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#275856 - 09/02/2006 13:05 MP3Car.com's new StreetDeck
hybrid8
carpal tunnel

Registered: 12/11/2001
Posts: 7738
Loc: Toronto, CANADA
http://www.streetdeck.com

This is the supposed do-everything deck that integrates GPS/Nav, MP3, CD, DVD Player, Video PLayer, Car-Diagnostics, Picture viewing, bluetooth phone, WiFi, USB, etc...

They don't seem to support an ipod conenction though (for real-time playing and access to the iPod's DB/content - they might be able to sync with the iPod's normal USB connection)

It's all tied together with decent-looking software. Looks like there would still be some significant integration and configuration work involved.

Bruno
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Bruno
Twisted Melon : Fine Mac OS Software

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#275857 - 09/02/2006 16:41 Re: MP3Car.com's new StreetDeck [Re: hybrid8]
JBjorgen
carpal tunnel

Registered: 19/01/2002
Posts: 3582
Loc: Columbus, OH
At $1,699.00, it seems like a decent deal for what you get. Could be done more cheaply DIY, but no warranty or software guarantees with that. Does some nice things that regrettably the empeg is not capable of. From the video of the software, it seems to be pretty decent.
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~ John

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#275858 - 09/02/2006 16:48 Re: MP3Car.com's new StreetDeck [Re: JBjorgen]
Dignan
carpal tunnel

Registered: 08/03/2000
Posts: 12318
Loc: Sterling, VA
Wow, that was impressive. The handwriting recognition part was impressive as well. The software is certainly better than the Alpine units I've seen in car stereo shops.

And happy birthday, Meatball Man
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Matt

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#275859 - 09/02/2006 16:51 Re: MP3Car.com's new StreetDeck [Re: hybrid8]
visuvius
addict

Registered: 18/02/2002
Posts: 658
That looks really sweet but $1,700 is a little steep. And the gesture system looks nice but I'd fear the wear and tear on the monitor.

Sigh. I love my empeg.

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#275860 - 09/02/2006 16:56 Re: MP3Car.com's new StreetDeck [Re: hybrid8]
tfabris
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31563
Loc: Seattle, WA
As with all systems like this (empeg included in this statement), it all comes down to the software. If the software is decent, is supported well (i.e., longevity), has good features, etc., it could be a very good deal.
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Tony Fabris

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#275861 - 09/02/2006 17:45 Re: MP3Car.com's new StreetDeck [Re: tfabris]
DWallach
carpal tunnel

Registered: 30/04/2000
Posts: 3810
Agreed. They're trying to an awful lot in one box. Engine monitoring? Navigation? Audio playing? If it worked as advertised, it would be very impressive.

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#275862 - 09/02/2006 17:48 Re: MP3Car.com's new StreetDeck [Re: DWallach]
tfabris
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31563
Loc: Seattle, WA
But you have to admit, doing all of that in one box is a perfect task for a good piece of software and a trunk-mounted general purpose computer. Which seems to be their target here.

Note that their price point is within the range of the commercial DIN-mount DVD navigation systems.
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Tony Fabris

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#275863 - 09/02/2006 17:55 Re: MP3Car.com's new StreetDeck [Re: Dignan]
Happy Birthday larry818
old hand

Registered: 01/10/2002
Posts: 1033
Loc: Fullerton, Calif.
Quote:
The handwriting recognition part was impressive as well.


I thought just the opposite. When I lived in Taiwan, I bought a little pocket translating pda thing for about 200us. The impressive thing about the thing was that it didn't require that I relearn the alphabet. I could write english on it's screen pretty much any way I want and it'll input the correct character. No silly "graffitti" or other custom character set. No switching from char to numbers either, it would just know. And it could recognise, with fair accuracy, about 20,000 chinese characters too. I've never gotten into the palm and it's ilk primarily because of this.

The other cool thing about it was it had two handwriting input "windows" so while it was working on the last character you could be drawing the next.

This thang seems really nice, but I don't care for the motorised screen. They need more mounting options. At least in my Volvo the screen would need to extend downwards and then it would cover the a/c outlets.

Anyway, just me thought...

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#275864 - 09/02/2006 17:56 Re: MP3Car.com's new StreetDeck [Re: visuvius]
tfabris
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31563
Loc: Seattle, WA
Quote:
And the gesture system looks nice but I'd fear the wear and tear on the monitor.

Actually, re-watching the video, I see a couple problems with the gesture system.

It seems, at one point, that he intends to gesture a letter character or something, and instead issues the audio player STOP command. At another point, he needs to gesture the letter K and has to do a funny non-real-letter symbol to indicate the K, instead of just drawing a K.
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Tony Fabris

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#275865 - 09/02/2006 18:01 Re: MP3Car.com's new StreetDeck [Re: tfabris]
hybrid8
carpal tunnel

Registered: 12/11/2001
Posts: 7738
Loc: Toronto, CANADA
Preaching to the choir Tony! 'Tsall about the software. Been saying it for years.

That's not to say hardware plays no part. Of course it does. But great software can still make for a great product on mediocre hardware. The best hardware in the world isn't worth much without good software however. And when you begin looking at hardware that's practically off the shelf (or at least very similar to so many other things out there) it's going to come down to software every time.

You'll see a lot of people miss this when jumping on the various mobile phone bandwagons. Can't judge those books by their covers. if you like flip phones for instance, the Motorola RAZR will probably look great to you. Until you use it - Motorola phone have always suffered from poor software. I couldn't consider anything but a Nokia or Ericsson down the proprietary route. Good hardware and looks, but it's the software that completes the sale.

