decoration decoration
Stories

GROKLAW
When you want to know more...
decoration
For layout only
Home
Archives
Site Map
Search
About Groklaw
Awards
Legal Research
Timelines
ApplevSamsung
ApplevSamsung p.2
ArchiveExplorer
Autozone
Bilski
Cases
Cast: Lawyers
Comes v. MS
Contracts/Documents
Courts
DRM
Gordon v MS
GPL
Grokdoc
HTML How To
IPI v RH
IV v. Google
Legal Docs
Lodsys
MS Litigations
MSvB&N
News Picks
Novell v. MS
Novell-MS Deal
ODF/OOXML
OOXML Appeals
OraclevGoogle
Patents
ProjectMonterey
Psystar
Quote Database
Red Hat v SCO
Salus Book
SCEA v Hotz
SCO Appeals
SCO Bankruptcy
SCO Financials
SCO Overview
SCO v IBM
SCO v Novell
SCO:Soup2Nuts
SCOsource
Sean Daly
Software Patents
Switch to Linux
Transcripts
Unix Books

Gear

Groklaw Gear

Click here to send an email to the editor of this weblog.


You won't find me on Facebook


Donate

Donate Paypal


No Legal Advice

The information on Groklaw is not intended to constitute legal advice. While Mark is a lawyer and he has asked other lawyers and law students to contribute articles, all of these articles are offered to help educate, not to provide specific legal advice. They are not your lawyers.

Here's Groklaw's comments policy.


What's New

STORIES
No new stories

COMMENTS last 48 hrs
No new comments


Sponsors

Hosting:
hosted by ibiblio

On servers donated to ibiblio by AMD.

Webmaster
Car PC Hacks - I So Want to Try This
Thursday, August 25 2005 @ 09:36 AM EDT

I'm plowing through the enormous pile of newly redacted SCO documents, as you no doubt can guess, and I've found a couple of interesting things to share, but in the middle of that heavy brain work, I got a press release in an email. I usually don't place press releases on Groklaw, but this one is so entrancing, I am going to. It's for an O'Reilly book, "Car PC Hacks", and my poor brain, never so strong when it comes to staying on only one subject, immediately went walkabout and is now dreaming of hacks for my car. OK, which of you guys volunteers to hack my car for me?

Joke. Joke. The fun would be to try to do it myself, I think. Nah. It'd be fun no matter who made it happen. And honestly, look at the list, and isn't it delightful to think about?

Here's the press release, so we can have fun daydreaming on the same wavelength a while. You know you want your car to be able to do every single thing on the list. Tell your boss it's my fault you can't think about the project at hand. How can you be expected to think about work when you are contemplating creating "a powerful mobile digital hub" for your car? Or imagining listening to email as you drive? I certainly can't think of anything else for a bit. I'm only human.

If you have any questions you want me to ask the author, just sing out and I will.

********************************

For Immediate Release
Geek Your Ride
O'Reilly Releases "Car PC Hacks"

Sebastopol, CA--It started with the addition of satellite radio and then an iPod. Now DVD and MP3 players, navigation systems, and touch screens are standard in many vehicles. But installing an actual computer in a car with TiVo-like functionality? Absolutely! "The time for in-car computing has arrived," says Damien Stolarz--and his groundbreaking new "Car PC Hacks" (Stolarz, O'Reilly, US $24.95) is the first book to show readers how to put a PC in their ride and create a powerful mobile digital hub.

Fully illustrated and written by innovative computer hardware hackers and automobile customizers, "Car PC Hacks" is a collection of tips, tutorials, and techniques for installing, displaying, and controlling a car PC. It shows readers how to use a keyboard touch screen, or voice-activated in-car computers for things like watching (and even pausing and rewinding) live TV on the road; videoconferencing on the go; and using GPS to create a constant travel record.

"Once we get used to features in one part of our lives, we want to be able to use them everywhere--including in our cars," says Stolarz. People have come to count on an array of features and choices. "Why shouldn't you be able to say, 'I like the navigation system in the Infiniti, I think I'll get that for my Civic'?" asks Stolarz. And people definitely like to simplify. "When you've got half a dozen different kinds of digital media sitting in the passenger seat of your car (mobile phone, camera, PDA, iPod, portable USB memory stick, CDs), you'd like them to be able to talk to each other. Putting a computer in your car will allow all your gadgets to work with your vehicle." A car PC can serve as a digital hub for everyone's favorite must-have devices--and even some they don't yet know they need.

