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

Cars are about to be a software platform, subscriptions and all

bloomberg.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

211–220 of 220 posts

Re: Cars are about to be a software platform, subscriptions and all

#211

Post by cyanydeez »

coldtea wrote: post #68
MrMember wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I feel like a luddite sometimes. I want to limit as much as possible how many devices I own that have access to the internet. My computer(s), HTPC, phone, game consoles, and that's it. There's no reason anything else ever needs internet access.

> I feel like a luddite sometimes. Luddites were right in their own way: their point was not against technology in abstract, but about the destruction it brought to their line of work with no alternative offered. But, Luddites aside, being enthusiastic for any application of technology is a sign of the idiot consumer or the naive futurist. The actual technologist knows that some tools are good for X and not for Y use…

i have a darker assumption: people like using software to exploit problem X, but they dont like the idea that they are problem Y needing to be exploited.

Re: Cars are about to be a software platform, subscriptions and all

#212

Post by m463 »

thesuperbigfrog wrote: post #4

It is only a matter of time before there are jailbreaks and free / open source car operating systems. For related 'food for thought', see Cory Doctorow's "Car Wars" which combines car software hacking with self-driving vehicles for a unique near-future sci-fi story. Edit: downvotes? Instead, you could respond with why you disagree and we can have a discussion. Do you think there will not be jailbreaks? It has been ha…

I believe this will happen too. It might be happening now - there seem to be tesla folks who have messed with their cars.

But it will be a struggle back and forth.

Re: Cars are about to be a software platform, subscriptions and all

#213

Post by m463 »

benhurmarcel wrote: post #181
livinginfear wrote: post #137

I'm finding it increasingly difficult to avoid purchasing, and therefore tying myself to, 'connected' platforms. I recently decided to purchase a new washing machine. It was difficult to find one that did not feature some form of wireless connectivity. I know from other discussions on this forum around so-called 'smart' televisions[1][2] that simply not connecting the device to your home wi-fi network, or implementin…

> It was difficult to find one that did not feature some form of wireless connectivity. As long as you don’t have to connect it… I couldn’t find a decent toothbrush that didn’t have Bluetooth, but it doesn’t matter, I just ignore it.

I was looking for a coffee mug that could keep my coffee warm.

I saw one in the store - it would keep the coffee heated and... bluetooth + app required. gah.

Re: Cars are about to be a software platform, subscriptions and all

#214

Post by [deleted] »

Laarlf wrote: post #210
michaelmrose wrote: post #201

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Modern cars crumple so that they absorb more of the energy of the collision sacrificing the car's body for your body. Massive vehicles of the antique era had a horrific safety record. People in fact used to believe that collisions at highway speed were unsurvivable by nature. People who imagine that having the heavier more rigid car renders them safer because their car will just go through the other car leaving them…

A few months ago i had an accident in a "90s Volvo". A Volvo 850 to be exact. A Toyota Aygo got into my lane on a country road. A car that is 15 years newer in design and is also considerably lighter than the Volvo. It was basically a head on impact at about 70-80 km/h(where 100 is allowed, i braked quite a bit). While i didn't walk away because of the shock, i could. I had no injuries apart from scuff marks and my r…

[deleted]

Re: Cars are about to be a software platform, subscriptions and all

#215

Post by McSwag »

Hammershaft wrote: post #45
obviouslynotme wrote: post #2

I don't want my car to be a software platform. I want it to be like my microwave. It might have software, but software is only incidental to its operation. I do not want to tweet from my microwave. I do not want ads in traffic. This is non-negotiable for safety reasons alone. I don't care what I have to do to attain that. If that means replacing the radio. I will do it. If you brick my car if I don't have a Manufactu…

Its interesting that we have created a world where the people who build software are often the most skeptical of and aviodant of the software industry.

Building software pays my bills. Also, we know what makes the secret sauce (or doesn’t). Skepticism is warranted.

