microsoft

We've spent plenty of time talking about the dangers of texting and driving, and the data on that seems clear: taking your eyes off the road to type out a message on your smartphone is a recipe for disaster. But what about using hands-free, voice-to-text systems? If you ask Siri to send a text to...Read More»

If you love your Ford but hate Ford Sync, listen up: according to Detroit News, Ford may soon ditch the Microsoft platform that underlies Sync and migrate to a new, more stable system. SYNC: THEN AND NOW When Microsoft first partnered with Ford to build infotainment systems for cars, Bill Gates was...Read More»

Microsoft is looking for a new CEO. As longtime head honcho Steve Ballmer prepares to step down, the teetering tech giant has narrowed its list of potential replacements to about five names. On that list: Ford CEO Alan Mulally. Let's put aside the question of whether Mulally would actually take the...Read More»

For decades, advertisers have spent a good bit of time and energy (not to mention cash) placing their products in movies. Who could forget ET's Reese's Pieces or, as a more recent example, the Audi R8, which has co-starred alongside Robert Downey Jr. in the Iron Man films? For its part, General...Read More»

On the off-chance that you won't be heading to France for this weekend's 24 Hours of Le Mans, here's another way to get your racing fix: zip over to New York City for the videogame equivalent, hosted by Audi and Xbox. Yes, for the second year in a row, Audi and Xbox/Turn 10 are presenting the...Read More»

A couple of weeks ago, we mentioned that Google's turn-by-turn navigation service -- currently available on Android headsets only -- is heading to the iPhone. That spells bad news for Garmin, TomTom, and other third-party GPS manufacturers, and unfortunately, there's more where that came from...Read More»

Tesla and its Roadster are a product of DIY ingenuity -- a perfect example of what can happen when a bunch of people come together and say, "Hey, no one else is doing this, so why don't we?" In that same the DIY spirit, game designers at Microsoft have cleverly recruited a Tesla roadster for their...Read More»

Microsoft has lost face in recent years -- both in court and in the marketplace -- but with the release of Windows 7, the folks from Redmond are working hard to restore the company's stature. One of the ways they're doing that is via strategic partnerships, including some targeted directly at auto...Read More»

If you're a fan of cars and have access to the Internet, you've no doubt heard of Google Street View, which lets you see the street-level image of many urban and suburban locations--hugely useful in finding your way with their mapping service. But now Microsoft is planning an over-the-top comeback...Read More»

Videogamers: are you sitting down? (Of course you are.) We just wanted to let you know that Forza Motorsport 3 is en route. And. It. Looks. AWESOME. With 400 vehicles from 50 automakers and 100 track options at gamers' disposal--not to mention some stellar graphics and FM3's special rewind...Read More»

Microsoft hopes to SYNC up with the auto industry. The software giant's high-tech infotainment system has been one of the few big success stories for Ford Motor Co. this past year, drawing in the sort of high-tech-savvy buyers who might normally steer over to an import brand. Now with Ford about to...Read More»

When the South Korean carmaker Hyundai recently announced plans to introduce a Microsoft-based navigation and communications system into its cars, it underscored the dramatic transformation of today’s automobiles. While they may remain, at their most fundamental, mechanical devices, the modern...Read More»

The Korean carmaker Hyundai Motor Co. has inked an expansive deal with Microsoft that will bring a new generation of in-car electronic “infotainment” technology to the cars, trucks, and crossovers sold under the Hyundai and Kia brands. The voice-controlled technology will integrate a wide range...Read More»