Microsoft world premiere at the Geneva Auto Show
Microsoft, together with its strategic
partner Fiat Auto, will premiere the new "Blue & Me" telematics system at this year's Geneva Auto
Show.Developed with Fiat and Italian auto-electronics manufacturer Magneti Marelli, the system runs on Microsoft's latest edition of Windows Mobile for Automotive and will initially be offered on Fiat, Lancia and Alfa Romeo vehicles, starting this spring.
As you might expect, the "Blue" in the somewhat awkward product name stands for "Bluetooth," and the system is compatible with a wide range of bluetooth-equipped phones and other devices. A voice-recognition system and steering wheel mounted controls makes operation of the system safe and simple, and no voice system "training" is needed, according to Fiat. (In a clever feature, the voice system can "read" mobile phone SMS text messages to the driver.)
The system includes a USB port in the glovebox, and is compatible with a wide range of smart phones, MP3 players and USB memory sticks.
Later versions of the system will include a nav system, OnStar-like services, and a "personal assistant" feature.
Oh, "Blue & Me" is meant to evoke "a completely integrated technology with a one-to-one relation with the customer," according to Fiat.
[Source: Fiat]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
You Will Be Assimilated 7:32PM (2/02/2006)
Will cars running Windows Automotive be equipped with the required Ctrl, Alt, and Del buttons?
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motech 7:37PM (2/02/2006)
ctrl alt del
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motech 7:38PM (2/02/2006)
man id feel a lot better about this if it were a mac behind the scenes . . .
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Hank 7:41PM (2/02/2006)
"Blue & Me"...gives a whole new meaning to the "Blue Screen of Death"
It also sounds like a late 70s Disney movie about a speaking dog and a long haired socially awkward boy.
No ctrl, alt, delete, it'll be horn, gas, radio power button.
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Scott Dunagan 7:44PM (2/02/2006)
Actually the Los Angeles Times ran a similar story from E3 here http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-technopolis8jan08,1,6061705.column back in Jan.
S
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mavkato 8:01PM (2/02/2006)
This is just another way to crash your car!
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Amit Das 8:49PM (2/02/2006)
Push "START" to turn off you car
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Dusty 9:32PM (2/02/2006)
Can you imagine having to take your car in every month for a new update for your cars anti-virus protector???
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matt 10:35PM (2/02/2006)
Blue & Me reminds me of IBM's Blue supercomputer...Microsoft should have just called it BSOD & Me...
Anyone else terrified of having a Microsoft product running your car? Where is Apple to the rescue?
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Mick 10:54PM (2/02/2006)
Bill Gates has become a multi-billionaire despite selling nothing but unfinished, defective products! If he were in the food business he'd be thrown in jail. Personally, I'd want him as far away from my vehicle as possibly. Steve Jobs, maybe; Bill Gates, never.
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the chad 2:29AM (2/03/2006)
Aaaaahhhhh!!!!,
[Screams of terror!]
Please, keep Bill far, far away from my cars!!! If he can't even get something as simple as computers right, just imagine what he could do to the cars!!!
"We're sorry, Windows has encountered a serious error and must force your car to restart. The airbags will deploy and your car alarm will go off in 10 seconds if you do not engage the emergency brake, hold the antenna, and honk at the same time"
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Ross 9:50AM (2/03/2006)
Some of you folks would prefer Mac; me, I'd opt for Linux. But what on EARTH is Fiat thinking???? I can see jamming Windows into, say, a Buick - those two brands kinda go together. (Think polyester pants, white shoes and a total lack of concern for engineering.) Windows + Alfa Romeo???? Pathetic.
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Sean Flanagan 10:22AM (2/03/2006)
So my question is, what exactly does this DO? It isn't a nav system, it isn't the stereo, but it has Bluetooth and a USB port. So it's a standalone Bluetooth phone interface with voice recognition that runs on Windows? What makes it better than anything any luxury car maker offers in its vehicles?
These aren't rhetorical, I'm actually asking.
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Aaron 12:43PM (2/03/2006)
I think it is a great idea. Isn't time that someone made a GUI based system that actually integrated all of the appliances we own.
As for apple, OSX is Linix. Don't kid yourself. Years of flops and misguided attempts. The most inovative thing they do is make things smaller. Very inovative thinking. You probably drive a saturn.
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Mobius 2:50PM (2/03/2006)
These jokes are so old. Windows is already being used in many head units as we speak, Motortrend's car and truck of the year, for example... get over it. Sure, it's not the system which Fiat is using, but Windows Mobile for Automotive. OMG! BSOD! Please... that joke is dumb. A lot of the potential with this system lies with the way the automaker implements it, so I'm anxious to see what Fiat does with it. It has huge potential though. Fiat isn't the only one who is going to roll this out, either... I can't say much more than that.
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macdesire 12:28AM (2/05/2006)
you can put windows in anything .. i will not buy and a lot of other folks will not buy also ... cmon a windows in your car just to give bill gates and monkey balmer a little more money be serious ... i a moller car a gui will be nescessary but in ordinary days car .. it does not maque any sense ... and windows mobile crashs a lot i just sold my pda because i was tired of errors .. even in xbox 360 a perfect and closed hardware windows crashes imagine im a universe like cars cmon be serious ...
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Paolo 9:46AM (4/13/2007)
I thought that a system actually integrating all of the appliances I own was a superb achievement. It works with telephones (but for security I don't make phone calls from a running car) but when I tried to attach an iPod, the media was not recognised ! Again a nasty patent from Microsoft ? note that I am a mac addicted... Alfa Romeo was, at the time, unable to explain the problem (perhaps there is no problem as the blue and me device was set to ignore iPod). If someone has an idea to solve the problem, I would appreciate the help.
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Lion Benjamins 9:59AM (5/03/2007)
This development follows many years of R&D. Fiat Research (CRF) is a partner in the pan European PROMISE Project which developed some of the core concepts and components. The project is very serious about consumer concerns and has created a Consumer Watchdog function. You are encouraged to write your comments to consumerwatchdog@promise-plm.com
For more information about the project please follow http://www.promise-plm.com
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Dr Enid 5:01AM (5/16/2007)
I bought my beautiful Spider last week and I have just recently migrated from PC to Mac. I was astonished to find that there is no Mac option over Blue&Me. Worried, yes, just a little. But the comms system doesn't drive the car, thank God. Then I find that my iPod is not the right USB storage device for the Blue&Me system. Surprise, surprise. So now I have to buy one of the recognised USB devices (listed in the manual) to get the best out of the playlists function and everything else. Shame on Alfa Romeo. A gorgeous car with a shameful personal secret. Steve Jobs for President.
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Johnny Woodbine 6:05PM (5/20/2007)
I bought a brand new Grande Punto and despite the brochure stating iPod compatibility - guess what?? (It doesn't even see anything on any of my USB sticks so God knows what use it is).I feel very pissed off as that was one of my main reasons for buying. It would only take a software update so come on Fiat!
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