Microsoft today unveiled Windows Automotive 5.0, the latest version of its operating system designed for in-vehicle computers running navigation, entertainment and communication systems. Based on the real-time embedded Windows CE 5.0, Windows Automotive 5.0 has been designed to integrate with services offering real-time traffic updates, directions to the cheapest petrol in town, turn-by-turn navigation and more.
Windows Automotive 5.0 features enhancements including the Automotive User Interface Toolkit which enables the creation of 3D graphics and advanced navigation displays. The platform's multimedia functions have been boosted with the addition of DirectShow which supports a variety of digital media including Windows Media Audio, MP3 and DVD.
News source: vnunet.com
Windows Automotive 5.0 features enhancements including the Automotive User Interface Toolkit which enables the creation of 3D graphics and advanced navigation displays. The platform's multimedia functions have been boosted with the addition of DirectShow which supports a variety of digital media including Windows Media Audio, MP3 and DVD.
News source: vnunet.com
More Control, Less Complexity
New Microsoft® Remote Keyboard for Windows XP Media Center Edition enables greater interaction and control of a Media Center PC compared with a regular remote. This three-in-one device, the first of its kind, makes it easy to turn up the volume, type a message, or point and click with the fully integrated remote, keyboard and mouse capabilities — all without ever having to leave the couch.
Remote Keyboard for Windows XP Media Center Edition features a sleek design to match the living room, and its compact size enables it to be easily stowed when not in use to help get rid of clutter. With smart features including a Media Center green button and backlit buttons, this device makes using a Media Center PC easier and more fun than ever.
Cut, Crop, Click
Wireless Optical Desktop 5000 includes a wireless keyboard, mouse and photo-editing software that makes it a snap to access, edit and share digital photos on a PC. The keyboard comes equipped with PhotoCenter, featuring one-touch access to most-used photo-editing functions and Zoom Slider to zoom into and out of photos. The sleek wireless optical mouse is a picture-perfect companion to the keyboard with its new Magnifier tool, which enlarges any section of the screen for easy viewing and editing. With the inclusion of new Digital Image Standard 2006 software, this integrated hardware and software solution delivers all the tools needed to customize photos while reducing the number of editing steps.
The new products introduced today will be widely available by September 2005 for the following estimated retail prices:
• Remote Keyboard for Windows XP Media Center Edition: $104.95 (U.S.)
• Wireless Optical Desktop 5000: $104.95 (U.S.)
go microsoft!
The worst that can happen in theory (it's improper to extend the weaknesses of an open system like desktop Windows to a closed-code system like Windows Embedded which it is based on) -- is you'd have to stop engine and start it again.
Hell, with Windows Mobile 2003 SE I'm yet to see when my PDA-based Sat Nav will hang during the steady operation on the road...
[rant]
Firstly, MCE2005 isn't really an OS. It's Windows XP SP2 Home Edition with an extra application called Media Center. It is no more/less stable then any other NT based operating system.
Secondly, suggesting that MCE2005 is being used in cars is absurd. Did you even read the article, or do you just post for the hell of it? A full-blown NT cored OS would be overkill for cars, just like it's overkill for portable devices like PDA's and phones. This is where Windows CE comes in, which is what Windows Automotive 5.0 is for. It is a Windows CE application designed for cars, to provide GPS navigation, Entertainment playback, and other features,
[/rant]
Whilst some of Microsoft's business practices may be disreputable (a discussion for another day), currently Microsoft's non-traditional departments (specfically those heading the Windows Automative project & the Xbox 360 project) are producing some really exciting and interesting software. Although it may seem some departments are behind the eight-ball (the Windows team and the Office team), there are many departments at Microsoft that seem to be thriving with creativity and productivity.
I would really blame ATI for this. ATI has such lousy support for MCE that its not worth using ATI tuners. Several people end up using hacked drivers like Kram drivers.
If modern desktop XP "bluescreens", it's normally due to one of three things: 1) crappy hardware (or good hardware which developed a fault); 2) crappy device driver written by inept programmers and not tested for WHQL; 3) the programs that work on device driver level -- like good firewalls, good antiviruses.the possibilities of crash are remote.
Considering that you hardly can add lots of devices in your car setup, -- the possibilities of crash seem very remote.
