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        General >> Off Topic Subjects >> I.C.E
        
(Message started by: Paul B on Jan 8^th, 2005, 8:02pm)

Title: I.C.E
Post by Paul B on Jan 8^th, 2005, 8:02pm

In-car entertainment as if you didn't already know.

It's MP3 stuff I need to know about.

This may seem strange, but I want this for my van rather than the Scorpio. Mind you, it makes no real difference.

Having played around with an i-Pod recently, I've been quite taken with the system. And I thought what a great thing it could be in the van/car.

Now, I've been looking about a bit for a nice head unit that can play MP3 and not really found much. There's loads which are "CD players with MP3 capability" but it seems to me that you have to download your MP3 files onto a CD and then chuck that in its slot. :(

Maybe I've got it all wrong? (that's why I'm asking)
Why isn't there a head unit witha tuner and, say, this 20GB i-Pod inside it? ??? ::)

Can anyone advise or give me links to good shops or whatever?

Cheers... P

Title: Re: I.C.E
Post by Mrs Phuturephantasy on Jan 8^th, 2005, 8:10pm

Hi P.....,

This is a good site for car audio -

http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=3727&osCsid=79f740154f5b3ba0f3f9697e26ba1511

This particular product has an interface specifically for the i-pod but there are other possibly better headunits which basically have a hard drive which you put your mp3's onto via a connection with your pc/laptop - the Dension units seem to be pretty popular and have a good reputation.

Title: Re: I.C.E
Post by Dave Boulton on Jan 8^th, 2005, 8:29pm

Paul,

Quote:

Two hundred & seven horses - and only one jockey!

I.C.E.? it's the one on the right mate!

HTH (but know it doesn't ;D)

Dave

Title: Re: I.C.E
Post by Paul B on Jan 8^th, 2005, 8:37pm

:D
No it doesn't really help with this subject, but you're right- that pedal can make things entertaining. ;D

Have I got the cheeeesiest signature line on here? :-[

Mrs P.... Thanks for that link. Haven't seen that device before (might be an option). Will look for a hard drive one as you describe. That might be even better.

Title: Re: I.C.E
Post by Badboytunes on Jan 8^th, 2005, 9:13pm

aul.... check out pioneer and kenwood websites they both have head units with hdd for storage...

Title: Re: I.C.E
Post by Badboytunes on Jan 8^th, 2005, 9:16pm

here u go paul.....

http://www.kenwood-electronics.co.uk/products/ListProduct.aspx?k1=2&k2=5&k3=71&pr=1027

Title: Re: I.C.E
Post by Paul B on Jan 8^th, 2005, 9:43pm

Cheers Nick.

I have to say, Pioneer have the better looking units at the moment in my opinion.
And I'm really liking their Hard drive one. Don't know how I missed it before ::)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v465/PCBoulton/p900hdd.jpg

Mind you, at 1400-odd quid, I don't think I'll be having one anytime soon :o

Title: Re: I.C.E
Post by Badboytunes on Jan 9^th, 2005, 9:37am

just charge double the price on ur next kitchen job..... :D LOL or put the wedding on hold for a few months? :P :P :P :P

P.s dont let madyy see this ... ::)

Title: Re: I.C.E
Post by Paul B on Jan 9^th, 2005, 9:51am

Hmmm..... that might be a good idea ::)
(not the wedding one though - I do want to remain living!)

No, it might be a bit much for the van

Title: Re: I.C.E
Post by PiercedEllie on Jan 9^th, 2005, 1:51pm

Hi,

I don't know if you've already considered this as being a cheaper ;D option, but me and waders have both used MP3 players in our vehicles. We just fitted stereos with auxillary in jack points on them. Then you can play CDs or plug in the MP3 player (or i-Pod).

Ellie ;D

Title: Re: I.C.E
Post by Paul B on Jan 9^th, 2005, 4:03pm

Yes, that might have to be the way to go.
I would just have prefered an all-in-one unit rather than plugging in extra bits & bobs.

Title: Re: I.C.E
Post by Badboytunes on Jan 9^th, 2005, 9:29pm

on 01/09/05 at 16:03:26, Paul B wrote:

I would just have prefered an all-in-one unit rather than plugging in extra bits & bobs.