Anyone, with a little know-how, can put a PC on board. "Traditionally, car guys don't know computers," says Stolarz, "and computer guys don't know cars." But by using language that both audiences will understand, "Car PC Hacks" bridges that gap. Computer gurus skilled in all things software and hardware will learn the wiring, power, and connector basics necessary to get around a car with ease. Mechanics and auto enthusiasts who can install speakers, amps, and stereos in their sleep but depend on their friends to fix their ailing computers will learn all the essentials of the computer/car interface.

Clever, detailed hacks include:

-Install a PC or Mac computer that will power on and off just like the car stereo--and won't drain the car battery

-Move an entire audio collection to the car and navigate playlists with a remote control or touch screen

-Install a PC-based in-car navigation system that is cheaper, faster, and more usable than the factory-supplied setup in new cars

-Plug into the car's built-in computer and find out what the "check engine light" is really saying

-Enjoy wireless networking and accessing the Internet from the car

-Listen to email, news, and RSS feeds while driving

-Run a TiVo-like radio broadcast recorder so favorite shows are always ready and waiting

-Use a game console as a small, quiet, and affordable in-car computer (and even offering one to every passenger!)

From hooking up and powering up an in-car computer to configuring it to do countless cool things drivers never thought possible, the ideas in this cutting-edge guide show readers the possibilities--and how to make them happen--with a car PC.

Additional Resources:

For more information about the book, including table of contents, index, author bios, and sample hacks, see:

http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/carpchks/ . . . .

About O'Reilly O'Reilly Media is the premier information source for leading-edge computer technologies. The company's books, conferences, and web sites bring to light the knowledge of technology innovators. O'Reilly books, known for the animals on their covers, occupy a treasured place on the shelves of the developers building the next generation of software. O'Reilly conferences and summits bring alpha geeks and forward-thinking business leaders together to shape the revolutionary ideas that spark new industries. From the Internet to XML, open source, .NET, Java, and web services, O'Reilly puts technologies on the map.

# # #

O'Reilly is a registered trademark of O'Reilly Media, Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.


  


Car PC Hacks - I So Want to Try This | 115 comments | Create New Account
Comments belong to whoever posts them. Please notify us of inappropriate comments.
Gives new meaning to...
Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, August 25 2005 @ 10:21 AM EDT
... my system just crashed.

I particularly look forward to navigating my > 2 weeks of music by hand while
driving at high speed.
:-)

[ Reply to This | # ]

Car PC Hacks - I So Want to Try This
Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, August 25 2005 @ 10:27 AM EDT
Yak shaving at its best.

[ Reply to This | # ]

Oh no! Blue windshield of death!
Authored by: billyskank on Thursday, August 25 2005 @ 10:35 AM EDT
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!

---
It's not the software that's free; it's you.

[ Reply to This | # ]

Car PC Hacks - I So Want to Try This
Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, August 25 2005 @ 10:46 AM EDT
What's wrong with driving your car while your driving your car? Maybe if more
people spent more time driving their car the rest of us wouldn't have to spend
as much time driving our car.

Stupid Idea for a stupid world.

Why don't we put a game boy in the cockpit of every plane, those guys might want
to multitask, or how about in cranes, crane operators probably need more to do
too! Wouldn't that be cool!

Or better yet, let's make a combination treadmill and straight razor machine.
Think about the time savings, you get your exercise while shaving!

[ Reply to This | # ]

Car PC Hacks - I So Want to Try This
Authored by: GuyllFyre on Thursday, August 25 2005 @ 10:50 AM EDT
Looks pretty cool. I took a quick read of the sample sections and was
interested in seeing the car named in the MAC installation. The 1993 Tatra
T613-4Mi.

After doing a web search, I figured I was just going to find some pictures.
Appears that I've found the car in the book!
http://www.metro.st/jj/tatra/index.html

It's not in English but I'll be damned if it's not the same car. It showed up
as one of the first links in Google about the "T613 Frankfurt." Lots
of cool pics. Car is ugly as sin but probably handles and drives hella nice.

