Amiga's in cars

11 February 2003, 11:30

I wouldn't be suprised if someone has posted these before or if someone knows the people. I found this while searching for Workbench 2.1?! Anyway after a quick look I couldn't help but read the about the whole projects. The first guy has turned a fairly standard A600 with 2MB of RAM and no hard drive into an Mp3 player, route mapper and games machine for his car! He uses a 4 speed CD-ROM drive for all his software except a floppy disk to start the CD-ROM. http://home.tu-clausthal.de/~utaba/A600/A600-e.html
The other project is linked on the first site, this time its an A1200 030 with 4MB of RAM and an 8GB laptop hard drive. Everything runs off the hard drive, the floppy has been removes to make it boot faster. This one has been heavily customized, he has made his own power supply and written his own software. This is purely an Mp3 player. http://amimpc.world3.net/

Enjoy

(hopefully)

manicx · 11 February 2003, 12:02

Amazing stuff. The Amiga is a computer with endless capabilities. If people believed in the spirit of Amiga a little bit more, everything would be Amiga today. Pitty things are not like that.

Amiga1992 · 11 February 2003, 17:07

Yup, Retroman showed thsi to me on IRC some months ago. Amazing, innit??

11 February 2003, 17:15

But how can a nearly stock a600 play mp3s?????

Amiga1992 · 11 February 2003, 17:28

Try looking at the second link. That parallel port gadget he built does the trick. It decompresses the MP3s instead of the 68000 having to do it.

Echo · 11 February 2003, 17:34

I bet the parallel port decoding device costs more than a portable mp3 player

Nah I think Amiga would make a far cooler games station coupled with some flat panel

11 February 2003, 17:43

The first guy has said he uses "MAS-Player with some modifications for playing the MP3's", whichI don't think he details unless he's just on about the changes he made to the bit rate. Why shouldn't an A600 play mp3s anyway? I assumed if you can find the software the machine is capable.
And the second project makes the first one look simplistic. In case you can't be arsed to read it all, he has customized nearly everything! He made/setup his own leads, power supply, removable HD, remote control system, volume control and has even wrote his own software that you can download! He started to lose me with the specifics, but its still very interesting to read. The only thing I don't like is that he hasn't used it for anything other than mp3s, which seems to me a waste.
If anybody on EAB has done something similar please tell me about it!

11 February 2003, 17:48

Quote:

Why shouldn't an A600 play mp3s anyway? I assumed if you can find the software the machine is capable.

My 030 50mhz machine can't play mp3s at that quality. High CPU power is required to decode that format.

Echo · 11 February 2003, 17:54

Quote:

Originally posted by NytroX86
Why shouldn't an A600 play mp3s anyway? I assumed if you can find the software the machine is capable.

You need roughly 60-70mhz of processing power for decoding 128kbit stereo MP3s.

My A1200 with 68030 @ 50mhz is not fast enough to decode in stereo, but it can decode realtime in mono. It's been years since I downloaded an mp3 player for it - however I do remember it was a pretty efficient player, pure assembler for the decoding etc.

MP3s through a 7mhz 68000? Not on your nelly!

Amiga1992 · 11 February 2003, 20:14

Yup, you need some power. That's where the MAS player device kicks in. I think it's a cheap DSP PCB you have to build, it really isn't that expensive.

www.eyetech.co.uk sells a similar device, for you to play MP3s on any Amiga.

IanS · 12 February 2003, 19:21

An Amiga MP3 player in your car. I'm sure that it's technically very impressive, and as a personal project it's cool... but considering the size and cost of 'proper' MP3 players these days, it seems a bit, well, OTT. Don't get me wrong, I'm not slating the guys talent... just that there are easier/better/cheaper solutions to that problem.

Personally I just use a humble audio cassette player in my car. My god, how archaic!

If you want mobile computing in your car that can play MP3s too, get a gorgeous Sony Clie or (please God, forgive me for what I am about to say) maybe a PocketPC device. If only Psion had made a device the size of a S5 with the specs of the netbook. The next best thing to a portable Amiga IMHO.

Amiga1992 · 12 February 2003, 20:57

Bah, just get an Apple iBook

This space has been sponsored by the Apple Corproaton

IanS · 12 February 2003, 22:51

An Ibook costs more than my car!:eek

Besides, they're a little big to put on the dashboard... but at least it doesn't run windoze.

