MacVroom

Contrary to some reports of the Mac mini’s demise, Apple updated our little buddy with 1.83 GHz and 2.0 GHz Core 2 Duo processors. The upgraded Mac mini includes up to 2GB of RAM, integrated GMA 950 graphics, gigabit ethernet, 802.11g wireless and bluetooth 2.0. You can also upgrade to a 160GB hard drive for all your music and video needs.

Here are the two updated configurations…

1.83GHz: Combo Drive Model

• 1.83GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
• 1GB memory
• 80GB hard drive
• $599.

2.0GHz: SuperDrive Model

• 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
• 1GB memory
• 120GB hard drive
• $799.

Both models are available now.

The Mac mini comes bundled with the amazing new iLife ‘08, Front Row and includes the Apple Remote (a nice little companion for controlling a Mac’d Ride). Another sweet accessory, just announced by Apple is the new ultra-slim, anodized aluminum wireless bluetooth keyboard. The keyboard features special function keys for one-touch access to Mac features like play/pause, volume, etc. The keyboard looks sleek and compact for stashing away under a car seat when not in use. The new wireless keyboard retails for $79.

Our buddies over at RouteBuddy Ltd. have just released an major upgrade to RouteBuddy. Here’s what they have to say about the 1.3 update…

RouteBuddy Ltd is pleased to announce the release of RouteBuddy 1.3, a major update to their powerful GPS mapping program for Mac OS X.

RouteBuddy provides native Mac OS X support for Garmin and NMEA GPS devices, and allows users to manage and display their GPS data using high-precision vector-based road maps.

This release provides turn-by-turn routing, and visual navigation to waypoints or points of interest. Navigation support includes off-route recovery, and spoken turn instructions using Mac OS X’s built-in speech synthesis.

Route information now includes turn instructions, fractional miles, and the display of road names on mouse hover.

RouteBuddy 1.3 is available immediately, and a free demo can be downloaded from http://www.routebuddy.com/download/

The RouteBuddy Application costs US$99.50, and requires Mac OS X 10.4 or later. Maps are available for a number of different countries, priced from US$39.50.

Full details are available on their website.

German magazine Focus is claiming that Apple is working with Mercedes on a car navigation and sound system that will be introduced in 2009.

The system is reported to include navigation, communication and maintenance. Mercedes will exclusively offer the new Apple system for six months (presumably followed by other auto manufacturers). The article also mentions the possibility of Google maps being the source of navigation data.

You can read a translated version of the article here.

While this story is primarily a rumor at this point, it is easy to see how Apple could use technologies already available in current products, like the Mac mini, iPod and AppleTV, to build such a system.

German car customizer, Mattes Interieurtechnik, has created a customized Mercedes CLS with a nicely integrated iMac personal computer in the rear seats.

The iMac’s compact all-in-one design lends itself to such an installation, and the firm makes sure the integration is complete with slick leather covering around the machine.

A wireless mouse and keyboard mean there are no exposed wires to contend with. Of course, the customized CLS also gets a completely revised interior, with some pretty fancy upholstery and trimmings.

To see more, click here!

The new GPS-enabled mapping application, that we mentioned a couple days ago is now available.

RouteBuddy is a GPS mapping application for OS X. All the essential functions of your GPS device are supported; all you need is a Mac, a GPS, and of course RouteBuddy.

Features include:

• Downloading and Uploading Waypoint, Route and Track data
• Searching Map data with FastSearch
• Recording live GPS data and tracking your route
• Connect multiple GPS devices to your Mac
• Open several RouteBuddy Map pages at once
• Viewing and Printing full-screen maps
• Smooth Synching of your data with your GPS device
• Buying Road mapping for Worldwide countries
• Exchanging RouteBuddy map data with other users
• Harnessing the power of Google Earth and Google Maps from within RouteBuddy
• Share Geocache and other location data
• Import Geotagged URLs from the major online map services
• Add useful Meta Data to your Maps and Waypoints
• Post RouteBuddy URLs online to share with other users

RouteBuddy is compatible with USGlobalSat GPS devices, Garmin USB GPS devices and also supports standard NMEA communication.

A fully functioning watermarked demo is available on their site. RouteBuddy retails for $99.50 and maps range from $39.50 to $69.50.

Full details are available on their website.

It looks like us Mac users are finally getting a robust GPS-enabled navigation solution for our Mac’d rides! The new application is called RouteBuddy and has many of the features that you would expect from a navigation application like live tracking of GPS data, instant recognition of GPS devices, and the personalization of waypoints with notes and custom icons.

RouteBuddy also imports GoogleMaps and Yahoo Maps GeoTagged URLs as well as instantly viewing your location in Google Earth or Google Maps.

RouteBuddy was specifically built for the Mac and OS X by a team of Macheads, who were frustrated with the lack of a decent GPS solution and decided build their own.

The application is due to launch next week and you can currently check out their teaser website (which will be continually updated up until launch) to see what cool features are in store.

Update: Now Available!

MacVroom applauds the RouteBuddy team for taking the initiative to fill this much needed segment of the Mac market and can’t wait to get our hands on a copy of the application. We will have a full review as soon as the application is available.

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I’d like to apologize to the readers of MacVroom.com for the lack of posts over the past couple months. The MacVroom team has been extremely busy with our new startup company - ContentRobot. Fear not, we have adjusted to our new work schedule and we are back! We even pulled out our Toyota MR2 and are excited to continue documenting our install. We also have plans for another detailed Mac mini install, and a couple other cool things up our sleeve, so stay tuned!

