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  • Mac user installs Mac mini with ‘Front Row’ in Ford F-150

    By admin

    Due to its small size, the Mac mini — Apple’s ultra-compact personal desktop computer — has been the target of many car customizers. It fits easily in a glove box or similar compartment, and can create a media entertainment system within a vehicle when connected to video screens and speakers within the car. In October, Apple unveiled a new software package called Front Row for its iMac all-in-one desktop. The software, intended for living room use, makes searching and selecting multimedia content a breeze. Mac user ‘MacXimo’ loaded the software on a Mac mini, and subsequently put the computer in his Ford F-150. MacXimo did a great job of installing the computer out of sight. He installed a convenient 10.2 inch touch-screen LCD monitor for easy access to the Mac mini. In addition to the Front Row entertainment software, MacXimo installed some GPS software to serve as a navigation system. He chose a Keyspan remote to make controlling the computer and selecting content easier. Read on for a picture gallery….

    67 COMMENTS

    1. photo
      PJ1700 days ago

      What software is that for running the GPS?

    2. photo
      Brian1700 days ago

      The software he is running is Route 66.

      B.

    3. photo
      Charlie1700 days ago

      Wherefore is the play-by-play? My F-150 is drooling over the possibilities…

    4. photo
      sidewalkrage1700 days ago

      Nice use of the apple technology. Very impressive. I wonder if a car maker will ever use this as a stock configutation? Lots of moeny in it for all parties. i’d buy this feature

    5. photo
      nathan1700 days ago

      this is super cool, though. I agree with sidewalkrage’s comment. id like to see this OEM in some cars –> would be hella cool

    6. photo
      starlightmica1700 days ago

      BTW, use of Front Row on a machine other than the 2nd gen iMac G5 requires it be, uh, procured by means of questionable legality.

    7. photo
      Left Lane News1700 days ago

      [some comments removed; problem resolved outside of discussion forum]

    8. photo
      pete_c1699 days ago

      nice hack, but does he really need to keep Word and Excel in the Dock?

      friends don’t let friends use Microsoft Office and drive. (actually, friends don’t let friends use Microsoft Office, period)

    9. photo
      salar1699 days ago

      #8… good post. More generally, we don’t want to see Microsoft anywhere near our cars. Its a dangerous security practice. You might crash or something.

    10. photo
      Dan_c1699 days ago

      Has anyone used Route 66 for GPS Nav before? I’m thinking about getting it for my powerbook and would like to know if it’s any good. Thanks!

    11. photo
      Mac Mini Forums1699 days ago

      This looks awesome. If this continues car stereo companies will get a SERIOUS run for their money. Especially when open source hacking gets involved.

    12. photo
      Ruud Steenvoorden1698 days ago

      Route 66 is o.k. to see where you are but it does not give spoken instructions or advance warnings when to take an exit. It is fine for planning, looking up POI etc.
      I use it with a bluetooth GPS receiver. It will keep the current position in the middle of the window if wanted.
      I used it once in a rental car with the laptop on the passenger seat. Risky because of the possible damage when you suddenly break. On the highway it is O.K. but in the city you need to have slow traffic to be able to anticipate on any turnings.
      I recently started using TomTom on a smartphone. Works excelent.
      Would be nice if that was available for the Mac or if there was a PocketPC emulator to run on the mac.

    13. photo
      Gregory Kranich1698 days ago

      This is an outrageously great job. I hope the user who created this masterful hack will see the posts here at some point- and Ford as well. Their announcement of putting DOS machines with touch screens in F-150’s is frightening. With the U.S. auto makers struggling for market share, Ford certainly doesn’t need to go to the added expense of putting IT guys (aka: Windoz Winnies) in every dealership to constantly care for all the problems inherent with those systems. Please, someone email this article to Billy Ford!

    14. photo
      synablog » Blog Archive » Front Row F-1501698 days ago

      [...] This has way more than enough cool points to get its own post: http://www.leftlanenews.com/?p=818 [...]

    15. photo
      hide1697 days ago

      this is great, I have been working for 6 years in telematics developement at mercedes, you did a great job inn your ford!

    16. photo
      Snoopy1696 days ago

      And do you know about the Fastest Mac on Four Wheels?
      http://www.mujmac.cz/art/hw/tatra_mac_eng.html
      It seems better than the Mini in this article.