Amiga1992 · 13 February 2003, 00:02

Big? It's the size of a bloody notepad

.

Besides, that Sony gizmo costs more than my iBook!
Whatever, just get an iPod

Echo · 13 February 2003, 12:58

I'm far too lazy in the 'DIY' area so I just paid through the nose for one of these

kriz · 13 February 2003, 13:20

I got a Mas palyer and its really great, takes care of all mp3 playing .... leaving the cpu to do other things ...

Its not that expensive about £60, I think ... well worth the price ..

Its one of the best hardware items I have bought the last years, I use it on a 4000/060 but you can use it on a stock a500 (add a cdrom, and ya got a good player) .. Full 128kbs stereo sound (the mas player got it own output, not going through paula at all)...

IanS · 13 February 2003, 15:53

Akira my man, I think you must either have a very cheap iBook or the shops round you charge too much for a Sony Clie. As for size, a notepad still wouldn't fit on the dashboard. Well, it might fit... but every time I accelerate it would end up in the back seat!

Oh, how I've missed these little conversations.

Amiga1992 · 14 February 2003, 14:54

DUH! I confused myself with that little pocketsized PC from Sony!A Sony Clié costs around 600USD for the higher model.

Anyway, I paid 999USD for my Apple iBook, which is damn cheap. Yer right about the book ending in the backseat

IanS · 14 February 2003, 15:57

Sigh... I've never had a modern Apple, but I've drooled over the G4s for some time. All I need is the money, and as I may be having a cash windfall soon (unfortunately, not in pleasant circumstances). I've got a long list... including a Sony Clie NRX70 with camera and MP3 player, and an Apple. Maybe.

Knowing my luck, the iBook would exit via the rear windscreen when I pull away at the lights, probably decapitating some poor bugger driving behind. I'll stick to cassettes!

11 February 2003, 11:30	#1
NytroX86 Posts: n/a	Amiga's in cars I wouldn't be suprised if someone has posted these before or if someone knows the people. I found this while searching for Workbench 2.1?! Anyway after a quick look I couldn't help but read the about the whole projects. The first guy has turned a fairly standard A600 with 2MB of RAM and no hard drive into an Mp3 player, route mapper and games machine for his car! He uses a 4 speed CD-ROM drive for all his software except a floppy disk to start the CD-ROM. http://home.tu-clausthal.de/~utaba/A600/A600-e.html The other project is linked on the first site, this time its an A1200 030 with 4MB of RAM and an 8GB laptop hard drive. Everything runs off the hard drive, the floppy has been removes to make it boot faster. This one has been heavily customized, he has made his own power supply and written his own software. This is purely an Mp3 player. http://amimpc.world3.net/ Enjoy (hopefully)

13 February 2003, 12:58	#15
Echo Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: South-West Wales Posts: 382	I'm far too lazy in the 'DIY' area so I just paid through the nose for one of these Attached Thumbnails

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Super Cars 2	mtb	support.Games	8	01 December 2020 00:55
City Cars...	Xenon	request.Old Rare Games	5	22 December 2012 15:24
WEC LE MANS amiga GFX + cars	dlfrsilver	project.aGTW	41	18 April 2011 21:33
Super Cars	frikilokooo	request.Old Rare Games	1	09 February 2008 22:24
Super Cars 1	Chris	support.Games	18	23 January 2002 23:06

11 February 2003, 12:02	#2
manicx Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Athens, Greece Posts: 991	Amazing stuff. The Amiga is a computer with endless capabilities. If people believed in the spirit of Amiga a little bit more, everything would be Amiga today. Pitty things are not like that.

11 February 2003, 17:07	#3
Amiga1992 Registered User Join Date: May 2001 Location: ? Posts: 19,645	Yup, Retroman showed thsi to me on IRC some months ago. Amazing, innit??

11 February 2003, 17:15	#4
oldpx Posts: n/a	But how can a nearly stock a600 play mp3s?????

11 February 2003, 17:28	#5
Amiga1992 Registered User Join Date: May 2001 Location: ? Posts: 19,645	Try looking at the second link. That parallel port gadget he built does the trick. It decompresses the MP3s instead of the 68000 having to do it.

