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Toyota Teams With Microsoft On Connected Cars (usatoday.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the way-of-the-future dept.

An anonymous reader quotes a report from USA TODAY: Toyota announced an enhanced relationship with Microsoft on Monday aimed at delivering "connected car" services to drivers in ways they probably never could have imagined. Already, drivers ask the infotainment system in their cars for restaurant recommendations, but many locations often would require that a driver turn around. But with Toyota Connected, the system might be modified to only recommend restaurants on the highway ahead -- and then only the kinds of food that the driver usually prefers. Road information can be delivered to drivers based on driving patterns -- knowing the routes they usually take. Auto insurance could be priced more accurately because the system could report on a driver's actual miles and routes traveled. Medical-related sensors could also be built into the car, like heartbeat monitors or sensors on the steering wheel. Some of the services could be offered to customers wirelessly by being beamed directly into their cars, but Lobenstein said that customer privacy considerations will be paramount. Toyota Connected hopes to have its first products within a year. Toyota Connected, as it's called, is built on Microsoft's Azure cloud computing platform. Toyota plans to invest $5.5 million in the new venture, even though much of the technology will be based on their current research and development for smart automobiles.

116 comments

  1. Unfortunate by tripleevenfall · · Score: 4, Funny

    I wonder if the car will automatically order a new version of itself for you when MSFT decides the one you've got is too old, and you need the latest and greatest.

    1. Re:Unfortunate by TheGratefulNet · · Score: 2

      the car automatically orders new tires every 6mos whether you need them or not.

      and every other order, they don't fit.

      --

      --
      "It is now safe to switch off your computer."
    2. Re:Unfortunate by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Apple would sue for stealing their business model.

    3. Re:Unfortunate by Kjella · · Score: 2

      That was the old Microsoft, with the new Microsoft you're always on the latest ad/spyware platform it just takes a 30% cut when it drives you to McDonald's.

      --
      Live today, because you never know what tomorrow brings
    4. Re:Unfortunate by BuckaBooBob · · Score: 1

      Sorry officer.. I don't mean to be blocking traffic... but I am just waiting for my car to reboot..

      --
      Who needs WiFi when we can have Packet Over Sheep! http://datacomm.org/PoS-InternetDraft.txt
    5. Re:Unfortunate by NoNonAlphaCharsHere · · Score: 5, Funny

      I was thinking more old school:

      You have successfully changed your radio station.
      You must restart your car for the new changes to take effect.
      Would you like to restart your car now?

    6. Re:Unfortunate by davester666 · · Score: 1

      Which will be after 1 year, after that, the hardware will be obsolete, MS/Toyota won't be able to get drivers for the old bits, you will either need to drive the old car with the constant risk of being hacked with known exploitable bugs or buy a new one that Microsoft "promises" to support for at least one release cycle.

      --
      Sleep your way to a whiter smile...date a dentist!
    7. Re:Unfortunate by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      MS in 1995 - Where would you want to go today>/p>

      MS in 2016 - You thought you were going anywhere today?

    8. Re:Unfortunate by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Or the car crashes itself every Tuesday?

    9. Re:Unfortunate by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That was the old Microsoft, with the new Microsoft you're always on the latest ad/spyware platform it just takes a 30% cut when it drives you to McDonald's.

      I know people didn't like the telemetry in Win10, which is fair, but confusing this with ad tracking is sidetracking the real issues and threats in that area. Microsoft has an extremely small ad business, and actually closed down much of its Microsoft Advertising last year. Touching anything from Google, even with a ten foot pole, is in reality an order of magnitude bigger problem if it is the ad-business and -tracking you want to avoid.

    10. Re:Unfortunate by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      (on the highway) The car will restart itself in 30 seconds, 29, 28, ...

    11. Re:Unfortunate by 140Mandak262Jamuna · · Score: 1

      Did not close all windows before restarting the car? All unsecured items in the car are gone after restart!

      --
      sed -e 's/Chuck Norris/Rajnikant/g' joke > fact
    12. Re:Unfortunate by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      The combination of unintended acceleration with unintended reboots should be, at minimum, exciting.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    13. Re:Unfortunate by CanadianMacFan · · Score: 1

      A animated cartoon tire pops up in your heads up display:

      "Hi I'm Spokes! You appear to be trying to change the radio station. Would you like some help with that?"