-S

[ Reply to This | # ]

Or for those without a car...
Authored by: DaveJakeman on Thursday, August 25 2005 @ 10:54 AM EDT

A recumbent with MULTIPLE computers...

...running Linux of course.

Notice the head-up display and sexbar as integral parts of the computing infrastructure.

Could it be any more geeky than this? Don't answer that.

---
Should one hear an accusation, first look to see how it might be levelled at the accuser.

[ Reply to This | # ]

O/t here, please...
Authored by: jbeadle on Thursday, August 25 2005 @ 10:56 AM EDT
Please make links clickabls as described on the "Post a Comment" page,
and use HTML Post Mode.

Thanks,
-jb

[ Reply to This | # ]

Darl get's his...
Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, August 25 2005 @ 11:17 AM EDT
Check out this comic, now if someone had stolen IP from Darl this way, the world would be a much nicer place to live...

Darl's IP is stolen

I still can not stop chuckling....

[ Reply to This | # ]

Rugged PC needed
Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, August 25 2005 @ 11:25 AM EDT
Just remember that the temperature inside a car can go from -20 to +120 in Ohio
and if you do a "stupid" it can rain in a convertible. Hard drives
typically will not tolerate wide temperature ranges or moisture.

[ Reply to This | # ]

Oh my....
Authored by: Latesigner on Thursday, August 25 2005 @ 11:51 AM EDT
I was holding out for "Super Car" but till it turns up this might do.

---
The only way to have an "ownership" society is to make slaves of the rest of us.

[ Reply to This | # ]

This might contravene the EULA of most cars!
Authored by: kawabago on Thursday, August 25 2005 @ 11:53 AM EDT
It could also get you in trouble with the DMCA (Digital Millenium Car Act) which
protects auto-makers from rampant innovation.


---
TTFN

[ Reply to This | # ]

Car PC Hacks - I So Want to Try This
Authored by: erond on Thursday, August 25 2005 @ 11:54 AM EDT
My first turn to show off here, since IANAL, and this article fits in so well with what I did. :)

This is a project that I started when I heard about "mini-ITX" form-factor motherboards.

I had no practical reason for doing it, other than seeing if it could be done. It then grew from basic functionality into what it is now.

Unfortunately I had to use Windows (the original install was Fedora) because I have yet to find any good navigation software for Linux (FOSS or commercial).

I now have GPS navigation, MP3 player, and internet access via my cel phone and bluetooth. GPS has let me become un-lost on one occasion, MP3 is great when there is nothing over-the-air I want to hear and the CD selection is getting old. Internet access let me get online and find phone numbers and a store that had something when the store I was at didn't have it.

I still consider it a "toy", and not a neccesity. I don't play stupid not-paying-attention-to-the-road games, but it was a fun project that ended up being pretty useful.

Oh, yeah. Just to keep seeing what else I can do, I added a webcam mounted on the rearview mirror to make visual records of where I go. It takes up too much CPU to work well with what I have, so time to upgrade...

[ Reply to This | # ]

Boats?
Authored by: davcefai on Thursday, August 25 2005 @ 12:08 PM EDT
The real challenge will be to do it for boats (including small ones) and the
ULTIMATE challenge will be to do it to a Windsurfer (don't forget the wind
powered generator and total waterproofing!)

[ Reply to This | # ]

  • Boats? - Authored by: NetArch on Thursday, August 25 2005 @ 02:03 PM EDT
  • Boats? - Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, August 25 2005 @ 02:12 PM EDT
  • BIG Boats? - Authored by: Anonymous on Friday, August 26 2005 @ 04:23 AM EDT
Sheeesh...whatever next
Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, August 25 2005 @ 12:18 PM EDT
Down here they can barely handle a car let alone a computer in it. Beer in hand,
talking on the mobile, gesturing with both hands - all at the same time while
talking to someone in the back seat! Just add a computer to that chaos as well.
Make my next car an A1M2.