11 February 2003, 17:34	#6
Echo Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: South-West Wales Posts: 382	I bet the parallel port decoding device costs more than a portable mp3 player Nah I think Amiga would make a far cooler games station coupled with some flat panel

11 February 2003, 17:43	#7
NytroX86 Posts: n/a	The first guy has said he uses "MAS-Player with some modifications for playing the MP3's", whichI don't think he details unless he's just on about the changes he made to the bit rate. Why shouldn't an A600 play mp3s anyway? I assumed if you can find the software the machine is capable. And the second project makes the first one look simplistic. In case you can't be arsed to read it all, he has customized nearly everything! He made/setup his own leads, power supply, removable HD, remote control system, volume control and has even wrote his own software that you can download! He started to lose me with the specifics, but its still very interesting to read. The only thing I don't like is that he hasn't used it for anything other than mp3s, which seems to me a waste. If anybody on EAB has done something similar please tell me about it!

11 February 2003, 20:14	#10
Amiga1992 Registered User Join Date: May 2001 Location: ? Posts: 19,645	Yup, you need some power. That's where the MAS player device kicks in. I think it's a cheap DSP PCB you have to build, it really isn't that expensive. www.eyetech.co.uk sells a similar device, for you to play MP3s on any Amiga.

12 February 2003, 19:21	#11
IanS Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Nottingham England Posts: 277	An Amiga MP3 player in your car. I'm sure that it's technically very impressive, and as a personal project it's cool... but considering the size and cost of 'proper' MP3 players these days, it seems a bit, well, OTT. Don't get me wrong, I'm not slating the guys talent... just that there are easier/better/cheaper solutions to that problem. Personally I just use a humble audio cassette player in my car. My god, how archaic! If you want mobile computing in your car that can play MP3s too, get a gorgeous Sony Clie or (please God, forgive me for what I am about to say) maybe a PocketPC device. If only Psion had made a device the size of a S5 with the specs of the netbook. The next best thing to a portable Amiga IMHO.

12 February 2003, 20:57	#12
Amiga1992 Registered User Join Date: May 2001 Location: ? Posts: 19,645	Bah, just get an Apple iBook This space has been sponsored by the Apple Corproaton

12 February 2003, 22:51	#13
IanS Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Nottingham England Posts: 277	An Ibook costs more than my car!:eek Besides, they're a little big to put on the dashboard... but at least it doesn't run windoze.

13 February 2003, 00:02	#14
Amiga1992 Registered User Join Date: May 2001 Location: ? Posts: 19,645	Big? It's the size of a bloody notepad . Besides, that Sony gizmo costs more than my iBook! Whatever, just get an iPod

13 February 2003, 13:20	#16
kriz Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: No(R)Way Age: 41 Posts: 3,185	I got a Mas palyer and its really great, takes care of all mp3 playing .... leaving the cpu to do other things ... Its not that expensive about £60, I think ... well worth the price .. Its one of the best hardware items I have bought the last years, I use it on a 4000/060 but you can use it on a stock a500 (add a cdrom, and ya got a good player) .. Full 128kbs stereo sound (the mas player got it own output, not going through paula at all)...

13 February 2003, 15:53	#17
IanS Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Nottingham England Posts: 277	Akira my man, I think you must either have a very cheap iBook or the shops round you charge too much for a Sony Clie. As for size, a notepad still wouldn't fit on the dashboard. Well, it might fit... but every time I accelerate it would end up in the back seat! Oh, how I've missed these little conversations.

14 February 2003, 14:54	#18
Amiga1992 Registered User Join Date: May 2001 Location: ? Posts: 19,645	DUH! I confused myself with that little pocketsized PC from Sony!A Sony Clié costs around 600USD for the higher model. Anyway, I paid 999USD for my Apple iBook, which is damn cheap. Yer right about the book ending in the backseat

14 February 2003, 15:57	#19
IanS Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Nottingham England Posts: 277	Sigh... I've never had a modern Apple, but I've drooled over the G4s for some time. All I need is the money, and as I may be having a cash windfall soon (unfortunately, not in pleasant circumstances). I've got a long list... including a Sony Clie NRX70 with camera and MP3 player, and an Apple. Maybe. Knowing my luck, the iBook would exit via the rear windscreen when I pull away at the lights, probably decapitating some poor bugger driving behind. I'll stick to cassettes!

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)