Microsoft isn't building a self driving car. It's going to power some....

[AlTech]

 

So Microsoft wants to power Self Driving cars BUT not actually build one .

 

This is typical of Microsoft as they want to be in Software and not hardware (maybe they might make a reference car in the future if it all comes to shit).

 

 

 

http://www.theverge.com/2016/6/3/11850214/microsoft-self-driving-car-software

Quote

 

 

Microsoft isn't interested in building its own self-driving car. Speaking at the Converge conference in Hong Kong this week, Microsoft's Peggy Johnson revealed that the company will continue to build software for cars rather than create vehicles. "We won't be building our own autonomous vehicle but we would like to enable autonomous vehicles and assisted driving as well," said Johnson, who is the head of business development at Microsoft.

Google and Fiat Chrysler agreed last month to work together to build self-driving Chrysler Pacifica minivans with Google's autonomous technology. It appears that Microsoft is keen to follow a similar path, but just on the software side. "We in different ways enabled a variety of different partners and you'll see us continuing to do that," explained Johnson. Microsoft is open to partners requesting an operating system for cars, and Johnson specifically cites examples of being able to work in self-driving cars eventually.

 

Harman is integrating Microsoft Office 365 into its infotainment systems, and the partnership will bring the entire suite of productivity apps including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint to cars for the first time. "You're sitting in the car for many, many minutes a day. Can that be part of your new office, can it be your new desk, a place where you actually get work done?" asked Johnson. "We believe it can."

Microsoft has a long history of providing software for vehicles. Ford, Kia, BMW, Nissan, and Fiat have all used special versions of Windows to create their own interfaces and systems. Microsoft even revealed its "Windows in the car" initiative two years ago, but it has yet to partner with any manufacturers to make it a reality.

 

[unidentical]

Judging by what I've seen from the surface products and windows phone, M$ is right to keep away from the hardware side. 

[AlTech]

Just now, unidentical said:

Judging by what I've seen from the surface products and windows phone, M$ is right to keep away from the hardware side. 

Surface devices are quite nice actually. And FYI, the reason why they want to avoid Hardware is because it's not as profitable as software.

[unidentical]

9 minutes ago, AluminiumTech said:

Surface devices are quite nice actually. And FYI, the reason why they want to avoid Hardware is because it's not as profitable as software.

I've worked with several surface devices from every generation. They're very pretty, but they're not great at anything and every single one that I've seen has had stability issues.

 

I didn't speculate as to Microsoft's reasons for not producing much hardware, my comment was only that they aren't good at it when they do.

[Misanthrope]

"Good news! Your car firmware update is ready! No I don't care you're in the middle of the highway, we're doing this now!!!!!"

[Coaxialgamer]

18 hours ago, Misanthrope said:

"Good news! Your car firmware update is ready! No I don't care you're in the middle of the highway, we're doing this now!!!!!"

Updating to carOS 10...

 

Oops, looks like something went wrong

 

And this,  my friend,  is how you brick a car. 

[MrTiC]

18 hours ago, Misanthrope said:

"Good news! Your car firmware update is ready! No I don't care you're in the middle of the highway, we're doing this now!!!!!"

this is gold

[Doobeedoo]

Just imagine the car with MS logo

[Celmor]

Microsoft isn't maybe the best in the mainstream consumer market but they brought some nice innovative products that now all the others are copying, I for one am pretty happy with my Surface Pro 3 although I'm using Linux as my main desktop OS. They still have to get the their hardware in the Surface Book under control though, even Microsoft can't get it right with Windows on their own device with PCIe 'plug-and-play' while the device is running.

Looking forward to their augmented reality headset too, especially if it comes in a more portable/modern package so you don't look like coming out of a sci-fi walking around with it.

 

23 hours ago, AluminiumTech said:

Also, why did nobody tell me of this conference? I live close to it, I could have gone to it!

Number of seats are limited, you will only get in as an invited journalist.

[AlTech]

11 minutes ago, Celmor said:

Microsoft isn't maybe the best in the mainstream consumer market but they brought some nice innovative products that now all the others are copying, I for one am pretty happy with my Surface Pro 3 although I'm using Linux as my main desktop OS. They still have to get the their hardware in the Surface Book under control though, even Microsoft can't get it right with Windows on their own device with PCIe 'plug-and-play' while the device is running.

