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Will Your Next Car Run Windows?

Posted by michael on from the tuneup-and-virus-scan-for-$29.95 dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Microsoft is beginning to move into the automotive industry. Their 'Automotive Business Unit' is selling a custom version of Windows CE called Windows Automotive. Microsoft attended a conference in Detroit this week to promote their software."

7 of 732 comments (clear)

  1. Heel toe braking ... by gstoddart · · Score: 4, Informative
    Please step on brake, gas, and clutch simultaneously to reboot.


    Laugh What you're describing is Heel Toe Braking and it is used in auto racing.

    Exactly what we've come to expect from Windows upgrades -- breaking a feature people have come to rely on. ;-)

    --
    Lost at C:>. Found at C.
  2. Re:Before "If Microsoft made cars..." jokes ensue by Lumpy · · Score: 4, Informative

    It's an old idea from 1990's they are re-hashing.

    the had a version of windowsCE designed for automotive uses back in 1997, in 1999 I bought a device that had their first release of it.

    it's called AutoPC and it sucked horribly.

    I expected microsoft to rehash that nightmare, but now we get to see it run more than the stereo, you get to have it control your heat, vents, defrost, etc...

    Why does it seem that insftead of innovating, microsoft simply trots out their old ideas every 7-10 years? tablet Pc's for example... they were a failure outside of specalized uses in 1989, and in the late 90's. why do they think it will work now?

    Unless they rewrote windows CE completely, I certianly would not want it in my car after living with it controlling the stereo and navigation for 4 years.

    --
    Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
  3. BMW already tried it by AnalogDiehard · · Score: 3, Informative
    M$ already partnered with BMW to embed their computers with WinCE back in 2002.

    The results have been less than rosey. One famous example is the Thai Finance Minister who was trapped in his BMW after WinCE crashed and immobilized the vehicle - doors, locks, windows, AC, everything.

    --
    Eternity: will that be smoking, or non-smoking? I Corinthians 6:9-10
    1. Re:BMW already tried it by stubear · · Score: 3, Informative

      The thai minister's car was not a BMW model with Windows Automotive, it was an older model. The ONLY BMW with Windows Automotive in it is the 7 series and this is used to control mainly the entertainment and environment controls, it does not run any of the other systems. Your link even mentions this fact but once again stupid moderators mod idiots like you up.

  4. Re:Crashes by mog007 · · Score: 3, Informative

    Funny moderations don't have an affect on karma, so how exactly is nmg karma-whoring?

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    Learn something new.
  5. Official Apple link by the+JoshMeister · · Score: 3, Informative


    iPod Your BMW. Says Apple, this is "The first seamless integration of iPod and automobile."

    Others had made similar homebrew iPod and non-iPod solutions before (and iPod and non-iPod after) Apple/BMW's solution.

    At this point, it doesn't look like Apple has any official plans to unveil further integration of Apple technology with automobiles. Of course, Apple almost always "does not comment on unreleased products."

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    the JoshMeister on Security
  6. Re:BSOD on Thai Finance Minister's BMW by EqualSlash · · Score: 3, Informative

    sorry.. the proper links

    Did Microsoft software trap Thailand 's finance minister?

    BMW glitch locks Thai minister in