    14. Re:Unfortunate by LifesABeach · · Score: 1

      "Hi I'm Clippy, I see you want to drive this car. Can I help you? And there's a sale at DSW on walking shoes. I can show you the web page."

    15. Re:Unfortunate by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Hi I'm Spokes! You appear to be trying to change the radio station. Would you like some help with that?"

      There appears to be a Microsoft-style typo in your quote:

      "Hi! I'm Spokes! You appear to be trying to damage the radio. You are confined to the car which will now stop until assistance arrives."

    16. Re:Unfortunate by mitcheli · · Score: 1

      I just hope my car doesn't get a BSoD while I'm driving on the highway.

      --
      Select from tblFriends where interesting >= 4;
    17. Re:Unfortunate by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Hi I'm Clippy, I see you want to drive this car. Can I help you? And there's a sale at DSW on walking shoes. I can show you the web page."

      This is more likely the MS car, yes. While the Google car is tracking and monetizing everything you do and say and serving you ads at all times. And the the Apple car only can fill up gas at the Apple Store.

  2. How do I turn it off? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Dear Toyota, don't you realize that distracted driving is illegal in most countries? Please remove your "infotainment" systems from all vehicles.

    1. Re:How do I turn it off? by WaffleMonster · · Score: 3, Funny

      Dear Toyota, don't you realize that distracted driving is illegal in most countries? Please remove your "infotainment" systems from all vehicles.

      To turn it off you need only wait a year until the car is no longer supported and nothing but the tracking device works.

  3. Oh good by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That's just what I wanted.

    1. Re:Oh good by zugmeister · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Auto insurance could be priced more accurately because the system could report on a driver's actual miles and routes traveled.

      Does this sound like Pandora's box opening to anyone but me? This would be enough to cause me to buy another brand / model of car just to get away from it...

    2. Re:Oh good by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This would be enough to cause me to buy another brand / model of car just to get away from it...

      Good luck with that, when 3 years from now every manufacturer is including the same feature in their entire fleet. It's getting very difficult to avoid invasive technology in cars already, and it's only going to keep getting worse.

    3. Re:Oh good by davester666 · · Score: 2

      Yes, really the only thing you can do is try to locate all the computers with cellular functions and either remove their antennae or disable the chips. Of course, you are still boned because the vehicle keeps track of all the data in its "black box" to be used to incriminate you.

      --
      Sleep your way to a whiter smile...date a dentist!
    4. Re:Oh good by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That works...for now. What happens when every brand has this?

  4. Old screen new meaning by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Blue screen of death anyone?

    1. Re:Old screen new meaning by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      When it crashes, it crashes *hard*.

  5. OK, no more Toyota by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    No more Toyota cars for me henceforth.

    1. Re:OK, no more Toyota by Grishnakh · · Score: 1

      I don't get it. Toyota is considered the gold standard for reliability in cars. Why would they want to hook up with the maker of notoriously unreliable software?

      Did they learn nothing from the Ford Sync debacle?

  6. Ford SYNC by vossman77 · · Score: 5, Informative

    I love the Microsoft's MyFord Touch. It is the greatest thing ever. /sarcasm

    Consumer Reports recommends that no one consider buying used 2011 Ford Edges equipped with MyFord Touch systems. As Ford has expanded availability of its MyFord Touch system to more vehicles, Consumer Reports has downgraded its ratings for vehicles so equipped

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

    1. Re:Ford SYNC by Puls4r · · Score: 5, Informative

      Mod parent up, because it's the truth.

      To be fair, Ford made some fairly boneheaded mistakes and still CONTINUES to make some of those same mistakes. For instance, removing tactile knobs for key functions like heater control and placing them on a touch screen is horrible for both ergonomics and safety.

      Next, something nearly every actual engineer knows working on a manufacturing floor - you don't don't make a fucking button a TOGGLE. One button turns something on, another turns it off. Otherwise, the switch better be a rocker or flip switch where the state is obvious. This is impossible using a touch-screen system - so any critical controls need to be moved OFF the touch screen.

      There is never a reason I should need to reboot my touchscreen. Never. And yet, Microsoft has managed it. I particularly like when the voice control gets confused, and just 'dings' repeatedly like it wants a command. Or when it starts randomly forgetting playlists and voice commands. Or when it tells me phone numbers aren't available when they are.

      I love deleting my phone out of the system and having to put it back in so it re-downloads the phonebook and un-corrupts it. I also love having to pull my USB storage and reinitialize the whole system so it can clear it's memory.

