Microsoft releases Windows Embedded Automotive 7 interface

Article
Gallery

By Brett Davis | October 25th, 2010

Giant software and hardware companies such as Apple and Google have been showing increasing amounts of interest in the automotive industry lately, another of which is Microsoft. The company has just announced Windows Embedded Automotive 7 for the car.

Microsoft has already proven its interest in cars a few years ago, after developing the 2007 software for the Ford Sync interface. Microsoft announced last week the release of Windows Embedded Automotive 7. The new program is said to be three generations ahead of the old 2007 Sync program, and that it is much easier for manufacturers to develop their own layouts for the interface.

The Windows Embedded Automotive 7 was developed focusing on voice-activation and hands-free technology as well so the interface can be navigated without the need for drivers to take their hands off the wheel. The system is currently ready to be adapted to a car. It’s now up to manufacturers to take it on board.

Walter Sullivan, a senior program manager for Microsoft, said in recent interview with Automotive News,

“All that’s left for the carmaker, or their supplier, is the work of adapting it for a particular vehicle or a particular device in the vehicle.”

Sullivan also said that these technologies do take time, adding,

“The complexity of the systems is substantial, and the amount of testing that they go through with these systems requires a significant engineering cycle.”

Microsoft has also said the Windows Embedded Automotive 7 is also developed to be used with Microsoft’s Silverlight, a kind of Adobe Flash equivalent which provides rich graphics and animations throughout user navigation. This system is also said to be much easier for manufacturers to use when customising layouts and platforms.

Expect the new Windows Embedded Automotive 7 program in cars very soon. Car makers that have previously used Microsoft Windows Embedded technologies include, Kia’s Uvo, Ford’s Sync, Fiat’s Blue&Me and the main touch screen interface on the all-new Nissan Leaf.

Check out the video below for more details about Windows Embedded Automotive 7, and how manufacturers will be able to customise it for each car.

MeestaNob!

When are Ford AU going to put Sync or the Mondeo’s system in the Falcon?

Stoney!

Never, Hadn’t you noticed ford don’t give a crap about their specification of their cars, and this is why they have been falling behind so badly.

JML

Wasn’t the Falcon the first Oz made vehicle with full iPod integration?

shane

Correct, The BA started to show new tech advances for the Falcon and Aussie cars. It was the first Aussie car to produce the colour screen (which Holden first released in the VE V series), Ipod option etc. Since the BA there have been no real advances.

JML

That is incorrect. The BA never had full iPod integration; it came in with the FG. And then when you compare to other car makers which are supposed to be the most high-tech, like Honda, they don’t even have it available as an option, they only have an aux connection.

smokin’r32

Dont know why he got down ranked, Sync is an excellent system and is one of the driving forces behind Ford sales in the U.S. The Falcon would really benefit from something like that

Frenchie

If vehicle becomes non reponsive turn off vehicle wait 30 seconds then turn on again. Version 8 will be out Friday.

nifty

You forgot to mention closing all the windows first. Too bad if after doing that the central locking won’t open the doors. Anyhow when you are free who needs gates and windows!

whatcarRAH

Main reason I dont want a windows os in my car;
Last thing I want todo with my headunit is update it weekly.

Dan

Will the blue screen of death look any different, or the same?
http://CarAdvice La Mercator

I wonder how long it will be before Apple and Microsoft will be making cars? What would you have? The problem with Apple cars is that they won’t be compatible with any other cars. The Microsoft cars will continually want to re start and will loose data.
http://CarAdvice La Mercator

If either are using Google maps then you are likley to end up parked on top of a tree somewere……
Stoney!

Lucky it’s not an apple system. Have to visit iTunes each time you wanted to change the temp or play a song. Can’t just transfer by SD card sorry, this is an Apple remember…
Aleks

This is cool, in the future we will be able to download skins for the players
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1435885244 Yani Hendriawan

hey bluetooth that song to my windows car! sorry my apple car won’t sync with your windows cars. android car comming through!!!
Elitist

Take Apple anyday, MS just doesnt get “cool”.

Tomas79

Apple is for try hard lamers who dont understand technology and are easily distracted by shinny things…
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1435885244 Yani Hendriawan

you just got pwnd
whatcarRAH

So an OS is all about “cool”?
Sounds like ur all about wank.

snip snip

Wow. Get this system installed and you can *really* crash your car!
LukasUtopia

Quite good Car OS, but Microsoft, please make it more stable than PC OS.

People have a choice of Operating System (OS) to use as a tool to get things done, none are perfect, and people who stereotype people to either OS/brand are just plain tools themselves.

I’m a Mac user, so does that mean I’ve got know idea what Random Access Memory is, and I’ll only buy things that are shinny. The software creators who care so much about it choose to design the hardware themselves.
MazMagic

Looks like I will need to purchase Norton 2011 – Automotive Edition!?
LukasUtopia

People who don’t want to be cool by having cool products have limited taste/style/good sense for design Thats one of the reasons why good industralial design is lacking in Australia and other developed and now developing industralised/industrialised countries are dwarfing us. Why do so many people in Australia think people who like cool stuff are wankers, weird. I mean, apart from HSV, what other cool stuff have we exported to the rest of the world?
The Dazzler

I have Blue&Me in my Fiat 500 and it is crap. Can’t connect my iPhone.
I want a system where the Phone can become the head unit, take it with you when you swap cars it would be brilliant.
eightiesman

No manufacturer is going to want to be guinea pigs and risk having a major recall due to virus attacks, system crashes while driving, requiring frequent reboots, etc.