Stealth Mini PC in BMW

After 6 months of trial, I finally found the perfect PC for my 535i. The Stealth.com LPC-460.

Link to specs: http://www.stealth.com/littlepc_460_mobile.htm

Features:
Built for Mobile, In-Vehicle Computing
Start Up/Shut Down Safety Feature
DC Power Input 10V-26VDC
Powerful Intel Core 2 Duo Processors
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
3D Graphics with 16x9 Capability
Built-in Gigabit LAN, USB 2.0,
1394a Firewire, Audio, Serial, Video
Low Profile Rugged Aluminum Chassis
Slim Slot Loading Optical Drives
Solid State Hard Drives (SSD) optional
Windows 7 & XP Pro Compatible,
*other O/S Options Available

Dimensions:
5.7"(W) x 9.9"(D) x 1.65"(H)
(14.6 x 25 x 4.2 cm)



I turned my car into a mobile office with a rear display (Touch panel) my passengers can use while I am driving. The car has:


CarFi on board: Autonet Mobile
Slingbox
Skype
Google Talk/ Video Chat
Netflix
Windows Media Center
Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft Office with voice translater
Optical drive to play movies
Voice activation: Google search and video chat.
Safe driving, no physical input. Say "Home Depot" and you're on your way.
900 TV Channels if connected to FiOS.

Windows 7 with 5 input options, including voice:


Google home page, with GoogleTalk chat session:


Logitech Webcam covers both front and rear passengers:


Full internet capability:


Rear seat touch display:


Slingbox works great


Many thanks to Jackson, Jeff and the great people at Imagine Audio for the professional installation. http://www.imagineaudio.com/

Interesting, but gien the kind of apps you are using on that PC, why not just keep a Samsung Galaxy Tablet or iPad in the car?

Originally Posted by Stealth.Pilot

Interesting, but gien the kind of apps you are using on that PC, why not just keep a Samsung Galaxy Tablet or iPad in the car?

Because this is hands free. Also, I am using lots of peripherals including camera, touch pad, wireless keyboards, etc. Here is the steering wheel mouse. In the rare event I need to move the cursor manually, I don't have to take my eyes off the road, or my hands off the wheel.

That looks very nice, how did you hook it up to the Idrive screen, the power and antenna of the car.

Originally Posted by Sophisto

That looks very nice, how did you hook it up to the Idrive screen, the power and antenna of the car.

I used a video converter, taking HDMI from the Mini PC, which uses 12v. To integrate with the I-Drive, this switcher made for BMW alternates between the Control Panel and the HDMI input. You can also use the HDMI out from your phone to see the image and sound on your car.



Here is the Autonet CarFi router, and the rear window antenna:



http://www.autonetmobile.com/service/

Installed Outlook on Stealth today, and activated the Windows 7 Speech recognition.

Everything is working with voice commands i.e. say "Start, Outlook" and you have it hands free. Then you can say "Press Down" to scroll through the messages, "Press Enter" to open them, "Reply" and start dictating, "Send", "Close window", etc.

For anybody who hasn't tried the Windows 7 Speech recognition yet, it just needs to be turned on and configured for the microphone. It is blazing fast and accurate.

How do you use Fios while driving?

Why does the screen run at a non-native resolution? The scaling makes it look weird.

Originally Posted by Me530

How do you use Fios while driving?

Try this: http://forums.5series.net/topic/1184...ls-on-i-drive/

Ahhh I forgot about Slingbox.

Originally Posted by Me530

Why does the screen run at a non-native resolution? The scaling makes it look weird.

Because the resolution has to match the Control Display. (RGB)

The rear monitor is set as an extended display, which can be any resolution, usually 800 x 600. (VGA). You can't get that on the Navigation panel.

It looks like it's set to overscan on both screens, you can't go native on one and fill on the other?

Originally Posted by ND40oz

It looks like it's set to overscan on both screens, you can't go native on one and fill on the other?

No, The video driver is set to Maintain Aspect ratio; the CCC is 1280 x 480. By comparison some Japanese makes still have screens that feel lower-res and more "4:3" aspect ratio, which feels old/retro. In fact getting the HDMI to the Composite output was the trickiest part. If you don't do that, , the Extended display identification data (EDID) doesn't synch with the PC.

Originally Posted by Me530

How do you use Fios while driving?

It's mirrored on the rear display and you tap the Menu on the I-Drive to toggle between CCC and PC.

I do the PC stuff when I am parked; Outlook, video, web, etc. The rear touch display is usually on.

The new Logitech Alert Digital Security Systems are really great and high definition. Here are views from inside the car, from the phone and from the PC.

This is truly mind blowing. Great job man! I have never seen an integrated office on wheels like this, unless you are Batman.

I put up this blog with a little more information http://www.realcarpc.com/

Originally Posted by wnrussell

I put up this blog with a little more information http://www.realcarpc.com/

Ok thats just freaking awesome!

Meet for coffee so I can see it in person and you can give me the tour?

Looks dangerous to use when driving.

I would simply opt for a laptop/netbook/tablet with 4G.

No you can't use them while driving, but I don't believe you can use an iDrive PC while driving either.

I would not advertise you have this as if you rear-end anyone, a good lawyer will find you all kinds of liable. Right up there with texting and driving. Amount of damages paid in these cases typically exceed insurance limits. i.e., you could lose your home.

Originally Posted by bighungry618

Ok thats just freaking awesome!

Meet for coffee so I can see it in person and you can give me the tour?

Sure we can meet in NJ. I've shown this to more than one member.

Originally Posted by chuck92116

Looks dangerous to use when driving..

Of course you don't drive and run MS Office at the same time in the Control Panel. Did you see the rear monitor in post #5? You stop the vehicle to use this in the front. It's 1000% percent better than anything else.

Maybe I didn't explain, you tap the I-Drive to cycle between Car and PC.

Originally Posted by wnrussell

Sure we can meet in NJ. I've shown this to more than one member.



Of course you don't drive and run MS Office at the same time in the Control Panel. Did you see the rear monitor in post #5? You stop the vehicle to use this in the front. It's 1000% percent better than anything else.

Maybe I didn't explain, you tap the I-Drive to cycle between Car and PC.

interesting stuff thanks!

if one ordered a BMW without the Nav system, is it possible to mirror your cellphone based google maps on the idrive screen with this nav-tv interface?

what are ramifications regarding functionality, resolution of maps, audio etc?

Originally Posted by EDF30

interesting stuff thanks!

if one ordered a BMW without the Nav system, is it possible to mirror your cellphone based google maps on the idrive screen with this nav-tv interface?

what are ramifications regarding functionality, resolution of maps, audio etc?

Yes, you can plug any device with HDMI out to the car with a Nav-TV.com interface. Here is a link: http://navtv.com/product/90/bmw09.html

I mirrored my RAZR Maxx to the car and you can see everything crystal clear. Phone app, browser, Google Maps, Email, Netflix, etc.



You can set your sound to "External Devices" and the sound will play through the HDMI to the car sound system.

Here is a link showing how to get Slingbox out to the CP from the phone: http://forums.5series.net/f10-discus...-drive-118436/

wnrussell,

You're freakin awesome man! This is totally mind blowing; I would never have the knowledge or intelligence to put something this elaborate together. I have zero need for it but I want it just for the cool factor! Lol

Is this for work?