Paste this code into your HTML to display this video on your Web site
close
Car Tech: Fiat 500 -- the iPod of cars, powered by Windows
More Videos

Browse more Car Tech videos to check out the competition

See Latest CNET.co.uk videos and Most Popular CNET.co.uk videos
Watch Fiat 500 -- the iPod of cars video in the Videos section
Can you believe it? Somebody's actually released a car that looks like it was designed by Apple, but is actually controlled by Microsoft Windows technology. Ladies and gentlemen, meet the brand new Fiat 500 -- a vehicle possessed by the spirits of Bill Gates and Steve Jobs.
The 500, voted European car of the year, uses Microsoft Automotive technology -- a special combination of hardware and software that lets drivers interact with the vehicle using speech. Fiat's re-branded it "Blue&Me" to make it sound less stuffy, but whatever the name, there's no denying it's one of the most interesting pieces of Car Tech we've ever seen.
The steering wheel is home to a Windows Start button (like you'd find on a keyboard). Press that, and Blue&Me will accept voice commands from the driver, and provide verbal feedback -- all without you taking your eyes off the road. The car also packs a USB port, to which you can connect a USB memory key full of MP3s. That too is voice controlled, so you can navigate to the right track by saying 'artist', 'genre', 'folder', etc.
It really is breathtaking. Take a look at the video, and let us know what you think in the comments below. -Rory Reid
RELATED LINKS
AnonymousTue 8 July, 2008 6:50pm
All you whack jobs at CNET. You will not stop the greatest car industry in the world. American car rules. Ford totally rock
AnonymousTue 8 July, 2008 6:55pm
Noone is trying to stop the american car industry. They make great vehicles if you lack the cognitive capacity to use a manual gear box or to turn corners.
In fact European cars make you do all the work including thinking. Also they ever think of the absurdley obese car drivers and fail to accomodate them.
Damn fools
AnonymousTue 8 July, 2008 10:20pm
Ford and GM make horrible cars. That's why no one buys them. They why they're losing money like crazy.
AnonymousWed 9 July, 2008 3:24pm
A ridiculous highlight of reviews gone bad. Ignoring the most totally awesome car industry in the world? No wonder you Brits cant put a man on the moon. You cannot recognize great tech when you see it.
AnonymousWed 9 July, 2008 3:29pm
Dude you must have suffered a blunt head trauma as a child? You have gone ghetto on the American car industry. Explain that you whack job
AnonymousWed 9 July, 2008 3:30pm
American Car rule and we totally KICKA**. Rock on America
AnonymousFri 11 July, 2008 8:31pm
Rory you must need training wheels for your brain. You call this balance review? 90% of your reviews should have been American cars. Just putting it out there!!
AnonymousSat 12 July, 2008 2:02am
So the freak is back or is it just Jason drumming up interest?
AnonymousSat 12 July, 2008 2:12pm
another witty and informative review from Rory. Move over Clarkson!
AnonymousThu 17 July, 2008 8:57am
Has this inherited the cool & panache of its fore runner? Is it cooler than the new mini? Yes & Yes...
AnonymousThu 17 July, 2008 5:11pm
Interesting, when NASA itself stated that the design and development of Concorde was a more technically challenging achievement in the 1960's than using a revamped V2 rocket renamed a Saturn V. Also if you compare the global car industry where do the supercars come from? Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Porsche, Maserati - what comes from the US need I go on?
AnonymousTue 22 July, 2008 2:23am
The fact that you have to ask speaks of your ignorance. DUDE America invented cars. Ford's model T was the harbinger of all cars. You whack jobs
AnonymousTue 22 July, 2008 2:28am
Your super cars are only super to you disgruntled Brits. In America our SUV's are KING. We brought the world SUVs and now the rest of the motoring world is playing catch to our awesome technology. We have the road to drive them on. We drive them on the correct side and they RULE.
AnonymousTue 22 July, 2008 2:32am
Dude When was the last time you drove an American car? Drive one one of these motha........you will never drive anything else.
AnonymousFri 25 July, 2008 1:57pm
erm
this is a UK site, not US. dur-brain.
AnonymousSun 10 August, 2008 6:34pm
some comments here are crazy, lol.
anyway, this is a european site, so, that's way normal european stuff is reviewed.
Also, american cars are bathtubes that doesn't have even half the security of a european car. While you crash at 80kmh in one ford F series you'll die, if you crash with one BMW at same speed, you'll survive. I like ford BTW, but only the european market models.
AnonymousThu 14 August, 2008 2:43pm
Rory you need help, go join BADASS Anonymous. You know any Ford cars will go APE sh*t on any of your motors. Bring it
AnonymousWed 27 August, 2008 6:49pm
OK, I know this is bound to attract a good flaming from the americans out there, but american cars are not exactly great. I know ford invented mass production, but nowadays germany is far more precise with parts production, UK cars rock of course ;) (I'm british lol) and you have china and japan to take into the equation. America might be able to make a car with the latest technology, but if the engine doesn't work, I'd rather take the bus. Always makes me laugh how easily people will relate to a group, and be prepared to argue with another "group", simply because they are in the opposing "group", not because of the validity or otherwise of the argument presented. Also, microsoft technology going into cars scares the bejesus out of me. Could take "blue screen of death" to higher and much more literal heights. Also, it won't be long before your car won't start in the morning until you install "central petrol input processing upgrade module system, home edition TM,(C),(R)".
AnonymousSat 30 August, 2008 9:04am
americn cars are just gas guzzlers only in america springs to mind bigger is better eh or so they think.thhey want to think of our planet
CartmanTue 2 September, 2008 4:46pm
so much reference/credit went to Apple in this review and they didn't even do anything!
AnonymousTue 2 September, 2008 7:45pm
this was a UK site last time I looked but we have a load of Americans telling us that they rule, there cars rule and that everything should be American.
Complaining that only 1 car in 11 are made by an American company I can only think of 1 car company from the US so I think there right to only have 1/11 of US
Oh and good job CNet one of the best site on the web


del.icio.us
Digg
Facebook
Slashdot
StumbleUpon

AnonymousTue 8 July, 2008 6:48pm
Dude are you trying to Diss us?. Flaunting in our faces that of the seven cars reveiwed, only one is American?. Dude that's low down and dirty. That is some Jacked up Sh**