Jalopnik: Microsoft

Your dad will dig the Forza Motorsport 4 free muscle car downloads

Mike Spinelli — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 13:30:00 EDT

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A 1965 Pontiac GTO, '69 Shelby GT500 428CJ, '71 Plymouth GTX 426 Hemi, '70 Buick GSX. They're all in your dad's fantasy garage, and they're among the cars included in a free DLC pack Forza 4 Season Pass holders will get if they pad Microsoft's cash-flow up front. More »

Why aren't there Porsches in Forza 4?

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 09:45:00 EDT

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Because EA is evil, that's why. Kidding! See, EA has the license for Porsche cars, thus, making them available only via a sub-licensing deal. The cars did appear in Forza 3, and featured RUFs, which are tuned, unmarked Porsches. More »

How Forza Motorsport 4 will change car culture forever

Ray Wert — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 14:15:00 EDT

With Forza Motorsport 3, Microsoft's Turn 10 Studios tried creating the greatest racing game of its generation. Arguably, it was. On October 11th, when Forza Motorsport 4 is released for Xbox 360 they're setting their sights higher — creating the next generation of car enthusiasts. More »

Microsoft and Volkswagen working on in-car movie server

Matt Hardigree — Thu, 05 May 2011 13:45:00 EDT

Because so many people use in-car hard drives to store music, Volkswagen's teaming up with Microsoft to develop a large in-car media server capable of holding and transmitting large files such as full-length movies. Just what we didn't ask for! More »

Microsoft, Toyota to make telematics love, birth OnStar competitor

Ray Wert — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 13:05:00 EDT

Microsoft and Toyota today announced they've forged a strategic partnership to build a global platform for ToMoCo's next-generation telematics services using the Windows Azure platform. In layman's terms — they're building a GM OnStar competitor. More »

vHow Stolen Footage Ended Up In The Forza 4 Trailer

Matt Hardigree — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 15:00:00 EST

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As we reported yesterday, the trailer for Forza Motorsport 4 contains video taken from another filmmaker without his permission. The cause? A well-meaning but short-sighted director with a first language that isn't English. More »

Microsoft Stole Footage For Forza 4 Game Trailer

Matt Hardigree — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 16:01:00 EST

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The trailer for Microsoft-owned Turn 10 Studios' Forza Motorsport 4 features clips stolen from someone else's automotive web-series — including a clip of actor Paul Walker. UPDATE! More »

Microsoft Street Slide: Google Street View Turned Up To 11

Ben Wojdyla — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:30:00 EDT

When Google Street View was launched, it was mind-blowing technology, but scanning large distances is often tiresome. In response, Microsoft Research has debuted Street Slide, which stitches the panoramic images together to make one big, amazing, interactive world. More »

Send Google Maps Directions To Your Ford For Free

Matt Hardigree — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 00:01:00 EDT

The ongoing battle between GM's OnStar and Ford's SYNC reaches a new level with Ford planning to announce later today they'll offer Google Maps direction service for free to customers with SYNC system. The free "Send to SYNC" service for its SYNC infotainment system, allowing users to send directions from Google Maps straight to their car via the company's Bluetooth-based traffic and information system. More »

Ford Debuts Voice-Control Of Smartphone Apps, But Not For iPhone

Matt Hardigree — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 09:30:00 EDT

Ford's adding voice control for Android and Blackberry apps like Pandora to their SYNC in-car infotainment system. Now the only risk in "thumbing up" a Dave Matthews Band song while driving is to your cred. But where's the iPhone control? More »

Does An iPad Work With Ford Sync?

Ray Wert — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 20:45:00 EDT

Today we answer the question asked by countless dozens — does an iPad work with a Sync-enabled Ford vehicle? More »

The Jalopnik-Powered Forza Motorsport 3 March Car Pack

Sam Smith — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 12:00:00 EST

These ten cars — the March Forza Motorsport 3 DLC — constitute the first of our two Jalopnik-branded downloadable content packs. You came, you saw, you guessed, and you just might have won. Our exclusive look at the cars below. More »

Inside Forza Motorsport, Part III: The Physics Of Driving Games

Sam Smith — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 13:00:00 EST

On Monday, we took a look at a pretty cool office. On Wednesday, how to make a fake car sound real. Earlier today, a Jalopnik-liveried Shelby. Now, we look at the guts of Forza's digital world. Welcome to the machine. More »

Inside Forza Motorsport, Part II: Making The Cars Sound Awesome

Sam Smith — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 12:00:00 EST

On Monday, we took you inside Turn 10 Studios, the outfit that created Forza Motorsport and teamed with us on the Forzalopnik download pack. Now it's time for a deeper dive. This is how they make the XBox game loud. More »

Inside Forza Motorsport, Part I: Where The Magic Happens

Sam Smith — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 12:30:00 EST

Voting for the Forzalopnik downloadable car pack may be history, but the next phase of the project — making your choices reality — has begun. Welcome to Microsoft's Turn 10 Studios. This is where it all goes down. More »

