CarPCgarage.com CarPCgarage.com

Graphics

The CarPCgarage.com graphics are fully customizable by end users. We've chosen to include the following images in the default configuration, but further customization or wholehearted changes are certainly possible.

In general, button graphics should be limited to no larger than 320x75 in order to display correctly when the application is run at a resolution of 640x480. Buttons sized this was will also look good at 800x600, just with more space between the buttons. The default buttons are sized at 280x70.

Please note that the application actually interprets clicks outside of the button boundaries as a click on the closest button, so don't worry about filling every single pixel of your images.

Also note that button text or labels are applied automatically via the application. Although you could always choose to add text to your button, we recommend against this practice because it leads to text that cannot be internationalized easily by the application or other end users.

Here are the images from the default configuration:

  • Blank ButtonBlank Button
  • Contacts ButtonContacts Button
  • Diagnostics ButtonDiagnostics Button
  • Custom ButtonCustom Button
  • Internet ButtonInternet Button
  • Music ButtonMusic Button
  • Navigation ButtonNavigation Button
  • Next ButtonNext Button
  • Traffic ButtonTraffic Button
  • Video ButtonVideo Button
  • Weather ButtonWeather Button

Additional graphics will be posted here along with a customization guide in the near future.

News

News Archive
  • JavaOne 2007

    We have submitted a technical session proposal to the 2007 JavaOne conference titled: "Rev Up Your Car PC with Java Technology". The purpose of the presentation is to show the role of Java technology in the Car PC environment. We also intend to perform a live demonstration of the open-source CarPCgarage.com software if accepted. Check back mid-to-late February for an update on our status!

    UPDATE: JavaOne presentation outline, sample slides and more details are now available HERE!

  • Status Icons

    Status Icons are now available! Any component can issue status messages to the status manager, and the CarPCgarage.com application will automatically notify the user using a status icon in the header of the application.

Coming Soon

  • Bandwidth Optimizer

    Does your Car PC (like most) only have limited internet connectivity? Need to optimize the bandwidth available to synchronize your latest MP3s and video content? Then you'll love the "Bandwidth Optimizer" feature, which allows you to prioritize your downloads on a component by component basis. Check back at the beginning of March for an update on this feature!

  • GPS Server

    Need multiple applications or components to share your single GPS receiver? The "GPS Server" feature will allow you read NMEA coordinates from your GPS module and then re-broadcast the messages in real-time to any interested applications, effectively allowing you to share GPS location information with a variety of simultaneously running applications. Check back mid-March for an update on this feature!

  • Bluetooth Calls

    Soon you'll be able to initiate phone calls from the Contacts component using your Bluetooth enabled mobile phone. Check back mid-April for an update on this feature!