Are we there yet?

The jokes are old with regard to blue screens of death in cars… but I can’t help but think how complex life with kids in the car might become if Microsoft controlled the infotainment… The current car systems might be far from perfect, but a MS driven “standard” is not what I am looking for to make it better. I can get my ipod / iPhone working just fine today without assistance from either Apple or Microsoft thanks to good old standard audio and video jacks.

Microsoft and Siemens will join forces to develop in-car entertainment and navigation products that should make it easier for consumers to connect devices such mobile phones and music players.

The two companies said on Friday the first Siemens products based on Microsoft software should go into production in 2009.

The market for automotive infotainment products is set to grow to about $54 billion by 2012 from $38 billion currently, according to research group iSuppli.

The rise of portable media players and content downloadable from the Internet is forcing carmakers and their suppliers to rethink their offerings, which have until recently centered on standalone audio systems. [CNET News.com]

Something about this announcement just made me think of this classic Apple commercial…

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4 Replies to “Are we there yet?”

  1. Isn’t there a rumor that Apple and VW are creating the iCar. Talk about depreciation. Think that’ll go down 33% once you drive it off the lot?

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