Want your iPhone to have an app for car diagnostics?

Owen

I need people's help. Mods feel free to delete if inappropriate, it's only a valid request until Midnight.

There's a competition on facebook from a company called Funzoo. It's basically if you suggest an idea for an app, and if you win the vote, they'll develop that app. My idea was to create a hardware interface between the iPhone's dock connector, and a car's diagnostic port. The iPhone app would then read in fault codes, translate them into plain english, and could reset them. Handy for the EML lights on your dashboard. It would also be possible to show real time data from the port, such as fuel level, rpm, speed, engine temp, etc.

So here's the clincher, I'm in desperate need of votes by midnight to win the competition and have the app developed. If you want to help, here's what you need to do.

Search for 'funzoo' on FB and become a fan - you can remove yourself from fans later on if you want. Click on their page, click on polls, allow it access to your profile, and then choose 'Real time data for your car', and vote for that.

Thanks for the help in advance guys, and if I win, we'd have a killer iPhone app for us car heads.

Gumbo

Done

You have 46% of the votes at the moment.
For quick search - http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/FunZoo/163793663121?ref=search&sid=100000491615102.3819586636..1

E39MSport

jack - check this free app for a laugh.... iFarted. (I'll vote for you though)

tinner777

think your sorted mate

Absurdum

done

Owen

Thanks a million guys appreciate it, I may be in the lead now, but it only takes a few votes to swing it to the only other app in the running (One for cooking). So please keep voting until Midnight if you can.

robtri

done!!

RoundyMooney

Voted. It is an excellent idea.

Will they actually develop it though? And will the manufacturers have any input or control over it, be it good or bad?

LadyE

Done.

Really great idea!

.Longshanks.

Done. Great idea

Real time information for your car - automotive sensors, rpm, engine temp, fuel level ( 40 votes )
51%

Owen

RoundyMooney wrote: »

Will they actually develop it though?

If they don't, I'm interested in doing it. Since iPhone OS 3.0, you're allowed to make your own hardware to interact with the dock connector, so all that's really needed is an ODBII - USB - Dock connector of sorts, and software to read the input, and send data back down.

And will the manufacturers have any input or control over it, be it good or bad?

They don't need to. ODB is a standarised set of codes across all makes and models, think of it as a basic ODBII scanner you can buy on ebay for 70 euro. But it might be an app for 5 euro, and a hardware interface for 20 or so.

If the manufacturers decided to come on board, then it would open up access to their own specific codes for the more high tech cars and engines, but it's not the end of the world if they don't.

I've a friend working for Snap-On diagnostics, who have all the framwork done for this already on their own units, just a case of getting the hardware interface sorted which I'd be able to do myself if needs be, and porting the software to objective C++

E39MSport

yeah, but dont some of the manufacturers, volvo for example, add a layer to the codes making them useless with a standard scanner?

byte

Done.

Owen

They can't prevent access to the standard code set. ODBII is an industry wide set of codes they have to provide. My little code reader works on any car. It's not perfect, and I'll never claim it is, but it's handy for the hobby mechanic.

But you're right E39, some manufacturers do have their own specific codes which hobbyist code readers can't interrogate, but sure if it's something hectic, that's what mechanics are for. If it's something simple, the iPhone app should pick it up.

af_thefragile

54%, we're winning!!

kyote00

nice idea but
http://www.devtoaster.com/products/rev/

Owen

Bugger. And there was I thinking it was unique. Oh well, keep voting people, no reason why there can't be a second app to do the same thing, and perhaps in a better fashion.

[EDIT] The Rev app is 32 euro, + an interface, screw that. And it doesn't do airbag resets either.

kasper

done best of luck

Masada

Gave you a vote there., doesnt seem to be the most busy poll though, ya reckon they will actually go ahead with it?

unkel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjC4iqICp1g

Owen

Saw that Unkel, but they're mental money. The interface they promote is 170 Euro, plus 32 then for the app, and it won't even reset airbags. Plus, it's emmissions data is for the US market.

Disappointing that there's someone already at it, but they've priced themselves out of the market, and it isn't tailored to Euro spec cars.

Donnelly117

Real time information for your car - automotive sensors, rpm, engine temp, fuel level ( 53 votes )56%

rebel.ranter

56% now , voted.

Was only thinking about this the other day.

unkel

PaintDoctor wrote: »

Saw that Unkel, but they're mental money

Aye, just saw that now. Mad money. Why do they seem fixated on a wifi interface though? A USB interface would cost only a fraction compared to wifi. And if we're talking money, an ODB II app might be better suited for other smart phones (not iphones)

Owen

That's my thinking too, I can hack together an ODBII -> USB Female rig in an afternoon, which a standard dock connector cable for an iPhone can connect into. Or a Mini USB for a Blackberry/HTC. No need for WiFi, it's overkill. Very high-tech which part of me loves, but still overkill.

[EDIT]I meant ODB - Serial, then you an use a commonly available serial to usb adapter.

Armin_Tamzarian

Sorry mate but I had to vote for 'Baby Wars'.

An app that allows you to put your face on a baby with a costume and fight your friends in other baby costumes is just too damn useful an idea to pass up on.

Stoolbend

I knew I saw this poll before!

If I was on facebook I'd vote for your one PaintDoctor.

h3000

Sounds cool. Voted

Black_Knight

Done! 56% still.

Looks like victory is yours!

Senna

I dont have a facebook account so cant vote, the best i can do is say a prayer you win:pac:

Good idea op

patrickc

voted for good idea,

57% of votes there now

kasper

is it over ?

brian ireland

Its still going. Just voted 58%

Owen

Supposed to be over since midnight, guess someone forgot to put an option for an end time in. Fingers crossed they'll see it when they get to work this morning and sort it out.

Really appreciate the help everyone, here's hoping something comes of it all.

keithclancy

Another App called Carman you can use

http://openbossa.indt.org/carman/

Not for the iPhone though.

.Longshanks.

Congrats PaintDoc, you won but "FunZoo needs to find out if its compatible with apple"

Owen

Really appreciate what everyone did, thanks a million to all who voted. Couldn't have done it without you guys.

Michael 09

I just saw this thread now, sorry I didn't get to vote but you won anyway.

I think its a fantastic idea, I hope something comes of it.

Well done on the win

Atomic Pineapple

Longshanks100 wrote: »

Congrats PaintDoc, you won but "FunZoo needs to find out if its compatible with apple"

If theres already applications like it in the app market Apple may not approve it, ridiculous the way they run it