We’d also love to hear from our readers on the types of stories you’d like to see on MacVroom. Leave your requests over in our forums or shoot us an email.

Thanks,
Dana Rockel
Publisher, MacVroom.com

Matt Burriola installed a Mac mini into his 2005 Mazda 3 sedan and documented the entire installation process. His goal for his project was to create a system with better than stock sound and capability, while maintaining a clean, stock appearance.

Despite not using an Apple since high school, Matt was inspired while doing other mods to the car (adding window tint and an alarm), and decided to go for it.

First, Matt took apart his cupholder assembly, cigarette lighter panel, and the center console. Once in there, he thought that the Mac mini was too big too fit in there without a bunch of hacks, and decided on a glove box install instead.

Next, he removed the stock radio and was left with a vast space, which is where he installed a 7″ Xenarc 700TSV touch screen. It also provided ample space behind the screen to stash the CarNetix P1900 power supply.

Matt highly recommends a wiring harness if you plan to completely remove your stock head unit from your Mazda 3. He used a Metra 70-7903 harness to make speaker connections on the pigtails. That way if you ever need to go back and use the stock radio, you just unplug this harness and replace your old stereo. He used the power feed from the Metra harness to feed the valet switch, which controls the sleep mode of the CarNetix P1900.

He used a 3-position switch to provide greater control over the sleep state of the CarNetix P1900 and Mac mini. As installed, if the switch is in the middle position, then the center wire stays at 0 volts and tells the P1900 to sleep the Mac. In the downwards position, the car’s ignition state will control the Mac’s sleep state. In the upwards position, the P1900 is getting constant 12v on the ignition wire (regardless of actual ignition state) so you can run the computer even with the car off. Matt does this when he wants to sync his iTunes over the wireless network.

Since he completely removed the stock head unit, he needed a way to get radio back into the system. Using a Griffin Radio Shark, he re-cased the guts into a small project box, de-soldered the original copper FM antenna wire, and soldered a short wire to the positive contact on a Motorola socket. Now the stock radio antenna can plug right in, it provides greatly improved FM reception.

A Griffin PowerMate controls volume for the entire system and casts a cool-looking blue glow that contrasts nicely with the red glow of the stock Mazda 3 controls.

Specs

• Auto: 2005 Mazda 3 sedan
• Mac mini configuration: 1.25 GHz, 40GB hard drive, 512MB SDRAM, AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth
• Display: 7″ Xenarc 700TSV touch screen monitor
• Input devices: Apple Wireless Keyboard, Apple Wireless Mouse, Griffin PowerMate USB Controller
• Other peripherals: Belkin 4 port USB 2.0 powered hub, Griffin Radio Shark radio module (modified), USGlobalSat BU-353 USB GPS Receiver
• Powering: CarNetix CNX-P1900 power supply with CNX-P5V 15 Watt +5V Regulator
• Audio: No stereo head unit, Kicker KX-200.4 4 channel amplifier, installed under driver’s seat, Kicker KX-250.2 2 channel amplifier, on back of rear seat in trunk, Kicker Solo Baric 10″ L5 Subwoofer, dual 2-ohm voice coils wired in series, Kicker single 10″ vented enclosure
• Installation Accessories: Metra radio install kit for Mazda 3 (99-7504) - modified for use as screen bezel, Metra radio wiring harness (70-7903)
• Software: TatraApp, iTunes, RoadNav

If anyone is looking to install a Mac mini in their Mazda 3, head on over to Matt’s site to see more pictures and learn exactly how to do it. Nice job Matt!

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Check out this sweet Mac mini install inside a 2006 BMW 325. Hal Fitzgerald spent four months hunting for the right installer to complete his project and the results are impressive.

All the computer hardware including the Mac mini CPU, a Newertech MiniStack 250GB drive with USB and Firewire hub, and a Carnetix P1900 power supply are mounted in the trunk where the CD changer would normally go. The audio is fed out of the Mac mini right into the factory 1/8″ changer input. Hal had a custom mount built to support the 7″ Lilliput touchscreen.

“I couldn’t find anything that was going to let me mount the screen exactly where I needed. With the custom mount, it’s now low enough on the dash so I can still see my dashboard and windshiled completely. I wanted the install to be minimally intrusive to the aesthetics of the car and also wanted to be able to return the car to its original state very easily. There is only one small hole in the front dash panel behind the screen. The center console piece just popped out and we fabricated a decent looking piece of plastic to fit into its place.”

A Keyspan Express Remote controls the system (and was purchased on ebay for $5!). Hal ripped the electronics out of the IR receiver and mounted it under the AC/stereo unit where it is almost invisible.

Apple’s Front Row and iTunes are running on the Mac mini for video and audio playback. A Sony Ericsson s710 bluetooth cell phone uses Apple’s Address Book to display the caller ID on the screen when a call comes in. You can simply answer or ignore the call via the touchscreen - no more looking down at the phone.

Hal’s next step is to add GPS and maybe a Griffin Radio Shark for FM radio reception.

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Amazon.com is offering $25 off the new Intel-based Mac minis via mail-in rebate. This offer ends tomorrow (March 21st), so head on over and save a few bucks…

1.66 GHz Intel Core Duo Mac mini
1.5 GHz Intel Core Solo Mac mini