Most of us are using our Axim in the car for different porpoises, multimedia, navigation, etc.
When I started to build a carputer system based on PDA I saw there were some people already using Axim + external TFT in the car.
Using a big display increases security but still using PDA as touchpad is not acceptable while driving.
As can be seen in my previous posts & videos we can use external USB touchscreen with our Axim.

Once having a big external display with enabled touchscreen, it is still unacceptable to use while driving if not having a good user interface front end that allows to do everything we could need with just one or two screen taps.

I searched the web and I found a lot of products for PC (FrodoPlayer, MediaEngine, PyCar, Dashpc, etc) but none for PDA. I start this thread to collect ideas about what should have an application such that, just in case someone would like to code it.

Probably we finally find out that everything we need it can be accomplished by properly configuring PDA, this thread can also help to collect ideas about that.

Also ideas about selection of more appropriate software would be helpful. For example software with good display in landscape mode and providing an easy mean to minimize (ie: to use navigator while playing music)

 

Fullscreen display with big customizable icons. User should be able to add new icons.

A BT dialer able to dial with just one tap over a photo. The only one I found able to run on a WM5_non_phone_edition is Contact-ing. It is nice but still required to many actions to dial a number.

A GPS Navigator able to minimize and run properly in VGAout mode. The only one I found is Navigon. iGo can minimize but does not behaves well in VGAout. Route66 behaves well in VGAout but cannot minimize. TomTom does not work properly in VGAout and cannot minimize, etc.

An audio player with nice skins to work in landscape mode. I like PocketMusic but I have not been able to put it to work with a Winamp landscape skin. I am using MortPlayer with qPod VGA skin.

About video player I like TCPMP but it would be nice if it could be skinable.

 

the dell navigation system minimizes.. but i don't have the equipment to test the vga out/touchscreen theory

I quit.

Rank My

Rank My Inner Geekiness - 28.59961%... Hey.. i'm still young.. i've got some time to develop...

Coming from Dell I think we can expect it to work fine in mirror mode.
So now we have two possible navigation systems: Dell and Navigon.

In general terms what I saw is apps that takes control over graphics system, like TomTom, Route66, Destinator, iGo, etc does not behave properly in mirror mode. For example all those apps provide internal control to switch from horizontal /vertical screen. Most of that apps do no provide a way minimize (iGo is the only one I found).

On the other hand, Navigon seem to execute on a standard window with no borders and hidden title bar. It does not provides a mean to minimize, It provides a mean to make title visible and the you can do it. Navigon cannot swith display arrangment, if you are in horizontal, it executes horizontal. In my opinion, Navigon is a true window apps, like file explorer, PIE, etc, that is the reason it does not have any problems in mirror mode, it can minimize and whatever else sould be done with a window.

 

I´ve been searching the web and I only found some CF products that seems quite unsatisfactory. What I really like to have is an interface that allow me to control my car radio.

I do not beliebe it could exist.
To be able to do that your car radio must provide data control interface.
To do that it should be an ISO standard spec, like that one for connecting handsfree devices to car stereo or that one for CD chargers.
I do not believe that spec exists.

A radio CF is not a good idea having a good car radio.
I am afraid you must leave radio non-integrated

 

This guy is working in a similar project.

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=70108

Thank you for the link!
I will keep it traking.