Microsoft Builds a Mustang

csv8 · 23-03-2012, 09:47 PM

Microsoft has built a retro-rod with Windows power.

The "Project Detroit" custom car has been co-built with Microsoft to showcase what is possible when a car is equipped with the maximum amount of computing gadgets - essentially, it's a muscle car with brains.

The car is adorned with numerous Windows gadgets, including a touch-screen digital instrument cluster display with eight unique "skins", and a tablet for the front passenger to browse the internet or play Xbox games - all of which can be displayed to other road users in the rear glass section. It can even send other road users a message: for example, Microsoft claims you could tell someone who is a bit too close for comfort to "Stop tailgating me please!"

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It's equipped with a WiFi hotspot running on the 4G phone network, and telemetry such as the car's speed, engine revs and its fuel level are stored in a server in the cloud. The driver can also track the location of the car via GPS, and even unlock and start the car from a Windows-equipped Nokia mobile.

Like a police car, the Mustang is fitted with an external audio system (something of a PA system) that can blare music outside of the car, be used to talk to other road users, or even to warn people - or inquisitive canines - to stay away from the car. It also gets Kinect cameras at the front and rear of the car, the vision from which can be viewed via a phone or tablet app.

The vehicle was built by car modification experts West Coast Customs, and while it may look like a classic 1967 Mustang Fastback, that's just the replica body on top. Underneath and inside the car is actually a 2012 model Ford Mustang.

The already stunning styling of the classic Mustang has been turned up a notch, with integrated blue LEDs behind the brakes and the grille, which also features Windows logo. There's even a neat little Xbox 360 logo in the tail-light, and the matte black paint is all kinds of sexy.

Sadly for the petrol-headed geeks among us, there's no information available on what engine the car runs. However, if it's to live up to its "Project Detroit" name, we'd expect a big burbling V8 under the bonnet.
From : DRIVE

**cs123** · 23-03-2012, 09:51 PM

Really disappointed in the later WCC shows on Foxtel. They have just become one long advertorial. They use to be marginally watchable, but not now.

Anyway, I wonder how often the Mustang BSODs when you drive it.

Bossxr8 · 23-03-2012, 10:18 PM

A Microsoft car, really great. How long does it take to crash for no reason. Or refuses to respond to your commands.

Pfft.

leadfoot · 23-03-2012, 10:26 PM

On the upside, most problems could be fixed by restarting the car.

Wretched · 23-03-2012, 10:28 PM

hmmm not sure MS did the work, the article has West Coast Customs.

I'd be keen to see what MS and a car company can bring (weren't Ford working with MS?).

yeah you get the usual BSOD comments from an OS 10 years back from people who only know MS from windows 95/98, but when you work in the industry and work with their server based products (OS, apps and databases) you gain a lot more respect for them. What they have brought to the industry and to the end user is something many forget.

Scott · 23-03-2012, 10:36 PM

Does it come with Windows?

Nikked · 23-03-2012, 10:41 PM

-To turn off the car you need to click the start button...
-Before using indicators, you'll need to download flash

**Burnout** · 23-03-2012, 10:42 PM

Waiting for the Blue Screen of Death.......

**cs123** · 23-03-2012, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wretched

yeah you get the usual BSOD comments from an OS 10 years back from people who only know MS from windows 95/98, but when you work in the industry and work with their server based products (OS, apps and databases) you gain a lot more respect for them.

I love working with Windows admins. The first thing they do when the have a problem is to reboot the server.

FPVGT500 · 24-03-2012, 01:08 AM

Will it crash?

Mickxr8 · 24-03-2012, 06:59 AM

Windows has encountered a problem and needs to crash , probably into that car in front of you . Would you like to send an error report ?

Wretched · 24-03-2012, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cs123

I love working with Windows admins. The first thing they do when the have a problem is to reboot the server.

that's the first step for an admin with NFI.

stevanford · 24-03-2012, 09:36 AM

It looks absolutely terrible.

The Lord · 24-03-2012, 09:47 AM

Windows FTW

4.0i OHC · 24-03-2012, 12:57 PM

Not interested. Build a Falcon featuring the Linux kernel and I'll think differently.

FGII-XR6 · 27-03-2012, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wretched

hmmm not sure MS did the work, the article has West Coast Customs.

I'd be keen to see what MS and a car company can bring (weren't Ford working with MS?).

yeah you get the usual BSOD comments from an OS 10 years back from people who only know MS from windows 95/98, but when you work in the industry and work with their server based products (OS, apps and databases) you gain a lot more respect for them. What they have brought to the industry and to the end user is something many forget.

I agree server products are great and Win 7 is the OS we were all waiting for but I can't resist posting this one, an oldie but a goodie
At a recent COMDEX, Bill Gates reportedly compared the computer industry with the auto industry and stated: "If GM had kept up with technology like the computer industry has, we would all be driving twenty-five dollar cars that got 1000 miles to the gallon." In response to Bill's comments, General Motors issued a press release stating: If GM had developed technology like Microsoft, we would all be driving cars with the following characteristics:

1. For no reason whatsoever your car would crash twice a day.
2. Every time they repainted the lines on the road you would have to buy a new car.
3. Occasionally your car would die on the freeway for no reason, and you would just accept this, restart and drive on.
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. Only one person at a time could use the car, unless you bought "Car95" or "CarNT." But then you would have to buy more seats.
6. Macintosh would make a car that was powered by the sun, reliable, five times as fast, and twice as easy to drive, but would only run on five per cent of the roads.
7. The oil, water temperature and alternator warning lights would be replaced by a single "general car default" warning light.
8. New seats would force everyone to have the same size butt.
9. The airbag system would say "Are you sure?" before going off.
10. 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 grab hold of the radio antenna.
11. GM would require all car buyers to also purchase a deluxe set of Rand McNally road maps (now a GM subsidiary), even though they neither need them nor want them. Attempting to delete this option would immediately cause the car's performance to diminish by 50% or more. Moreover, GM would become a target for investigation by the Justice Department.
12. Everytime GM introduced a new model 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.
13. You'd press the "start" button to shut off the engine.