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Apple to wind down electric car effort after decadelong odyssey

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471–480 of 992 posts

Re: Apple to wind down electric car effort after decadelong odyssey

#471
post #215

I really hope Apple continues its privacy-first ethos and offers an on-device LLM. It would also be great if they could use Handoff-like technology to let my (almost always nearby, almost always plugged-in) laptop do the thinking, instead of depleting the battery of my phone. I'd surely buy a bunch of HomePod minis if I could tie them into a local LLM.

>privacy-first ethos Apple doesn't have a privacy first ethos, it's more of an All your-data-are-belong-to-us. They just don't like to share the asset of their users data, that's not privacy.

This is not true at all. I would recommend reading a bit on Apple’s privacy practices and how they differ from other players in the space to arrive at a more informed understanding here.

From Apple’s legal page [0] for e.g. maps: “Individual usage metrics are associated with an identifier that rotates multiple times per hour, and is not tied to your Apple ID. This means Maps cannot search for information about you based on an identifier linked to you or your device.”

[0]: https://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/data/en/apple-maps/

Re: Apple to wind down electric car effort after decadelong odyssey

#472
post #296

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not really the point. Apple succeeded because they applied their strengths, product and user interface design, to what is essentially a small computer. Apple have always developed core products that are essentially a computer. Even though cars increasingly look like laptops on wheels, the actual computer bit is relatively minor and the user interface is mostly the wheel and pedals, not so much the screen.

I agree that a car is on a different scale, but I think it's only in hindsight that a phone is obviously just a computer and that the user interface is important part.

Turn your thinking around. The only reason we still call it a phone is because that's what the original function was. They are pocket computers in everything but name. A significant percentage of the population doesn't even use them for voice calls anymore.

Re: Apple to wind down electric car effort after decadelong odyssey

#473

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Car manufacturers must be coming around on CarPlay. I made a purchasing decision largely because one of the car suitable cars supported wireless CarPlay.

You'd think so... GM has stated that they're doing away with CarPlay and Android auto in favour of their own thing, which will most likely suck on large ways. Ford, on the other hand, came out and said that they lost that battle 10 years ago and are going to keep them.

I’m pretty sure when you hand in the paperwork for creating a car company, there’s a little pledge you have to take: I will make the crappiest possible OS to include in my car.

It is really bizarre that they insist on continuing to try. Just give us AUX in (stereo or usb). Cellphones can do it all now anyway. The car’s entertainment system should be about as complex as a pair of headphones.

Re: Apple to wind down electric car effort after decadelong odyssey

#475
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why does everyone have to it?

Apple has a reputation to uphold, of being bleeding edge and having the best, latest, greatest tech. Their "AI" is a not-so-great scripted bot over a decade old at this point. They are laughably behind the curve. Android should see widespread deployment of Gemini baked into the next generation of phones, and this could have a significant impact on Apple.

Considering the disaster Gemini has been so far it may easily turn to being just as mocked as Siri is now.

Re: Apple to wind down electric car effort after decadelong odyssey

#476

I know somebody on the project. The cancellation makes sense, they were years from release and every new VP pivoted the project and lost progress. If they had committed to their original project (a bus) or the first revision (a very high-end car) they could have released on a timely schedule. But they're far too late to the game.

> But they're far too late to the game.

Not so sure about that. You need battery and 4 x electric motors to wheels.

The idea is much simpler than regular combustion engine car. Less parts that wear out.

Idea is actually so simple that all the manufactures compete on putting as much nonsense into cars as possible, insted of making easily replaceable battery and car which would last 50 years and accelerate like Ferrari.

Re: Apple to wind down electric car effort after decadelong odyssey

#477
post #59
post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To be fair, that was what a lot of people thought about Apple making a cell phone. That they'd never compete with Nokia or Motorola and that US carriers would never give them enough control.

The phone made sense to me because by that point Apple had clearly proven themselves as a consumer electronics company. It’s wasn’t as big a jump and cell phone software was largely junk. The carrier thing was true, but they could have launched outside the US. Instead they found a carrier desperate enough. But they’ve never done safety critical stuff like a car. Of highly mechanical stuff like a car. Or things that n…

If a car model won't run, you can't all your customers they're "holding it wrong".

Re: Apple to wind down electric car effort after decadelong odyssey

#478

I hope it's not an overreaction to the current reactionary anti-ESG trend. We do need electric cars; they are the future.

AI has given a lot of people a lot of cover to kill projects which are going nowhere. Rather than "this was a terrible idea, we've wasted a bunch of money" they get to say "AI is transformational, we have to allocate resources to it and hence we are cutting X, Y, Z".

Re: Apple to wind down electric car effort after decadelong odyssey

#480

I hope it's not an overreaction to the current reactionary anti-ESG trend. We do need electric cars; they are the future.

Future of what? Reliable mass public transport is the best option for a sustainable future. We don't need car centric suburbia but with heavier and more expensive cars.
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