Microsoft chases satnav market
Just look out the Windows for heaven's sake
Magic Quadrant for Enterprise Backup/Recovery
Microsoft has announced a new iteration of Windows Embedded, this time targeted at satellite navigation hardware, although it sneaks in a sideshow capability to keep the Windows Vista connection alive.
Windows Embedded NavReady is apparently aimed at Portable Navigation Devices (PNDs) and includes Windows Live Search and MSN Direct to provide the usual navigation services, as well as Bluetooth and SideShow for manufacturers wanting to push the functionality a little further.
Current satellite navigation systems generally use an embedded OS with proprietary software on top to provide the UI and routing functionality. Some manufacturers have even been using Windows Embedded CE for years, but with their own layers on top. By providing the whole bundle Microsoft might be able to reduce the devices to commodity level, just as they have with desktop PCs.
Not that manufacturers will be unable to differentiate their offerings: NavReady supports Bluetooth, including the hands-free profile and AV Remote Control. So a NavReady device could easily control the in-car entertainment system and manage the mobile phone, as well as the more mundane business of supplying directions in a range of comedy voices.
If that's not enough then SideShow can provide additional functionality, as long as there's a Windows Vista PC nearby to do the leg work.
Licences for Windows Embedded are hugely volume dependent, but NavReady shouldn't cost device manufacturers more than a few dollars, especially as the real point is to get Live Search into cars in such a way that Google can't compete, at least until they announce Android-NavReady. ®
COMMENTS
@ Larry
"Let's call it what it is, that is a GPS"
Not quite. GPS (Global Positioning System) tells you what your current position is based on a bunch of flying things in the sky. That's your static position (which can be updated in real time). You can buy a GPS device that has no route planning - typically used by ramblers or other people interested in outdoor pursuits.
SatNav takes advantage of GPS to plot a route from your current location (this is the GPS bit) to a destination you select.
MS GPS : Please Please Please
It would be a (real) hackers paradise : imagine what fun you could have. Persuading people they are in another country; Left-Right reversal of selected maps; Bogus speed limits (with warnings about speed cameras) ;
bonus points for DDOS'ing an entire freeway.
St. Bill, for providing a new and entertaining hobby for nerds.
Adrian
IT infrastructure monitoring strategies
What you need to know about cloud backup
Enabling efficient data center monitoring
Agentless Backup is Not a Myth
Top 10 SIEM Implementer’s Checklist
