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OS X in a honda?

E

ezkimo

macrumors regular
Original poster
Sep 12, 2002
216
0
Honda announced a concept car, called the Studio E. The car has a computer which I think is built into the wall that runs OS X.
I have to say the car is pretty damn ugly.

Article here
and here

The Honda Studio E concept vehicle, a panel-side version of the all-new Honda Element, transforms the outdoors-minded Element into the ultimate mobile entertainment platform geared more for city nightlife and street performance.

Studio E is built around the needs and lifestyle of a club DJ and transforms the Element's cavernous interior into a rolling audio and video studio complete with an onboard personal audio computer for mixing tracks and a 42-inch high-definition plasma screen display. The upright and modular exterior styling remain true to the Element, while the panel sides conceal equipment and provide security for speakers and amplifiers inside.

"We looked at opportunities to extend the Element's attributes and a panel-side version seemed like a natural," said Tom Elliott, executive vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "Studio E is pure concept, simply an example of what could be done with the ultimate panel-side Element."

Unlike the production Element, the driver's side features a single door so more space can be dedicated to the built-in equipment in the rear cargo area. Rear cargo doors (instead of a traditional tailgate) provide additional access to the vehicle. Like the Element, the passenger side employs center opening side cargo doors for easy access to the cargo area.

Inside, Studio E features front bench seating and two rear pod seats that flip down from the sides, yet store in a minimum amount of space when not in use. The mobile entertainment system uses a personal audio computer and can mix multiple inputs simultaneously, i.e. turntables and an effects generator or a more traditional guitar, drum machine or microphone could also be attached.

The personal audio computer has its own workstation with keyboard, mouse and a 17-inch liquid crystal display. To play to a larger crowd, a motorized 42-inch plasma screen rotates down from the ceiling and interfaces with the audio computer to display custom visual patterns in step with the music out the back of the vehicle, or it can play DVDs.

The mobile entertainment system transmits more than 800 watts of power to 11 speakers throughout the vehicle ranging in size from 2-inch tweeters to thunderous 10-inch subwoofers located underneath the rear cargo floor.

Studio E's performance extends beyond the high-tech equipment inside. Tuned to be quick and agile, the modified 2.4-liter i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine delivers 190 horsepower and is coupled to a close-ratio 6-speed manual transmission for excellent acceleration.

The city performance-oriented Studio E also benefits from a high performance low-profile suspension with 19-inch wheels, high performance tires, aggressively tuned springs and performance shock absorbers.

The exterior concept maximizes the utility of the Element platform by using solid panels at the rear of the vehicle, which helps add functional space and privacy. The rear cargo doors open from the center for quick load-in and convenient access to the interior.

The interior concept is built around industrial-strength utility with sporty accents throughout. Black nylon material and red alcantera suede are used on the seating surfaces for durability and comfort. The front passenger area has built-in rubber floor mats with raised diamond plate cleats for traction. The rear cargo area, based on the interior of a cargo plane, combines a hard shell plastic base with aluminum rails so large, bulky objects can be efficiently loaded and unloaded. The instrument panel houses a precise 6-speed shifter for the transmission (rally style, in the center of the dash) and the gauges feature sporty red lettering against a black background.

Additional panel-side Element applications include a compact race team transporter (for go-karts or motorcycles), an all-purpose cargo carrier and a concert tour bus for the aspiring rock star.
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lloks like they took an imac 15" screen. one of the pr photos here at apple. and placed it on the side of their car. maybe a little photoshopping but really, are they that dedsperate to sell a car.

think about it. they are using a platfrom that is dying. and has been for the last .... 19-20yrs :D
 
It is NOT a photoshop. It's a real picture. They used Apple because like the car, they want style.

Regards,
Gus
 
Originally posted by Gus
It is NOT a photoshop. It's a real picture. They used Apple because like the car, they want style.

Regards,
Gus
Click to expand...
Prove it. I haven't seen those two pictures except on PowerPage.

They look fake to me because of the second picture. WTF is that!

To me, it's fake unless otherwise proven.

BTW: I don't contest that the SUV itself is real, but the Mac OS X thing on it... looks suspicious.
 
I want one.

I used to have this plan back in the day to convert a cube van into a mobile DJ booth to be able to pull up somewhere and just start a little jam (then take off fast when the cops come).:D
 
Originally posted by MacCoaster

Prove it. I haven't seen those two pictures except on PowerPage.

They look fake to me because of the second picture. WTF is that!

To me, it's fake unless otherwise proven.

BTW: I don't contest that the SUV itself is real, but the Mac OS X thing on it... looks suspicious.
Click to expand...

here is a quote from the honda site on the car:

The personal audio computer has its own workstation with keyboard, mouse and a 17-inch liquid crystal display.
Click to expand...

Since it states that there is a 17 inch display the photo most likely is at least partially legitimate. Whether OS X was actually running on it is a different story.
 
Originally posted by Gus
It was on TechTV Live about a dozen times at the beginning of January. They showed the Honda rep inside with the screen showing OS X and the dock. That's how I know. <snip>
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Whoa. Sweet. Thanks for the link.

I wonder how they did it. PowerBook? Power Mac? etc.

This is sooo what I wanted to do in my crappy Nissan. LCD display with Mac OS X running on an early PowerBook. :D

Yes, everyone is Photoshop-suspicious these days... it's quite easy these days to make fakes, spoofs. We just want hard proof. :)

I'm sold. If they make those SUVs and have them preinstalled with Mac OS X. That'll be my next car. I've always wanted something for my buddies to entertain themselves other than the boring radio. :D And I certainly do not want to hack my car just to run OS X on it. Too much effort.

But that, sweet!
 
Originally posted by MacCoaster

Whoa. Sweet. Thanks for the link.

I wonder how they did it. PowerBook? Power Mac? etc.

This is sooo what I wanted to do in my crappy Nissan. LCD display with Mac OS X running on an early PowerBook. :D

Yes, everyone is Photoshop-suspicious these days... it's quite easy these days to make fakes, spoofs. We just want hard proof. :)

I'm sold. If they make those SUVs and have them preinstalled with Mac OS X. That'll be my next car. I've always wanted something for my buddies to entertain themselves other than the boring radio. :D And I certainly do not want to hack my car just to run OS X on it. Too much effort.

But that, sweet!
Click to expand...

You must have a lot of money if that will be your next car (if and when they make it). It has a 42inch retractable plasma screen and many extras. I suspect it would cost 75k or so if they made it.
 
That's pretty freakin' cool. The biggest downside, IMO, is the plasma screen is so low yer not gonna be able to see it thru a crowd unless the Honda is parked on a platform or something. They went to the trouble to put a plasma screen in there they could've at least put it on an arm that could extend out and raise the screen above the roof.


Lethal
 
No Problem

Yeah, I personally thought that it would've made more sense to have that plasma screen fold down to face inside the vehicle. That way the poeple in the front could just turn around, and the people in the floor in the back could lounge on some bean bags or something.

And it would be cool to do all of that and use OS X in your car all at the same time. Sweet.

Regards,
Gus
 
Originally posted by LethalWolfe
That's pretty freakin' cool. The biggest downside, IMO, is the plasma screen is so low yer not gonna be able to see it thru a crowd unless the Honda is parked on a platform or something. They went to the trouble to put a plasma screen in there they could've at least put it on an arm that could extend out and raise the screen above the roof.


Lethal
Click to expand...

You're thinking of the purpose of watching a movie. That is not at all what the vehicle was designed for. The party wagon Honda was designed from the ground up for a rave. From the sterero to the computer system.
 
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