      I love how Ford, in their infinite wisdom, created a way for the early versions of sync to use google maps then REMOVED that ability again. All because they want us to use a pay service that they created that isn't even close to good. I love how simply apps like Pandora can't interface - again because Ford wanted to develop all their own systems in house because they want to be able to SELL that user data to make a profit.

      I just got in a buddy's Ram. Pandora that is interfaced with the touchscreen. Made me want to cry. Better yet, he had actual buttons on the dash for most important functions - like turning off the backup warnings and other things that can be annoying at times.

      Jesus Christu Ford, get out of your own way. You brought out Sync to be first, but managed to fuck yourself 7 ways from Sunday in trying to make the system itself profitable, and now your system is a laughingstock, still isn't half as capable as the competitions, and the overall interface design sucks giant donkey balls!

      You don't CHANGE the fucking menu tree structure based on what menu I'm in. I should be able to go forward and backward through all the menu and system settings, but if I enter through the phone menu I can't go up a level to get to systems - I have to exit the menu entirely, change the... ARGH. Fuckit.

    2. Re:Ford SYNC by ArylAkamov · · Score: 3, Interesting

      This is exactly why I will never buy a car with a touch screen. Or flat buttons on the dashboard.

      As it is, my 80s turbo shitbox has better design. Every button can be reached comfortably, every switch and button can be used by feel alone so I never have to take my eyes off the road.

      Meanwhile, in the [CURRENT YEAR], we have touch screens and dashboards with a million flat square buttons that all feel the same.

      http://imgur.com/a/HOWaH

      See this shit? This drives me up the fucking wall.

    3. Re:Ford SYNC by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Otherwise, the switch better be a rocker or flip switch where the state is obvious."

      Push-to-latch-down and push-again-to-latch-up buttons are nice. Buttons that depress when pushed but spring back are fine, as long as they have an embedded LED to indicate their state. Flip switches are bad because you can snag them and accidentally change their state with a careless flail.

    4. Re:Ford SYNC by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sync is connected to your phone, and is reminding you that 911 assist is set to off.

    5. Re:Ford SYNC by Grishnakh · · Score: 1

      Why'd you get that car?

      I got the 2015 Mazda3, and I love it. Sorry if this sounds like an advertisement, but most everything on it is well thought-out and works.

      HVAC: on this car, it's an entirely separate unit, not connected to the infotainment system at all. It's a dual-zone automatic climate control system, but the temperatures are set with knobs, and everything else with regular buttons. Mostly I just set it to 70 and forget it.

      Rebooting: there is a way to do it, but I've never had to.

      Pandora: this system has it. Works fine.

      Actual buttons: this system has a big "commander" knob (like the ones in Audis) which lets you interact with the system when the car is in motion. The touchscreen is actually disabled when the car is moving, so you're forced to use the knob, and some functions are locked out (like putting in new addresses for the nav system), presumably for safety (or really, liability). There's also a separate volume/mute knob next to that. The commander knob is easy to reach with your arm on the armrest. Finally, there's a bunch of buttons on the steering wheel: volume, track skip, voice prompt (which I rarely use), phone buttons, etc.

      The system is pretty easy to use; the automotive press seems to like it pretty well. No horribly confusing menu tree structure like you're complaining about. Bluetooth pairing with phones is simple and works reliably. Hands-free phone calls work great. It reads me text messages.

      The system runs on Linux, so it doesn't have all the reliability problems an MS-based system has. Unfortunately, it's a bit slow at times because they implemented it with a bunch of JavaScript for some odd reason. But it mostly works, and they've issued software updates that fixed some of the issues they had in the earlier versions. Supposedly, they're also working on adding Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so you'll be able to run Google Maps or Waze or whatever you want through the touchscreen. But the best part is that since it's Linux-based, it's easy to hack on. The root password is "jci" (Johnson Controls, Inc., the supplier). It's easy to log in with an Ethernet cable and make changes. The touchscreen lockout is easily disabled with a built-in debug script, so your passenger can use the touchscreen while you're driving. There's a whole community at mazda3revolution.com working on many other changes, and they've released an alpha version of Android Auto that works on it, plus all kinds of other tweaks for various annoyances people have (like eliminating the warning message at start-up, or the warning message when backing up, or making it play FLAC files).

      One of the reasons I got this car was because a little research showed the infotainment ran on Linux, so I knew that people would be hacking on it in short order, and I was right.