Kia UVO Beats Ford SYNC To Less-Annoying Voice Commands

Matt Hardigree — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 13:30:00 EST

In our experience, the novelty of screaming voice commands at your SYNC-equipped Ford to get it to play one freaking song wears off after a day. Kia's new MIcrosoft-based UVO system beats SYNC to the punch with a solution. More »

Kia Bringing UVO System To CES

Matt Hardigree — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 10:45:00 EST

Microsoft syncs up with Kia, gives birth to UVO. [AutoNews (Sub. Req)] More »

Take A Virtual Video Drive Down Any City Street

Matt Hardigree — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EDT

Rather than just overlaying 2D street scene photos onto a map, what if you could virtually transport people there by showing them video? That's the premise of a new Microsoft system currently in testing. More »

Forza 3 To Feature Luxury SUV Racing

The Auto Insider — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 11:00:00 EDT

The tease continues with this newest release of Forza 3 images, but this time they contain something we never expected — SUVs. And here we thought only irresponsible teens raced BMW X5s and Land Rovers. More »

New Forza Screen Shots Shows A Super Car Tango

The Auto Insider — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 17:30:00 EDT

Another week, another release of exciting new Forza Motorsport 3 screenshots. This time, they epict our favorite super cars from Italy, Germany and American in a super car tango, driven by a plethora of black Stigs. More »

Forza 3 Updates Car List, Gives Us More Hot Screen Shots

The Auto Insider — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EDT

Another week, another batch of jaw-dropping screen shots from Microsoft's Forza Motorsport 3. This weeks travels brought back all the best from the JDM so they could do battle on the famed Suzuka Circuit — in a Toyota Yaris? Yes. More »

Forza Motorsport 3: Le Mans Screen Shots, Partial Car List

The Auto Insider — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:00:00 EDT

Over the weekend, the developers from Turn 10 released these gorgeously detailed, high-resolution images of their new Forza Motorsport 3 racer, all but confirming the inclusion of the Le Mans famed Circuit De La Sarthe. [Update: one lap video] More »

First Forza Motorsport 3 High-Res Trailer Gives GT5 Run For The Money

The Auto Insider — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 17:00:00 EDT

Just released at E3 is this tasty new HD Forza Motorsport 3 trailer as well as some gorgeous high-res screen captures that help us think the new game will give Gran Turismo 5 a huge run for its money. More »

Microsoft Employee Dusts Steve Ballmer, Alan Mulally

Matt Hardigree — Wed, 27 May 2009 11:00:00 EDT

As Ballmer and Mulally toured Microsoft HQ yesterday to tout the SYNC system they met with a Jalopnik reader and MicroFord fanboy in his Mustang. You can guess what happened next. More »

Forza Motorsport 3 Logo Revealed

The Auto Insider — Tue, 05 May 2009 17:15:00 EDT

It's no surprise the Forza Motorsport franchise has garnered such a following in the console racing game wars. The newest incarnation, Forza Motorsport 3, is coming right around the off-cambered, dual-apex corner. More »

Kooky Oldsmobile Art Car Spotted Outside Microsoft Research Center

Ben Wojdyla — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 14:30:00 EST

This eccentrically modified mess of an Oldsmobile was spotted parked out front of Microsoft's new Research building. That sound you're hearing? That's a million Apple fanboys squealing delightedly as they each draw a smug metaphor. More »

Leaked Forza Motorsport 3 In-Game Artwork Reveals In-Game Race Posters

The Auto Insider — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 16:30:00 EST

Are you still trying to eek out that last achievement in Forza 2? Hurry up because Microsoft’s Forza Motorsport 3 is filling your rear view mirror. More »

Google, Yahoo And Microsoft Are Not The New GM, Ford And Chrysler

Ray Wert — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 08:45:00 EST

Bernstein analyst Jeffrey Lindsay thinks Google, Yahoo and Microsoft are the equivalent of GM, Ford and Chrysler of 60 years ago. Our quick response is "Umm. No." More »

Microsoft Shills Its SYNC To Hyundai, Kia

Travis Hudson — Tue, 06 May 2008 12:30:00 EDT

Microsoft is again shilling its technology out to the masses, but this time offering up its car infotainment system, better known as SYNC, to the Hyundai-Kia Auto Group. The 2010 models will be the first to include the Microsoft entertainment system that still remains nameless as Ford has the name SYNC locked down by the balls. For the time being, the system used by Hyundai and Kia will be similar to that offered by Ford, FIAT and most recently with Suzuki (who decided on the Suzuki TRIP name), but the group is looking at new capabilities that could be added like navigation and emergency call services. Press release below the jump. More »

HuaTai Auto Comes Up With Most Suetastic Logo Ever

Matt Hardigree — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 11:20:00 EDT

Microsoft and BMW are both companies that have been willing to bend to governmental pressure to move product, but we don't see the companies abiding by the logo above from China's HuaTai Group. The company is about to launch a new line of SUV's at the Beijing Motor Show and has been purchasing expensive billboard space. The keen eyes of China Car Times noticed the clever compound logo. Let's see if BMW notices the HuaTai logo when walking by their stand at the show. Awkward! [China Car Times] More »

