Operating System Under the Hood - Windows Automotive

"Where do you want to go today?" could again be Microsoft trademark. The software giant has deployed its mobile operating system to the car dashboard. Named Windows Automotive, the key benefits include:

• Entertainment system control
• Mobile Phone integration
• Digital music player
• Voice activated commands
• Wireless integration with iPod
• Address book, contact information

It's essentially a modified version of their PocketPC, Microsofts cell phone OS; a combination of Windows Media Player and Outlook. Its about time Microsoft makes some headway in getting passed the desktop.

Big Partners
Expect to see the Windows Automotive OS in Ford, Lincoln and Mercury which will have the OS pre-installed; however several other manufacturers are allowing the vehicle upgrade including: Acura, BMW, Daimler-Chrysler, Fiat, Subaru, Honda, Hyundai, Mitsubishi, Toyota and Volvo.

Where's Google?
It has been rumored that Google will release a mobile operating system. While the search giant doesn't specialize in OS software, they are interested in seeing their solutions, such as Mapping and collaboration freely used. Noticeably missing from the integration with Ford is mapping technology. While Microsoft is charging the automobile manufacturers and ultimately consumers for the software, Google would be likely give away their version by subsidizing it with mapped advertising.

Would you like the car with 6 or 8 cylinder; leather or cloth interior... and finally: Microsoft or Google dashboard?

The Facebook Revolution

What is Facebook?

Facebook is a social network that allows college students to share information about themselves such as contact info, photos, events and other social media. In order to immerse into the experience, users need to connect and verify their friends, acquaintances and schools.

Attaining the 25+ Age Demographic

While the company strives to grow both internationally and in the 25+ age group, the site is a school-centric social network. School graduates are seemingly left out of the mix having to create their own alma-mater groups and regional. The only users that it will largely have over 25 are those which have aged with the service. To escape that limitation, the site is allowing

Revolution Starts with Third Party Integrations

Recently Facebook has implemented programming tools allowing software developers to extend Facebook with new functionality and content sharing. Application integrations also allow partners to monetize, for example through ad-displays. User opt-in for the 3^rd party application and then the tool displays on their personal profile page.

New Business Models

Other, mostly smaller social networks are getting involved by integration with Facebook. The opportunity to gain viral attention through a Facebook integration is seen as a shortcut to growth so any My-New-Social-Website.com can integrate their functionality with Facebook. Companies like Slide are specializing and acquiring applications that specifically leverage Facebook users.

Major social sites, like LinkedIn or MySpace are apprehensive to open their doors to the Facebook integrations as it could compromise their authority as a destination.

Big Sites with Big Sights

Mark Zuckerberg, Facebooks founder and CEO has his sites on dominating in the US. In his address, Zuckerberg suggests that they can overtake Google in terms of popularity. While the services are not related to those of the search giant, the comparison rings well with potential investors.

Facebook is where people: talk, share, entertain, and spend a lot of time browsing... there we hopefully be able to derive endless applications to thrive on that.

Google is where users to go to find what they need; however the search giant is not known as being very responsive to the development community. It is rumored that Google is seeking to attain a level of 100% programmability; allowing anyone, users, developers, business development companies, to fulfill all their online desires. This Worldly intent, if successful, would not replace Facebook, but it would certainly put them in their place.