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Chevrolet to offer unlimited data plan with cars

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Re: Chevrolet to offer unlimited data plan with cars

#71

Post by wl »

p49k wrote: post #12
jandrese wrote: post #9

I have to wonder how useful this unlimited data plan will be in 10-15 years when you're still driving the vehicle. What are the chances Chevy is going to even have an option to upgrade the radio when the one built into the car is obsolete?

If they had offered it 10 years ago when 3G was available in most places, it would still be pretty useful today. 3G is good enough for 95% of what I use mobile data for.

AT&T and Verizon are making noises about shutting down their 3G networks in about 5 years. There may be some feet dragging from important customers, but 3G is not long for this world.

Re: Chevrolet to offer unlimited data plan with cars

#72

Post by phkahler »

stcredzero wrote: post #38
jameskilton wrote: post #8

I recently picked up a Volt which includes this OnStar 4G setup and have to say I'm extremely concerned at how quickly this "my car is on the internet" feature set is spreading. Everything is managed by OnStar through their device that's factory installed into every new Chevy vehicle. They have had security breaches and had to fix white-hat reported vulnerabilities in the past[1]. This system isn't just "4G wifi as a…

History shows that car manufacturers have not given near enough thought to the security of access to a vehicle. Here's how GM could beat Tesla, along with why it won't happen. GM could just take a look at what Tesla is doing, and do all of the same things, then do certain key things better. From a sheer resources and capability standpoint, GM could beat the pants off of Tesla. I think Tesla is counting on: 1) GM and…

I'm just going to say that I think Detroit is having a tech talent shortage right now. I'm having a hell of a time finding embedded software people. Several good people I know moved to CA after the downturn or during the recovery. There are plenty of people, but I think they're mostly happy where they're at and not looking for new jobs, so those positions are really hard to fill.

Re: Chevrolet to offer unlimited data plan with cars

#73

Post by ben1040 »

massysett wrote: post #27

Do their cars come with decent in-car entertainment that can actually use the Internet? When I got my new 2016 Honda Accord I was looking forward to some good streaming music in the car. I read that the built-in stereo comes with Pandora. I also knew that the built-in stereo can also access the Internet. "Cool," I thought. "I can fire up the hotspot on my phone, connect the car to the Internet, then the Pandora will…

I have the same car, as well as a Pixel phone, and I'm really pleased with streaming radio apps on Android Auto. The voice controls work for Spotify and not just Google Music. To control music I'm generally using voice control or the steering wheel stereo controls.

CarPlay really seems to suck for any audio app that isn't Apple Music. It does seem to work _great_ for Apple Music, so if that's your preferred music app then you'd be pretty happy.

Re: Chevrolet to offer unlimited data plan with cars

#75

Post by Andrenid »

jameskilton wrote: post #8

I recently picked up a Volt which includes this OnStar 4G setup and have to say I'm extremely concerned at how quickly this "my car is on the internet" feature set is spreading. Everything is managed by OnStar through their device that's factory installed into every new Chevy vehicle. They have had security breaches and had to fix white-hat reported vulnerabilities in the past[1]. This system isn't just "4G wifi as a…

I've posted this before, but it's relevant so I'll post it again. Not sure if this has changed since I last posted, but it's a hell of a warning sign on how they practice:

So, I'm an Australian. We don't have OnStar but I've heard about it via the net. I keep getting emails for 2 different people's OnStar accounts to my Email address... and OnStar won't do anything about it.

I have a pretty short Gmail address because I signed up early (6 characters), and Gmail's autocorrect/fuzzy email receiving means I get emails for all sorts of people that have mistyped their email and mine is "close" to what they typed.

To give you an idea of how bad this OnStar situation is:

- The emails have all the personal details inside each one. Name, home address, car make/model and various ID/registration details, home phone number, etc.

- It gives me full access to the cars maintenance records via monthly emails with EVERYTHING in the email relating to the car, INCLUDING LETTING ME EDIT IT via a link.

- It gives me a link directly to their OnStar account, and the password is the persons postcode, WHICH IS IN THE EMAIL. There's quicklinks to access the full account, change vehicle details, remotely access various aspects of the vehicle's features, etc.

- I can send directions to their GPS from my browser, which comes up on their screen.

- ... lots lots more "could" be done if I was inclined.

I've emailed OnStar support about it a few times, they don't reply. The closest I get to any form of reply is an automatic message telling me to call them on a "toll free number" (not free for me to call from here!)

