Since I’m going to be at SEMA tomorrow, I’m doing some research. Motorola will be showing off their Birdcage 75, a name I hope will make sense to me when I see the car. From a purely branding perspective, I have to wonder about how that fits. I’m expecting a big “oh, ok I get it”.
Car DVD players are so 5 minutes ago. DirecTV in the car, old news. X-Box in the back seat, puhleez. Any car enthusiast worth their salt has a computer in their car. That doesn’t include the old laptop you “forgot” to give back to that we’re-all-gonna-be-rich dot com before it folded.
Only a few years ago, putting a working PC in a car meant wedging a desktop PC in whatever vehicular orifice one had available, and performing DC/AC gymnastics to get the beast humming. There was also the issue of where exactly on your dashboard do you put a 15″ monitor. All said and done, even a finished product wouldn’t be terribly useful, but the CPU would make a nice projectile in a head-on collision.
A new generation of car specific fanless cases, power supplies, screens and input devices have made installing a fully functional computer as simple as adding a new stereo. No bodywork required. No projectile computers.
The compelling argument comes from the fact that a modern computer can do anything a car stereo can do and much, much more. Currently you can install name brand DVD, MP3, TV, radio, XM and navigation hardware into your car, costing you thousands and the possibility that it wont all work together. A computer in your car can offer up all those options and lots more to make sure you’re distracted enough to plow through a farmers market. Internet access, encoded movies, gigs of MP3s, email, web browsing, in-car gaming, and even, *gag* office applications are just some of the things that a little box in the trunk can offer.
Integrating the audio with your existing system is as simple as using an AUX input adapter.
All of the systems listed here come with or have optional touchscreens. Touchscreens run about $375. Well worth the price but if you’re going lo-dough, a regular 7″ TFT with VGA input will do you just fine. Lilliput and Xenarc screens are available through Xenarc and Logic Supply. These brands are the standard in car PCs as they have VGA inputs rather than composite, which will look like sheep snot in comparison.
Standard I/O devices like Keyboards also come with or are options with all systems. Gyration sells an RF keyboard and pad-free air mouse. Using it while driving may scare other drivers. Some even come with an IR or RF remote that controls numerous functions without having to whip out the QWERTY. Earn your nerd stripes by using a PocketPC Rudeo or Niveus remote.
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It looks like the time and effort MS has put into developing and marketing its automotive specific OS has paid off. Fiat will be using the pared down OS to provide hands-free calls, music, driving directions and, of course NAV.
Microsoft has been dying to get their automotive OS installed stock, but the irony of having it in an Italian car may be too much. Lets hope the OS proves to be more reliable than most cars from that part of the world.
How does it go, I dream of a world where the chefs are Italian, the politicians are English…