I just finished getting my Mac mini functional in the Ridgeline. The install isn't entirely finished yet, but it is far enough that the computer is in and running!

The display is an in-dash 1 DIN sized fully motorized VGA touchscreen. I haven't played around with the touchscreen part yet. This screen also has a built-in TV tuner, but I don't have an antenna hooked up to it so its not working yet. I'll also have to pipe the audio to get that working.

The mini itself is sitting in the center console, the VGA and USB cables are routed through the dash and console much like the factory DVD player's wires are run. I'm going to be fabricating a padded mounting system to hold it securely in the console. The great thing about this is that with the lid closed you can't tell that its there. The only hint of something aftermarket is the retracted face of the display in the dash. I'm thinking of adding a lock to the center console to keep it closed, for added security.

Currently the mini is powered with a power inverter, but I'm going to be getting a P-1900 carputer power supply that will hardwire it into the battery so that it can run more efficiently and it'll be able to run even without the key in the ignition.

The other major component that is missing is the audio feed into the head unit, that's going to be an SNHOND3 most likely. I'll probably add a Griffin iMic to the mini to pipe the display's TV audio through and into the head unit.

My GPS unit is BlueTooth, the software that I'm using is Route 66 USA 2004. I'm hoping for an update to the software soon, as I've come across many roads over the past year that aren't in the maps (I've been using Route 66 on my PowerBook).

I have my entire iTunes music library on the mini, and using my cell phone as a BlueTooth modem I can get on the internet at any time, even on the road, and download more songs! I'm also going to rip a DVD or two to the hard drive so that we'll never be without a little entertainment. I currently have a Verizon broadband PC card for my PowerBook and I've heard rumors of a new USB 2.0 version coming out. If that happens I'll have broadband in my Ridgeline!

Once the mini installation is complete the next step is 7" headrest screens with a standalone DVD player for the rear. I'm waiting for the factory matched headrests to come out. Then the rear seat passengers will be able to watch a movie or play games (either with IR headphones or through the head unit) and the mini can do GPS up front, or chic flicks for my wife :D.

The only word I can think of is Amazing!
The talents of our club members never cease to amaze me.

As a fellow Mac user I must congratulate you on a job well done. The mini is the perfect computer for this type of project.

How do you navigate the GUI? Is it via touchscreen?

That's the kind of thing I daydream about but never do. VERY cool!

I wonder how I can mount my G5 in the trunk???

Scott

How cool is that! Great job coolcat.

Hehe, lets see a PC user do that :) Congrats coolcat, very nice. What software are you using for the touch screen? I've got a mini laying around doing nothing and now you got me thinking. Wonder how tough it would be to use my Nav screen for the display.

I'm not using the touchscreen yet. It came with a driver disk but its Windoze only. I was thinking about just plugging it in to see what happens, I wouldn't be surprised if it just worked, that's generally the way things happen with Macs. :)

Is there Mac-specific touchscreen software? I'm going to start looking around if just plugging it in doesn't work.

Is there Mac-specific touchscreen software? I'm going to start looking around if just plugging it in doesn't work.

Not for OS X that I'm aware of.

Absolutely waaaaayyyy toooo coooool!!!!

I love it. Being a looonnngggg time mac user when I get my RL it will definitely have a mini in it (I guess the dealer is going to have to take another $500 off the price (-:). I hope you don't mind the rest of us ripping off your idea but you know what they say - imitation is the sincerest form of flattery or something like that.

Something you could think about if you cannot get the Mac touch screen software is using PC Anywhere with the Mini for the touch screen part. I know, I know, I'd rather cut off one of my arms than use windows but sometimes you just have to do what you have to do.

I think the locking of the center console is a good idea - of course until the thief breaks in to steal your head unit and then finds all these cables going somewhere :p

PLEASE let us know all the details - you are definitely an inspiration. Can you tell us what brand and where you got the head unit/touch screen lcd?

Thanks for the compliments!

I use VPC nearly every day for work, we've got software that is Windoze only and I hate it, but its a reality of the business world.

I don't have a copy of VPC for the mini, and I don't even want one. If I can't get the touchscreen working then I'll probably just stick to a small BT mouse or maybe a trackball (I'm thinking a trackball might be easier to use while driving).

The screen is from http://digitalww.com/DWW-700M.htm

You know how one thing leads to another.

