Press Release
August 30, 2005
Car PC Hacks: Geek Your Ride
Sebastopol, CA--It started with the addition of satellite radio and then
an iPod. Now DVD and MP3 players, navigation systems, and touch screens
are standard in many vehicles. But installing an actual computer in a car
with TiVo-like functionality? Absolutely! "The time for in-car computing
has arrived," says Damien Stolarz--and his groundbreaking new Car PC Hacks (Stolarz, O'Reilly, US $24.95) is the first book to show readers
how to put a PC in their ride and create a powerful mobile digital hub.
Fully illustrated and written by innovative computer hardware hackers and
automobile customizers, Car PC Hacks is a collection of tips, tutorials,
and techniques for installing, displaying, and controlling a car PC. It
shows readers how to use a keyboard touch screen, or voice-activated
in-car computers for things like watching (and even pausing and rewinding)
live TV on the road; videoconferencing on the go; and using GPS to create
a constant travel record.
"Once we get used to features in one part of our lives, we want to be able
to use them everywhere--including in our cars," says Stolarz. People have
come to count on an array of features and choices. "Why shouldn't you be
able to say, 'I like the navigation system in the Infiniti, I think I'll
get that for my Civic'?" asks Stolarz. And people definitely like to
simplify. "When you've got half a dozen different kinds of digital media
sitting in the passenger seat of your car (mobile phone, camera, PDA,
iPod, portable USB memory stick, CDs), you'd like them to be able to talk
to each other. Putting a computer in your car will allow all your gadgets
to work with your vehicle." A car PC can serve as a digital hub for
everyone's favorite must-have devices--and even some they don't yet know
they need.
Anyone, with a little know-how, can put a PC on board. "Traditionally, car
guys don't know computers," says Stolarz, "and computer guys don't know
cars." But by using language that both audiences will understand, Car PC
Hacks bridges that gap. Computer gurus skilled in all things software and
hardware will learn the wiring, power, and connector basics necessary to
get around a car with ease. Mechanics and auto enthusiasts who can install
speakers, amps, and stereos in their sleep but depend on their friends to
fix their ailing computers will learn all the essentials of the
computer/car interface.
Clever, detailed hacks include:
Install a PC or Mac computer that will power on and off just like the car
stereo--and won't drain the car battery
Move an entire audio collection to the car and navigate playlists with a
remote control or touch screen
Install a PC-based in-car navigation system that is cheaper, faster, and
more usable than the factory-supplied setup in new cars
Plug into the car's built-in computer and find out what the "check engine
light" is really saying
Enjoy wireless networking and accessing the Internet from the car
Listen to email, news, and RSS feeds while driving
Run a TiVo-like radio broadcast recorder so favorite shows are always
ready and waiting
Use a game console as a small, quiet, and affordable in-car computer (and
even offering one to every passenger!)
From hooking up and powering up an in-car computer to configuring it to do
countless cool things drivers never thought possible, the ideas in this
cutting-edge guide show readers the possibilities--and how to make them
happen--with a car PC.
Additional Resources:
Car PC Hacks
Damien Stolarz
ISBN: 0-596-00871-6, 384 pages, $24.95 US, $34.95 CAN
order@oreilly.com
1-800-998-9938; 1-707-827-7000
About O'Reilly
O'Reilly Media spreads the knowledge of innovators through its books, online services, magazines, and conferences. Since 1978, O'Reilly Media has been a chronicler and catalyst of cutting-edge development, homing in on the technology trends that really matter and spurring their adoption by amplifying "faint signals" from the alpha geeks who are creating the future. An active participant in the technology community, the company has a long history of advocacy, meme-making, and evangelism.
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