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If Microsoft Built Cars...

Posted by michael on from the where-do-you-want-to-go-today dept.

trystanu writes "If Microsoft Built Cars, occasionally your car would just die on the motorway for no reason; you'd accept this, restart and drive on -- at least that was the joke a few years ago. ZDNET reports that Microsoft 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. Perhaps the recent trapping of Thai dignitaries inside a BMW should be a warning to us all."

6 of 642 comments (clear)

  1. It's a good fit by GigsVT · · Score: 5, Interesting

    BMW's come with what amounts to an EULA. If you look under the hood, you'll notice a little sticker that says you are not to connect any third party electronics to the car, CB, ham radio, etc, or even use a hand-held cell phone within the car, unless you buy a BMW approved carphone. This is under threat of voiding your warantee.

    I'm sure in the US there's some protection offered under the same law that forces manufacturers to allow you to use aftermarket parts, but I don't know if that precedent would extend to electronics equipment that isn't really part of the car.

    --
    I've had enough abrasive sigs. Kittens are cute and fuzzy.
  2. Win CE/PPC 2003 by bagboy · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I currently have to hard boot my Dell Axim X5 after roughly 2-3 hours depending on the app that locked (RealOne Player, X-Lite (SIP Phone), etc..). I think CE/PPC is still too unstable for possible life threatening experiences in the car.

  3. Bumps and the BMW 7 series by tjansen · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Near Heidelberg/Germany there seems to be a bump in a highway that causes some BMW firmware to crash everytime a BMW runs over it, with the same effect as reported in the second article: the engine stops, the doors and windows are locked and the occupants are trapped. Fortunately people don't need to wait long, because there's usually a local breakdown service waiting to rescue the drivers. Interesting business idea :)

  4. I was trapped by Paradise+Pete · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Three days ago I was trapped inside my BMW 535i. It had been having some electrical problems, such as the windows occasionally not working, and the door locks behaving erratically. The other night it all came together at once, and I could not get out of the car. The windows would not open and the door locks would not budge. To my further frustration I realized had also left my cell phone at home.

    The car was still operational, though, so I drove to a friend's house and eventually got their attention. Two hours later a locksmith finally got me out. In the mean time I had to sit through each passerby feeling compelled to go around the car and try every door, and then signal me to pull up on the lock. As if somehow no one had yet thought of that. It was a bit like waiting for an elevator, where each new arrival feels the need to press the button.

  5. drug dealer car for the ambassador by morcheeba · · Score: 5, Interesting

    True story: In the mid 70's in Egypt, the u.s. ambassador was using a souped-up car that had been confiscated form a drug dealer as his official car. It was perfect for the job: bulletproof, had hidden sirens and lights, plus a megaphone and tear gas for crowd control (and being free was something the government liked, too). One day a critical fuse blew and they were trapped, just like the Thai ministers... it took a lot of energy to break through the bulletproof glass, but they eventually got him out.

    Solution to the problem? A fire ax became standard equipment in the back seat of that car.

    I never got to see the car, but I always imagined it as totally pimp-rific.

    --
    HIV Crosses Species Barrier... into Muppets
  6. Re:Hmm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Had a BMW 850CSi a few years ago. It had those frameless windows which drop a bit when you pull on the door handle so you can open the door. I wasn't amused when the electronics decided to suddenly activate that mechanism INSIDE THE CAR WASH. But that wasn't all. One day, I open the door, sit down on the driver's seat and the moment I turn the key, the car decides to move the driver's seat aaaaallll the way forward and pushes me against the steering wheel. I couldn't get out and had some trouble reaching the controls from that position.

    Anyway, the chicks liked that car. ;-)