U mean ur bloomin loaded Bro.... ;) ;) ;) coz of all ur acting work :P :P :P :P :P

Title: Re: I.C.E
Post by Paul B on Jan 10^th, 2005, 7:10am

:D :D :D
Nick...
Sadly, the acting work has dried up a bit for me.
Its hard to come back after being stabbed to death! ::)

Title: Re: I.C.E
Post by admin on Jan 10^th, 2005, 7:34am

OK, what you guys need is a Car Computer. Ditch the head unit and install a custom fit touch screen (mine's a 7" but that's a different story!)

The Mini-PC is a 1Ghz Epia with 256MB of ram, installed in a Travla case which can be mounted under a seat or in a trunk. Using the power sequencer the PC boots automatically 12 seconds after the car starts and shuts down 30 secs after you switch off. I use a 60GB hard drive with 45 GB of MP3s - also a remote slim line DVD player for playing DVDs and I have voice navigation GPS using the Delou software.

Everything that you need including the software (I use Frodoplayer), hardware info etc etc is available at http://www.mp3car.com - check out their Forums.
Total cost for my install was around 600 quid for something that knocks the spots off of any head unit.

I see that motorised SVGA touchscreens will soon be available so that you can drop one into a 1 din hole in the dash.

Steve

heres my front end

http://www.carpcs.net/files/burl.jpg

And this is a generic frontend - as you can see, the software includes

Satellite Radio (XM in the US)
FM Radio (PC card)
Phone dialling (Bluetooth)
GPS (Delou Routis)
DVD (WinDVD or similar)
Other Apps (whatever you want such as NetStumbler to locate open wireless networks when you park up)
Sync (synchronise to your desktop via WiFi when you park in the garage)
Pics (picture viewer)
Cam (reversing camera (netcam))
Playlist manager for vids/Mp3s etc

The sky is the limit ...

http://dedi1.bagy.net/~frodo/frodoskins/FriBruMet_v1.0.9/FriBruMetMenu.jpg

Title: Re: I.C.E
Post by waders on Jan 10^th, 2005, 12:08pm

Steve,

If I was to put one of these "Car computer" things into my Scorpio it would allmost double the Scorps value :o

Looks the nuts though ;)

8) ;D 8) ;D 8)

Title: Re: I.C.E
Post by EinA on Jan 10^th, 2005, 5:15pm

"45 GB of MP3s" = at least 200hrs of music

10,000 miles per year average = +/- 300hrs

take off holidays and weekends

yep just about enough music to get to work for a year

;D :) ;D

Title: Re: I.C.E
Post by howiedintheplace on Jan 12^th, 2005, 12:26am

Paul B
Do you know you can get about 140 songs on a MP3 CD.
Loads of cheap CD players around that can play MP3 files. How many songs do you need? once your bored of them just burn another CD.
Cheap & cheerful for your van, about £100 but as low as £50 is still O.K. Thats a CD/Tuner/MP3 & WMA player.
Not so bad when it gets nicked!

Title: Re: I.C.E
Post by Paul B on Jan 12^th, 2005, 6:50am

140? No, I didn't realise it was that many.

In that case, I'll probably get a 'normal' one as you suggest. There's a Pioneer one that I like. It looks good and is only £117.

Cheers... Paul

Title: Re: I.C.E
Post by howiedintheplace on Jan 12^th, 2005, 11:08am

Paul B
Yeah 140 maybe even more if your lower the bit rate but I would not go lower than 128 kbps for MP3.
If you use WMA you can go lower say 96 kbps then you could get 170+ songs onto a CD as WMA is slightly better tham MP3.
One day players will use DVD disks then your talking 1000 songs + for single layer 4.7GB disk.

Title: Re: I.C.E
Post by scorpio_man on Jan 28^th, 2005, 10:21am

hi there

just found this, if it's any good to you......

http://www.tgincar.co.uk/

click on car dvd players, then incar dvd player with tv screens.

hth

Title: Re: I.C.E
Post by Paul B on Jan 28^th, 2005, 6:07pm

Blimey! That double-DIN one looks a beast!

Been thinking again about all this. Maybe I've been setting my sights too high for 'just my work van'. Maybe just a normal CD/MP3 player will do.... and be a lot cheaper. :-/