Tufty

[ Reply to This | # ]

Car PC Hacks - I So Want to Try This
Authored by: emperor on Thursday, August 25 2005 @ 12:45 PM EDT
Of course, some of us have been computing in the car for a while now =]

empeg

-roman

---
He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you. - Nietzsche

[ Reply to This | # ]

A different kind of car hack...
Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, August 25 2005 @ 12:46 PM EDT
Turn your Linksys wireless router (running Linux of course) into an RC truck:

http://www.filefarmer.com/flyas hi/wrt54g/

Void Main

[ Reply to This | # ]

Car PC Hacks - I So Want to Try This
Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, August 25 2005 @ 12:58 PM EDT
Lots of auto enthusiasts have been hacking the car's internal computers for quite a while, to tweak performance, adapt to driving conditions, or whatever. With processor-controlled ignition, fuel metering, transmission shifting, and monitoring of just about everything, an open interface to all those things (although it would be asking for trouble) seems to be an idea whose time has come. Add to that the activity already seen in putting a Mac Mini or one of its inevitable clones into the dash, and the opportunity for mischief approaches the downright irresistable.

For my ideas, how about:

  • As mentioned above, dynamic reconfiguration of operational profiles for speed, fuel economy, load handling, etc.
  • More adaptable cruise control, with profiles for hilly terrain, towing, etc. where standard fixed-speed controls not only waste fuel but radically accelerate transmission failure.
  • GPS, already mentioned, is an invaluable input device which can supply the keys to locale-specific context, especially through links to services like Google maps for the "where's the nearest X" for any interesting value of X, such as gas station, hospital, all-night diner, Steak&Shake(tm), three-star-or-better hotel, Elbonian embassy, etc. By the way, this is also my answer for mobile 911 service: just substitute the emergency service you need for X above...
  • Also facilitated by GPS: an application supplied by AAA or similar club, notifying club's diagnostic station of system error codes encountered by the vehicle's systems, and any other information deemed relevant to the diagnosis, to support more informed and effective dispatch and road service; if sufficient information is available for a conclusive diagnosis, the targeted service station can prepare for the vehicle's arrival, with the right "parts and smarts" at the ready.
  • Not really separate from, but an enhancement to, the above, collision detection and alerting, with all pertinent information, to notify the nearest appropriate emergency-response facilities automatically, in the event of the occupant's incapacity.
  • Again, with the GPS, already!: calculation of efficient routes for a lengthy, multi-destination itinerary, adaptable in the face of changing road conditions and time-based constraints
  • Operation history, for diagnostic, forensic, and other purposes [include standard data security/privacy/usability/function trade-off analysis here by reference].
  • Route retracing, for answering the question "how did I get here?" or "what turn did I miss?".
  • All of the above is possible without additional hardware beyond the basics of GPS, Internet transceiver, and vehicle system interfaces.

    Additional hardware, such as ultrasonic or radar transducers, accelerimeters, video cameras, additional sensors and servos, opens up lots more fun stuff. Collision-avoidance; further enhanced cruise control that takes into account the speed and proximity of other vehicles; adaptive road-noise cancellation; inferring driver inattention, drowsiness, or other impairment; enhancing security and usability by strengthening keyless entry systems as necessary, or making locks responsive to other than just a given hardware key; duress codes for carjacking incidents; enhancing privacy by disabling various RFID devices such as toll passes when they're not needed; etc. I'm not out of ideas; I'm just out of time.

    In many cases, features that I've named above are not novel but already implemented in upscale models, but generally they're piecemeal, proprietarily custom-made for each vehicle, unmaintainable without factory authorization and training, non-portable and unmodifiable. For all of these reasons, they're also unreasonably expensive.

    Without a doubt, tinkering with the car's control systems should not be done without unusual caution, and public-safety legal mechanisms may need to come into play; not something I'm eager to explore. At minimum, this ought to go without saying: closed, unverifiable, unreliable, security-challenged or malware-plagued operating systems need not apply. This also includes any flavor of Linux that is not scrupulously evaluated, not just for outright flaws or vulnerabilities, but weakness of any kind that could lead to catastrophic failure in the presence of less-than-optimal operating conditions. That's a tall order for any operating system, but one that, with the exception of an insignificant handful of very expensive proprietary systems, only an open-source OS can even entertain hope of filling.