PS, Mr Buchner, your 'tires' on your GMC Terrain are low and your oil needs changing urgently. It's overdue by months.

Re: Chevrolet to offer unlimited data plan with cars

#76

Post by sosborn »

js2 wrote: post #52
tclancy wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Obligatory story: I bought a Camaro when the new ones first came out (2009). I ran into some issues with the radio, found out via forums I was 3 firmware versions behind and then slowly found out car dealers were ill-prepared to be software vendors. They had no idea about the radio updates and their system showed nothing for me against my VIN. This was a common enough experience across the country that one of the cod…

The Mazda infotainment system can similarly be updated via a USB stick. In the Mazda case, it's JavaScript code running in Opera on top of Linux. The code is written by Johnson Controls. Enterprising hackers (of the good sort) have made available a variety of customizations.

Do you know a good place to learn more about this? I'd love to see what might be available for my Mazda.

Re: Chevrolet to offer unlimited data plan with cars

#77

Post by nommm-nommm »

jameskilton wrote: post #8

I recently picked up a Volt which includes this OnStar 4G setup and have to say I'm extremely concerned at how quickly this "my car is on the internet" feature set is spreading. Everything is managed by OnStar through their device that's factory installed into every new Chevy vehicle. They have had security breaches and had to fix white-hat reported vulnerabilities in the past[1]. This system isn't just "4G wifi as a…

>History shows that car manufacturers have not given near enough thought to the security of access to a vehicle

Yeah! No kidding!

I read last year about how Nissan's Leaf API was entirely unauthenticated, all you needed was the VIN to mess with people's climate control.

https://www.troyhunt.com/controlling-vehicle-features-of-nis...

Re: Chevrolet to offer unlimited data plan with cars

#78

Post by bonestamp2 »

vvanders wrote: post #25
tclancy wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Obligatory story: I bought a Camaro when the new ones first came out (2009). I ran into some issues with the radio, found out via forums I was 3 firmware versions behind and then slowly found out car dealers were ill-prepared to be software vendors. They had no idea about the radio updates and their system showed nothing for me against my VIN. This was a common enough experience across the country that one of the cod…

Yowza. I don't see how all mfgrs don't move to Tesla's update model. Knowing how things go it'll probably be 10 years before we're there.

The answer is Dealers. Their dealers would sue them if they lost all the revenue they get from updating customers vehicles. On the flipside, it would save the manufacturers a ton of money because they wouldn't be paying dealers to perform these updates when they're under warranty. This also explains why Tesla has to do OTA updates... no dealers.

Re: Chevrolet to offer unlimited data plan with cars

#79

Post by Stratoscope »

chiph wrote: post #67
mapmeld wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Especially since the GPS signal has the time in it... likely it is to avoid issues with people claiming it is running fast/slow, or changing timezones.

Only the GPS time value has never had any leap seconds applied to it. So it's almost 20 seconds ahead of UTC. Which is probably "good enough" for a clock in a car.

It seems unlikely that the GPS receiver is hardwired directly to the clock display in the dashboard. There's probably some code running somewhere in the middle. So it should be easy enough to make the leap second correction there, and to keep it up to date through routine updates.

Re: Chevrolet to offer unlimited data plan with cars

#80

Post by bonestamp2 »

jameskilton wrote: post #8

I recently picked up a Volt which includes this OnStar 4G setup and have to say I'm extremely concerned at how quickly this "my car is on the internet" feature set is spreading. Everything is managed by OnStar through their device that's factory installed into every new Chevy vehicle. They have had security breaches and had to fix white-hat reported vulnerabilities in the past[1]. This system isn't just "4G wifi as a…

Your concern is valid and it's not lost on manufacturers. I am familiar with one manufacturer whose vehicles will have a bus level firewall in some new vehicles released later this year. Of course, eventually all vehicles will have it. Vehicle development cycles are usually multiple years so it takes time to roll this stuff out.

You might say an internet connected head unit should just be disconnected from the vehicle bus, and there's some merit to that. But, customers want to be able to control the volume from their steering wheel or the head unit should control the subwoofer amp in the back of the vehicle, or change vehicle settings from the head unit display... so the head unit needs to be on the bus to do all of these things.

The goal is to limit what the head unit has access to on the bus. For example, there's no reason the PCM (powertrain control module) should be allowed to receive anything other than high level configuration information from the head unit (switching between standard and sport mode driving profiles for example).

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