Windows Automotive 5.0 Launched

[Ed Hansberry]

<a href="http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2005/jul05/07-12WinAuto5PR.mspx">http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2005/jul05/07-12WinAuto5PR.mspx</a><br /><br /><i>"As automotive and mobile device technologies continue to converge, our commitment to delivering technology that provides consumers with seamless communication, information and digital entertainment experiences extends to the car," said Todd Warren, corporate vice president of the Devices, Services and eXperience group at Microsoft. "The release of Windows Automotive 5.0 marks an important step in the company’s continued collaboration with the automotive industry to make this vision a reality."</i><br /><br />Maybe this is what I need instead of a Pocket PC to record my <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/index.php?action=expand,41493">ThoughtCast</a>? Ok, let the jokes begin about having your car rely on a Windows operating system. :lol: I'll start. This is a good thing. I'll look forward to fixing all of my car's problem either by simply rebooting or doing a system restore!

[MitchellO]

I wonder how integral the Windows for Car will be? If its as stable as 2000 and XP it would be ok, as long as if it crashes your car doesn't do the same :roll:

[Robb Bates]

If your car is all dirty and is full of trash, you can restore it to the way you got it from the dealer by simlutaneously honking the horn, setting the cruise control, and unlocking the trunk.

Hope you have more than two hands. :lol:

Robb

[MitchellO]

Or you can click 'start' to turn off the car:

http://img316.imageshack.us/img316/6839/winxpcar0nq.jpg

[rpvdb]

yeah, or when it stops, you ask everyone to get out, close all windows, get back in again, open them, and it works again.

[mobilemail]

Or maybe your car will start at midnight and run until all the fuel is gone! :)

[geneb]

Image telling people that your car crashed for the third time this week...

[dma1965]

Wat would really be embarrassing is spyware getting into your car which tracks your driving habits and redirects your GPS to places based upon your history. Imagine taking the wife and kids to the new waterpark and ending up at stripper bar instead!

[WorksForTurkeys]

This is probably a good thing, although I think it will end poorly for MS: car insurance in many states involves the concept of partial liabilities.

Will the courts now get to decide what percentage of the liability for car accidents is attributable to your car's OS and therefore to the OS manufacturer? "Proof" is not necessarily required in order to assign partial liability...

[WorksForTurkeys]

Just one more:

Laughing I'll start. This is a good thing. I'll look forward to fixing all of my car's problem either by simply rebooting or doing a system restore!


My desktop PC locks up when I wiggle a USB connector: this isn't a major issue for me as I just reboot. At 60 mph, however, I don't think the other drivers on the Garden State Parkway will appreciate my car going from 60mph to 0mph and back to 60mph in their lane..

[Jonathan1]

I wonder how integral the Windows for Car will be? If its as stable as 2000 and XP it would be ok, as long as if it crashes your car doesn't do the same :roll:

You are kidding right? Even the best 2K and XP installs require reboots from time to time. The LAST thing I want to be doing is hopping into my car ready to go just to find that the BT stack is messed up or GPS isn't working and I have to reboot the system. Or god help me if I'm in traffic when this happens so I have to pull over and dink around a quick reset.
I will actively go out of my way to NEVER own a car that has Windows inside. Even if that means an extra couple of grand. So be it. My Pocket PC fine. My phone fine. My computer. My toilet. My microwave. All fine. But when I jump into my car I want a dedicated proprietary system that just works. Period.

PS- Take all instances above and replace it with Apple and the same applies. I want a dedicated OS that was designed from the ground up to do THAT task. Not some half-breed OS that is jack of all trades and master of none.

[FredMurphy]

Didn't they try this with AutoPC a few years ago? Sounds like a good idea as long as it's only used for entertainment, GPS, etc. and nothing even remotely approaching a critical or that would affect your driving (e.g. car alarm / immobiliser).

[martin_ayton]

My toilet. 8O If my toilet ever needs an OS &lt;shudder> it, too, had better work *every* time without fail. Doing a system restore on my toilet does *not* appeal.

[gwinter]

Didn't they try this with AutoPC a few years ago? Sounds like a good idea as long as it's only used for entertainment, GPS, etc. and nothing even remotely approaching a critical or that would affect your driving (e.g. car alarm / immobiliser).

Is this a widespread misconception? Everytime there's such an announcement, there would be jokes of BSOD during driving leading to a crash and so on. They are, of course, only jokes and I assumed others know this as well. What FredMurphy thought of, is in fact true. These Windows system in automobile are always used only for non-critical functions, primarily entertainment and navigation applications. You will not find these system controlling fuel injection, valve timing and so on. It simply is not built for such purposes.

[Robb Bates]

Or probably the worst thing that could happen is when your car tells you it needs to install a new driver!

Robb

[Jonathan1]

My toilet. 8O If my toilet ever needs an OS &lt;shudder> it, too, had better work *every* time without fail. Doing a system restore on my toilet does *not* appeal.


It may be closer then you think...


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/83/Wireless_toilet_control_panel_w._open_lid.jpg/640px-Wireless_toilet_control_panel_w._open_lid.jpg

8O

[aroma]

It may be closer then you think...



WOAH! What they hey? I'm not sitting my naked *anything* down on that! ;)