Microsoft Windows/West Coast Customs Mustang Collaboration

[rkolinski]

http://www.westcoastcustoms.com/blog/?tag=mustang

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the cars electronics can be controlled by this

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interior guages, etc. can all be changed

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MICROSOFT WINDOWS MUSTANG REVEALED - YouTube

"What do you get when you take a 2012 Ford Mustang and rebuild it within a Dynocorn 1967 classic Mustang body? One heck of a machine, no doubt. Take things a step further by equipping it with some of Microsoft’s most innovative technology and you’ve got a car everyone can talk about.

The folks at Microsoft recently collaborated with custom car builder Ryan Friedlinghaus, and his West Coast Customs crew, to create one such heavenly ride. The car, named “Project Detroit”, is a one-of-a-kind classic pony car with modern technology throughout.

For starters, the Mustang is loaded with innovative technology from front to back. It’s equipped with Microsoft Windows, Windows Phone, Windows Azure, Xbox, Kinect, Bing, the list goes on and on. The car features a built-in 4G wireless network, a heads up display (featuring Bing Maps and an Xbox screen for the passenger). It's also equipped with front and rear Kinect cameras which provide a live video feed of surrounding pedestrians and objects. Meanwhile, the rear windshield can serve as a customizable display system that can play video, show images and display custom messages, like "Eat My Dust Camaro!"

The car also features customizable skins for drivers looking for a custom feel behind the wheel. Simply swipe the touch-screen to toggle between different dashboard skins including a 1967 Mustang, a 2012 Mustang, and a Windows 8 metro version. In keeping with existing technology, the Project Detroit Mustang features Ford’s SYNC technology which offers up-to-the-minute traffic information, hands-free communication, and voice control applications.

Looking to make a grand entrance? The Mustang features an audio system that doubles as a public address system so you can speak into your phone and have the audio played through the car's external speakers. Using this system, the car also has customized car horn "ringtones" that enable you to change what sound plays when the horn is honked.

If that’s not enough bells and whistles to keep you busy for a while, the Mustang can also be located, unlocked, or started remotely using Viper’s SmartStart app for Windows Phone. In addition to playing X-Box video games, passengers can also surf the web using Microsoft’s built in browser.

Using custom applications for Windows Phone, various aspects of Project Detroit can be altered with the touch of a button or swipe of a finger — from changing the accent lighting and the horn sound “ringtone” to activating the “projector screen” or sending a message to the rear windshield.

Here’s a complete breakdown of the technology featured in the car:

Windows Phone Integration: Although the Mustang's design makes the car easy to spot, you can keep tabs on the car's location even when it is out of sight. Locate, unlock, and start the car all from the Viper SmartStart app for Windows Phone.

Built-in WIFI: To help ensure the Mustang is always online and connected to the cloud, the vehicle has a built-in 4G wireless network that supports multiple devices.

Digital Instrument Cluster: Swipe the touch-screen instrument cluster and toggle between different dashboard skins including a 1967 Mustang, a 2012 Mustang and a Windows 8 Metro design style version.

Heads Up Display: Similar to what's found in fighter jets, the windshield contains a driver side and passenger side heads-up display (HUD) highlighting telemetry and Bing Maps information directly on the windshield. View nearby restaurants, shopping centers and gas stations all without taking an eye off the road. A passenger can play Xbox on his/her side of the windshield without distracting the driver.

Ford SYNC: Up-to-the-minute traffic information, hands-free communication and even voice control applications are part of the standard Ford SYNC system that is available in Project Detroit.

Entertainment System: The entertainment system comes with an Xbox 360 and a Kinect. When parked, the rear windshield can actuate up to serve as a projector screen for playing movies or video games from behind the car.

External Audio System: The audio system acts as a public address system so you can speak into your phone and have the audio played through the car's external speakers. Using this system, the car also has customizable car horn "ringtones" that enable you to change what sound plays when the horn is honked.

Kinect Integration: Front and rear Kinect cameras provide a live video feed of surrounding pedestrians and objects. You can even watch and listen to the live audio and video stream from the Kinects remotely using a Windows Phone and send a message to the external audio system like "Hey skateboarders: stay away from my car."

Cloud Powered: Using the built-in wireless network, the Mustang is able to communicate with cloud services including Bing Maps, Viper's Smart Start system as well as store real-time telemetry data such as speed, location, RPM and fuel level in Windows Azure.

Customizable Rear Windshield: While driving, the rear windshield can serve as a customizable display system that can play video, show images and display custom messages.

The Project Detroit car, which was designed to inspire developers to think about building apps and automotive technologies of the future, will debut on Discovery's Velocity Network this Sunday, March 25 at 9 p.m. PT/ET.

Sources: Microsoft and West Coast Customs"http://mustangs.about.com/od/modelye...rd-Mustang.htm