      There are some downsides, but they're minor. The system isn't the speediest (mainly because of using JS I'm sure), it takes a bit to start up, it has to re-sync contacts every time you start up (instead of just remembering them from last time), and it the nav system is an in-house system that works well enough, but has no traffic updates in the US and is loaded on an SD card. You get a few free updates, but after that you have to pay $$$ (luckily people have now figured out how to hack the system to run copied nav cards and they're passing these around on BitTorrent). Android Auto should be running reliably on it before too long so this may be moot anyway.

      Anyway, the bottom line is: stay far, far away from any car that's running an infotainment system that has anything to do with Microsoft.

    6. Re:Ford SYNC by Grishnakh · · Score: 1

      My new Mazda3 has a touch screen, and I love it. But it doesn't have these problems. See my reply to the OP. Don't confuse crappy Microsoft-based systems with all systems; they're not the same.

  7. Dear Toyota and Microsoft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Dear Toyota and Microsoft,

    No thank you.

    Sincerely,

    Everybody.

  8. BSOD! Clippy! Bob! Developers! Embrace/extend! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Hate to tell you guys, but AI could replace your jobs as /. posters.

    1. Re:BSOD! Clippy! Bob! Developers! Embrace/extend! by jcdr · · Score: 1

      I hope AI would help to analyse the ./ comments.
      Still long long way before some AI will make me buy a car loaded with Microsoft OS, even if I owned Toyota cars until now.

  9. Microsoft and Toyota by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Guess I won't be buying any more Toyota's. Loyal customer for almost 20 years, but throw MS in the mix and I'll have to move on....

  10. Too many questions by cgold · · Score: 1

    I can't post just one.

    So now there are cars with Windows as an option?
    What happens in the event of a crash? Is there a blue screen of actual death?
    What happens when you push the start button?
    Does it come with chrome, or you have to install it yourself?

    1. Re:Too many questions by WaffleMonster · · Score: 1

      What happens when you push the start button?

      I wouldn't try it. You're much better off taking the metro.

    2. Re:Too many questions by Errol+backfiring · · Score: 1

      What happens in the event of a crash? Is there a blue screen of actual death?

      Not entirely. There are probably some red splashes on it.

      --
      Nae king! Nae laird! Nae yurrupiean pressedent! We willna be fooled again!
  11. Only correct response by SuperKendall · · Score: 1

    "I don't know, I can imagine quite a bit"

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
  12. Inevitable usage by suupaabaka · · Score: 1

    Due to their impeccable, undying engines and shitty, vulnerable software, the cars will be hacked, modified and adopted by various militant groups and warlords around the world.

    1. Re:Inevitable usage by dcw3 · · Score: 1

      I think that's the new plan to stop ISIS

      --
      Just another day in Paradise
  13. No more infotainment please. by Moof123 · · Score: 2

    No more touchscreens in cars please. Seriously stop it.

    Give me good knobs with detents, not too many of them, and let me get back to driving.

    Also, please give me an analog speed display, I greatly prefer them. I loathe the digital display in my Nissan.

    1. Re: No more infotainment please. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      2015 Nissan 370Z here...

      What are you talking about

    2. Re:No more infotainment please. by jcdr · · Score: 1

      I like the Toyota concept of having touch screen with buttons on the steering wheel. Most used functions is just a button push.
      I personally prefer the digital display, especially the head up version.
      But more and more cars will let you take the choice of the display by configuration in the futur.

    3. Re: No more infotainment please. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You sure it's not digital under the dash? The "analog" speedo and rev counter on my VW are actually electronically controlled, there's no mechanical linkage to the engine/gearbox so you can send it fake values over the CAN bus.

    4. Re:No more infotainment please. by Grishnakh · · Score: 1

      Touchscreens are a necessity for two reasons:
      1) back-up cameras
      2) navigation systems

      It's entirely possible to implement them well, like in my Mazda: there's a big "commander" knob (with detents) that you can use to perform most operations while moving, plus of course a separate volume/mute knob (with detents). There's also buttons on the steering wheel for often-used functions.

      Digital speed displays are better. Analog is great for the tach, but digital tells me exactly how fast I'm going, and I don't need to see rate-of-change so much with the speedo. Also, it's pretty hard to do any kind of heads-up-display with an analog speedo.