    17. photo
      MillionMacs1696 days ago

      It’s the creative use of small spaces and beautifully designed hardware that make us think POSSIBILITY!

      Thanks for sharing this.

    18. photo
      Brian Duck1696 days ago

      I think I can assure you, this will get some mileage at Ford.

      Brian Duck
      Webmaster,
      FordMug (Really!)
      http://www.fordmug.com

      FYI, the FordMug was started as an Apple II user group in the 1980′s! I’m told that Apple II’s were programmed by Ford Engineers for use in the dynomometer, which was used to measure engine torque as recent as 2001!

    19. photo
      James Gardner1695 days ago

      Absolutely brilliant.

    20. photo
      Santanu1695 days ago

      Hi, excellent job. Two questions though: How do you power up the MacMini? And did you tried to hook up the car audio system yet?

    21. photo
      Just Jake » Blog Archive » Mac user installs Mac mini with Front Row in Ford F-1501695 days ago

      [...] read more | digg story [...]

    22. photo
      Dirk’s Blog » Netzfundstücke vom Donnerstag1694 days ago

      [...] Mac-Mini + FrontRow = geniale in-Car-Lösung Auf dieser Seite findet man Bilder von einem Mac mini, der illegalerweise mit FrontRow bestückt und an einen LC-Automonitor angeschlossen in einem Ford ein geniales Auto-Media-Center mit Navi abgibt. Mehr davon! [...]

    23. photo
      Lancelot1692 days ago

      Hi!Good job!
      What kind of interface between Mac mini and monitor?Thx!

    24. photo
      djbabyface1692 days ago

      This is awesome
      More pictures of this install here
      http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=61480

    25. photo
      Geek Lantis » Blog Archive » MacMinizando los coches1667 days ago

      [...] Más información: Jeep Gran Cherokee – Ford F-150 – Infinity M45 Sport [...]

    26. photo
      richard Brown1636 days ago

      Hey that’s SO cool but I was thinking one thing…

      Isn’t it illegal because you haven’t got a Rear-view mirror anymore since the screen is replacing it? I wouldn’t mind getting that type of setup myself but if it’s removing the rear-view mirror then I can’t. please enlighten me!

      Richard.

    27. photo
      peter1625 days ago

      Hello i would like to know how do you turn on and off your minimac in the car.?

    28. photo
      Dave1623 days ago

      #26 – richard brown
      ummm… that’s clearly a media display/console positioned for use in the SECOND row… it’s nowhere near the windshield, or the place where (once can logically assume) the review mirror still rests safely. This is a standard OEM product, available anywhere you buy car audio crap (best buy, audiozone, etc)

    29. photo
      Larry1619 days ago

      Now if the software of the car would talk to the mac … so that I could run car diagnostics from the screen.

    30. photo
      extagen1450 days ago

      gotta see this to believe it !

    31. photo
      hgh1444 days ago

      I used to dress up and impersonate our next-door neighbor, Miss Cox. She wore rubber boots, a wool hat, and her nose always dripped.

    32. photo
      hgh1444 days ago

      I used to dress up and impersonate our next-door neighbor, Miss Cox. She wore rubber boots, a wool hat, and her nose always dripped.

    33. photo
      hgh1444 days ago

      I used to dress up and impersonate our next-door neighbor, Miss Cox. She wore rubber boots, a wool hat, and her nose always dripped.

    34. photo
      xenical1443 days ago

      I like the idea of making big budget films with a heart. I like graphic novels more than comic books.

    35. photo
      xenical1443 days ago

      I like the idea of making big budget films with a heart. I like graphic novels more than comic books.

    36. photo
      xenical1443 days ago

      I like the idea of making big budget films with a heart. I like graphic novels more than comic books.

    37. photo
      xenical1443 days ago

      I like the idea of making big budget films with a heart. I like graphic novels more than comic books.

    38. photo
      xenical1443 days ago

      I like the idea of making big budget films with a heart. I like graphic novels more than comic books.

    39. photo
      xenical1443 days ago

      I like the idea of making big budget films with a heart. I like graphic novels more than comic books.

    40. photo
      weight loss1443 days ago

      I think music is what takes the experience off the screen into your soul, into your head.

    41. photo
      weight loss1443 days ago

      I think music is what takes the experience off the screen into your soul, into your head.