Microsoft Uses Artificial Intelligence To Address Traffic

Travis Hudson — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 16:40:00 EDT

Microsoft is taking a stab at the traffic problem with a new service called Clearflow. Clearflow is part of Microsoft's Live Maps service and it uses artificial intelligence to try to one-up the other traffic solving competitors. Rather than just watching the major highways and freeways, Clearflow also addresses the side streets that serve as the most common detour routes when traffic is heavy on the highways. More »

Aftermarket Manufacturers Go Sync, Next-Gen Also On The Way

Travis Hudson — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 15:20:00 EDT

We knew that Microsoft was going to look to hawk its Sync system elsewhere—especially with its booming popularity and the soon-to-be expired Ford contract. Now we know who is first to the free market table Alpine and Continental, two aftermarket manufacturers, are already working on integrating the voice command and entertainment system into their own products. Perhaps even more interesting, due to its early popularity, Microsoft is already working on the next generation of Sync and it has a super-exciting codename! More »

Microsoft Has A Vision For Automotive Electronics: Advertising

Matt Hardigree — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 17:00:00 EST

It's no secret that cars are becoming more connected to the virtual world (as drivers are becoming dangerously divorced from the real one), and the price of all that connection isn't going to be absorbed by automakers or the companies responsible for providing the technology. The current model for in-car services like OnStar and XM/Sirius is based on the cell phone business plan, which can offer the technology at little or no cost to most consumers while charging for the service. Microsoft, for its part, is considering advertising as a possible income source. More »

Expect Microsoft To Get Sync-y With Other Automakers

Travis Hudson — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 16:00:00 EST

Ford's exclusive rights to the Microsoft Sync system are set to expire at the end of this year. As a result, Microsoft will be looking to work with more automakers to incorporate its Sync system, which I recently reviewed the hell out of. Martin Thall, general manager of Microsoft's automotive business, told the Freep of Microsoft's plans to extend Sync to the greater automotive world. More »

Life, Like The Focus, Can Be Made Better With Sync

Ray Wert — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 16:30:00 EDT

Maybe instead of calling it the "Ford Focus,"...

Ray Wert — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 18:22:28 EDT

Maybe instead of calling it the "Ford Focus," they could have just renamed it the "Ford Sync, now with a car!" [Freep] More »

Jalopnik Plays With The Ford Sync System Again, Shows Off USB And Text Messaging Capabilities

Ray Wert — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 15:30:00 EDT

Ford Offers Sync System For $395

Ray Wert — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 08:15:00 EDT

If you'll be buying one of the 12 vehicles in the Ford, Lincoln or Mercury brands with the option to get your music, phone and text messaging all in Sync via bluetooth, we've now found out you'll be able to get the Microsoft-Ford accessory for less than the cost of an iPhone and just a bit more expensive than a Zune. Ford just released information on pricing and the vehicles the system will be initially available in, and we've got the whole scoop below the jump. If you remember, we had the chance to do an exclusive hands-on with the Sync system back in January before the Detroit Auto Show, and we've got to say again there's no in-vehicle integration system that works better out on the market. At least one of us would gladly pay $395 for the system — there's only that one catch — we're not planning on buying a Ford anytime soon. Rats — foiled again! More »

How To Draw a Murcielago

Davey G. Johnson — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 18:00:00 EDT

A few of Los Jalopniks have art and design experience. One of us has an art degree, one spent some moons arranging important market research in QuarkXPress, and one spent a decade in advertising in and publishing. And we will admit this — none of us ever found MS Paint to be an exceptionally awesome tool for illustrating things. Apparently, this guy didn't know any better and spent Lord knows how many hours capturing the process of drawing a Lamborghini Murcielago in that wretched program. We'd offer to take up a collection to buy the man a copy of Illustrator, but we're too wracked with anxiety after watching the clip. More »

Blue & Me and Fiat 500

Mike Spinelli — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 11:08:08 EDT

Fiat Auto, Microsoft and components developer Magneti Marelli whipped up the "Blue & Me" system gracing the Fiat 500's furnishings (along with those of other Fiat models). The tech platform uses Microsoft's Windows Mobile operating system to manage a network that integrates voice activation, steering wheel control buttons and the dashboard display and any Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone. The setup is similar to Ford's Sync system; It reads incoming SMS messages aloud to the driver and incorporates music stored on a mobile phone, smart phone, MP3 player or USB memory into the audio system via console-mounted USB port. For a few extra webdollarz, Blue&Me Nav adds navigation and telematics services like emergency management, service info and as-yet indeterminate insurance services. A next evolution, Fiat says, will include interactive navigation and information services like addresses, weather and traffic forecasts, satellite localization in case of theft. The whole dealy underscores the company's tech-urban positioning of the 500, which will likely squeeze higher profit margins out of the Euroeconobox. Click through for corporate-release details. – Mike Spinelli More »