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BMW to become Linux powered car?

autonews.com — BMW is developing an open-source platform for vehicle electronics. By taking the open-source approach, rather than using proprietary software, BMW aims to allow providers of infotainment services to develop plug-and-play applications. BMW is asking other automakers to join in its effort.

Who dugg this? Made popular Oct 25, 2008

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  • nobarcode, on 10/25/2008, -1/+75For some reason that made me think of an application that would wait until you were traveling over 65 MPH, at which point it would play Never Gonna Give You Up, then lock your left front tire's brake, causing your car to roll over and over again. But I don't think that's what you meant. It would bring a whole new meaning to Rick Roll, though.
  • divinediva, on 10/25/2008, -2/+63Words cannot explain how cool it looks when it shifts shapes.
  • TnTBass, on 10/25/2008, -3/+56"But to allow outside developers to provide plug-and-play software, automakers must make certain there is a proper firewall to prevent access to other systems in the vehicle."

    Ahh, the exploits one could potentially have fun with. Imagine driving along, hacking into one guy's BMW and having it Rick Roll him over, and over, and over again.
  • SemiSarcastic, on 10/25/2008, -4/+55I use to hate BMWs because they never included Linux in any of its models, now I own ten of them.
  • MikeSetera, on 10/25/2008, -4/+45Where will they get the drivers?
  • sourceholder, on 10/25/2008, -2/+40Finally, something that won't crash?
  • noPCtoday, on 10/25/2008, -2/+38if it crashes, should we blame the driver?
  • spvn, on 10/25/2008, -2/+32Open source CAR?!.... I never thought I'd live to see this day. *sheds tear*
  • inactive, on 10/25/2008, -1/+30kill -9 traction control
  • pak314, on 10/25/2008, -0/+29There will be a bunch of penguins turning the crankshaft.
  • Intercon, on 10/25/2008, -1/+28On the information superhighway, of course!
  • colonels1020, on 10/25/2008, -5/+32Nothing like getting a good 'ol fashioned kernel panic on the interstate.
  • pitdog, on 10/25/2008, -0/+26I like BMW. I like Linux. The combining of the two can only be good :)
  • tcolberg, on 10/25/2008, -2/+24start car
    "Insufficient Privileges"
    sudo start car
  • mediumofmeaning, on 09/08/2009, -1/+23and you'll have to pay 20% more to get it in black.
  • AltF3, on 10/25/2008, -1/+18Don't you watch Top Gear? They've all moved on to Audi.
  • ricoboy24, on 10/25/2008, -1/+17Yup, BMW is now Virus free.
  • mrsteveman1, on 10/25/2008, -0/+14Yea but you have to add that yourself. For that much money it should come fully equipped.
  • Joest23, on 10/25/2008, -16/+29Let's just hope they don't make a Mac powered car. You won't be able to replace anything if it brakes. Seatbelt breaks? Either send it to BMW for a $5,000 repair bill or buy a new car that is essentially the same car but has a different paint color and is more expensive than the car that just broke.
  • ShoeSh1ne, on 10/25/2008, -2/+15Reason # 4582934 why BMW rocks.
  • pyry, on 10/25/2008, -1/+13Shouldn't we be?
  • inactive, on 10/25/2008, -0/+11I own a bmw (nothing fancy) but i can say bmw needs to work on how they treat the "non rich" customers. Bmw will charge $200.00 for an oil change that you can do for under $50.00 , i would like to know what makes them think that there oil change is worth 200.00. The local dealer is a scam for rich people to throw away money.
  • Atomic1fire, on 10/25/2008, -3/+14OS would be a good idea,
    Instead of requiring licensing and other issues that might fragment the market, an opensource system would be adaptable to multiple models of cars.
    Its android for cars
  • beingdevious, on 10/25/2008, -1/+11thats why we call it a stealership

    DIY .. FTW
  • arigneysd, on 10/25/2008, -8/+18
    apt-get carwash
    apt-get oilchange

  • Pelikoira, on 10/25/2008, -4/+13Hey that would be COOL! I could play nethack on car!
  • jasmus, on 10/25/2008, -0/+9Sounds just like if BMW made a car....
  • fangor, on 10/25/2008, -1/+9Malicious command FAIL.

    You forgot to include a directory, *****.
  • sourceholder, on 10/25/2008, -0/+8apt-get transporter
  • CrackyJSquirrel, on 10/25/2008, -0/+7Yes, yes I am. And proud of it.. :)
  • bjornski, on 10/25/2008, -6/+13Well, a douchebag goes into every one sold.
  • linuxeventually, on 10/25/2008, -0/+7...or bring a whole new meaning to kernel panic.
  • jmahnn, on 10/25/2008, -2/+8I like Ron Paul. I like thongs. But dude....
  • strangewill, on 10/25/2008, -0/+6If they gave a *****, they could already.
  • breadfred, on 10/25/2008, -0/+6Yeah. But it can do corners properly, with proper grip. You try that with a mustang.
  • pveltrent, on 10/25/2008, -1/+7Brilliant, idrive has been ipod's overly-complicated ***** brother. We want the real deal.
  • ultrafez, on 10/25/2008, -0/+6Depends if it's a user-mode driver or a kernel-mode driver.
  • jessenoob, on 10/25/2008, -0/+6http://www.instantrimshot.com/
  • CeeJayDK, on 10/25/2008, -0/+6I'm glad they went with Linux.
    Imagine the alternative :
    "The system wishes to deploy the Emergency Airbag System
    Cancel or Allow ?"
  • redscofield, on 10/25/2008, -8/+13a hackable car?
  • Intercon, on 10/25/2008, -0/+5

    Or innovating new and smarter systems that maximize the hardware.

    Like every other device that gets hacked. More minds = more thinking behind the system. Generally a better thing in R&D.
  • Intercon, on 10/25/2008, -1/+6

    Good step in the direction of cars interfacing on the road in real-time. Add some relay stations to increase range, servers to monitor traffic, and voila! A dynamic network for traffic safety and flexibility. Would work really well on the Interstate Highway System in and around urban areas and other problem traffic spots.

    I don't code Linux, but I hope there are some folks out there who see the potential in avoiding collisions, faster emergency response times and greater pre-response intelligence, as well as greater driver autonomy (i.e., a longer scale on speed tolerances.)
  • inactive, on 10/25/2008, -1/+5well this is going to be damn good...
  • explnx, on 04/27/2009, -0/+4Does it use visual basic to make a GUI and track an IP in real time?
  • rabidmonkey1, on 10/25/2008, -0/+4http://www.theoscarproject.org/

    http://www.crunchgear.com/2007/03/30/first-open-so ...
  • inactive, on 10/25/2008, -0/+4This is linux; I know this.
  • wpyh, on 10/26/2008, -0/+4Nice pun there :p
  • inactive, on 10/25/2008, -1/+4My sense of humor sucks, I found this meme joke much funnier than the meme itself.
  • inactive, on 10/25/2008, -1/+4that's what she said
  • Nephersir7, on 10/25/2008, -2/+5FTA:
    "Jim Buczkowski said that Ford, through its partnership with Microsoft Corp. that produced the Sync system, already has 280,000 vehicles on the road with an.Buczkowski, Ford's director of global electrical and electronics systems engineering, said that he is not as familiar with what BMW is doing :"but if the principle is to create an environment out there where a lot of developers, a lot of folks have the capability to develop applications, I think we are talking the same thing, whether it's Linux or Windows-based."

    Microsoft Sync, an OPEN system ????"? WTF? 2.0
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