Here's everything I used to build mine.
EIO.com (really cheap LCD's)
Evation IR Remote Unit Lorty's winamp plugin (Lorty makes the best Winamp plugin you'll ever find. It also has a built in search function so you can search for songs.)
IR assistant - Software for configuring your Remote control. This is the best software for any Remote control Application period.
Winamp - the definative Audio/Mp3 player
Winamp volume equalizer - Normalizes all the output coming out of winamp
And of course, Windows 98SE
Instructions:
- Build your unit. This will include soldering the LCD to a Printer port cable - if it is a HD44780 chip based LCD. Schematics will be on the EIO website. BTW - Lorty's program only supports the HD44780 protocol. This is not an easy task if you haven't done it before. Talk to someone with some Electronic assembly experience. You will need to understand Wiring schematics along with soldering inline potentiometers to your LCD.
- Install the software. Then Configure it (this may take the longest).
Couple of helpful tips.
- Do a lot of research before you get started. search keywords like; mp3car, lcd, hd44780, etc. It took me about 15 - 20 hours of reading before I even started the project. The more you know going into it the easier it will be.
- Disable "bad shutdown" in msconfig. This will make it so when you shut down your computer with the power button it won't run scandisk when it starts back up. - very important.
- Take your time and think things through logically. This is not a one day project. It took me about 40 hours to build my first home unit after all was said and done. Now I've built two of them.
My unit is not a car unit it's a house unit but the build works the same.
Last but not least. Here is a link to my unit. Pictures are not that great but you'll get the idea.
My MP3BOX
If you have any questions feel free to PM me.
Gary