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*      RADIO-L :  a discussion of Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB)    *
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Date: 25 January 1999
From: skippiz@microsoft.com
Subject: Re: AutoPC vs. DAB

DAB is not included in the *first version* of the AutoPC, primarily
because DAB is not yet a reality in the US. Although I am not
directly involved with the AutoPC, I can tell you that I do my best
to keep the AutoPC team abreast of developments in that space. From
what I understand, DAB is being considered by MS in plans for
subsequent AutoPC versions, at least in terms of Tuner APIs.

Note that field sales folks and evangelists are traditionally not
aware of future developments, since they are charged with promoting
current versions, not keeping potential customers sitting on their
hands while waiting for the next version to arrive <g>.

Also note that the native screen on the AutoPC is *not* a large
display, but rather like the size of a standard car radio's. (This is
due to safety concerns discussed here lately, and other reasons.)
Unlike traditional radio displays, however, it is an LCD screen,
capable of graphics as well as text display. The primary user
interface to the AutoPC is aural rather than visual, which is perhaps
the device's grandest departure from previous PC systems. As such, it
is an exciting new computing direction for those of us interested in
audio, involving speech recognition, speech-to-text conversion and
sonification/auralization technologies.

As Bjorn Westerberg hinted in his post, future versions of the AutoPC
will allow outboard, large-screen display for *passengers,* such that
DVDs or games can be played (perhaps multiple independent sessions on
different screens). My feeling is that with satellite radio about to
launch in the US, the AutoPC would also make a great platform for the
navigation of these 100+ new channels, uniformly available across the
US. Whether any integrated Eureka 147 tuner (and associated large-
screen PAD display capability) will be included for non-US AutoPCs is
really more a question for the *hardware* folks (Clarion, Pioneer, et
al) rather than MS, which thinks of the AutoPC as a specialized
variant of the Windows CE platform. As with desktop, laptop and
palmtop and STB designs, specific realizations of the platform in
hardware are the responsibility of consumer electronics
manufacturers. That's not a cop-out, but just the way things work in
the computer business. (The AutoPC may look like a car radio, but
it's really a PC. As such, you've got to think computer-business
model, not purely aftermarket car-audio, when analyzing the device
and its marketing.)

Again, I speak here as an individual, not representing Microsoft's
views in any official capacity on this matter.

Skip Pizzi
Program Manager, Interactive TV Technology
Microsoft Corporation
Redmond, WA

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