I have a 12" Powerbook as well as a 12" Sony (older one - pretty slow) that I have started to think about installing in my RL when I get it (a week or so). I dropped the Sony onto a carpeted floor and it cracked the screen - got another screen and put it in and it works great, just a bit on the slow side (Pent III chip) so have thought about remoting the screen and using one of those instead of buying a Mini. Problem with the Sony is that it does not have a DVD so would have to buy an external.

It would be easy enough I think to remote the screen by just splicing the screens ribbon cable. I'll see.

Definitely think the trackball would be the best bet.

See what you started Coolcat?? Trouble maker :D

I wonder if the company TrollTouch (http://www.trolltouch.com/) would be able to offer any assistance? I doubt that they woul dhave a hardware solution but maybe some software, perhaps?

Coolcat: That's one great idea. We use an iBook to enter data. I hot wired the back plug in for my printer and all this works well for us. We can enter data in the field and print the information for our growers at that time.

Your works are just the best.

Tiger

hey, coolCAT,

YOU ARE a coolcat in mac. The only thing I could have done do is get a powerbook hooked up to a cell phone and 120v converter.

Does mini mac have a fan? would it overheat in the console? We all would love to see it in person sometime.

All I can say is Way to Go!!! :) :)
Way to cool... wished I had thought of it
Enjoy

I am in heaven knowing that there are this many Mac users who own Ridges and post on this forum. Kudos to you for doing something so amazing with the wonder of the cute, little baby Mac. I call my SE my baby Mac, but this new one takes the cake. It's a reincarnation and rework of the cube, which I loved but never bought. This is truly a Mac for the masses. PC users, here's your chance to escape the clutches of the evil empire. . .

Hey Coolcat,
That is totally awesome.. keep us posted on the working of it.....

I for one think all these driver distractions should be banned, including cell phones, but having said that I love hacks and this is a great hack!

Haven't fired-up any of my Macs in years, but I do have an old Powerbook 100 (the original Sony-built unit) that IIRC is an absolutely perfect color match for our Ridge! Gotta figure out something to do with it! :D :cool: :eek:

Here's a mouse/trackball for you

http://www.cyberguys.com/images/prod_images/P1977A.jpg
www.cyberguys.com (http://www.cyberguys.com)

Grok,
I am using a very similar trackball that I bought at WalMart with my Powerbook. I like it a lot.

I've got a Mac Mini at home, but my kids will kill me if I took it from them. I have one question for you. I have an Alpine in-dash DVD player. I would like to install it in the same area you have yours. Did you fabricate your own adapter (plastic piece) or did you use the adapter that comes with the factory optional MP3 player? I discovered that the adaptor for the MP3 player is available on its own. I'm just not sure if the opening is standard DIN size or not.

Kudos from another Mac fan / Ridgeline owner!

I remember being in a forum for the Honda CR-V about five years ago. We took a poll and the it was interesting that the majority of the forum members were all Mac users.

Hehe, lets see a PC user do that :) Congrats coolcat, very nice. What software are you using for the touch screen? I've got a mini laying around doing nothing and now you got me thinking. Wonder how tough it would be to use my Nav screen for the display.
one PC that can actually be fitted to fit like a small mac is the Shuttle box. it will run either AMD processor or Intel. Here's the link: http://global.shuttle.com/Product/Barebone/brb_default.asp
install a wireless 802.11a/b/g and link up near a hotspot for free internet and or link up with any multimedia server and watch movies in your car.

Wow, lots of activity here today! Thanks everyone for the compliments! I do appreciate it! Playing around with this thing is a lot of fun. I've used it to do some GPS mapping and it really works well, much easier than balancing my laptop on the passenger's seat!

I'll try to answer some of the questions individually:

Blue,

Yes, the Mac mini does have a fan. No, I don't think that it will overheat in the center console. There is quite a bit of air space in there, so even if it is running with the console all closed up it should have a fair amount of ventilation. I'll have it at least somewhat open most of the time though so there really won't be a problem. I'd love to show it if anyone is in the Milwaukee area and has some free time, PM me.

laserfan,

It is much less distracting to have something built-in like this for GPS navigation than to use something like a laptop balanced on the seat or (heaven forbid) your lap. The primary purpose of this for me is the navigation, this was much cheaper than the factory nav system and it is much more powerful as well. I'm not going to go back and forth with you on this argument though, its neverending.

