[Robinsonmac]

Just read a article about how Microsoft is about to be left behind in the automotive phone integration front. http://wmpoweruser.com/with-apples-i...WMPowerUser%29 Apple & Google are about to both announce partner car manufacturers for their respective eco system car connectivity/integration. Between the 2 they have all the major car companies on board, leaving Microsoft with only a few small manufacturers left. They better have some big announcement at build to address this fast or it will be another minus for the ecosystem for developers.

[12Danny123]

I agree they need to address this market Quick!!.

[bayanii]

I read it, but they are already integrated in that market for a decade now. They just need minor tweeks. By now they should have all the information they need. Why do you think apple and google are so anxious about it. They know what's about to happen. They saw the new philosophy of Microsoft. Microsoft has its finger in multiple aspects. They simply gather information.

[Genghis7777]

Losing Ford wasn't a good look.

Sent from my Lumia 520 using Tapatalk

[SnailUK]

Losing Ford wasn't a good look

I read all the stuff about this. Ford took a good product (Win embedded), put their stuff over the top of it, and completely ruined the platform. If anything its a great thing for Microsoft, as Microsoft no longer gets associated with the rubbish produced by Ford.

Personally, i wonder why your phone should be plugged into a car at all. We can already get music and calls over bluetooth, why not just expose the data connection, and location data over bluetooth, and keep all car stereos phone agnostic. Therefore not stopping people with Mobile X buying from Manufacturer Y, because their phone isn't supported.

[ohgood]

Just read a article about how Microsoft is about to be left behind in the automotive phone integration front. With Apple’s iOS In The Car And Google’s Projected Mode, Microsoft Trailing behind Apple And Google In Another Market | WMPoweruser Apple & Google are about to both announce partner car manufacturers for their respective eco system car connectivity/integration. Between the 2 they have all the major car companies on board, leaving Microsoft with only a few small manufacturers left. They better have some big announcement at build to address this fast or it will be another minus for the ecosystem for developers.

annnnnd two more suckers step in and attempt to re-invent the wheel. given apple is apple, they'll likely do a lot better with usability just like google, but it will be a horrible UI for a -car- touch screen.

i predict ms does get 'shut out', but doesn't care. why ? because it's a stupid thing to do: putting everything on one touch screen, for the sake of .... putting everything on one touch screen.

when the OEM's finally realize that sliders and knobs work just fine (and better) than idiotic multi-page scrolling menus (with even worse submenus and different size buttons/themes in between) they'll finally be getting somewhere.

the current trend of UI design in car 'infomational' or whatever they're calling them is just bad, terribly bad.

still can't believe none of them haven't just put a blank space/dock in the dash for an ipad (ohhh, scream surface if you want, whatever) and called it a day.

guess that would be too easy, work to well, and be too simple for car manufacturers.

oh well, let's see if they learn anything in 2014

[snowmutt]

I am with @ohgood. These "smart cars" are overkill. What they have embedded as functions are easier to access through the smartphones that everyone who buys new cars already own and pay the service for. Handy? If streamlined and structured for ease of use, then sure. But- come on. We have a "Stop texting and driving" rage right now, but please feel free to be distracted when driving by your dashboard as you try and manage a drop down menu.

This rant, of course, takes nothing away from the OP point, that MS has managed to be on the leading edge of a tech they should own, and somehow come from ahead to lose out. Even if this was Ford's fault for messing up the tech (not sure I am buying into that, but I am willing to listen to any arguments in the know on this), it is still MS losing the contract.

[AdamInTx]

I agree with ohgood on this one. I personally see no problems with this. Being able to control my phone through touchscreens in my car is not a priority to me. All I need is a power/cig. lighter port for charging and a female jack so I can listen through the cars speakers. Anything else is just something that's raising the price of my car and I will most likely never use.

[Michael Alan Goff]

Losing Ford wasn't a good look.

Sent from my Lumia 520 using Tapatalk

Ford 'not married' to Microsoft for next-gen Sync, but BlackBerry isn't necessarily in | Mobile - CNET News

[Robinsonmac]

You guys are missing the point. Its not about if its a good idea or not, it's about being on the outside looking in yet again. Its another excuse or proverbial straw for a person not to get a windows phone because the car they buy. Even if the average person won't use it or it's completely horrible , it's still there and it's just more ammo for the biased sales reps to use against windows phone. It plays directly into the perception is reality problem windows phone has.

[Michael Alan Goff]

Except the article is wrong.

There already is Microsoft putting their ecosystem in cars. There is already the capability for WP to integrate with them as well.

Microsoft details its Connected Car Platform integration with Windows Phone, starring Ford SYNC (video)

It took me five seconds to find that article.

[Robinsonmac]

Except the article is wrong.

There already is Microsoft putting their ecosystem in cars. There is already the capability for WP to integrate with them as well.

Microsoft details its Connected Car Platform integration with Windows Phone, starring Ford SYNC (video)

It took me five seconds to find that article.

And Ford will no longer be using Microsoft to power their product...... Google & Apple just made annoucements & gauranteed you will see commercials. Again, even if it's completely horrible all the average person sees is car "X" has Apple or Google blah, blah, blah built in & Microsft doesn't. It continues the distorted reality of a lacking platform that "doesn't" have this or that while Apple & Google do

[Michael Alan Goff]

And Ford will no longer be using Microsoft to power their product...... Google & Apple just made annoucements & gauranteed you will see commercials. Again, even if it's completely horrible all the average person sees is car "X" has Apple or Google blah, blah, blah built in & Microsft doesn't. It continues the distorted reality of a lacking platform that "doesn't" have this or that while Apple & Google do

Except is hasn't been decided completely if they're not using Microsoft. They're looking at their options, which they apparently do every chance they can. BIG DIFFERENCE.

[dkediger]

And it appears CarPlay isn't total IOS behind the dashboard. Seems to be an IOS-like presentation/UI layer on top of a QNX OS. Plus, they're specifically mentioning Lightning adapter devices only, so auto OEM's will apparently need to provide a Lightning socket as well.

All in all, not something so different that Microsoft couldn't also do - the presentation/UI layer, not the Lightning connector.

PCMag: Apple's CarPlay Doesn't Think Different

PCMag: Apple's iPhone-Syncing CarPlay Has BlackBerry Inside