Introducing the MeshMobile…
[pronounced like Batmobile]
The MeshMobile is the latest addition to my device mesh – enabling my car to be always connected to the rest of my PCs, Macs, Media Centers, and mobile phones. It is essentially a carputer running an instance of the Live Operating Environment, and software which uses Live Framework to enable the car to become an integral part of the mesh.
The MeshMobile took about a month of hardware/software design… and about 3 weeks of fabrication and installation. In a nutshell, it’s a miniPC platform, running Vista as the base OS, Live Operating Environment, Centrafuse shell with some custom extensions to plug-in Mesh functionality. Of course, the ultimate carputer is part of the ultimate pure bread of air-cooled engineering marvels… the 993 Turbo.
So, what can it do (besides going from 0-60mph in 3.7 seconds)… the MeshMobile essentially has completed access to all Live Operating Environment functionality, including access to services such as identity, synchronization, peer-to-peer, mesh applications, etc. Using these…
- The MeshMobile automatically synchronizes multiple data types such as music, videos, and pictures within the mesh. For example, when I add a new music album to my collection at home, the next time I hop in the car that album is automatically synchronized locally to the vehicle and is available within the car’s music collection.
- The MeshMobile automatically reports its location into a Live Folder within the mesh. Every few seconds a set of GPS coordinates (with their Virtual Earth link) are dropped into a Live Folder which is then shared with a select group of folks who can view the vehicle’s location at any point.
- The MeshMobile web browser synchronizes its Favorites links with the rest of the devices in the mesh.
- It can log all relevant activity in the vehicle and synchronize across the rest of the devices in the mesh.
- It can send out notifications with mesh News, SMS messages, etc.
- Has complete phone/address-book integration.
- Also working on integrating its night-vision camera, and ODB-II diagnostics in the next rev.
- … and lots more.
Check out the Channel 9 video for more info: http://channel9.msdn.com/posts/Charles/Ori-Amiga-Mesh-Mobile/
So, what type of hardware is in the MeshMobile…
| Base System | AOpen miniPC Duo MP965-D |
| | - 165(W)x50(H)x165(D) mm
- Intel Core 2 Duo Mobile 2.0GHz T7300 (45nm)
- Intel GM965 + ICH8M Chipset
- 4GB DDR2 SODIMM 667 Memory
- 250GB SATA 5400 rpm, 8MB cache |
| | |
| Power | - 90W (19V, 4.74A) AC Power Adapter
- Two-phase voltage stabilization
- Carnetix PNX-P1900 Dual Output
- 140 watt 12v DC-DC Regulator |
| | |
| Video / Display | - GM965 chipset (Intel GMA X3100)
- DVI-i Port
- D-Sub Port (via DVI to VGA Adapter)
- Multi-TV Out (Composite, S-Video, YPbPr)
- Mp3Car 2008 7'' Transflective LED
Backlit Sunlight Readable Touchscreen |
| | |
| Networking | - WiFi 802.11b/g USB Mini-Adapter
- AT&T USB Connect 3G
- Bluetooth |
| | |
| GPS | - BU-353 Weather-proof GPS Receiver |
| | |
| Microphone | - Andrea Electronics Microphone DA-350 linear multi-element
array microphone |
| | |
| Accessories | - SPEC Research RF Wireless Mini Keyboard, Optical Trackball
- Griffin Powermate Volume Knob
- CCD Infrared 'night vision' camera
- Zune mini-audio jack |
| | |
| Software | - Vista Ultimate SP1
- Live Framework Client Runtime
- Centrafuse 2.0 |
The CAD-designed custom fabrication for all the hardware and wiring was done by Benchmark Motoring.
Ori Amiga is the Principal Group Program Manager of the Live Developer Platform team responsible for driving the developer platform efforts across the Live Platform Services (LPS) group including Microsoft’s new Mesh platform. He joined Microsoft in 1999 as a Program Manager in the Enterprise Server division. In 2002 he transferred to the Mobile and Embedded Devices division, and drove the development platform offering for Windows Mobile. In 2004 he continued his efforts driving the mobile platform as the Group Program Manager for the Visual Studio for Devices team in the Developer Division. Most recently, Ori was the Group Program Manager for the Visual Studio Tools Platform team, managing tactical and strategic planning and execution of the product team driving the Visual Studio 2005 release. In his spare time, Ori is an avid traveler, enjoys motoring, gaming, and tennis.