Bruno
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Bruno
Twisted Melon : Fine Mac OS Software

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#275866 - 09/02/2006 19:02 Re: MP3Car.com's new StreetDeck [Re: hybrid8]
wfaulk
carpal tunnel

Registered: 25/12/2000
Posts: 16706
Loc: Raleigh, NC US
I don't generally do this sort of thing, but this thread clearly belongs in ICE, not Off Topic, so I'm moving it.
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Bitt Faulk

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#275867 - 14/02/2006 05:44 Re: MP3Car.com's new StreetDeck [Re: wfaulk]
SonicSnoop
addict

Registered: 29/06/2002
Posts: 531
Loc: Triangle, VA
That seems like a pretty cool device.. especially like the relay card.. Shame it runs on windows
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-D Modifying and Tweaking is a journey, not a destination................................ MKIIa : 60gig - 040103286 - Blue - v2 + PCATS tuner MKIIa : 20gig - 040103260 - Blue - v3a8 + Mark Lord Special Edition Cherry Dock

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#275868 - 15/02/2006 19:38 Re: MP3Car.com's new StreetDeck [Re: SonicSnoop]
ricin
veteran

Registered: 19/06/2000
Posts: 1495
Loc: US: CA
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#275869 - 23/02/2006 13:04 Re: MP3Car.com's new StreetDeck [Re: SonicSnoop]
hybrid8
carpal tunnel

Registered: 12/11/2001
Posts: 7738
Loc: Toronto, CANADA
From the perspective of someone who just wants it all to just work, it doesn't really matter what OS it runs on. Most people jumping on this will likely have to have a bit of a DIY nature, but hopefully everything is in a polished enough state that you can just hand it over to a custom installer and be on your way once everything is in.

I'd say they also have a significant opportunity with car manufacturers using this platform. The latest interviewer mentions specifically that this is stepping into the realm of the higher end factory packages. To me it looks like this might offer manufacturers an easier solution for them to customize their offerings in comparison to what some others like Alpine and Pioneer bring to the table.

Bruno
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Bruno
Twisted Melon : Fine Mac OS Software

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#275870 - 23/02/2006 15:49 Re: MP3Car.com's new StreetDeck [Re: hybrid8]
matthew_k
pooh-bah

Registered: 12/02/2002
Posts: 2298
Loc: Berkeley, California
Quote:
To me it looks like this might offer manufacturers an easier solution for them to customize their offerings in comparison to what some others like Alpine and Pioneer bring to the table.

From car shopping a few months ago, I doubt that's going to happen. The nav system on virtually all cars is a 2k option. Options generally have a 50% dealer markup, so the car company has $1k to put in a nav system. Currently, they're putting a WinCE box, a GPS, a DVD drive and a touch screen. Those parts aren't cheap, but they can't be paying more than $500 for them in bulk.

The thing is, almost all buyers want a nav system these days, so the cheaper they can make them, the more profit they can take home. No one picks a car on which as the better nav system, so there's no reason to try and have the best.

Matthew

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#275871 - 23/02/2006 16:26 Re: MP3Car.com's new StreetDeck [Re: matthew_k]
hybrid8
carpal tunnel

Registered: 12/11/2001
Posts: 7738
Loc: Toronto, CANADA
And you don't think this can be built for less in volume? They're retailing the kits for $1700. There's a lot of wiggle room once you ramp the volume, and especially after a cost-reducing design round. BTW, Nav options range up to CAD$5000 - at least that's what the option cost from BMW on their cars.
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Bruno
Twisted Melon : Fine Mac OS Software

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#275872 - 23/02/2006 16:43 Re: MP3Car.com's new StreetDeck [Re: hybrid8]
matthew_k
pooh-bah

Registered: 12/02/2002
Posts: 2298
Loc: Berkeley, California
Quote:
Nav options range up to CAD$5000

Here in the US BMW's nav options range from 1800 to 2k USD. The six and seven series seem to come with nav. (Perhaps some levels of 6 and 7 series don't, I didn't check them all. BMW SUVs were ignored.)

I would bet they've got as much wiggle room as empeg did, which is to say, an amount that seems like a good profit to a geek but not much when you try and sell it to someone building cars.

Matthew

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#275873 - 24/02/2006 19:51 Re: MP3Car.com's new StreetDeck [Re: matthew_k]
Happy Birthday larry818
old hand

Registered: 01/10/2002
Posts: 1033
Loc: Fullerton, Calif.
Quote:
No one picks a car on which as the better nav system, so there's no reason to try and have the best.


I know a woman that did...

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#275874 - 08/03/2006 11:37 Re: MP3Car.com's new StreetDeck [Re: hybrid8]
ithoughti
old hand

Registered: 17/07/2001
Posts: 721
Loc: Boston, MA USA
so this thing is pretty cool. I wonder if it can work with Sirius. I'm also wondering if stuff can be loaded on to it other than over a wifi or usb stick. And 60GB doesnt seem like a hell of a lot for something that does mp3 and video.

maybe i'll look into it when my empegs die.
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//matt

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#275875 - 08/03/2006 20:33 Re: MP3Car.com's new StreetDeck [Re: SonicSnoop]
pim
addict

Registered: 14/11/2000
Posts: 474
Loc: The Hague, the Netherlands
Looks pretty useless for Europe:
- the nav is based on Mappoint, but supports the US version only
- XM support but no DAB
- FM does not support RDS

Pim

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#275876 - 09/03/2006 08:11 Re: MP3Car.com's new StreetDeck [Re: hybrid8]
drakino
carpal tunnel

Registered: 08/06/1999
Posts: 7868
The interface on this is seen here running on an Intel ultra mobile concept PC. Seems this might have quite a bit of staying power if Intel is backing them.

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