Re: Cars are about to be a software platform, subscriptions and all

#216

Post by FpUser »

thraway123412 wrote: post #174
FpUser wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The only things I rent currently are Utilities, Internet Access, Standby servers for my business, Auto Insurance and Netflix. No SAAS / PAAS / MyAss etc. So no I will not love any further encroachment and actively resist it.

How about a bank account and a credit or debit card tied to it?

I am not anal and would not put those into the same category as Car As A Service.

Re: Cars are about to be a software platform, subscriptions and all

#217

Post by brokenmachine »

sz4kerto wrote: post #21
obviouslynotme wrote: post #2

I don't want my car to be a software platform. I want it to be like my microwave. It might have software, but software is only incidental to its operation. I do not want to tweet from my microwave. I do not want ads in traffic. This is non-negotiable for safety reasons alone. I don't care what I have to do to attain that. If that means replacing the radio. I will do it. If you brick my car if I don't have a Manufactu…

> I want it to be like my microwave. Yes. Plus: I want it to be like a simple microwave that does what I need: heats for a certain amount of time at a certain power level. 2 physical knobs.

I like to have a single button to start and add 30s and a handle where you just pull to open.

Re: Cars are about to be a software platform, subscriptions and all

#218

Post by brokenmachine »

Toutouxc wrote: post #120
Naac wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think you're putting way too much faith in these companies. Just going off of your example, they're most likely just going to provide support for 2 years ( if that ), and then say "sorry, the newest version of lane keep assist isn't available for your model". A la Apple.

Macs from 2012 got the latest security update four days ago. Macs from 2013 are supported by the newest macOS. iPhones and iPads from 2013 got the latest security update a month ago. iPhones and iPads from 2015 and 2014 respectively are supported by the latest iOS and iPadOS. Classic Apple, right?

Did you see the article today saying they run the Apple Store at a 78% profit margin?

Their raison d'etre is keeping you trapped in that cage.

Re: Cars are about to be a software platform, subscriptions and all

#220

Post by fy20 »

ChuckNorris89 wrote: post #146
fy20 wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not everyone cares about regulations :-) My country has (since fall of USSR) been one of the biggest used car markets in Europe, and as cars have added more and more electronics people have started figuring out how they work and developing tools to work around them. I recently came across (randomly browsing) a device developed here that plugs into the OBD port and disables the AdBlue system (an extra fluid you need t…

Honestly, I hope people who disable the emission control systems on their cars get the book thrown at them.

That's a tricky comment. For disabling something that is perfectly functional I agree, but if it's broken then what to do?

Since the late 2000s all diesel vehicles sold in Europe have had a diesel particulate filter (DPF) that helps reduce NOx emissions. After 150,000 - 200,000km these end up becoming blocked up and need replacing. If you don't you'll have reduced engine power and could even damage the engine. Except you can't get a replacement, these parts are designed for that specific car, often have complicated electronics, etc. You can sometimes get remanufactured or used parts from salvage, but they probably aren't going to last very long and are still expensive (€1500+ for parts and labour). So you have a car that is perfectly functional, except the emissions system is broken. Replacing it may cost a significant fraction of the value of the car.

What pretty much everyone does (even in Western countries) is have it removed. Of course you aren't supposed to, and this is supposed to be checked when the vehicle is inspected (visually, note that car inspections do not test NOx emissions in Europe), but everyone turns a blind eye.

The manufacturers are the ones who are really to blame here. Why make something that can't be replaced on the car?

I'd really like to see the EU taking a harder line on diesel engines (petrol is much less polluting), but it's probably not going to happen because of the big car manufacturers who are all heavily invested in diesel. In most of Europe petrol is taxed more than diesel, which from an environmental viewpoint really doesn't make any sense. With hybrid technology petrol can be just as fuel efficient, and is mechanically much simpler. At least EVs seem to be set to take over both for light vehicles.

Post reply on HN