If Microsoft Made Cars
1. For no reason whatsoever, your car would crash twice a day.
2. Every time they repainted the lines in 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 over 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. Macintosh would make a car that was powered by the sun, was reliable, five times as fast and twice as easy to drive, but would run on only five percent of the roads.
6. The oil, water temperature, and alternator warning lights would all be replaced by a single "This Car Has Performed An Illegal Operation" warning light.
7. The airbag system would ask "Are you sure?" before deploying.
8. 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 radio antenna.
9. Every time a new car was introduced, car buyers would have to learn how to drive all over again, because none of the controls would operate in the same manner as the old car.
10. Last but not least . . . you'd have to press the "Start" button to turn the engine off.
In fact, some modern cars DO have a button named START. Has nothing to do with Windows
Guess how do you stop these cars?...
When you press the brake or gas pedal, Windows will pop up a screen that says "Welcome to the install wizard!"
oh, BTW here is the link about the US Navy ship that was dead in the water:
http://wired-vig.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,13987,00.html
A year after the incident, in a letter to Scientific American, the designer of the ship software disclosed that the ship crew used the application software in a manner that they had been explicitly warned against.
Some writer caught hold of the fact that the software runs on NT and laid the blame on NT4.
People love to blame Microsoft anytime any system running on Windows fails. It is so much fun they forget to check where the problem actually was.
sphbecker, if that is the case then what will happen when you have millions of cars from a dozen different makers (using the cheapest components) with some of the dumbest people behind the wheel. Microsoft may not to be at fault with some of this, but if they want to get rid of their negative image, they have to be *BETTER* than everyone else. This is a case where Microsoft can't say: "We are as safe as everyone else". No, they have to *BE* safer than everyone else and it needs to be proven by a neutral party. Anything else and they will have problems
What a n00b, only like 5% of dreamcast games ran Windows CE. And they were only simple puzzle games.
But seriously, don't you find it a klittle scary that Windows has got it's fingers in the transportation-sector pie now? What's next, Windows For Street Signs?
http://www.vanschip.com/album/thumbnails.php?album=17&page=2
Close enough
Better than Apple which would be in only Ferraris that you proberly couldnt drive on certain roads hah ha.
Failure to control your mobile phone and voice dialling
Failure to control your radio or kids' DVD player,
hardly has anything to do with car safety.
My entire windshield changes to a dark royal blue and tells me I have encountered a crash.
Microsoft may have a chance of beating the QNX, but MS has a 0% chance of beating the Vector OS monopoly.
Last edited by 52758 on 14 Jul 2005 - 03:06
From an in-vehicle technology perspective, Microsoft's Automotive Business Unit works collaboratively with the auto industry to deliver technology designed for advanced in-car information, navigation and entertainment systems. Microsoft technology is on the road today in 25 preinstalled and aftermarket devices from 13 world-class automakers and suppliers, including Acura, BMW, Citroën, Clarion, Fiat, Subaru, Honda, Hyundai, DaimlerChrysler, Mitsubishi, NexTech, Toyota and Volvo.
Monopoly! Huh?...
I know the new Mercedes S-series has Active Cruise Control -- if you approach the car in front of you too close, it slows down temporarily, then when the obstacle is out of the way, accelerates to the preset level.
I have "sorta Automotive" on my PDA which can do Sat Nav, MS Voice Command, place & receive 'phone calls; can play music as well but I never really tried the idea because 6-CD changer does that pretty well. The PDA is put into cradle on centre mount.
So when my next car buying time comes... I am very likely to get myself one with Automotive. The idea of HUD also appeals to me very much - the directions and vital info is projected on your windscreen...
Even two events: 1) switching to a powerful car with automatic gearbox from manual and 2) starting to drive round with a Sat Nav (I am a topographic idiot -- always getting astray on my own!
So... never say never.
Seriously, in all honesty, how often have you seen a hacked (by malicious people) fridge, freezer, electric hob, CD player (without intent of the owner), television?
Also; When was the last time you read about Windows Automotive getting a virus?
EDIT: Before I get flamed I use both Windows and Linux
Last edited by 60759 on 14 Jul 2005 - 01:08
@Colonel_Angus: What are the results like?
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