  14. One erery minute by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "Auto insurance could be priced more accurately because the system could report on a driver's actual miles and routes traveled."

    Don't be a sucker and think your rates will go down long term.

  15. $5 million is NOTHING by realmolo · · Score: 1

    This is another one of those weird "partnerships" that amounts to nothing more than an attempt to get some free press.

    Toyota "investing" $5 million means that this will NEVER really be used in a production car in any real way.

    And, even if it WAS something that was actually going to happen, this is exactly the kind of thing that Microsoft is truly terrible at. Have Microsoft EVER successfully partnered with a third-party? I can't think of a single time that worked. Microsoft seems to "partner" with whoever, then create some half-assed version of Windows or whatever that doesn't actually work, and then stops supporting it after the first year.

  16. Wow, that sounds awful. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I can't even... were they drunk when they came up with that word salad or an idea?

    Features I might want in a car: reliability, fuel efficiency, looks, fast acceleration, good handling, good stereo, good crash safety, low price etc.
    Features I don't want: what they said.

  17. What we want to hear by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "customer privacy considerations will be paramount."

    Heh. Every time I read this I think of Mars Attacks when the aliens are running around slaughtering people while calmly saying: "Do not run. We are your friends."

  18. Where's Carplay and Android Auto by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What's with Toyota's continued avoidance of Carplay and Android Auto? First they went with Ford technology and now Microsoft. Are they going with Sonos next?

  19. Inevitable by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I can see it now...car refuses to turn left until you have spent at least 30 seconds viewing a targeted ad...

  20. Toyota/Microsoft Happy Fun Car Tales by Freshly+Exhumed · · Score: 3, Funny

    Driver: "Okay car, phone home."

    Toyota/MS Connected Voice: "I phone home hundreds of times per second. Is that what you meant?"

    Driver: "No, I need to talk to my wife. Phone home."

    T/MS: "Dialing Microsoft Support..."

    Driver: "No, Car, stop! NO NO NO, I mean stop calling, not stop the car in this busy lane!!!"

    T/MS: "Hitler did nothing wrong."

    --
    I deny that I have not avoided attaining the opposite of that which I do not want.
    1. Re:Toyota/Microsoft Happy Fun Car Tales by beastofburdon · · Score: 1

      That .... was beautiful...

  21. Silly Toyota by cmeans · · Score: 1

    Put the app on the users phone...take advantage of the power that's already in the users hand. Certainly integrate a panel/voice control with the users phone, but don't make them use Microsoft...a word synonymous with the word Crash, in a car. Car tech doesn't change as fast as phone tech does, plus, most users will not be happy paying for yet another internet connection. And, if you put the functionality on their phone, they'll have access to it no matter who's car they're driving (or the passenger in).

    --
    Give a hand, not a hand-out.
    1. Re:Silly Toyota by dcw3 · · Score: 1

      Wait, you want a car app on your cell phone? As bad as Mickysoft is, I can't imagine a more stupid idea than having users play with their phone app while driving. If you're driving with your phone in your hand, you deserve to be Darwined....problem is, you'll likely take others with you.

      --
      Just another day in Paradise
    2. Re:Silly Toyota by cmeans · · Score: 1

      Possibly you missed the part where I said "integrate a panel/voice control with the users phone", so that the user isn't interacting with their phone directly.

      --
      Give a hand, not a hand-out.
    3. Re:Silly Toyota by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think you're looking for Apple's Car Play or Google's Android Auto.

    4. Re:Silly Toyota by dcw3 · · Score: 1

      Okay, I'll step back from the edge. Guess I was lead astray by the fact that we were talking about driving, and you brought up phones, and "already in the users hand", but we can call off the rescue squad now.

      --
      Just another day in Paradise
  22. Microsoft? No thanks. by JustNiz · · Score: 3, Informative

    Damn. I guess I won't be buying another Toyota then.

    1. Re:Microsoft? No thanks. by jcdr · · Score: 1

      Same here.

  23. The market is a bitch by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Over the past 15 years, I've seen almost every type of product I'm interested in systematically gutted and destroyed by this nonsense. At the time, desktops were the market. There wasn't really a competitor that still let you use the Internet. Then laptops hit pretty big. Then phones hit pretty big. Then all bets were off. Fucking EVERYTHING needs to be on the Internet.

