Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Automotive Grade Linux Platform Debuts on the 2018 Toyota Camry

automotivelinux.org

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 113 posts

Re: Automotive Grade Linux Platform Debuts on the 2018 Toyota Camry

#21

Post by twiddo »

The thing I hated most about my automotive purchase was the nav. I'm not sure any built-in, eventual bit-rotten nav would be any better though.

On the one hand, we can't even get manufacturers of our phones to keep the software on their devices up to date past a couple years and somehow they're our last hope for your in-dash media player? I guess some people jump to a new lease every couple years, but I don't see the mobile model being the future of car ownership.

On the other hand, cars have mostly avoided the security disasters of other embedded devices so it might be fine. Unless of course, we make them into the eventual IoT device everyone wants them to be. I mean these software-controlled navs now need to both downloads updated maps and show you engine diagnostics. Doesn't this seem like a bad idea waiting to happen?

It sucks that only the low-quality models can escape these devices. Soon it'll be like Smart TVs where your choices are 480x600 or 4K Samsung SpywarePro.patchfix-m2015.

Re: Automotive Grade Linux Platform Debuts on the 2018 Toyota Camry

#23

Post by BoorishBears »

twblalock wrote: post #8
Xcelerate wrote: post #5

Well this is interesting. I purchased a 2018 Toyota Camry in August (first ever car purchase), and I absolutely love everything about it except the Toyota Entune 3.0 system. Lack of apps, useless Scout GPS navigation gimmick, and it doesn't even show album cover art while you're driving. When I was comparing cars, the lack of CarPlay was the only (massive) downside with the Camry, but the other features of the car we…

I'm a happy Prius owner, but I bought mine before CarPlay existed. I'm not sure I would buy another Prius to replace my current one, primarily because of the lack of CarPlay and Android Auto. The Entune interface just isn't very good, and it's not going to get better. This isn't unique to Toyota -- no matter how good the system in your car is, it will seem very outdated after 5 years. In contrast, CarPlay and Android…

The lack of CarPlay made the Volt vs Prius Prime a pretty easy choice. That... and the design of the Prime, but I digress.

Re: Automotive Grade Linux Platform Debuts on the 2018 Toyota Camry

#24

Post by BoorishBears »

subway wrote: post #3

Based on everything I've read about automotive software development, I'm impressed they've managed to degrade the Linux kernel enough to call it Automotive Grade.

I found out my car's infotainment system can run HTML/Js/CSS apps. The performance guidelines give you a great hint about the hardware (or lack thereof), they discourage using percentages for example. And have strict versions of Angular 1 and jQuery you're allowed to use

Re: Automotive Grade Linux Platform Debuts on the 2018 Toyota Camry

#25

Post by tw04 »

mark212 wrote: post #22

They all suck. BMW, Ford, Honda, Infiniti are all ones I've had ample experience with over the past year and they're all horrible. I've gone back to headphones and it's glorious (I use maps very rarely, just audio content)

Ford supports both Android auto and apple carplay with the latest generation of sync. The interface is extremely responsive to boot. I'm not sure I'd call that horrible.

Re: Automotive Grade Linux Platform Debuts on the 2018 Toyota Camry

#26

Post by sircastor »

Infotainment system developer here, A number of people have mentioned preferring/wanting Android Auto/CarPlay in their infotainment systems, and that it would be preferable to many of the systems that exist in current vehicles. I have a couple of thoughts.

The Infotainment system is one of the most user-facing components of the vehicle. It's something that can reflect the brand identity of the vehicle, and most OEMs are not eager to cede that space to Apple or Google. Google and (especially) Apple certainly aren't interested in mixing their branding with a manufacturers.

The utilization of AGL doesn't necessarily mean CarPlay or Android Auto are out. AGL is a system, and CP/AA are applications.

While I certainly believe there are a lot of terrible systems out there, I also think there are a lot of systems that people don't like because they never took the time to figure out how to use them. Cars aren't like phones. When you're in them, you're most likely driving and you don't have the bandwidth to figure out how to do something as well as drive. A while back I saw a study that concluded if you didn't learn something about your infotainment system in the first 3 days, you never do.

I encourage you to actually identify the things you find confusing/frustrating/difficult about your vehicle and write a letter to the manufacturer. Customer input makes a big difference. And no, "It's not CarPlay" doesn't help. That's kind of like sitting down to Windows and complaining to Microsoft that they didn't give you macOS.

(Thoughts are my own, of course)

Re: Automotive Grade Linux Platform Debuts on the 2018 Toyota Camry

#27

Post by sircastor »

mark212 wrote: post #22

They all suck. BMW, Ford, Honda, Infiniti are all ones I've had ample experience with over the past year and they're all horrible. I've gone back to headphones and it's glorious (I use maps very rarely, just audio content)

I absolutely love our 2017 Mini Infotainment system. It's not perfect by any means (It's BMWs), but I find that it meets all my needs, is very fast and responsive.

Not sure where you are, but here it's illegal to drive with headphones.

Re: Automotive Grade Linux Platform Debuts on the 2018 Toyota Camry

#28

Post by shmerl »

sircastor wrote: post #26

Infotainment system developer here, A number of people have mentioned preferring/wanting Android Auto/CarPlay in their infotainment systems, and that it would be preferable to many of the systems that exist in current vehicles. I have a couple of thoughts. The Infotainment system is one of the most user-facing components of the vehicle. It's something that can reflect the brand identity of the vehicle, and most OEMs…

We need more Wayland based systems. There is already enough Android around.

Re: Automotive Grade Linux Platform Debuts on the 2018 Toyota Camry

#29

Post by sircastor »

rothbardrand wrote: post #7

I've been a loyal toyota buyer for over 30 years. But I will not buy another car, unless it has first class CarPlay support. (and it should support the android equivalent as well) Having to interact with the phone while driving is a safety problem and Apple (and presumably android too) delivered a great solution several years ago-- no excuse for not implementing it. Especially given that auto makers really suck at th…

Out of curiosity, have you spent a lot of time with CarPlay?

Re: Automotive Grade Linux Platform Debuts on the 2018 Toyota Camry

#30

Post by mrpippy »

bitmapbrother wrote: post #10

There's an increasing amount of people that won't buy a new car unless it has Android Auto/CarPlay compatibility. To ignore these consumers and think that you have a better solution is ignorant to what's happening around you.

Exactly. I think this will be Toyota’s last generation of head units without CarPlay/Android Auto, simply because all the competitors now have it, and the complaints will only get louder from here. In particular, when every Toyota reviewed by Consumer Reports lists “no CarPlay” as a negative, and every competitor uses it against them, their current position will become untenable
Post reply on HN