ES 2litre - Steel Grey Metallic - 70k Miles - Bought March 07 :P[/url]
(Click for pictures :D )