Siri To Power Mercedes-Benz Car Systems

In Scotland too? by phonewebcam · 2012-02-27 11:13 · Score: 2

Re:In Scotland too? by Joao · 2012-02-28 02:39 · Score: 1

I have a Brazilian accent. Tried to use Siri a couple of times. It was the exact same experience as the guy in that Scottish video.

How About Frigging Drive Kit Plus by Anonymous Coward · 2012-02-27 11:13 · Score: 3, Funny

The world does not need more self-absorbed iPhone users talking to the wannabe AI in their phone.

Re:How About Frigging Drive Kit Plus by Fluffeh · 2012-02-27 11:40 · Score: 5, Interesting

The most interesting thing in this article for me is lifespan. If I buy a phone with a funky feature I expect that feature to be active for the life of the phone - two to five years. However, if I buy a car, I would expect that all the features keep working for the life of the car - which is a lot longer. What is going to happen if in five or ten years time, Apple decides that Siri wasn't the right direction and makes something else? It comes back to the old DRM needing to be supported for the life of the product. What would happen to all the cars with this embedded if the servers were turned off?
Having said all that, something like Siri is probably the last thing I would want in a car, I am even discouraged by car commercials that offer "Built-in iPod docks" and the like. Too much lock-in for a specific product and brand.

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Re:How About Frigging Drive Kit Plus by ackthpt · 2012-02-27 11:53 · Score: 2

The world does not need more self-absorbed iPhone users talking to the wannabe AI in their phone.
You say that now, but when they have flying cars, I'm certain you'll be all over that like 681 Chinese on an iPhone gas stove.

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Re:How About Frigging Drive Kit Plus by russ1337 · 2012-02-27 11:58 · Score: 5, Insightful

This is why the car should support *integration* with phones and not *duplicate* phones functionality. Connectivity should be in the most future-proof possible way. This could be mic and headphone jack, USB (for charging), & Bluetooth.
Let the phone do the hard work and provide a means of integrating the phone.
You might need to modularise the interface so it can be swapped out every few years as the 'standard' phone interfaces change.
Re:How About Frigging Drive Kit Plus by zAPPzAPP · 2012-02-27 12:00 · Score: 1

I don't get this.
Siri and the apps are running on the phone. The phone is in the car, most likely on the dashboard.
So what keeps the user from talking directly to the phone?
Re:How About Frigging Drive Kit Plus by monkeyhybrid · 2012-02-27 12:13 · Score: 1

I'm totally with you on that one. Even if Siri and the relevant APIs or whatever Mercedes are using are still supported in a few years time, who is to say iPhone will still be as popular as it is now?

I'd quite like tighter integration between my smartphone and car stereo for playing music, voice calls, satnav directions, etc, through the car speakers, but if I can actually be bothered to arrange that, I imagine it will be via Bluetooth. It's pretty well supported now on Android (presumably iOS too?) and numerous models of car stereo, and likely will be for quite a few years to come. And If support dies, at least it's just a replacement car stereo featuring whatever new tech is popular at the time.

Same with TVs with built-in web browsers, streaming apps, etc. In a few years time they will be TVs with crippled software that's simply not functional any more.
Re:How About Frigging Drive Kit Plus by theurge14 · 2012-02-27 12:19 · Score: 2

People can do that now with existing cars. A single dock removes three cords and Bluetooth. I know that for you or others that's no big deal, but for many others a single dock is preferable.
Re:How About Frigging Drive Kit Plus by MobileTatsu-NJG · 2012-02-27 12:21 · Score: 3, Insightful

The world does not need more self-absorbed iPhone users talking to the wannabe AI in their phone.
Haterade Addicts think about the iPhone more than Apple fanboys do.

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Re:How About Frigging Drive Kit Plus by ColdWetDog · 2012-02-27 12:29 · Score: 4, Funny

Also what's the advantage of this over getting an iPhone 4S and sticking it on the dash?
More room for the bobble head Jesus.
USA! USA! USA!

