12-09-2003, 02:57 AM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Microsoft Revs Its Automotive Engines
"The software maker has persuaded a number of carmakers to use its slimmed-down Windows CE operating system to power a variety of in-car electronics, from navigation systems to music players to information devices. BMW, in particular, has gravitated to Microsoft systems, although the company has announced wins with Honda, Volvo and others as well.
Microsoft has kept its car talk to a dull roar in recent months, but is expected to talk more about its effort in January, when Chairman Bill Gates delivers a keynote speech at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. In a speech to a group of university researchers in July, though, Gates offered a bold forecast..."
Windows CE in your car - something you'd want, or not? For me, it would depend on what sorts of systems the OS was controlling, and how critical they were. We also need to consider that it's likely to be a sealed system, without the possibility of third party software causing instability.
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12-09-2003, 03:13 AM
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Thinker
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 416
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I think this sounds great!!! It obviously (at least obviously from the quote you had, plus common sense) wouldn't be used for safety critical software, but as far as controlling the "extras" I think it would do a great job. Plus, adding components would get a lot easier, and then it would be cool if they would allow a "port" of some kind (i.e. USB-type port) so you could interface and even load your own apps (if you desired to take that risk). My friend was looking into mod-ing his old pocket pc into a mounted unit instead of a car stereo, I still think the idea has great merit! You'd just have to get the UI right.
And then if they use CE maybe the price would be low enough they could offer it in cars I could afford!!! 
__________________
"And then she understood the devilish cunning of the enemies' plan. By mixing a little truth with it they had made their lie far stronger."-C.S. Lewis
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12-09-2003, 03:30 AM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 112
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I have been waiting for someone to release a way to easily play my WMA files in my car (Audi A6). Audi has a solution from phatNoise, but it is prohibitively expensive (over $800) and doesn't play WMP9 files. But the voice interface is decent. If MS can put together a decent interface for my WMP9 collection (all 61GB of it), I'd be a happy customer (particularly under $800).
What I wouldn't like to see is an MS PC in my car that stops playing my music because the memory leaks are causing my GPS to crash and my air conditioner to stop functioning. I think an isolated in-dash component would be a better place to start that an integrated unit that controls several key functions of the car. But, that really isn't MS' style, is it?
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12-09-2003, 03:38 AM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 103
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Lets see:
[1] 120mph on the autobahn and my new BMW hard-resets. Do I survive?
[2] Microsoft issues a ROM upgrade, but Toyota decides I have to by a new Supra because they're not going to issue an upgraded OS for my Supra's model & year...
[3] Microsoft issues a patch to my Audi's OS which improves the engine efficiency, but which has the annoying tendency to lock the breaks and shut off the headlights occassionally and especially when I'm moving faster than 40mph...
[4] Will a splinter subdivision of BMW help me remove WinCE and reflash my car with Opie Linux?
There are WinCE "features" that I am willing to tolerate (barely) in my PDA or cellphone that just won't make it in my car.
Unless the WinCE controlled systems are totally electrically isolated from the "critical" systems (even in current cars, electrical problems with the radio have been known to affect the ignition and break systems), I think I'd rather ride a horse.
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12-09-2003, 03:45 AM
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Mystic
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,766
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I'm actually surprised with BMWs interest and support of Microsoft's OS for cars as BMW has its somewhat clunky and maybe successful iDrive. They have it down pat with hardly any bugs in their system of computer controlled cars, why add Microsoft and mess it all up?
Maybe if Microsoft learns to fully test and then release software once it is ready to be released, it will last and be successful.
corphack, I would hope that they do not use the OS for critical control such as lights and engine control - those should be on separate switches that operate separately from the OS.
-Justin.
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12-09-2003, 03:45 AM
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Pupil
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 13
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This reminded me of a posting I saw a couple of years ago...
Microsoft Car
At a recent computer expo (COMDEX), Bill Gates reportedly compared the
computer industry with the auto industry and stated, "If GM had kept up with the technology like the computer industry has, we would all be driving $25.00 cars that got 1,000 miles to the gallon."
In response to Bill's comments, General Motors issued a press release stating, "If GM had developed technology like Microsoft, we would all be driving cars with the following characteristics:
1. For no reason whatsoever, your car would crash twice a day.
2. Every time they painted new lines on the road, you would have to buy a new car.
3. Occasionally your car would die on the freeway for no reason. You would have to pull ove r to the side of the road, close all of the windows, shut off the car, restart it, and reopen the windows before you could continue.
For some reason you would simply accept this.
4. Occasionally, executing a maneuver such as a left turn would cause your car to shut down and refuse to restart, in which case you would have to reinstall the engine.
5. Only one person at a time could use the car unless you bought "CarNT," but then you would have to buy more seats.
6. Macintosh would make a car that was powered by the sun, was reliable, five times as fast and twice as easy to drive -- but it would only run on five percent of the roads.
7. The oil, water temperature and alternator warning lights would all be replaced by a single "general protect ion fault" warning light.
8. The airbag system would ask, "Are you sure?" before deploying.
9. Occasionally, for no reason whatsoever, your car would lock you out and refuse to let you in until you simultaneously lifted the door handle, turned the key and grabbed hold of the antenna.
10. GM would require all car buyers to also purchase a deluxe set of Rand McNally Road maps (now a GM subsidiary), even though they neither need nor want them. Attempting to delete this option would immediately cause the car's performance to diminish by 50 percent or more. Moreover, GM would become a target for investigation by the Justice Department.
11. Every time GM introduced a new car, car buyers would have to learn to drive all over again because none of the controls would operate in the same manner as the old car.
12. You'd have to press the "start" button to turn the engine off.
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12-09-2003, 03:48 AM
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Oracle
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 830
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bsd in my car!!!
Hey, bmw, screw idrive!
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12-09-2003, 04:01 AM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 103
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Quote:
bsd in my car!!!
Hey, bmw, screw idrive!
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If *nix runs cars as well as it runs Intel CPUs, your car will get a few hundred miles to the gallon, and you'll only shut it off once or twice a year, but not because you have to, but because you feel like it.
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12-09-2003, 04:35 AM
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12-09-2003, 04:36 AM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 56
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What happens when my car gets a virus?
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