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Dashboard Linux

zebziggle writes "The dashPC has Global Positioning (GPS) and Navigation, DVDs, Games (Quake 3, SoF, UT), Address book database, etc. It can run any programs that will run on an Intel/AMD i686 class computer. There is a Basic Stamp micro-controller that interfaces the Linux box to the car ignition for controlled boot/shutdown." The article says Linux, but that screenshot tells a different story. The website has other stuff and a lot more pictures.

4 of 249 comments (clear)

  1. Wow, a dashboard linux box running windows, amazin by dafoomie · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Is it possible that the screenshot is *gasp* fake? Or that they ran Windows on that particular one? You know, if you advertise it as one thing, your evidence should corroborate you.

  2. Frame style? by JThaddeus · · Score: 1, Redundant

    Are you sure he didnt just pick a Windoz look-alike frame style? His site says Red Hat Linux 7.1

    --
    "Love is a familiar; Love is a devil: there is no evil angel but Love." --William Shakespeare ('Love's Labors Lost')
  3. Hey is that... hmmm... by The+Bungi · · Score: 1, Redundant

    I can't tell a lot from the screenshots other than a default Win desktop with some Winamp shortcuts. I was wondering if this is that "Mobile Windows" thing from Microsoft that is supposed to be specific for automobiles? OTOH this looks more like a standard small-footprint PC than anything else.

    If so then it's probably nothing new - just clever wiring and some GPS software.

    I have to say though, the keyboard seems mighty stupid. And games??? I mean, maybe in a traffic jam but I can't see the point.

    Devices like these need to be voice controlled, if anything. Actually, someone needs to come up with an input device that can be mounted in the steering wheel and functions as both a mouse and basic keyboard, maybe even support for gestures and so on.

    Oh, and definitely put the display in a HUD or something. More people have died from looking down to change the radio station than hit by trains at intersections =)

  4. it uses windows for the atlas by ChimChim · · Score: 1, Redundant

    Am i the only one who visited the "software" section of the site? for everyone's benefit:

    * Red Hat Linux 7.1
    * M$ Windows 98 installed on VMWare for Linux (used only for GPS/Street Atlas RWE)
    * VMWare for Linux

    * XMMS (Linux)
    * StreetAtlas Road Warrior Edition

    so the answer is: yes, indeed the screens do look like windows, because they are.

    christian.