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Mike Abbott was kicked out of Apple where he didn’t make any meaningful contribution. Why GM is picking him up? Another wasteful move.
> where he didn’t make any meaningful contribution. Super curious about this, what more can you share?
Hope he convinces them to go back on the stupid decision that is to abandon Carplay/Android Auto.
I think it's probably the opposite -- they've probably hired him to help build their new entertainment+surveillance stack.
Hope he convinces them to go back on the stupid decision that is to abandon Carplay/Android Auto.
I think it's probably the opposite -- they've probably hired him to help build their new entertainment+surveillance stack.
Infotainment systems may be different, but suppliers were doing most of the code several years back (I hired one of those guys too). With the desire to bring SaaS to automotive I would expect GM to bring some software development in-house, but they are a management-heavy company.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Yup, this reads like they decided to "buy a guy to build GMplay" rather than just use CarPlay. unlikely to go well.
They have this misguided perception that EVs require some deep level integration via some customized build of AAOS, that can't already be solved by individual apps on a smartphone. Namely - customizing charging times at home for off-peak rates / usage, identifying chargers on a specific route or daily commute, pre-warming or pre-cooling a car (which can be done already today because all these vehicles have LTE or 5G…
Infotainment has been commoditized by way of Android Automotive and Carplay. The perception that there is a subscription revenue opportunity for intotainment is misguided - the TAM is insignificant, and the net loss of prospective Customers that refuse to buy a vehicle without Android Auto or or Carplay far outweighs any potential subscription revenue. This will go over about as well as Cadillac Cue did from 2013-201…
I wouldn't go so far as to say that lack of Carplay would be a complete deal-breaker for me but it would sure be a huge entry in the "cons" column.
Also, apparently the tailgate is electric now. And for some reason it stopped working when the transmission died. Also also, there is no way to turn the truck off? When it entered the error-state, the dash stayed on and the cabin motor stayed blowing, but the "Start" button wouldn't turn anything off.
I know I'm an odd case, my newest car is from 1997... but I am gobsmacked at just how terrible modern vehicles are. I know customers are dumb and are easily impressed by cheap gadgetry, but why did we have to throw the baby out with the bath water?
So when I hear that GM is going to build their own CarPlay or whatever I can't help but laugh. They can't even build a good fleet pickup truck.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
It wouldn’t be a dealbreaker for me if I was buying a low cost used car, although at this point it has been around for long enough that even the beater Camry rental I’m driving right now has it. But if I’m paying big bucks for a new car I can’t imagine not having CarPlay. Ironically it’s the expensive “high-tech” brands like Tesla and Rivian that don’t support it.
My Tesla driving friend let his Tesla subscription lapse over a card failure last week, and the infotainment system, that has Spotify -- with an account he pays for -- no longer functions. But like, if he paired his bluetooth, he'd get Spotify playback capability, he'd just have to use his voice to explore Spotify music. Meanwhile, me in my 2004; with an aftermarket radio - with wireless tethering to my phone OR a go…
Mike Abbott was kicked out of Apple where he didn’t make any meaningful contribution. Why GM is picking him up? Another wasteful move.
Mike was an excellent leader in iCloud, championed a whole bunch of new tech, and took a failing business and made it massively profitable. I don't think anyone in Eddy's org was happy to see him go.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think it's probably the opposite -- they've probably hired him to help build their new entertainment+surveillance stack.
Then wouldn't the Apple mentality be "Touchpads ... for everything!" (and thus a steb back)?