The aspect ratio is 16:10 with a 1280x800 resolution. A 4x3 aspect ratio is typically too wide and square to fit in most dashboards and really doesn't have that much of a difference between portrait and landscape.

Our goals with the portrait layout is to have the display long and tall to match the dashboard. The 10.1" 16:10 has been our best combination to fit multiple dashboards.

 

I'm really really stuck on the Windows software... The primary intention to a tablet in my dash was to have my tuning & datalogging software in dash so I didn't have to have a laptop sitting on the passenger seat (this is a big no-no at the track)...

I know you guys have a demo/emulator that can run on computers. I love your interface. Would it be possible to use a purchased copy the demo/emulator software on a windows tablet and still use the interface for the air ride, gps, OBD2 info, audio, etc?

 

Getting the front-end UI to work on a Windows system isn't really the challenge. The back-end code is all written to work with Android's services to deal with power cycling on start-up, suspending when the vehicle is turned off etc.

It would be a pretty major rewrite to try and support Windows under the sheets. Even trying to bring up Windows on the same chipset/drivers that Android uses would be required.

So unfortunately at the moment it isn't really something that we can take on. Our main concentration is getting things perfect with Android as our core OS.

 

Fair enough! Thanks a bunch for your help!

 

I love the idea of the 10.1" display in the dash, I'm all in for something like this. I currently have an 05 350Z but I did convert my interior to the 08 interior. You can put me down for interest in the 06-08 model and I'm ready to preorder whenever you're ready to offer that option


Mike

 

Your explanation and reasoning are excellent, but many people reading your post might misunderstand your message. I say this from personal experience.

It’s really about the UI (User Interface) since that sells the product (e.g., Apple’s iPhone and other "I" products) since that is what the end-user sees and buys. But, that axiom fails when a solution reaches across hardware platforms and manufacturers. Microsoft’s Operating System (witness MOS 8) did not become #1 in the smart-phone and pad market.

While Microsoft is reaching, Apple remains too protective and proprietary. That leaves Android as the better choice. It is an interesting battle, and you have hitched your wagon to the best candidate. It's obvious you are expert in this field.

 

Very nice piece of hardware for a good price. I did something similar to my car a few years back to address connectivity issues with the performance and audio upgrades i've done, but your implementation looks much more sleek. I really like that tapered edge and that it's running off of android (that display is removable and i have a set of analog gauges as backup behind it)



Couple of questions for you guys.
1. What kind of hardware (SoC and mem) is running the Android OS? (I really DashCommand but it can get pretty sluggish on slower devices)
2. What version of Android is running and does it have full access to the play store?
3. Does is support A2DP over bluetooth?
4. Any possibility of integrating HVAC controls?
5. Does it support bluetooth 4.0 and wifi? (i have a set of PLX external sensors streaming thru BT, my DSP is connected via BT, internet is via wifi)
6. Any plans for the G35?
7. What kind of storage is on that device?

Thanks in advance for your answers

 

Thanks, we've tried to make it stylish and fit the design of the existing center console.

We have a quad core CPU >1GHz, high performing GPU and at least 2GB of RAM. From our history creating smartphones we know the real value of RAM. Trying to do more than one thing at a time on a low memory device is extremely difficult. Full specs can be found at the bottom of this page: https://brainiac.workshoptwelve.com

Right now we are looking at L, not sure if we'll have M ready at launch or not.

Yes it does. All supported Bluetooth protocols are listed in the specs in the link I posted above.

Right now our policy is to only integrate HVAC if we need to. That is typically driven by if we need to make room for the screen in the console by removing the existing ones. On the 350Z we haven't needed to do that.

Yes it supports both.

We have been considering the G37. We're currently gathering feedback on which vehicles we should support next with the 10.1" snap-in kit.

It has 16GB onboard storage with a micro-SD card on the back to expand the storage to whatever size you need. We also have USB ports where you can connect a USB key as well.

 

You should add a feature where the user can select what image fills the screen.

A zillion point three uses for this for anyone that has basic photoshop skills in order to make a useful image for onscreen display. (pic of their girlfriend, pic of their family, a folder of images of things they need to memorize...can cycle one a day or one an hour..whatever...read them at stoplights...practical jokes on passenger depending on content....overview map image of a new area...favorite photo....etc.)

Is there any way you can relay the screen from an iPhone to play full width or in a window on the Brainiac screen?

Uber cool would be an analog set of dials that could be installed to control certain on screen functions for those that prefer analog feel and no-look usage. (safer and personally I just like a dial to turn, especially one that's well designed and dampened) (I'm dreaming...I know...just throwing this out there for fun)

Random thoughts,

Saved

 

At the moment we don't have a feature to use the Brainiac screen as a secondary screen for your iPhone. We can however run any Android app right on the Brainiac head unit itself.

Is there a specific feature of your iPhone that you are hoping to display on Brainiac?

 

No nothing specific in mind yet but the functionality would be nice to have for iPhone users should someone else have an app they like that's not available for Android.

Saved

 

Hi everyone,

Rob pulled together a photoshop of what the 370Z could look like. Let us know if there are 370Z owners out there who would be interested

 

^^ wow !!!

 

What happened to the AC controls?

Something seems wrong with this, but it's beautiful and I'm sure the final product will be too...but the photoshop just altered reality I think?

Will be about 20% improved once those buttons get stylized as well...so this looks pretty promising.

Saved

 

Looks far better in the Z34 because the console is all one color and doesn't have that complex taper.

 

On the 370Z we would need to take over the Climate Controls. For those that have the Nav package the climate controls are integrated into the same circuitry as the radio controls above them. In the non Nav versions the climate controls are a separate unit. Since they all drive the same systems we figure we would have one solution that has Brainiac control the HVAC.

Our screen positioning still needs some work, as the photoshop is to just get a general idea. The screen would likely move downward slightly to make the area under the buttons smaller. We also looked at the possibility of making the area under the buttons a pocket of some kind. But if we were to move the screen downward slightly the pocket gets smaller and smaller.

So, it's a starting point of what could be possible. Lots of polishing to do

 

Your support and quick response to questions is second to none!

My next question, does your tablet have the ability to play FLAC audio files and stream audio out on bluetooth?

 

Thanks!

Yes Brainiac is able to play FLAC audio files. Android has supported them since version 3.1. You should be able to pair any Bluetooth accessory to Brainiac including something that has a Bluetooth audio profile like a wireless speaker.

 

Check out our latest progress update and vote for which vehicle you would like to see a 10.1" snap-in kit for next!

Blog Post
http://workshoptwelve.com/2016/01/15...hicle-is-next/

 

I don't see the 350z 07-08 on the list so I just put it in others.