The Car PC project has been re-jumpstarted (again) after months of nothingness and no updates. I am currently doing something that I can safely call a step forward the project completion. Right now I am downloading the 16 MB file front end software of the Mazda 3 Car PC, Ride Runner (formerly RoadRunner).. The GUI interface of the whole Car PC thingy…

UPDATE: there! just finished installing it together with WinAmp and the Classic Media Player thing with DivX codec. After setting the path of the players, test it with one of my Divx movies and it worked!

Prior to installing RideRunner, I did manage to install the driver for the TFT LCD VGA color screen monitor (which is also knows as the VM80D TFT LCD VGA monitor)… so the pen and the touch screen monitor now is also working.

Next thing that I am going to do is to configure the USB GPS. Although I have installed it and all, I still have doubt that I did it right…

Till next time! Stay tuned!

Globalsat BU353 USB GPS Receiver Sirf3 Marine/Navigator… simply put, my GPS receiver arrived by mail today. This is the one I bought in Ebay last February 1 if I’m not mistaken.

So, what am I going to do with this Globalsat BU353 USB GPS Receiver Sirf3 Marine/Navigator? Well, I have this project for my car… I will install a computer (car pc) in it and one of the main feature of it will be a GPC receiver so I can track myself anywhere in the planet! (Well, yeah, Luzon, but you got what I mean).

I got everything I need to start that CarPC project.. I got the CPU, the TFT LCD touch screen monitor, the input devices, inverter, GPS receiver and of course the car.

If you want to be updated of the status of my exciting project, you can subscribe to my feed here or visit CarPC (where I will document everything that’s going to happen) and subscribe to my feeds there!

See you!

I have been tinkering with the Mazda 3′s dashboard for a couple of days now. I have been removing a part here and a part there and putting it all back again.

Taking off Emmo’s dash is like taking some sexy camisole of someone for the first time.. You shake and you worried but in nirvana at the same time.

Today though, this afternoon, I completely stripped the dashboard down to just the wiring and all the glutty stuff. I removed the side step that holds the side of the glove compartment. I then remove the glove to remove the silky thingy that hold the screws. When I removed that screws, I managed to pull the whole stereo out.

I then removed the cup holders, the one behind the hand break. Then the hand break cover. When that was removed, I unscrew the one that’s holding the change (barya) box with the cigarrete lighter.

Why did I do this? I want to become familiar with it so I can related to the guys that will be doing the mods of the dashboard.

I installing a car pc on this cool car! Cool!

As a matter of fact, I intend to document the whole process in a blog.. called carpc-101!

Not seeing any photos of the Mazda 3 on this post? Check out CarPC-101.com site soon! We’ll post it there!