As you can see, the AutoPC can do many of the things I envisioned. However, the software that ships with the AutoPC is very basic and doesn't begin to approach the possibilities I've enumerated. This isn't great news for people who want these features here and now but it is great news for software and hardware developers out there who want to establish a leadership position in a new market…one that will be huge.

Like any new platform, it takes a while for developers to ramp up on it and Microsoft is still getting its AutoPC development support up to the same standards expected by developers targeting other Windows CE devices. However, looking at Microsoft's past press releases and the text of their AutoPC rollout announcements, it is clear that the AutoPC has the attention of both the auto sound and automobile industries. It's just a matter of time until the software and hardware that fulfills and exceeds my original vision for the AutoPC becomes available.

Shaping it all into a product
Taking a vision from a single person and shaping it into a product to bring to market is a task that has taken much commitment and dedication from hundreds of people at a number of companies. While I had the privilege of coming up with the original product vision, the product you see today is a tapestry of many individuals' ideas woven together in a revolutionary new product. These contributors continue to work together toward maturing the product and moving it more toward the mainstream. Merging technology from three well-established industries: automotive, auto sound, and computer, has brought together many great minds and along with them many great ideas. I have full confidence that these great minds will build future generations of AutoPCs that far exceed my wildest imaginations for the product.

Mark Moeller is a 14 year veteran of Microsoft. After shipping the first version of the AutoPC he left Microsoft to found AutoPCWare, a company focused on helping manufacturers and software vendors build AutoPC's or products for the AutoPC. Mark was the design architect of the first version of the AutoPC and has a number of patents pending or awarded on the AutoPC. You can visit his web site at http://www.autopcware.com, or email him at markmo@autopcware.com.