Automotive Grade Linux Platform Debuts on the 2018 Toyota Camry • Hacker News Board

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

#101

Post by dx034 » Wed, Sep 20, 2017, 3:34 PM UTC

pfranz wrote: post #36

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…

It just feels like nobody uses these things (or they're so resource constrained their first iteration made it into production). I bought a 2015 Honda Fit knowing it'd been out awhile and there was no change for 2016 (I hoped this meant many things, including their infotainment system had things ironed out). I also got the lowest-end infotainment system because I wanted a volume knob instead of soft buttons. It's funn…

> * plugging into USB (to charge) does not mean I want to switch audio over--I use a cigarette lighter USB adapter to get rid of this confusion

This is the biggest issue for me with so many cars. Why can't I just deactivate USB interfaces? I use USB to charge but only use Bluetooth for audio (tends to work much better for Spotify). Bluetooth is very reliable in most cars but whenever I start charging I have to switch back. A simple setting to set USB to charge-only mode wouldn't be hard to implement and a great win.

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

#102

Post by dx034 » Wed, Sep 20, 2017, 3:36 PM UTC

notyourday wrote: post #78

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…

> 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. This is 2017. If I need to "take my time to figure out how to use it", it is completely and utterly broken.

Think he's right. We're used to not having manuals but that doesn't count for driving. You really should understand your car before you drive, figuring out the system while driving is very dangerous. We're just not used to that anymore.

And it's not that figuring out an iPhone is that much easier. But you can click around until you found the right setting without endangering others.

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

#103

Post by jaclaz » Wed, Sep 20, 2017, 3:49 PM UTC

b1daly wrote: post #48

This just reminded me of my personal pet "first world problem." The move from hardware based interfaces to touch screen interfaces is an astonishing regression in usability. Older car "audio" systems could be controlled with simple knob and button interfaces. This would allow the user to fine tune the audio playback, as well as find radio stations, without having to look at the device. Asside from picking the music,…

More or less one could have a couple (programmable) bluetooth rotary knobs and buttons assembled in a old-style radio dashboard panel.

Of course provided that the stupid proprietary toouchscreen infotainment system can actually be interfaced with them.

I don't think such a product exists (or that current infotainment systems would allow such a connection), but it could be a nice thingy.

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

#104

Post by snops » Wed, Sep 20, 2017, 4:31 PM UTC

mschuster91 wrote: post #95

captainmuon wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No offense, but I have yet to find a infotainment system that I liked. They reflect the brand identity of the vehicle, yes, but badly. The majority of in-car-entertainment systems are clunky, slow, and look outdated. The hardware is already at release a few years behind, and you can't easily replace it. (This also applied to smart TVs, and to some extent to in-flight-entertainment). What I would love is a simple stan…

> What I would love is a simple standard for aftermarket radios, like you used to have. One connector, and it wires up to the speakers, a display (that you can replace), and all the hardware buttons e.g. in the steering wheel. You'd have a one-way connection from the car to the device for information like speed. That would be nice, but unfortunately it has a number of drawbacks: 1) "one connector" does not work well…

FYI, HDMI has an automotive connector (type E) as part of the specification, which is available from a range of manufacturers already and has a retention clip to avoid vibration issues.

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

#105

Post by snovv_crash » Wed, Sep 20, 2017, 5:01 PM UTC

csours wrote: post #40

m_mueller wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why do I even need this? Just give me a bluetooth receiver and a usb outlet for the phone. You set up the navi before driving off, just like you would in the built-in systems. I don't understand why carplay is such a big deal tbh.

Bigger screen in a better place; it uses your car mic instead of the phone mic; it uses your steering wheel buttons instead of needing to touch the phone; when you get a call or want to talk to the system, the A/C turns down the blower setting. Probably some others.

All of those except the screen can be done with Bluetooth.