    But open-source attributes of massive collaboration, competition, and lowered barriers to entry all lead to the benefits we've come to expect: feature richness and appropriateness, enhanced quality, reliability, flexibility, maintainability, security and portability.

    Oh, yeah: and price.

    [ Reply to This | # ]

    Car PC Hacks - I So Want to Try This
    Authored by: rdt on Thursday, August 25 2005 @ 01:41 PM EDT
    I sent this link to my friends a coupla' weeks ago:
    http://www.timekiller.org/carpc/
    A Mazda owner added a PC to his car.

    [ Reply to This | # ]

    MythTV makes a nice road system
    Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, August 25 2005 @ 02:12 PM EDT
    With the XML menus you can add all kinds of extra options that start up your
    navigation, wifi sniffer, etc. I had a cool system in my blazer for awhile that
    had 3 tv's and a hacked xbox with mythtv on it but someone stole the system one
    night in my driveway :(.

    Matt

    [ Reply to This | # ]

    Car wireless hack: Reseller of Starbucks wireless
    Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, August 25 2005 @ 03:31 PM EDT
    I know a guy who turned his van into a wireless hotspot. He parks in front of a
    Starbucks; signs up for their expensive t-mobile access; and resells the
    bandwidth they offer for a small fraction of the cost to other customers.
    Though this might violate their terms-of-use.

    [ Reply to This | # ]

    But my car is a bycicle
    Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, August 25 2005 @ 03:49 PM EDT
    It's difficult balancing a keyboard on the handle bars
    plus there is no room to put a screen.

    I also work for a firm that makes in vehicle computers.

    I think I need a new Job!

    [ Reply to This | # ]

    Dension DH100
    Authored by: lunarship on Thursday, August 25 2005 @ 04:19 PM EDT
    We've had an MP3 player in our car for over 2 years now (It's a Dension DH100. You can get MP3 only, or with a CD changer in the boot. They are utterly cool, and the fact that you can take the MP3 unit out and use it as a stand alone player is even cooler. The fact they fit into the standard radio space (and the radio reception is excellent) helps too.

    And no, I am not affiliated to Dension in any way (although if they'd like to send me a new model for our other car... no? Ah well, it was worth a try...)

    [ Reply to This | # ]

    Most of you are missing the point
    Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, August 25 2005 @ 04:24 PM EDT
    There are a gajillion posts saying "Oh goody, let's all talk on the phone
    while watching DVDs and video games while driving!"

    Yes yes, we all agree that's stupid. But there are a couple of excellent
    projects you could pull out of this book that have nothing to do with
    distracting the driver.

    For example, you could add a voice-controlled map database to your car. I've
    got a friend who is preparing to move to a new city who could probably use
    that.

    This is useful tech; if you think it's only good for distracting the driver, you
    need to use more creativity.

    [ Reply to This | # ]

    Bad Idea - REALLY Bad Idea
    Authored by: edal on Thursday, August 25 2005 @ 04:37 PM EDT
    I seem to remember a story from a while back of some politician who was being
    driven around in a high specification car. The computer under the hood crashed
    and the only way they could get out was using sledge hammers on the windows.

    Now, tell me again about hacking your car <g>.

    Ed Almos
    Budapest, Hungary

    [ Reply to This | # ]

    Car PC Hacks - I So Want to Try This
    Authored by: Juggler on Thursday, August 25 2005 @ 05:04 PM EDT
    I get enough BSODs at work thank you very much!

    [ Reply to This | # ]

    Car PC Hacks - I So Want to Try This
    Authored by: Sunny Penguin on Thursday, August 25 2005 @ 06:56 PM EDT
    GTA needs to be banned from car PCs!
    Or TORCs as well.

    Seriously;
    A fuzz buster with DF capabilities using a wireless internet peer to peer app to
    triangulate the source of any radar <g>

    Limewire radio, nuff said

    Roadsigns broadcasting the speed limit with Bluetooth or Ultra Wide Band.

    Automatic roadside assistance showing up with the part you need.

    Google maps

    Faster drive through service; order from a block away.

    Drive by dating; or not ....