    As someone that has absolutely no interest in my fridge automatically ordering food for me or phones that are essentially everything *except* phones or cars that let me know what their opinions are, I honestly don't understand this ridiculous push. The only thing I can think of is that product sellers all individually think something like, "Hey, this'll be even better on the Internet, right?" The ones that don't have that thought follow the ones that do. And then the market bares it because there isn't really any choice. And then another thing is picked clean by this locust swarm of an idea. I understand that smartphones have some utility and convenience, but I don't understand the expansion from phones to fucking everything.

    The ultimate point is that the market is only really good when you're what's being targeted in general by that market. I may very well be with a very small minority of the population. But that means that there are small gaps for a market desire and nobody invests in small gaps. I didn't support this at all and it's not the future I wanted. What is one individual to do?

  24. Restaurant recommendations by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    These are useless to me. I'm vegan and the system doesn't even take this into account.

    1. Re:Restaurant recommendations by dcw3 · · Score: 1

      That's because Carlin was right about "Fussy eaters"
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

      --
      Just another day in Paradise
  25. So glad I like driving small pickup trucks by kheldan · · Score: 1

    Should be immune to all this extraneous bullshit in the vehicle.

    --
    Are YOU using the TOOL, or is the TOOL using YOU? Think about it!
    1. Re:So glad I like driving small pickup trucks by drinkypoo · · Score: 3, Informative

      Small pickups no longer exist in the USA (the smallest one now is almost as big as an F100 was) and fancy pants interior has been creeping into pickups lately, and now they look like cars inside. Since most Americans treat them like cars, they are now expected to drive like cars, which is making them shittier as trucks.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    2. Re:So glad I like driving small pickup trucks by kheldan · · Score: 1

      Since businesses always need fleet vehicles that are as inexpensive and simple as possible I'm sure when the time comes I'll be able to find something very no-frills and not-consumer-oriented that fits my very basic needs.

      --
      Are YOU using the TOOL, or is the TOOL using YOU? Think about it!
    3. Re:So glad I like driving small pickup trucks by Agripa · · Score: 1

      Small pickups no longer exist in the USA (the smallest one now is almost as big as an F100 was) and fancy pants interior has been creeping into pickups lately, and now they look like cars inside.

      They no longer exist because they were legislated out of existence; they were effectively made illegal.

      The mileage requirements required by law are indexed based on vehicle weight and size. The only way for the manufacturers to legally continue to sell pickups was to make them heavier and larger. If you wanted a high MPG light pickup, well, your Democratic and Republican legislators fucked you.

      My neighbor and I had the exact same GMC Sonoma pickup from roughly 2002 and he replaced his after it was discontinued. The new replacement was practically identical except it weighed more.

    4. Re:So glad I like driving small pickup trucks by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      If you wanted a high MPG light pickup, well, your Democratic and Republican legislators fucked you.

      Or you buy an F150. Or in a couple years, an Aluminum Colorado or whatever they call it. The auto industry is finally getting around to moving to Aluminum. The NSX proved it was possible. The A8 proved it was feasible. The F150 proves that it's reasonable. Aluminum is more recyclable than steel using modern techniques (e.g. laser spectroscopy for sorting) so you can expect a snowball effect.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    5. Re:So glad I like driving small pickup trucks by Agripa · · Score: 1

      Or you buy an F150. Or in a couple years, an Aluminum Colorado or whatever they call it. The auto industry is finally getting around to moving to Aluminum. The NSX proved it was possible. The A8 proved it was feasible. The F150 proves that it's reasonable. Aluminum is more recyclable than steel using modern techniques (e.g. laser spectroscopy for sorting) so you can expect a snowball effect.

      Did you read the other part of my post? Since the MPG requirements are indexed based on size and weight, using a less dense material means using more of it or adding other mass to keep the same weight. There may be good reasons to use aluminum in a pickup truck (I am dubious of this) but mileage is not one of them.

  26. and dealer only service even oil changes by Joe_Dragon · · Score: 1

    and dealer only service even oil changes and they can bill $30-$40 + labor for that.

    1. Re: and dealer only service even oil changes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You expect to pay less than that? Even a small engine needs at least 6 litres of oil, and that costs more than $40 for a high quality fully synthetic oil. I don't begrudge a garage the labour cost to save me getting mucky then having to take the oil for disposal (which isn't free around here).

    2. Re: and dealer only service even oil changes by Joe_Dragon · · Score: 1

      Maybe $30-$40 for it but not $50+ and with labor $100.