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

#106

Post by zguig52 » Wed, Sep 20, 2017, 7:20 PM UTC

Got a prius with touch and go, I connect my phone with bluetooth and I can control all my music and phone calls from the steering wheel without having to look to anything. Good job Toyota for supporting open innovation and sharing code with other car manufacturers! I enjoy the way you design car for ecology. Supporting linux is top. I hope they will support userspace apps so end user can also be part of the car innovation!

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

#107

Post by f137 » Wed, Sep 20, 2017, 7:47 PM UTC

tzs wrote: post #60

b1daly wrote: post #48

This just reminded me of my personal pet "first world problem." The move from hardware based interfaces to touch screen interfaces is an astonishing regression in usability. Older car "audio" systems could be controlled with simple knob and button interfaces. This would allow the user to fine tune the audio playback, as well as find radio stations, without having to look at the device. Asside from picking the music,…

Worse, I believe some cars are now doing this with almost all of the controls, not just the entertainment system controls. Controls I want to operate without looking at them: fan, temperature, air routing, defrost, windshield wipers, high beams, turn signals.

You mean there are cars where windshield wipers, high beams, turn signals are operated by touchscreen?

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

#108

Post by VintageCool » Wed, Sep 20, 2017, 8:05 PM UTC

captainmuon wrote: post #67

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…

No offense, but I have yet to find a infotainment system that I liked. They reflect the brand identity of the vehicle, yes, but badly. The majority of in-car-entertainment systems are clunky, slow, and look outdated. The hardware is already at release a few years behind, and you can't easily replace it. (This also applied to smart TVs, and to some extent to in-flight-entertainment). What I would love is a simple stan…

Thieves have largely stopped breaking into cars to steal car radios because, without a simple standard for aftermarket radios, the market for stolen radios shrunk and has almost disappeared.

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

#109

Post by mbaha » Wed, Sep 20, 2017, 8:57 PM UTC

pokstad wrote: post #31

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…

“It’s not CarPlay” absolutely helps. I don’t care if Toyota makes a decent infotainment system. I will not buy a Toyota or Lexus until they come with a CarPlay option. Period. It’s a waste of time to elaborate on that (for free). I would rather save my breath and vote with my money by supporting a car company that does understand my needs (e.g. Honda/Acura).

Spot on remark. Consumers should be voting with their buying decisions. Markets will eventually correct themselves.

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

#110

Post by jcrawfordor » Wed, Sep 20, 2017, 9:39 PM UTC

b1daly wrote: post #48

This just reminded me of my personal pet "first world problem." The move from hardware based interfaces to touch screen interfaces is an astonishing regression in usability. Older car "audio" systems could be controlled with simple knob and button interfaces. This would allow the user to fine tune the audio playback, as well as find radio stations, without having to look at the device. Asside from picking the music,…

In general I'm frustrated by the loss of consistency in operating cars. A couple years ago I volunteered to help valet cars at a charity dinner for a university. Someone asked me because they knew that I drove manual so I'd be able to "drive anything." It was quite comical to discover how untrue this was, particularly since the event tended to attract people with luxury cars...

A lot of luxury cars no longer have a conventional key but some kind of electronic system. Sometimes it is proximity based, so you simply have to have the key and push a button on the steering column or dashboard or maybe center console. Other cars have a key that has some kind of electrical connector and must be inserted into the side of the steering column and then you push a button, and still another one I drove seemed to have a proximity key but you had to stick it into the side of the steering column and turn to start the engine.

Then you have to figure out the parking brake... Used to be that it was a ratchet pedal, or a handle in the center console, or one of those pull-and-twist deals in some 4x4s. This was already a little annoying, but now there's a huge diversity of buttons and toggles in non-obvious places. At least the electrical ones usually disengage if you hit the gas.

Now for the automatic gear selector...

One guy somewhat sheepishly apologizes that his car was hard to drive... but it was an old stick-shift 4runner with a strange feeling clutch. That one I was actually able to work out!