Great idea. Why use an OBD port? I suspect this will compete with other OBD-dependent solutions in the future.
Seconded, I use automatic which means to use this I have to pick one or the other.
Tell HN: We built a solar-charging wireless backup camera for your car
11–20 of 95 posts
Re: Tell HN: We built a solar-charging wireless backup camera for your car
#12Great idea. Why use an OBD port? I suspect this will compete with other OBD-dependent solutions in the future.
It needs to know when the car is in reverse.
Re: Tell HN: We built a solar-charging wireless backup camera for your car
#13Question: what's the user experience like every time you get in the car? Do you need to launch the app? I imagine that's what the OBD portion is for, but I didn't think you could automatically launch apps from iOS. Does the Android app offer a different experience?
Re: Tell HN: We built a solar-charging wireless backup camera for your car
#14ugging into the odb port is dubious. I will surelly never get close to this device. a usb or power socket version would look much more professional.
Re: Tell HN: We built a solar-charging wireless backup camera for your car
#15So, this is really cool, but I park underground both at work and home. I have doubts morning and evening sun is enough to charge this. Also, what if I have something else already in the ODB port? It looks like I have to get a Y splitter or something, but having dangling cords under the steering wheel doesn't seem like a good idea.
Thanks!
Based on our design and testing, the solar should keep the vast majority of users charged up (it has for me!). As a backup we do support USB charging as well.
Re: Tell HN: We built a solar-charging wireless backup camera for your car
#16This page has by far the worst scrolling interaction I've ever experienced.
First up : no scroll bar so there is literally no visual cue that I need to scroll. Scrolling "activates" the next portion of content.
Somewhere around the middle part : I can scroll and see the scrollbar, but WAIT! Another portion of the page starts hiding the scroll and hijacking the scrolling to show something. Uggggh again?
Scroll some more : Scroll bar appears once more! I am free to scroll to the bottom of the page. Nothing makes me hate a webpage more than some shenanigans like this that breaks what a webpage should be.
Re: Tell HN: We built a solar-charging wireless backup camera for your car
#17Question: what's the user experience like every time you get in the car? Do you need to launch the app? I imagine that's what the OBD portion is for, but I didn't think you could automatically launch apps from iOS. Does the Android app offer a different experience?
We've really tried to make this experience as smooth as possible. The product comes with a superb magnetic dash mount for your phone. Frequently our app will show up on your lock screen in iOS, so you can just slide up to launch into the video view.
We will of course leverage whatever tools both platforms provide to make the launching experience as seamless as it can be! We can also take cues from accelerometers, the OBD port, and other sensors, as you mention.
Re: Tell HN: We built a solar-charging wireless backup camera for your car
#18Does anyone know what's the battery life when is not being charged?
With literally zero solar charging and under normal usage, the battery should last over a month. Most people get at least some solar charging, though! If nothing else, at least while they are driving, parked at the grocery store, etc.
Re: Tell HN: We built a solar-charging wireless backup camera for your car
#19Great idea. Why use an OBD port? I suspect this will compete with other OBD-dependent solutions in the future.
What other data will it collect from the port and forward via the link to the phone and futher upstream through the app?
I guess it can be said that the device needs to know when the car is in reverse gear. Personally I hate these rear view cameras that decide for you when you need them and have no way to turned on manually.
I would much prefer more control and less info leakage potential.
I also wonder how frequently would one have to carefully clean the camera lenses and solar panels for it to work, them being situated where they are. What's up with all those devices being designed to operate only on dry sunny days?
Re: Tell HN: We built a solar-charging wireless backup camera for your car
#20This page has by far the worst scrolling interaction I've ever experienced. First up : no scroll bar so there is literally no visual cue that I need to scroll. Scrolling "activates" the next portion of content. Somewhere around the middle part : I can scroll and see the scrollbar, but WAIT! Another portion of the page starts hiding the scroll and hijacking the scrolling to show something. Uggggh again? Scroll some mo…
I agree. If I remember suddenly that there is information at the top or bottom of the page that I want to access now I can't just click on the scrollbar to redirect me, but I have to wait an extra good five to ten seconds just to get back to it.