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Re:How About Frigging Drive Kit Plus by Jesse_vd · 2012-02-27 12:38 · Score: 1

This isn't much different than every BMW and Mercedes made in the last 20 years with some kind of cell phone attachment. None of them will last forever, just long enough for the original owner to enjoy.
Re:How About Frigging Drive Kit Plus by mattack2 · 2012-02-27 13:08 · Score: 1

I am even discouraged by car commercials that offer "Built-in iPod docks" and the like.
I don't follow car advertising or reviews too much, so this is mostly based upon the CNET car review video podcasts I see, and MAYBE a bit on Motorweek (I FF through most of that show though)..
Anyway, from what I've seen, even if that dock is advertised, they seem to always have an AUX in, as well.
Re:How About Frigging Drive Kit Plus by RazzleFrog · 2012-02-27 13:11 · Score: 1

Don't most Android phones use USB connections while Apple uses a proprietary one?
Re:How About Frigging Drive Kit Plus by icebike · 2012-02-27 13:26 · Score: 2

This is why the car should support *integration* with phones and not *duplicate* phones functionality. Connectivity should be in the most future-proof possible way. This could be mic and headphone jack, USB (for charging), & Bluetooth.
Let the phone do the hard work and provide a means of integrating the phone.
You might need to modularise the interface so it can be swapped out every few years as the 'standard' phone interfaces change.
Excellent advice.
And the same for Navigation systems. Factory Nav is always way over priced, hard to update, and obsolete by the time it rolls out the factory door.
There needs to be (probably already is) an interface design spec where you simply plug in the device you want from Tom Tom, Garmin, or Magellan and it puts the devices display on the car's touch screen.
But why would the auto makers do this when they can continue to charge you 2000 dollars for a nav system that cost them $150?

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Re:How About Frigging Drive Kit Plus by icebike · 2012-02-27 13:43 · Score: 3, Insightful

But the single dock only applies to Apple. Nobody else uses it.
With Android now some 47% of the market its time to start using a more standardized approach to this than relying on a single proprietary dock.
It might be HDMI, or Bluetooth, USB, or something else. But it should be an industry standard.
Ideally, I shouldn't have to take my phone out of my pocket when I get in the car, I should have phone, maps, and music all linked to the car automatically via something like Bluetooth 3.0 or something.
Cars aren't the only thing that people will want to link to their phones. Houses and offices could use such an interface. Cables and docking are so yesterday.

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Re:How About Frigging Drive Kit Plus by icebraining · 2012-02-27 14:36 · Score: 1

How would that work for controlling the car radio?

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Re:How About Frigging Drive Kit Plus by bronney · 2012-02-27 14:36 · Score: 1

mod parent up!!! This is so true.
Re:How About Frigging Drive Kit Plus by icebraining · 2012-02-27 14:42 · Score: 1

AUX in means you're using the phone's DAC, which is often shittier than the one in the car radio, due to size and power constraints.
It'd much better if they implemented an USB sound card interface. It's standartized by the USB spec - which means a generic driver would work for any device - and it'd transmit the sound as a digital signal to the radio.

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Re:How About Frigging Drive Kit Plus by Fluffeh · 2012-02-27 15:17 · Score: 1

Don't most Android phones use USB connections while Apple uses a proprietary one?
Yes, but pointing that out will just make the Apple fans and Google bashers cranky. I recently bought a new phone (ended up with Samsung Galaxy SII) and all the phones (granted, there weren't THAT many) that I was looking at had a Micro USB as the interface.
On that note, I find it amazing how many gadgets these days (clock radios, steros etc) all have iPod docks on them, but finding something like that with a Micro USB is damn near impossible. I used to have an iPhone and charging it by clicking it into my clock radio was rather handy, I wish I could find a similar thing for Micro USB - though perhaps a Micro USB slot is too small/weak to stand a phone upright on.

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Re:How About Frigging Drive Kit Plus by thegrassyknowl · 2012-02-27 15:17 · Score: 1

AUX in means you're using the phone's DAC, which is often shittier than the one in the car radio, due to size and power constraints.
And while the engine is running and there's all that road noise you can't tell the difference anyway.

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Re:How About Frigging Drive Kit Plus by psiclops · 2012-02-27 15:21 · Score: 1

Yes they do, becuase it's an internationally recognised standard and has been for over a year.
Surprisingly Apple apparently signed the memorandum of understanding in regards to the standard regarding the standard back in Jan 2011.
According to this article Apple is looking to change to the standard.
the article doesnt really cite any source or put much reasoning into why they think apple will change though so i doubt it.
they have been selling Micro-USB -> 'Apple' adaptors for a few months at leas which i would assume is their way of complying with standards instead of changing the phone connector.

