Microsoft today announced details of the next version of Microsoft Auto at the Embedded World 2009 and CeBIT trade shows. Meanwhile, a new open source alliance for automakers that intends to go head-to-head with Microsoft Auto was announced today, too. Dubbed Genivi, this group of auto and technology makers wants to do for in-car navigation/entertainment systems what Android did for the mobile phone. The group plans to build an open source, Linux-based auto infotainment stack.
Genivi bills itself as a non-profit with a goal to develop and support broad adoption of an open source In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI) reference platform. Its founding members include heavy hitters such as BMW Group, Delphi, General Motors, Intel, Magneti Marelli, PSA Peugeot Citroën, Visteon and Wind River. Genivi plans to have its first fully tested reference model available in the summer. It will be built on the new Intel Atom processor Z5xx series that can function in an industrial temperature range. It will also use Wind River Linux, reports CNet.
Microsoft hoped to preempt some of the excitement that is sure be stirred up over Genivi when the BMW Group’s Graham Smethurst delivers his CeBIT keynote speech on the topic on March 5. Microsoft’s announcement consists of declarations that it will be more affordable to use than previous versions because it will support a wider variety of standard hardware options, including none other than the Intel Atom processor. This will be in addition to the existing support for ARM- and SH-based processors, Microsoft says. Auto 4.0 will also add a standard interface for broadcast radio tuners and standard support for CD playback and ripping. Plus, Microsoft says Auto 4.0 will trump Genivi by being available in the spring.
Although Genivi has some big names in its corners, Microsoft has some pizzazz, too. Microsoft Auto is the technology platform for Ford’s Sync and Fiat’s Blue & Me. (This demo video of Microsoft Auto shows Ford’s next generation Sync in action.) The Fiat system has a popular race-car app called eco:Drive, which collects data on acceleration, deceleration, gear shifting and speed that can be downloaded to a USB stick and analyzed at home via the eco:Drive website. Plus, at the Embedded World show in Nuremberg, Germany, Microsoft Auto ISV partners are showing off more cool applications built on the latest Microsoft Auto, including navigation systems, integration with Microsoft Live Search for Devices, speech recognition, Internet and wireless networking connectivity.
Infotainment vendors, start your engines. The race between Microsoft and open source is on.
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