Scenario #1
I would love to get a Raspberry Pi. I think these are very cool little "computers" and can see a lot of cool little projects to do for a very affordable price. Now that I have made myself sound like a spokes person I do have some ideas but not sure if the Raspberry Pi can help or not. I would very much love any advice on these and how I might be able to make this possible. Here is some background. I am a storm chaser/spotter here in MN.
My Ideas
Idea 1:
Raspberry Pi + Screen (7" maybe?)
Weather radar software (Linux based of course)
Then this can be my system for seeing the weather and storm cells as I am out in the filed.
Could be connected to my phone for internet connectivity, but that would require BluTooth, assuming that can be added to the Pi
Is this idea possible? If so what would be needed?
Idea 2:
Raspberry Pi + Screen
GPS software + GPS antenna
Linux
Use as a full featured GPS system. This way it still allows me to free up my smart phone from doing the GPS work.
Is this idea possible? If so what would be needed?
Scenario #2
I came across Beaglebone and it seems the Beaglebone Black may be the perfect solution to one of my projects. Here is some background. Scince I am a storm spotter/chaser, the more info I have access to the better I can be out in the field. I am planning on mounting my Android tablet in my car to be used as either GPS or my weather radar, which I have a few apps already to do that. Then the Beaglebone Black to do the other (either GPS or weather radar)
Well after kicking around the idea of a Raspberry Pi it seems its much harder to find a good live weather radar app for Linux. Well when I saw that the Beaglebone Black can have the Android OS installed on it I was like "WTH? FOR REAL?" type of excited. So I guess there are a few things I am curious about to see if this really could be my true answer to my project.
1. How do you go about installing Android? I mean I know I don't have the Beaglebone Black yet, but just curious about the process.
2. Is Android pretty easy to install for a n00b?
3. Once Android is installed and setup, Im assuming I just configure me gmail account like I have done with my smartphone and tablet and this is going to give me access to all of my apps on my Google Store account?
4. Because the Beaglebone Black supports the Android OS, does this mean that most/all of my apps will run on it to with no/few issues?
5. For my application, I would like to use a Blutooth keyboard and separate Blutooth touch pad mouse. Will I beable to do both of those if I am running the Android OS?
6. Lastly, and Ill stop being the question filled n00b, I would also like to have GPS hoocked up to the Beaglebone Black because I have google apps that can track each one of us out in the field so we know where different people are in relation to the storm. Is there a "Cape" that will give me GPS and what I need for that?
So which of these scenarios will be the bewst fit for my needs? I am thinking Scenario #2 but I guess I am just looking for professional guidence to make sure I am making the correct decision and still looking to get answers to those questions.
Thank you very much for any and all the help.
Crazy8