    Intellegent street lights that turn red when no traffic is approaching; or stay
    green during backed up traffic.


    ---
    "Numerical superiority is of no consequence. In battle, victory will go to the
    best tactician."
    ~ George Custer (1839-1876)

    [ Reply to This | # ]

    I thought this site was supposed to be about Saint Cruise Organization vs. IBM?
    Authored by: cybervegan on Thursday, August 25 2005 @ 06:57 PM EDT
    How, exactly does this relate to the SCO cases? Are SCO claiming that this book
    infringes their patents? Is their code in the car computers mentioned in the
    book?

    Every time you post articles like this, PJ, you lose credibility in the eyes of
    IT luminaries like Laura DiDio and Rob Enderle - do you really want to give them
    more negative material to throw back at you? I suppose at least it's not Salsa
    again!

    You mention this being a diversion from the mundane (but essential) task of
    transcribing all those recently refiled, redacted court documents - have you
    thought about the timing? Are you sure this Damien Stolarz isn't a plant,
    working undercover for SCO? There *must* be something in those redacted filings
    that they don't want you to see, so they've come up with this ridiculous book to
    divert your attention. And you *fell* for it!

    Don't fall for it, PJ - if you take your eye off the ball, it will turn round
    and bite you.

    Don't take this personally, but if you keep this up, people like Enderle etc.
    will stop reading your site - you might even put off the lawyers and judges.
    This is a sad reflection of the recent direction this site has taken. Remember
    - no readers = no advertising clicks = no pay for you; your very livelihood is
    at stake here!

    ---
    Software source code is a bit like underwear - you only want to show it off in
    public if it's clean and tidy. Refusal could be due to embarrassment or shame...

    [ Reply to This | # ]

    Privacy issues
    Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, August 25 2005 @ 07:17 PM EDT
    I don't know... I would not like to have my car record every drive i take by GPS
    and store it. Someone might get access to that data, by legal or illegal means,
    and use it against me.

    Also a car with a cellphone data-connection (UTMS, GSM, for surfing the web)
    would be highly trackable by authorities. Most people dont realise this when
    they switch on their cellphone, in the car or out of the car.

    Ahh, and by the way, i only own a motorcycle. That makes storeing the PC a bit
    difficult, but in exchange cooling it may be much easier ;-)

    Linux_Inside

    [ Reply to This | # ]

    Car PC Hacks - I So Want to Try This
    Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, August 25 2005 @ 07:57 PM EDT
    One of the most frequent worries i hear is "hang up and drive". For
    the
    record, several of the hacks in the book relate to adding bluetooth hands free
    mobile connectivity to your car. Similarly, there is a proliferation of devices

    (such as Blackberry email) that people currently use while driving. One of the
    first features my own company implemented was hands-free reading of your
    email, (and thus any RSS feed redirected to that email) so that I could wade
    through slashdot headlines and urgent emails while commuting for an hour.

    Several of my Car PC's don't have a screen at all - they talk to me, and i
    control them by integrating them with an XM-ready head unit.

    -damien stolarz

    [ Reply to This | # ]

    System Crash
    Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, August 25 2005 @ 09:52 PM EDT
    What I want to know is, if the computer in the car crashes, does it deploy a
    little air-bag?

    *POOF!*


    <GDARVVF> (Grynning, Ducking, and Running Very Very Fast :)

    [ Reply to This | # ]

    Real car hacking...
    Authored by: Anonymous on Friday, August 26 2005 @ 10:23 AM EDT
    The car of course already has a computer (well most cars after say 1978...) See http://www.diy-efi.org/ for real car computer hacks. Smirk

    [ Reply to This | # ]

    Car PC Hacks - I So Want to Try This
    Authored by: alvah on Sunday, August 28 2005 @ 02:43 PM EDT
    What would like to see is a book on how to hack the car itself. Moden cars have
    cpus buried in them and those cpus contain the information that simplifies the
    repair process. They "might also hold the key(s)" to better fuel
    mileage.

    [ Reply to This | # ]

    Groklaw © Copyright 2003-2013 Pamela Jones.
    All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by their respective owners.
    Comments are owned by the individual posters.

    PJ's articles are licensed under a Creative Commons License. ( Details )