hacker-pschorr

I would be interested in a "blank" version if that's ever been discussed. Maybe just the cutout for the screen and everything else left alone.

M. Requin

Really outstanding work! This is exactly the approach to take if the car were being designed today. There has been a good bit of musing here about increased/improved control and information on the dash, and to me this seems to culminate in the design Hans and Paul are developing. I really can't even compare my approach to their work - all I have tried to do is come up with a modern - component-wise - version of the original controller. Absolutely nothing in comparison to this work.

I really look forward to seeing this at SITM!

Tom. M

Are we talking $XXX or high $XXX or in to the low $X,XXX or am I way off base in my cheap ole bugger gauge?


P.S. Awesome undertaking..hope the mods will let the post stay around a bit to further 928 development

Rob Edwards

Count me in for one setup please!

Champagne

The beauty of how we planned the system, and how Hans as designed each component is that you can choose to spend as much or as little as needed.
You can start by updating your AC control if your factory head is on it's way out and then later connect the new AC controller to a carputer.

As for the tread staying open, these toys will be sold through me, so everything is above board here

Paul

jeff spahn

I am in for a new head unit on the a/c and will go from there.

danglerb

Exciting news, has me thinking I need another 928 to put this in.

SeanR

Very well done Hans, glad to see this plan is coming along like you hoped it would.

Bill Ball

OK, I certainly would like to have something like this.

I don't see multimedia functions mentioned. PC's can be great for this, sort of, but I would miss my current Pioneer 5.1 plays-any-mutichannel-format-disk (DVD-Audio, DTS, SuperAudio as well as more traditional DVD-Video), XM, AM/FM, etc. headunit unless I understood how this could provide that. I don't see room to mount my Pioneer (standard single DIN). Would the LCD accept a second video input? I was hoping there would be room to mount a small (single DIN) center channel speaker unit too but that's wishful thinking.

Anyway, very cool.

hans14914

Bill,

While you are correct, it would not be able to playback SACD or DVD-A, it can do everything else you are interested in. You may want to take a look at both the RideRunner and Cetrafuse software packages - here is a link to Centrafuse:

http://www.centrafuse.com/CentrafuseAuto.aspx

It is a very nice front-end for media, but also allows for embedding of outside software.

If you wanted to add a center-channel, it would be doable in place of the catch-all tray. The LCD panel does accept secondary inputs, it even has a lead attached to tell when you are in reverse and can engage a backup camera, but it would be difficult to find a space for your venerable pioneer.

I will post more details on each specific section with recommended hardware.... etc closer to actual release.

Thanks
Hans

DR

Hans,

I am so glad you have come out of the closet with this finally!! It is so cool it has been a hard secret to keep, even for me!!

Can't wait to see how the panels look once Paul applies his usual artistry to it!!

Technology combined with Art is always a winning combo!! Kinda like a 928!!

Champagne

Hey Dave,

I want to take this opportunity to welcome you on board as well and let everyone know that we will share some of the distribution.

Integration of the Sharktuner to any 928 car PC is a must and your input in that respect will be invaluable.

Paul

Bill Ball

Ah, I didn't see a DVD-drive or room for it. There is something that looks like a possible disk slot in the console faceplate, but I couldn't quite figure out how it all fit together. Anyway, I'll look at the mutlimedia packages you mention. I see they would require extra hardware (sound, radio) as well as DVD to get common car audio. These would be USB. Hope there's room for a bunch of USB dongles.

hans14914

Bill,

You are correct in your innital assumption. I have elected not to include an optical drive in the dash. Part of the beauty of a system like this is that you dont need optical media any more. You can plug in any hard drive with near infinite amount of stored media (including transfers of CDs and DVDs). If you did want to retain an optical drive, one can be easily added in the glove box or above/below the parcel shelf via USB. I can recomend a ~$50 drive that is powered by USB and very compact slot-load design.

I do encourage you to go hard-disc. Think of it as nominal increased HP by reducing the weight of your onboard media collection. I know that my personal CD binder has to weigh in well over 10lbs, thats equivalent to over 1hp . Plus, once its all digitally stored, you can find it easier, with less distraction, and enjoy some music you rarely get to normally. Random with 100gb+ of music can really be interesting.

DR

Thanks Paul!

I love stuff like this.....One of my previous companies was doing custom Touchscreen PC Entertainment and Enviromental control systems for IBM, Lotus and other big corps back in the late 80s (unheard of back then).. and I think stuff like this is COOL!!

I wanted to do something like this in a 928 back in 1990, but it hasn't really become practical until the last few years!! Not "quite" enough room behind the console for the stuff I used then!! :-) Just the 20+ COM Port Digiboards alone were too big!! Even the control boxes for multiple Touchscreens were bigger than most laptops! Now with all this fancy USB and BT stuff, capacitive Touchscreens etc, almost anything is possible!!

FUN STUFF!