    42. photo
      weight loss1443 days ago

      I think music is what takes the experience off the screen into your soul, into your head.

    43. photo
      hgh1443 days ago

      gold style

    44. photo
      xenical1443 days ago

      But I think that the most important thing was to really stop drinking.

    45. photo
      hgh1443 days ago

      An artist is a dreamer consenting to dream of the actual world.

    46. photo
      kill history1440 days ago

      A person who knows how to laugh at himself will never ceased to be amused.

    47. photo
      kill history1440 days ago

      A person who knows how to laugh at himself will never ceased to be amused.

    48. photo
      kill history1440 days ago

      A person who knows how to laugh at himself will never ceased to be amused.

    49. photo
      kill history1440 days ago

      A person who knows how to laugh at himself will never ceased to be amused.

    50. photo
      kill history1440 days ago

      A person who knows how to laugh at himself will never ceased to be amused.

    51. photo
      kill history1440 days ago

      A person who knows how to laugh at himself will never ceased to be amused.

    52. photo
      vig rx1440 days ago

      The person who knows how to laugh at himself will never cease to be amused.

    53. photo
      size pro1439 days ago

      In the music industry, you meet some not very nice people, some very strange characters.

    54. photo
      size pro1439 days ago

      In the music industry, you meet some not very nice people, some very strange characters.

    55. photo
      size pro1439 days ago

      In the music industry, you meet some not very nice people, some very strange characters.

    56. photo
      size pro1439 days ago

      In the music industry, you meet some not very nice people, some very strange characters.

    57. photo
      size pro1439 days ago

      In the music industry, you meet some not very nice people, some very strange characters.

    58. photo
      size pro1439 days ago

      In the music industry, you meet some not very nice people, some very strange characters.

    59. photo
      vig rx1438 days ago

      I have survived by representing these sufferings of mine in the form of the novel.

    60. photo
      vig rx1438 days ago

      I have survived by representing these sufferings of mine in the form of the novel.

    61. photo
      vig rx1438 days ago

      I have survived by representing these sufferings of mine in the form of the novel.

    62. photo
      vig rx1438 days ago

      I have survived by representing these sufferings of mine in the form of the novel.

    63. photo
      magna rx1438 days ago

      I too am living as a writer with this polarisation imprinted on me like a deep scar.

    64. photo
      magna rx1438 days ago

      I too am living as a writer with this polarisation imprinted on me like a deep scar.

    65. photo
      fastsize extender1435 days ago

      I feel that its our children who do give us hope because they are the ones who are going to save the world.

    66. photo
      beak1429 days ago

      re: rearview mirror concerns

      Actually, in almost all U.S. jurisdictions, inside mirrors are not required in pickup trucks (and not even passenger cars in some states), in that trucks are considered cargo vehicles and consequently it is assumed they will often have payloads that obstruct the inside mirror anyway.

      re: mobile macs

      Has anyone done this with an in-dash touchscreen unit? That’s what I want. I have an Explorer with the 4″ high stereo slot and would love to have that filled with an nice mac’d touchscreen.

      An interesting sidebar about vehicle requirements: when I lived in Indiana 10 years ago I discovered seatbelt use was NOT required in pickup trucks. Seems the farmers have a strong enough voice there they got an exemption when the law was passed. Their position was that their farms are so huge in the midwest they often have to use public roads to travel between the different sections, and didn’t want to have to worry about it everytime they went to check the corn.

    67. photo
      Het leven van Tomaski » Blog Archive » Mac Mini met Front Row in Ford F-1501345 days ago

      [...] Mac-gebruikers zijn echt tot knappe dingen in staat, de hard- en software van Apple laat het dan ook toe. Een enthousiateling heeft een Mac Mini onzichtbaar in de wagen [ingebouwd], met een mooi bijpassend inklapbaar scherm van 10.2 inch, dat op het plafond gemonteerd is. Knap, echt knap. Via de aangekochte GPS-software, heeft hij nu een overzichtelijk scherm om te weg te volgen. En voor kids kan er altijd wat muziek of een filmpje bij! [...]

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Recently Commented

  • Mark KleisHow very weird, I must have missed that in the presentation they gave us. Good
  • saabaru1LeftLane has every right to limit links, they are not here to spread the love
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  • Welty RoundelI wished him well on the last post, (and was sincere) How many well wishes
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