  27. Wow! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Only recommend restaurants in your direction of travel? I smell another juicy utterly-obvious patent on the way!

  28. Clearly Toyota learned nothing from Ford by DougReed · · Score: 2

    The guys at Ford can feel comfortable knowing they are no longer the only suckers in the room.

    1. Re:Clearly Toyota learned nothing from Ford by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The funny thing is, Ford came after BMW. suckers following suckers following suckers.

  29. One Word by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Unintended Acceleration

    1. Re:One Word by dcw3 · · Score: 2

      That's two words. And for the record, this can occur in completely mechanical designs as well. It happened to me in a '85 Hyundai Excel. Fortunately, it was simple enough to override...pushed the clutch to the floor, and watched the tach continue to climb...brake and turn off the ignition...easy peasy. Same thing when I restarted it, but after that no repeat, and the dealership couldn't find an issue.

      --
      Just another day in Paradise
  30. Wow, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    this gives a whole new meaning to the blue screen of death.

  31. From the folks that brought you Metro by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Microsoft now believes that planes are the future. To unify the experience Microsoft is now teaming with Toyota to bring you a joystick for controls!

  32. It can't be *that* bad... could it? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    At least we don't live in a world where the car company teamed up with AOL instead. "And here's the creepy built-in holographic Steve Case head, which berates you for jackrabbit acceleration at stoplights. It's so stuck in the 90's... Want to take a test drive?"
    It was all going well. The car seemed easy enough to drive, except its AM-only radio was pre-tuned to the 4 most annoying talk radio stations in the area.
      *click, whirr* "***56K IS ENOUGH FOR ANYONE!***
    I almost swerved off the road. It's Steve Case's holographic head!

  33. It's a brave new world by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    And for only $4 per month the system might be modified to recommend restaurants without pausing for advertisements!

  34. What would this look like if was Open Source? by peterofoz · · Score: 1

    There should be a competing open source framework and set of apps you could load that only affect the connectivity part and not actual automotive control. The framework would implement the basic car-2-car communications and protocols to communicate to the Toyota mothership. After that, its an app store with security testing and validation controls.

  35. Oh, I can imagine it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I just don't want it.

  36. Road Side Assistance by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You: "Hi 24 hour road side assistance. My car won't start" Road Side assistance: "Have you tried turning in off and back on again?" You: Yes, already tried that. Now I just get a blue screen on the center console." Road Side assistance: "Your tow will be there shortly"

  37. Explains a lot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This explains (sort of) why Toyota doesn't offer CarPlay or Android Auto options.

    $5.5M isn't very much, btw.

    1. Re:Explains a lot by jcdr · · Score: 1

      It enough to make a lot of Toyota customer unhappy. Microsoft is a brand that carry one of the most heavy pain in the mass market. Any new linked to that name is risky.

  38. Bye bye Toyota by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ... and here was I looking at a new RAV... no more.
    And seriously, why is every retarded auto manufacturer moving all the dashboard buttons to a touch screen? I have to stop the car to adjust the air conditioning now?
    What's next, replace the brakes with a cheap touch sensitive "button" too?

  39. Winfows Car 10 by easyTree · · Score: 1

    Would you like to update to the latest version? It is FREE!

    --
    Requiem for the American Dream
  40. Windows Car 10 by easyTree · · Score: 1

    Would you like to update to the latest version? It is FREE!

    Please pull over whilst your car is upgraded. This should take no more than four hours.

    --
    Requiem for the American Dream
  41. Windows Car 10 by easyTree · · Score: 1

    Would you like to update to the latest version? It is FREE!

    This is the best version yet. Please pull over to tell us whether you'd like to upgrade.

    --
    Requiem for the American Dream
  42. Windows Car 10 by easyTree · · Score: 1

    Would you like to update to the latest version? It is FREE!

    Nine tenths of the planet have already relented to our persitent nagging to upgrade.

    --
    Requiem for the American Dream
  43. Windows Car 10 by easyTree · · Score: 1

    Would you like to update to the latest version? It is FREE!

    Please pull over to upgrade. You can revert back if you find that steering no longer works. Only eight hours total added to your journey.

    --
    Requiem for the American Dream
  44. Car Wash by easyTree · · Score: 1

    Welcome to the car wash. Please insert your token to wash your car.

    -- clink --

    Thank you. Upgrading your car to Windows Car 10 whilst you wait. It's FREEE!