Grok Lobster,

Thanks! That looks really nice, I wonder if they make a BT version? And if it comes in black? Then it would be PERFECT!!!

mugen1,

I did in fact use the attachment kit for the accessory MP3 player. It is a DIN sized mount and opening, though the opening is contoured for Honda's unit so an aftermarket won't fit perfectly. Mounting the way I did makes up for this a little bit because the trim ring covers most of the hole now, but I'm not using the factory mounting points now either which caused a few problems with alignment and stability.

coolcat, that look really good, i've also read that you're doing some dvd. maybe to run some movies without the dvd's. I suggest looking into Daemon tools for mac's. you can rip your dvd's into iso's and have daemon to bring the iso to be read by your mac mini and walla a movie to go without the disc. its an option, i dont really know if daemon tools has something for mac's. You can store maybe all your dvd collection in your HD.

coolcat, that look really good, i've also read that you're doing some dvd. maybe to run some movies without the dvd's. I suggest looking into Daemon tools for mac's. you can rip your dvd's into iso's and have daemon to bring the iso to be read by your mac mini and walla a movie to go without the disc. its an option, i dont really know if daemon tools has something for mac's. You can store maybe all your dvd collection in your HD.

kanji,

I have an application called "DVD Backup" that rips my DVDs to my hard drive and the DVD Player application that comes built-in to Mac OS X has the ability to play a movie from a VIDEO_TS folder, so all I have to do is rip the DVD to a folder on my hard drive and then tell the DVD Player which folder to play from! I've got half a dozen movies on my iPod at all times (how else am I gonna fill up a 60GB MP3 player?). I haven't started ripping to my mini yet but I will soon.

Disclaimer: I use the term "rip" or "ripping" to describe the process whereby I make legal backup copies of DVDs that I have purchased. I do not engage in illegal duplication of DVDs and I would discourage anyone from doing so.

I've got half a dozen movies on my iPod at all times (how else am I gonna fill up a 60GB MP3 player?).

Really? That's one I haven't heard of yet. I also have the 60 GB but I haven't done much but put on music and a few photos. Movies would be great. Where did you get this program?

There's tons of them out there. I use DVD Decrypter.

Is there Mac-specific touchscreen software? I'm going to start looking around if just plugging it in doesn't work.


Ok, I did find some software just for this, check out:
http://www.i3team.com

Also found a site dedicated to installing Macs in cars:
http://www.macvroom.com/

Just found this:

http://www.egalax.com.tw/support-drivers.htm

They've got OS X drivers. I found it through the mp3car.com forums, where there is an active forum on in car Mac installations.

I can't wait to play around with it tomorrow.

I'm having a little trouble with the touchscreen drivers, but nothing that hasn't happened before so I'm sure I'll be able to get it figured out eventually.

I also have found a way to get the mini to put out the 800x480 resolution that is native for the display. That'll be nice because everything is a little squished now.

kanji,

I have an application called "DVD Backup" that rips my DVDs to my hard drive and the DVD Player application that comes built-in to Mac OS X has the ability to play a movie from a VIDEO_TS folder, so all I have to do is rip the DVD to a folder on my hard drive and then tell the DVD Player which folder to play from! I've got half a dozen movies on my iPod at all times (how else am I gonna fill up a 60GB MP3 player?). I haven't started ripping to my mini yet but I will soon.

Disclaimer: I use the term "rip" or "ripping" to describe the process whereby I make legal backup copies of DVDs that I have purchased. I do not engage in illegal duplication of DVDs and I would discourage anyone from doing so.
i was referring to an iso's, i guess i don't really know about mac's that much.
I just rip all my dvd's to an iso's and put the iso in a Ipod or laptop or an external HD. so in case i need to access my library of dvd's i can look up some iso's rather than folders. iso is basically an image of the dvd that i have ripped from personal dvd's that i have bought. it simplify's things than folder of VIDEO_TS file folders. What ever works and simplify things is the key. good job and good luck on the drivers.

Cool cat, nice mod. Any one else with less skill might be interested in this

http://www.tuaw.com/2005/12/13/japanese-mini-dock-put-a-mac-mini-in-your-car/

nice... do you have just that one flip up screen or do you also have headrest monitors installed? i was thinking of just putting in a mac mini and run the whole shabang... (or a modified xbox or something....)