Ctrl+Alt+Ignition: Windows Automotive 5.0 Unveiled

[Steve]

In-car computers look like they're going to increase in popularity this year, particularly with the concept ideas we've seen from the likes of Intel at IDF. It's no surprise then to learn that Microsoft has unveiled Windows Automotive 5.0.

Automotive 5.0 is designed to handle in-car entertainment, communication and navigation. Based on Windows CE 5.0 it allows features such as guidance to the nearest (or cheapest) petrol station and traffic updates. Performance and capabilities have been enhanced in the latest version, reports VNUNet:

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.

Expanding virtual memory support to 96MB allows for larger and more sophisticated applications, such as improved speech recognition, better graphics and 3D navigation.

I've never seen Windows Automotive in action, but from what I've read it is to Windows CE what Windows MCE is to XP - a specialised version.

What are your thoughts on Windows (of the OS kind) in your car? Let us know.

[Steve]

If you want to learn more about Windows Automotive, then perhaps the most logical thing to do would be visit the Windows Automotive Website. Thanks to Sam for pointing out this blatently obvious (yet overlooked by me) fact.

[stargaze]

It reminds me somewhat of the old if Microsoft Made Cars Joke,

Some highlights from : http://www.vbrad.com/pf.asp?p=Misc/hum_ms_cars.htm

2. Occasionally your car would just die on the motorway for no reason, and you'd have to restart it. For some strange reason, you'd just accept this, restart and drive on.

3. Occasionally, executing a manoeuvre would cause your car to stop and fail to restart and you'd have to re-install the engine. For some strange reason, you'd just accept this too.

7. The oil, engine, gas and alternator warning lights would be replaced with a single "General Car Fault" warning light.

11. The airbag system would say "Are you sure?" before going off.

Humours me anyway, ive been looking into building a carputer for quite some time now, and it seems to be the biggest draw backs are
1) the hardware,
2) the delays.

For example, if you get into your car, and you want to listen to your favourite song whilst you drive to your girlfriends house, chances are you would be there before your system booted up, unless the systems they use for carputers are embedded pc's booting of some flash drive of some description then windows being windows will always take time to boot, not just the software - but the hardware takes time to load too.

This could get incredibly frustrating, especially when your doing 100mph down the motorway and in order to change album you have to click start, goto my music, choose the new album, restart windows media player (because it just crashed...again) and then get it to play.

What (imho) needs to be done for carputers is a fully integrated system designed specifically to meet the needs, not a stripped down, or even enhanced version of an already slow and deminished software.

Come up with some integrated hardware and software, with a battery backup for when you turn the car off (safe boot down etc), no uneccesary software running - just what you need, and dont forget it needs to boot and be ready in less than 5 seconds or you will begin to hate it. Then we might be talking.

I would reccomend to anyone interested in this area to look up a system called DriveSoft, it was featured on pimp my ride, and is installed in many trucks worldwide, its complete, its integrated, its fast - and you dont need to buy another license key if your girlfriends in the car too.

*end of rant

Sam

StarGaze Computers
StarGaze (UK) Limited.

[Steve]

I dont trust windows not to crash my desktop let alone a motor.

Sounds dangerous, blue screen of death will now be blood splattered windscreen of death.

Seriously though, when was the last time Windows crashed on you? I've been testing RAID cards recently, putting them through all sorts of hairy conditions and I've not had a single STOP error.

Sometimes I feel sorry for MS, Windows is a LOT better than it used to be.

[Thorburn]

I dont trust windows not to crash my desktop let alone a motor.

Sounds dangerous, blue screen of death will now be blood splattered windscreen of death.

What a load of rubbish, cars from Ferrari's to the new Mini have had stuff like 'fly-by-wire' throttles for years and how often do you see them causing a problem? Now compare it to the number of cars that suffer from snapping throttle cables.....
Brake pressures are governed by electronics and the only thing that prevents the brakes and steering being completely electronic is legislation and the fact that enthusiastic drivers would complain about the loss of feel.

Just look at planes, there are practically no mechanical linkage between the controls and rudder or other devices that keep the whole show up in the air, and how often does one of them suffer a software problem?

Also, as Kez says, how often does Windows REALLY crash these days, its pretty rare in my opinion, infact until I moved house I'd gone almost a month without so much as rebooting my machine.

[Steve]

infact until I moved house I'd gone almost a month without so much as rebooting my machine.

A harsh reminder that Windows doesn't like unfamiliar surroundings... always introduce your OS to a new location gradually.

You make good points, however.

[luap.h]

the max I managed was 16 days, and I only restarted after installing an update.

anyway, as for it being in the car, I don't really see much of a point personally, I just don't spend enough time in the car to warrant all that stuff. It's also going to be very distracting with all the things going on in the screen and trying to drive, it probably wont be long before they make it illegal to operate a winAuto system while the engine is on, like mobile phones. Speech recognition is all well and good, but I'm sure you're still going to need to use your hands and look down at somepoint. It's all really a glorified GPS/routefinder, thought having it all in one place is kinda handy

[stargaze]

I agree with the points made here, windows has come a hell of a long way - i even prefer it to linux now (which i never thought would happen) as for how man y times has it crashed on me? well im a little biased because i run a computer repair shop. So i see it several times a day. (agreed, its not always windows that caused the fault)

The underlying issue for me however is still the speed of it. Im just impatient.