Looking forward to their augmented reality headset too, especially if it comes in a more portable/modern package so you don't look like coming out of a sci-fi walking around with it.

 

Number of seats are limited, you will only get in as an invited journalist.

Oh ok....

[SurvivorNVL]

I feel bad for the first person who blue screens on an interstate.

[RexinOridle]

Please stop getting into driverless cars. We already have more than enough morons on the street driving. The last thing we need is more of them "DRIVING", without a steering.

[Trik'Stari]

On 6/3/2016 at 10:57 PM, unidentical said:

Judging by what I've seen from the surface products and windows phone, M$ is right to keep away from the hardware side. 

They'd be right to keep away from the software side as well

[Rodinski]

On 03/06/2016 at 8:57 PM, AluminiumTech said:

Surface devices are quite nice actually. And FYI, the reason why they want to avoid Hardware is because it's not as profitable as software.

Sorry for going off topic but I disagree. Outside of the SP2, I have had only bud problems with their surface line up. Windows 10 has been an absolute joke for me as well (driver teams can't do much as they have to send them off to Microsoft to fix certain issues with the wireless and video drivers). 

 

I agree that MS should stay with software. They done goofed. 

[manikyath]

should i be expecting them to make a selfdriving car and selfdriving car pro down the line, with the first one being overpriced, and the second one being twice as expensive, and them releasing a selfdriving convertible that may bluescreen when you open the roof?

[AlTech]

6 hours ago, Rodinski said:

Sorry for going off topic but I disagree. Outside of the SP2, I have had only bud problems with their surface line up. Windows 10 has been an absolute joke for me as well (driver teams can't do much as they have to send them off to Microsoft to fix certain issues with the wireless and video drivers). 

 

I agree that MS should stay with software. They done goofed. 

Whatever, it's your opinion and it isn't shared by me

[AlTech]

6 hours ago, manikyath said:

should i be expecting them to make a selfdriving car and selfdriving car pro down the line, with the first one being overpriced, and the second one being twice as expensive, and them releasing a selfdriving convertible that may bluescreen when you open the roof?

Windows in Cars: Hold on, you need to download the new driver for opening the roof LMAO

[LOLZpersonok]

It costs a lot more to build a self-driving car than to actually support them. I don't think it's surprising since Microsoft usually builds software for hardware with some notable exceptions.

[manikyath]

27 minutes ago, AluminiumTech said:

Windows in Cars: Hold on, you need to download the new driver for opening the roof LMAO

no drivers found 

[AlTech]

1 minute ago, manikyath said:

no drivers found 

im sure that the self driving cars will have wifi or LTE. If not then that'd just stupid

[suchamoneypit]

integrating office 365 into a car? Who is going to create/view powerpoints/spreadsheets/word docs while driving (is this assisted like Tesla's, or are they talking about adding this to a fully autonomous vehicle?)

[ADM-Ntek]

wonderful now you can take BSOD literally  

[Bhav]

On 05/06/2016 at 7:52 AM, RexinOridle said:

Please stop getting into driverless cars. We already have more than enough morons on the street driving. The last thing we need is more of them "DRIVING", without a steering.

What about people such as me who cannot drive due to medical reasons? Well I do get a free bus pass.

[RexinOridle]

7 minutes ago, Bhav said:

What about people such as me who cannot drive due to medical reasons? Well I do get a free bus pass.

 

I agree, that is an absolutely a valid reasonable reason to not to drive. Taxi, Uber or public transportation is still a better choice in my point of view. I believe you will agree that it's unnecessary to add more possible points of failure in a system, such as an autonomous system. If something goes wrong in a car, would you rather be in a driverless car or one with a driver?

[LukeTim]

On 6/4/2016 at 4:33 AM, Misanthrope said:

"Good news! Your car firmware update is ready! No I don't care you're in the middle of the highway, we're doing this now!!!!!"

My thoughts exactly.

The thought of Microsoft developing software to operate a machine that could potentially kill people is very worrying indeed.