Hack My Ride

The same Freescale iMX31L processor behind Ford's SYNC system is also used in Microsoft's ZUNE media player

http://www.bunniestudios.com/wordpress/?p=131

Nuance Communications’ announcement of a partnership with Intel and Wind River Systems, developer of device software optimization (DSO) solutions, to develop a Linux-based infotainment platform for cars underscores the importance of voice as a tool in hands-busy, eyes-busy environments. 

http://www.speechtechmag.com/Articles/News/News-Feature/Nuance-to-Develop-a-Rival-to-Sync-49294.aspx

Moblin describes itself as a community for sharing ideas, technologies and developing software for a new category of internet-centric devices, such as Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs), netbooks, in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) devices, and other varieties of portable or embedded device

http://moblin.org/community/ivi/index.php

The Ford/Microsoft SYNC system is based on an ARM11 processor, uses 256MB of DRAM and 2GB of flash memory, runs Microsoft Windows Mobile for Automotive operating system and speech technology by Nuance Communications. The USB port can be used for software updates from the www.syncmyride.com website.
 
Surprisingly, the hardware behind Sync is very low cost, worth maybe $35 http://www.automotivedesignline.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=207001984

Welcome to Hack My Ride. This site is devoted to collecting useful information about automotive computers. My personal goal in starting this blog is to gain the ability to write custom applications which run on the onboard computer in my Lincoln MKZ.