Microsoft: Ask us for driving directions

Microsoft wants to take Windows in a new direction.

The software maker announced on Monday its plans for NavReady 2009, a customized version of Windows Embedded that's specifically designed to power in-car navigation systems. The software is based on Windows CE, the slimmed-down version of Windows that is used for Windows Mobile.

Some GPS makers, such as Mio, already use Windows CE, though Microsoft says it is adding support for several new features with this navigation-specific release. New features include support for Live Search, Bluetooth, and MSN Direct, which allows real-time traffic and gas prices. NavReady 2009 should start showing up in devices starting this holiday season, Microsoft said.

This is not the first time Microsoft has tried to tailor its general-purpose Windows Embedded operating system to the needs of a particular market. Most recently, it created a version for cash registers. But even Windows Mobile itself was an attempt to tailor the generic operating system for a specific market.

The next version of the point-of-sale software, dubbed POSReady, is due out some time next year, Microsoft said Monday.

[RompStar_420]

Microsoft products crash and burn. I am using Vista right now with the Service Pack 1 and it still sucks, many programs don't work that I need, it still freezes and crashes, its pretty, but useless for most things. I use XP when I have to use office and VBA for programming, but that's about it.<br /><br />I switched to Mac 4 years ago and I love it. For servers I run Linux and it's hard as a rock. <br /><br />Microsoft OS sucks, but people don't know any better and can be easily convinced through deceptive marketing.

[MaLvaDo39]

It'll end up crashing taking me with it...<br /><br />I'll be using navigation on my iPhone as the SDK will allow.

[RompStar_420]

And the cell phones with Windows (whatever name they give to it) suck also, got a new cell with a 2 year contract and only lasted 1 year, frezze, reset, reboot, piece of you know what. My friends either switched to Palm OS or OS X for the cell phone. The new one just came out, I will get it soon.

[OlsonBW]

Like the others said. Why would I want Microsoft's screwed up software in my car? Forget that. I'll stick with something that is stable and works. <br /><br />They've been doing Windows for over 20 years and still haven't gotten it right. Windows still crashes, is way too slow and buggy, and gets viruses when other OSs don't. Right, ask Microsoft for directions. They don't have a clue where they are going. How are they supposed to direct anyone else?

[amarkj]

I've used the Windows Mobile oS for cell phones for more than 2 yrs and it works just fine. I haven't upgraded to Vista as XP works just fine for me right now.

[rhsc]

nobody's forcing you to use it, but nobody cares that you hate windows and you're not adding anything to the article by proclaiming your hatred for it, so keep your trolling to yourselves

[joey mele]

What if I ask it directions to the Apple Store ?

[The_happy_switcher]

It will ask you 4 times and each time you will have to put in your passsword to confirm. lol

[The_happy_switcher]

Not content to just crash your OS, now Microsoft wants to crash your car, too.

[Dalkorian]

Funny, I had a similar thought - this gives the word "crash" a whole new, yet legacy meaning, doesn't it. ;)

[timothypowers]

It seems that Microsoft is always an easy target for everyone. "I loaded Vista on my 486sx and it sucked". All my programs won't work --- Does anyone ever stop and look at why the problem is occuring? Is it really Microsoft's problem or an issue where the 3rd party developers can't follow instructions and write 32-bit code and write the the correct registry location (HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/software rather than HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE) and avoid putting all user-defined configuration files under C:\Program Files. Rather than pointing blame at Microsoft, why don't you beat up the software vendors and have them write code that works properly? Regardless of your OS platform, bad coding will result in a bad user experience. It also helps to read the minimum system requiresments and understanding the expectations before blaming everyone except yourself when things don't go the way you expect.<br /><br />I use a variety of operating systems on a daily basis and am unfortunate to have to have to diagnose and troubleshoot them all. Nothing out there today can be considered a perfect operating sytem, but IMHO Vista and the Windows Mobile platforms have much more going for them than anything else out there in the market today.

[Dalkorian]

by timtohypowers June 16, 2008 9:41 AM PDT<br />"... Is it really Microsoft's problem or an issue where the 3rd party developers can't follow instructions and write 32-bit code and write the the correct registry location (HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/software rather than HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE) ..." I'd argue that's the problem right there, the idiotic registry itself. Looking at the mess in my VM, I'd guess you meant to say "HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software rather than HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE" as there is (thankfully) no such thing as "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/software" (case sensitive version). Is this kind of idiotic ambiguity M$'s fault? Certainly, no one else is guilty of making winblows work the way it does. That's the "beauty" of proprietary closed-source software, there is NO QUESTION who is guilty. And as a side note, no one has seriously tried loading fista on a 486sx machine and why would they? It won't run on anything that wasn't build as a super computer over the last 3 years, so why try on an average machine that's over 10 years old? That kind of flexibility only comes with Linux, even the lastest OSX (Leopard) would have trouble with a 10 year old machine and Apple is usually pretty good at supporting older hardware. So what have we discovered in your comment? You have NO IDEA what you're talking about. I'd guess M$ will pay you for you uninformed opinion anyway.

[iBuzz]

Ha ha ha... I can just see it now. You get in your car (the one with the big "Made for Microsoft NavReady" sticker on the side of your door), pull out of your driveway, and that paperclip character pops up on your dash to torment you with:<br /><br />"It looks like you're driving your car. Would you like help?"

[TinyIoda]

what you MS haters dont know is that windows CE runs something like 50% of all nav systems already...<br /><br />do you research!!

[MaLvaDo39]

Ahhh, that explains the poor programs they are...

[gthurman]

May the auto WinCE become a dashboard PDA. Upon destination arrival, the processor and memory ejects, leaving the monitor in the dashboard. Entering home or office, the 'communicator' could be inserted, like an old 8-track cassette, into a docking station with large monitor, keyboard, mouse and microphone for voice control. Mobile 7 might do well.