    --
    Requiem for the American Dream
  45. Windows Car 10 by easyTree · · Score: 1

    Would you like to update to the latest version? It is FREE!

    You still haven't upgraded. It's FREE! Reliable steering is a small price to pay. It's FREE!

    --
    Requiem for the American Dream
  46. Windows Car 10 by easyTree · · Score: 1

    Would you like to update to the latest version? It is FREE!

    We'll ask again tomorrow.

    --
    Requiem for the American Dream
  47. Nowadays, other brands are making good hybrids too by ArsenneLupin · · Score: 1

    ... so it's not as bad as it sounds. Unless they "upgrade" existing cars during yearly checkup.

  48. Microsoft's driving assistant by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Will be known as Cartana.

  49. Technology works by Pain_Center · · Score: 1

    Technology works and toyota sucks.....

  50. No Toyota for me by AndyKron · · Score: 1

    No Toyota for me. I don't want to wait while my car reboots.

  51. Note To Self: Don't Ever Buy Toyota by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I guess they will see the results of this decision in the yearly sales.

  52. The New...Unsafe at Any Speed by dcw3 · · Score: 1

    Some of the older crowd will remember the Ralph Nadar book "Unsafe at Any Speed" from around '65. I'll trust Microsoft with my car when pigs fly. I was just surfing on my only Windows 10 box a few hours ago when it randomly rebooted w/o warning...haven't had time to investigate, but it wasn't a SW update.

    --
    Just another day in Paradise
  53. Obligatory by sociocapitalist · · Score: 1

    Obligatory: https://xkcd.com/612/

    --
    blindly antisocialist = antisocial
  54. Translation: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Toyota to use a crappy system in their cars infotainment components.

  55. Privacy considerations will be paramount??? by acoustix · · Score: 1

    That one sentence clashes with everything else in the summary. It's not possible to track all of that information and not have privacy issues. If insurance rates will be based on driver miles and habits there's no way that it will be anonymized data.

    Don't get me wrong - I think driver-less cars are probably the future and I realize that information will need to be gathered to make it successful. But I think we all disagree on how much information needs to be gathered and reported.

    --
    "A plan fiendishly clever in its intricacies"- Homer Simpson
  56. Microsoft is a world leader by gavron · · Score: 2

    There's no doubt that Toyota is partnering with a world leader.

    Microsoft has shown its ability to provide the lowest common denominator in secure operating systems since 1993.
    That's 23 years of being #1 at the most easily-hacked awful excuse for shitty software engineering.

    Mac people love macs. Good on them.
    Linux people love linux. Good on them.
    There's nobody who's a "windows person and loves windows", just people forced to support poor choices made by upper management that doesn't know tech but mandated "we will buy THIS and not THAT."

    Toyota appears to have joined the crowd.
    - I don't intend to have my car sit for an hour every "patch Tuesday" getting updated
    - I don't intend to have my car randomly stop working and reboot
    - Microsoft has a 20+ year track record of NOT DOING ANYTHING RIGHT. All their "advances" come from stealing from the MacOS/Linux crowd.

    I think I'll keep driving my Hyundai. Sorry, Toyota, you bet on the loser horse.

    E

    1. Re:Microsoft is a world leader by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      There's nobody who's a "windows person and loves windows"

      No, you're wrong. Besides moderating on Slashdot occasionally, there's a whole bunch of those guys working in all-Windows shops all across America, which are sadly more numerous than you'd like to believe. They think your Unix stuff is lame and they think all systems have as many problems as ones that say Microsoft all over them.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  57. OMG! Now the BSOD will cause REAL deaths... by magikfingerz · · Score: 1

    ... If you see a blue bright light... don't walk to it!

  58. mod parents up by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This thread is funny! One guy says nobody's a windows fan.
    Second guy says slashdot mods are.

    MOD THIS PUPPY UP!!!

  59. No privacy concerns HERE! by SoftwareArtist · · Score: 2

    Auto insurance could be priced more accurately because the system could report on a driver's actual miles and routes traveled ... Lobenstein said that customer privacy considerations will be paramount.

    Anyone notice a contradiction there?

    "Your privacy is our top concern! That's why we're going to give your insurance company a complete record of everywhere you drive!"

    --
    "I'm too busy to research this and form an educated opinion, but I do have time to tell everyone my uninformed opinion."
  60. BSOD by ebvwfbw · · Score: 1

    Blue screen, you could be dead soon.