Ford, GM Announce “Android Car”
| by Rob Jackson on April 1st, 2009 |
|
In a move to differentiate the struggling American Auto Industry from superior foreign powers, Ford & GM issued a joint Press Release that both companies would be working closely with another American powerhouse – Google – to create a line of “Android Cars”. Holy. Freaking. Crap.
The Press Release includes no details about exact models or specifications but they did include some juicy tidbits. The first iteration of Android Cars will be “Green” in two ways – they’ll be hybrid cars capable of 200+ MPG and they’ll also launch with the familiar Green from the Android Robot. Hopefully they’ll launch a Phandroid Blue vehicle as well! So what will make the Ford & GM vehicles Android in nature?
The entire car will be integrated with the Android Operating System in every way imaginable. Seats, Air Conditioning, GPS, In-Car Speakerphone, Radio, etc… all seamless between your Android Device and your car. Back seat head rests will be outfitted with Android Netbook screens and separate bluetooth keyboards will be safely tucked away in the seat pocket as an accessory -PURE WIN. And get this – Google will work with Clearwire’s 4G network to provide blazing fast wireless speeds from mostly anywhere in the nation by the time the vehicle’s launch – early 2010!!!
But those are just the basics. According to one anonymous but credible source, Ford & GM are working on a joint proprietary technology that would interface with Android’s GPS technology and Google’s overall mapping knowledge to allow you to put your car on AUTO PILOT! Your car will not automatically change lanes or get off at exits, but it WILL set your cruise control and keep you in your current lane, adjusting the steering wheel with the curve of the road. How awesome is that? Of course you’ll need to remain alert but this is basically just Cruise Control 2.0. If you touch the steering wheel yourself the Auto-Pilot feature will automatically turn off, allowing you to regain complete control of the car instantaneously.
A few other interesting and relevant notes: the car can fly, looks like a pig and this site is now dedicated to Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1. april fooleration, suckah!
1. Soulution wrote on April 1, 2009
worst.aprils.fools.ever.
2. Bobi wrote on April 1, 2009
I was bying it- until it came to the auto pilot =P
3. wrenchy wrote on April 1, 2009
DAMN YOU PEOPLE! I was ohhh sooo looking forward to this but noooo. You had to play your silly games and crush my dreams. BAH.
4. PlasmaShark wrote on April 1, 2009
Holy shit balls! What more can be said.
5. johnkzin wrote on April 1, 2009
You know, the more fantastic the premise, the less believable it is, esp. when posted on April 1st.
I knew it was a fake from the headline alone. Better luck next year :-)
6. robamay wrote on April 1, 2009
WOW! You had me so excited. It would be awesome though to someday have android in our vehicles.
7. RC wrote on April 1, 2009
That was hitting below the belt.
OUCH!
Well played.
8. tim wrote on April 1, 2009
Yeah, not really believable starting at the headline. Can I just say I _hate_ April Fools. It will be nice when there are sites that are above it. I come here for news not comedy (thank God or I would be in trouble).
9. Brian wrote on April 1, 2009
Oh wow, you got me!
Not. :)
10. Rob wrote on April 1, 2009
HAHA, you got me good.
11. Bernard Segonnes wrote on April 1, 2009
Idea for next year : an Android Space Shuttle !
12. Jake wrote on April 1, 2009
this, THIS is why i hate April fools. FML
13. Rob Jackson wrote on April 1, 2009
@Tim – above it? I think a far worse fate is people taking themselves too seriously. Geez, relax. Kick your feet up and have a brewsky. Have some fun.
14. Jonno.N wrote on April 1, 2009
Wow, you really hurt Tim’s feelings. Poor guy…anyway, nice one. You actually got me, I mailed the link to all my friends all stoked.
15. Jonno.N wrote on April 1, 2009
Oh yeah, and this IS totally believable. Remember: We live in TEH FUTURZ!!
16. Tony wrote on April 1, 2009
I punched my girl because I was sooooo excited. Now I have to buy her something expensive to make up for the false alarm. Thanks a lot…
17. Quentyn K. wrote on April 1, 2009
Lol my awareness level for today is over 9000. As soon as I heard that a mobile phone OS would completely control a car, I knew.
18. pacific way wrote on April 1, 2009
Dream today, reality tomorrow!
19. Manacit wrote on April 1, 2009
SHIT, I actually bought that.
20. Isaac Sloan wrote on April 1, 2009
Literally the worst and most obvious April Fools joke I have ever read.
21. Rob Jackson wrote on April 1, 2009
Thanks Isaac Sloan. You are like a bucket of rainbows on a sunny vacation on a magical island. You must be a unicorn.
22. Christian Nuesa wrote on April 1, 2009
It sounded too futuristic that it made me think of its probability
23. wes wrote on April 1, 2009
Damn I feel for this all the way until the last paragraph
Hey its possible. Lol
Best android geek april fools ever cuz only us phandroids could truly appreciate.
Thanks
24. twilightwolf90 wrote on April 1, 2009
Little do we know… he’s right all along.
Given an infinite amount of time, monkeys, computers, car factories, and Mountain View, CA…
25. Rob Morton wrote on April 1, 2009
BAHAHAHA, I so had my wife going with this one… She just kept saying “SCARY, SCARY, SCARY!!!!” Then I read her the last line.
Thanks Rob!!!
26. Rakem Lampkin wrote on April 1, 2009
that was cold blooded friend…..cold blooded
27. Spencer Gardner wrote on April 1, 2009
You know it’s sad when I’m a writer for Phandroid and I bought it. Rob – We’ll talk later :)
28. juan wrote on April 1, 2009
What do you mean april fools this is real I have one in my garage and I pre-ordered the one with TURBO JET and 20+cup holders.
29. william parrales wrote on April 1, 2009
well i didnt fall for it because i had fell for another aprils fool which said the blackberry storm was getting discontinued, but as i was reading along i caugh on the bull#$% with this story
30. nate wrote on April 2, 2009
Yeah i was buying it until the cruise control 2.0 shite.. Not a bad idea for the auto industry to get on board with an upgradable operating system for their vehicles.
31. michael j lambie wrote on April 6, 2009
i totally still want this to happen!
32. Android In Your Car: AutoLinQ By Continental AG | Android Phone Fans wrote on June 5, 2009
[...] April Fools Day I posted a playful prank article claiming Ford & GM announced the Android Car. The underlying concept, where Android will power your in-vehcile [...]
33. Android Hub And Household Gadgets Coming This Year | Android Phone Fans wrote on July 24, 2009
[...] eventual implementation in devices well beyond phones and computers. We’ve joked about an Android Car but agree with the main concept and in actuality, its already in the works. We’ve talked [...]