Car Pc Hacks

Whether they're called in-car computers, carputers, automotive PCs, or car PCs, personal computers are finding their way into automobiles in increasing numbers. Written by experienced hardware hackers and automobile customizers, Car PC Hacks is the only book available on this increasingly popular topic. It's perfect for enthusiasts from both the computer and automotive worlds, with a bevy of cool tips and tools for tricking out their cars with computers. The book covers the basics of power and hookup considerations that stall so many would-be car hackers, and provides detailed coverage of hundreds of things that a car PC can accomplish.

Damien Stolarz has been studying and working in the car PC market since the late '90s. Last year he started his own company, carbotpc.com, to cater to the entertainment and aftermarket car PC market.

Credits

vii

Preface

xiii

Chapter 1. Car Power Basics

1

(45)

1. Understand Car Electrical Systems

1

(7)

2. Prevent Electrical Fires

8

(5)

3. Gauge Your Wires

13

(3)

4. Connect Your Wires

16

(4)

5. Calculate Your Car's Battery Life

20

(6)

6. Upgrade Your Car Battery

26

(3)

7. Add New Power Connectors Throughout Your Car

29

(4)

8. Use a Huge Capacitor to Sustain Power

33

(3)

9. Upgrade Your Car's Alternator

36

(1)

10. Add a Second Car Battery

37

(3)

11. Put Home Power Outlets in Your Car

40

(6)

Chapter 2. Automotive Audio Entertainment

46

(37)

12. Get a Headful About Your Car Audio

46

(5)

13. Install a New Head Unit

51

(3)

14. Get Computer Audio into Your Head Unit

54

(6)

15. Amp Up Your Computer Audio

60

(4)

16. Make a Very Cheap AUX-in

64

(2)

17. Reduce Your Audio System's Noise

66

(6)

18. Control Your iPod with Your Car Stereo Knobs

72

(1)

19. Tune Your PC for Radio Reception

73

(3)

20. Record Radio Shows

76

(1)

21. Listen to Email, Weblogs, and RSS Feeds on the Road

77

(2)

22. Find Out What Was Playing on the Radio

79

(4)

Chapter 3. Automotive Video Entertainment

83

(60)

23. Understand Video Connectors

84

(3)

24. Choose Your Screens

87

(5)

25. Install a Headrest Screen

92

(5)

26. Install a VGA Touchscreen in Your Dashboard

97

(5)

27. Install a Sun Visor Screen

102

(2)

28. Install a Motorized Fold-out Screen

104

(2)

29. Install a Fold-Down Ceiling-Mounted Screen

106

(5)

30. Supersize Your Fold-Down LCD Screen

111

(1)

31. Turn Your Laptop into a Fold-Down or Dashboard Screen

112

(4)

32. Connect a Car PC to Your Factory Screen

116

(7)

33. Install a Rearview Mirror Screen and Camera

123

(3)

34. Boost Your Video Signal for Multiple Screens

126

(1)

35. Customize Each Passenger's Video

127

(3)

36. Tune in TV in the Car

130

(1)

37. Receive Satellite TV While Driving

131

(1)

38. Play DVDs with Your in-Car Computer

132

(4)

39. Put Multi-Channel DVD Surround Sound in Your Car

136

(4)

40. Install a Video Game Console Computer in Your Car

140

(3)

Chapter 4. in-Car Computers

143

(86)

41. Choose an in-Car PC Hardware Platform

144

(6)

42. Power Your Car PC

150

(4)

43. Start Up and Shut Down Your Car PC

154

(10)

44. Reduce the Boot Time of Your in-Car Computer

164

(4)

45. Keep Your Computer on During Engine Cranking

168

(3)

46. Turn On Your Car Computer Before You Start Your Car

171

(3)

47. Boot Your Car Computer on a Schedule

174

(2)

48. Choose an in-Car PC Software Platform

176

(5)

49. Install Windows on a CompactFlash Card

181

(8)

50. Power Your Portable Devices in the Car

189

(3)

51. Install USB Ports in Your Car

192

(3)

52. Build an in-Car PC

195

(10)

53. Build an in-Car Macintosh

205

(12)

54. Install a Mac Mini in Your Car

217

(12)

Chapter 5. Car PC Interface Options

229

(25)

55. Control Your Car PC with a Keyboard and Mouse

230

(2)

56. Control Your Car PC with a Handheld Remote

232

(4)

57. Control Your Car PC with a Touchscreen

236

(3)

58. Car-Enable Clunky Applications

239

(4)

59. Listen to What Your Car Computer Is Saying

243

(3)

60. Control Your Car PC with Voice Recognition

246

(4)

61. Find More Ways to Control Your in-Car Computer

250

(4)

Chapter 6. Wireless Connectivity and in-Car Internet

254

(42)

62. Get Online in Your Car

254

(6)

63. Make Your Mobile Phone Hands-Free with Your Car PC

260

(6)

64. Transfer Data to and from Your Car PC

266

(6)

65. View Real-Time Traffic Data on the Road

272

(5)

66. Videoconference from Your Car

277

(3)

67. Use GPS on Your Car PC

280

(9)

68. Find WiFi Hotspots on the Road

289

(7)

Chapter 7. In-Car Applications

296

(49)

69. Plug into Your Car's Built-in Computer

296

(7)

70. Put a Video Jukebox in Your Car Theater

303

(8)

71. Choose Your in-Car Navigation Software

311

(4)

72. Play Thousands of Games by Emulating Video Game Consoles

315

(5)

73. Use CENTRAFUSE as Your Car PC Frontend

320

(7)

74. Use Neocar Media Center as Your Car PC Frontend

327

(9)

75. Use FrodoPlayer as Your Car PC Frontend

336

(9)

Index

345

What is included with this book?

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

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Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials