Hualingan DVD/NAV

[GettinFishy]

Has anyone tried out one of these radios yet? The UI seems really nice and has a OEM look and feel.

http://en.hualingan.com/html-en/prod...avigation.html

Here a video of it:

[makrop]

In for potential reviews/convo. I really want a viable double-din option to work and this definitely has an OEM look about it. I had the dynavin for my e46 but I hate the look of it on the 1er and how it cuts our already-small and weak air vents in half.

[GettinFishy]

Yeah I agree the dynavin system doesn't look very nice. But since this is a Chinese system the hardware might not be all that great. Like if they use cheap screens they might not function well in heat or the touch calibration may be off. I guess someone will have to bite the bullet and give a proper review.

[makrop]

Originally Posted by GettinFishy

Yeah I agree the dynavin system doesn't look very nice. But since this is a Chinese system the hardware might not be all that great. Like if they use cheap screens they might not function well in heat or the touch calibration may be off. I guess someone will have to bite the bullet and give a proper review.

Well the site says a 1yr warranty on all working parts, maybe that includes a refund if you dont like it? haha. Also claims to have 1080p display.

[GettinFishy]

Id be curios as to how easy it would be to flash the device with my own windows CE version or atleast make changes to the current version.

[shah269]

I drive

Italian hardware mated with Dutch programming.......

When was the last time you woke up and said....yes...those Italians know just how to assemble electronics! And the Dutch...they are tall and have a thing for bong hits....why not let them do the programming for the nave unit....what could go wrong?

no offense to anyone from Italy but look you had the Marconi and that was it....
And the Dutch...need I point out the Australia issue?

[Adam135]

Originally Posted by shah269

I drive

Italian hardware mated with Dutch programming.......

When was the last time you woke up and said....yes...those Italians know just how to assemble electronics! And the Dutch...they are tall and have a thing for bong hits....why not let them do the programming for the nave unit....what could go wrong?

no offense to anyone from Italy but look you had the Marconi and that was it....
And the Dutch...need I point out the Australia issue?

And now back to your regularly scheduled thread

[makrop]

Originally Posted by shah269

I drive

Italian hardware mated with Dutch programming.......

When was the last time you woke up and said....yes...those Italians know just how to assemble electronics! And the Dutch...they are tall and have a thing for bong hits....why not let them do the programming for the nave unit....what could go wrong?

no offense to anyone from Italy but look you had the Marconi and that was it....
And the Dutch...need I point out the Australia issue?

whatttt?

[GettinFishy]

Well I contacted them and they will not release the source code to the system which kinda sucks but they did say it is easy to flash your own version of Windows CE on the system. I'm curious to see how hard it would be to use there existing libraries.

[pinmagic]

Originally Posted by krop135i

Well the site says a 1yr warranty on all working parts...

Yes, but no warranty on non-working parts.

Originally Posted by krop135i

Also claims to have 1080p display.

Actually, it says "Support HD video with 1080P". Is that the same thing, or does it just mean it can play hi-res videos, albeit at a lower res? Frankly, if they're claiming this has a 1080 screen, I'd be very suspicious of that claim, and any of their claims.

[makrop]

Originally Posted by pinmagic

Yes, but no warranty on non-working parts.

Hahaha I didn't even think twice about that wording...

[shah269]

Originally Posted by krop135i

whatttt?

Yup yup boys and girls.
I drive is Denzo electronics matched with TomTom coding when it comes to GPS and the like.
Ever wonder why I drive is so clunky and chunky and well lost most of the time?
Look at who programmed the darn thing and who put it all together.
Makes you wonder why they went with them? But such is life…until someone figures out how to hack the system and upload a more modern more user friendly version of software on existing Idrive hardware.

[pinmagic]

Originally Posted by shah269

But such is life…until someone figures out how to hack the system and upload a more modern more user friendly version of software on existing Idrive hardware.

I've told the story here before, but it bears repeating - when I complained to my BMW Service Advisor about the crummy quality of the iDrive GPS, he told me that there had been a comparison of 26 GPS systems - and the BMW system came in 26th.

[shah269]

Even the scroll for zooming in and out is screwed up...left to zoom in and right to zoom out? WTF! WHY!
And why is it when i'm doing voice instructions it goes from city to go....? WTF!
City, street, house number and then we go.....

Sight....must have been a friday design in wooden shoe land!

[cheshirecat79]

IMO, the Parrot Asteroid Smart is heads and shoulders better than this unit.

[GettinFishy]

Doesn't have that OEM look tho. I think i'm going to bite the bullet and buy one of these things and write my own GUI for it. Hopefully the hardware will hold up to Florida temperatures.

[makrop]

Originally Posted by GettinFishy

Doesn't have that OEM look tho. I think i'm going to bite the bullet and buy one of these things and write my own GUI for it. Hopefully the hardware will hold in to Florida temperatures.

+1

I'd almost rather sacrifice performance/functionality in order for it to look OEM as long as it isnt complete crap and will still do what I want it to (even tho Nav isnt a double din for the 1 series, still retains similiar looking buttons and finish).

Go for it man! I'll be waiting on a review...

[GettinFishy]

Yeah I think ill give it a try for sure, I'm pretty confident that I can get the media functionality done (DVD,CD, Radio, USB). Dealing with other things like the CAN BUS for steering wheel controls may be more difficult but they managed to get it done so I know its possible. Ill have to look for some open source NAV software out there to use with the system also.

[makrop]

Originally Posted by GettinFishy

Yeah I think ill give it a try for sure, I'm pretty confident that I can get the media functionality done (DVD,CD, Radio, USB). Dealing with other things like the CAN BUS for steering wheel controls may be more difficult but they managed to get it done so I know its possible. Ill have to look for some open source NAV software out there to use with the system also.

I did the install myself on a dynavin double din unit in my e46 and it was a breeze. But everything was plug and play and color coded, including steering wheel controls. No idea if this one would be the same. You might check into dynavin before pulling the trigger... Its not a double din and tries to imitate the stock location, I just hate the way it looks and how you lose your stock radio display and just have random buttons thrown in that spot instead. But it would be plug and play and it is a great system (at least it was on my old car and that was 4 or 5 software versions ago).

This one looks to be pretty similar to the e46 dynavin with relocating the HVAC down a "section". You might need to find a new bracket to do that. No idea if everything will be as easy plug and play but im sure it can be done.

Also, the nav software for dynavin is HIGHLY customizable. Its all loaded onto an SD card and you can change just about anything. Just so you know.

[D.I.P.]

looks good but where would one place the seat heater buttons?

[makrop]

Originally Posted by D.I.P.

looks good but where would one place the seat heater buttons?

Well for those with the buttons as part of the HVAC, it wouldn't be a problem but otherwise idk, hadnt thought about that. I remember seeing a thread somewhere about someone who relocated them up near the dome light and somehow mounted them there. So I guess there's options, just have no idea how you would do it.

[GettinFishy]

I don't have the heated seats so i'm not sure what the control panel looks like for it, but there are other version of this stereo.

This one is for heated seats I guess:
http://en.hualingan.com/html-en/prod...igati+MP3.html