May6
Microsoft Auto software will find its way into Hyundai and Kia vehicles in North America starting in 2010, the South Korea-based automaker announced on Tuesday. The news came during Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates' trip to meet South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and will involve the two companies develop and integrate infotainment systems for the vehicles. The deal was two years in the making, and would result in a system similar to the one Microsoft developed for Ford, where it is dubbed Sync.
The software Microsoft will develop will not be exclusive to Hyundai, and could be licensed to other automakers, according to a Microsoft spokesperson in an Automotive News report. The first systems to launch will allow voice-controlled connectivity of mobile devices such as cell phones and portable media players, similar to the Sync's Bluetooth connectivity. Later variations are being compared to mini PCs by the companies, and will allow multimedia playback and navigation. The systems' software will be upgradeable and the next-generation system will go beyond the capabilities of the current system in Ford vehicles.
The software could easily be modified to suit a wide range of vehicles and prices, according to Hyundai. Hardware best suited to take advantage of the software in higher-spec models such as screens and navigation systems would be up to Hyundai to develop, but Microsoft stresses the automaker is only limited by its budget in getting the most out of the software.
It is not known whether the new infotainment system will launch in entry-level models, as was the case with Sync which debuted in the Ford Focus or, in traditional fashion, in high-end models.
Again Asian company will leave Ford in the dust. And not so much loved Japanese.
how is this leaving ford in the dust? Doesn't the article say "comparable to the ones already offered by Ford". again, ALREADY OFFERED BY FORD!! If toyota had announced Sync two years ago if would have been the greatest thing ever in the automotive industry according to some here. But since ford was the one to lay the groundwork it became a useless add to cars that nobody wants. lol
^^^^ Word.
So does this mean I'll need to download security updates for my vehicle every week, which would require shutting it down and restarting it when I'm riding down the highway?
Or am I going to get a blue screen of death on my in-dash nav display?
We all know of Microsoft's legendary reliability and trouble free operation when it comes to computers. Let's keep 'em out of cars… ok?
No necessarily: it will crash with older software as effectively.
"a system similar to the one Microsoft developed for Ford" implies improvements to existing system, ergo ahead of what is offered today.
if you knew anything about sync you would know that it is capable of being updated. It will stay current with new phones and new technology and new media players that will be coming out.
But because it is a for it won't be as good as the updates offered by toyota and hyundai. awesome
Surely, Apple will be sniffing around this market segment. Any takers on a Leopard driven system?
Blu scrn o death on the I5
You can almost bet that Honda drivers would love the Mac system. It is soooooo much better than the Microsoft / Ford thing…
This is all good stuff because when the day comes that we're all riding around in 2 cylinder motorized go-karts on bicycle tires at least we'll have something to do since actually enjoying a driving experience will no longer be possible.
I imagine blow job in motion on bicycle tires with 2 cylinder engine will not be the same. Roar of V8 or turbo V6 produces more outcome
…maybe by then they'll also have a device for that as well! I'd call it the BlowMaster 3000.
"but Microsoft stresses the automaker is only limited by its budget in getting the most out of the software."
Typical Microsoft thinking… "Let's make a piece of software and then purposely cripple it and sell it to those in the lower income brackets.." This is why people have to deal with 47 different versions of Vista… Heaven forbid we just make one version of an operating system and sell it to the public! Instead, the market waited over five years for varying degrees of rebadged XP goodness… and if you can afford to pay the most, you can get the slickest version with the prettiest buttons.
Have owned Nissan(sentra..1990, and 200sx..97 model) Chevy(camaro-77/spectrum..87), Ford(focus,08…14K miles so far),
scion tC(05…96K miles so far), and Three(3) Hyundais… 99 sonata gls v6, 04 gls v6(no choicibbye)…and 01 tiburon…
the 99 was the best… lasted 120K before tons of issues arose in 2004… radiator leaking, new alternator at 107K, other minor issues..but a decent car…was mor elike the XG300, but slightly smaller.
Got the 01 tibby..and at 103K, needed a new transmission(asap..)…we dumped it, took a 4K hit(still owed 2 years on loan)…and Had to trade in for the 04 Sonata(spouse called on friday, at 9am.. upset… had to drive 50 miles to hyundai)…
we got the car, because, no one but Hyundai would work with us(who else would buy a car with the automatic tranny thisclose to death?).
We took a Big Hit on the 04 sonata in Nov..when we got the 08 Focus SES…but it was worth it.
Never again(same for Chevy's little Daewoo…No.. never consider it).
Got burned on the 01 tib, and the 04 Sonata…at 47,000, needed All Needed all new Rotors/.brake pads, etc… would have been 700-800 dollars, and had windwo regulators replaced in rear windows… and front were going out(at least the window regulators were replaced under warranty..but when you have to drive 65 miles , one way, for warranty work.. No..it got old, fast).
Sorry, folks.
If I won a Hyundai, I might keep it a few weeks, then sell it.
Use that money to pay off the Focus.
Buy what you like.
It's your cash. ya know?
take it easy.
LJ, what was wrong with Scion and Nissan?
.. I was just saying what we owned, basically.
Best car, so far… for reliability and least $$$$ spent for repairs… was the 1990 Sentra XE we had(3 speed automatic).
Great car… 233,000+ miles in 9 years.
Wish they still had cars like this(reliable).
ok, i'm sick of microsoft taking shit. they're an incredible company, with people like steve ballmer ruining the public image.
the fact is, blue screens of death are caused by faulty hardware drivers, and are the fault of the hardware manufacturer, NOT microsoft. Vista, although overdue and not as revolutionary as it should have been, is a rock-solid operating system. yes, there are too many editions of it available, but you can blame the eu for part of that.
/rant
He who integrates said hardware driver is responsible for creating an operating framework such that an error in the driver doesn't take the entire system down.
Great idea but wrong manufacturers! I've long wanted to see computerized cars (interior wise not just running the engine) but not from some junk-ass makers! And crash1433 is right… if honda or some other Japanese make had come out with this first guys would have been nuttin in their jeans over it! But since a domestic brand did it first you barely hear a peep about it.
Great. Another difficult UI to keep our focus off the road.