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Re:How About Frigging Drive Kit Plus by russ1337 · 2012-02-27 16:11 · Score: 1

Rumor has it that the iphone 5 has a different dock connector......
My previous post suggests a 'modularised' interface into the car. Think of a card that slides into the car that has the Cars interface on one side, and the phone interface on the other. - these can be changed / upgrade to support technologies as they evolve.
The phone interface could be ANY of the following: iphone jack, andriod jack, windows phone jack, HDMI, Bluetooth X, Audio Jack, USB X, whatever - you chose when you buy the car and can purchase as aftermarket accessories.
The car side interfaces the car's display, steering wheel buttons, speakers, microphone, power and (GPS) antenna, and perhaps controls for the seat, interior lights etc. (but not safety critical services.)
Re:How About Frigging Drive Kit Plus by nabsltd · 2012-02-27 16:40 · Score: 1

Ideally, I shouldn't have to take my phone out of my pocket when I get in the car, I should have phone, maps, and music all linked to the car automatically via something like Bluetooth 3.0 or something.
You've pretty much described Ford's Sync, although since it's older tech it doesn't quite have everything.
My phone stays in its holster and connects to the car via Bluetooth. This gives you full access to the phone (including contacts) via hands-free, and you can play any audio from the phone (music, etc.) over the vehicle sound system. There's also integration on many web sites (like Google maps) that allows you to send info to the car (like destinations for the navigation system) via your phone. Sync works with pretty much any phone that supports Bluetooth. On a side note, the entire Sync system is fairly generic...you can play music off of damn near any device with a USB connection.
There's a lot more that it could do, but again, it was limited by being designed nearly 5 years ago, when phones weren't very sophisticated. The next iteration should have a lot more functionality.
Re:How About Frigging Drive Kit Plus by nabsltd · 2012-02-27 16:43 · Score: 1

But why would the auto makers do this when they can continue to charge you 2000 dollars for a nav system that cost them $150?
Although the prices can be outrageous, there is a lot more physical cost than you imagine. A 9" touchscreen that has been somewhat ruggedized will probably cost more than $150.
Re:How About Frigging Drive Kit Plus by slimjim8094 · 2012-02-27 17:41 · Score: 1

I seriously doubt they'll change the dock connector. Almost all iDevice accessories for damn near 9 years still work with the newest. Everybody with one of those stereos or cars or whatevers would be out of luck - and after 10 years, that's a lot of devices. I question the wisdom of buying a device tied to a particular interface, but Apple's been incredibly successful at keeping it all going. They'd be nuts to throw that away.

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Re:How About Frigging Drive Kit Plus by DragonWriter · 2012-02-27 19:54 · Score: 1

The most interesting thing in this article for me is lifespan. If I buy a phone with a funky feature I expect that feature to be active for the life of the phone - two to five years. However, if I buy a car, I would expect that all the features keep working for the life of the car - which is a lot longer.

People that buy new luxury cars also tend turn them over ~3 years or so.

What is going to happen if in five or ten years time, Apple decides that Siri wasn't the right direction and makes something else? It comes back to the old DRM needing to be supported for the life of the product. What would happen to all the cars with this embedded if the servers were turned off?
By then, the people who bought new Mercedes-Benz cars with Siri when they were introduced to get the latest and greatest will, in general, be more than ready to sell them and buy whatever the new latest-and-greatest is. If Apple actually discontinues Siri service entirely, that will have a minor hit in the resale value of the cars, which, again, most of the people who would have bought new luxury cars in the first place won't even notice much when trading them in.
Re:How About Frigging Drive Kit Plus by klifford · 2012-02-27 21:26 · Score: 1

If the servers that run Siri get turned off, I imagine what will happen will be exactly like what happened to the carphone in my 2002 Mercedes. It's not a cellphone, so it's no longer supported. Didn't serve me any purpose so I got rid of the box. The keypad is just for changing radio stations and CDs now.

Not that surprising really. As old technologies fade, most people move on, but many are left in the void.
Re:How About Frigging Drive Kit Plus by sincewhen · 2012-02-27 21:30 · Score: 1

Yes, but pointing that out will just make the Apple fans and Google bashers cranky.
Yeah, great, whatever.
A few facts which I think are relevant:
The Apple dock connector is in a standard location on the bottom of iPhones and iPods. Even then, many devices with docks have a mechanism to adapt to different physical characteristics of different iDevices. But when using a cable, one end is a 20 pin dock connector and the other *a standard Type A USB plug*.
As far as I know, Android phones are not made with a standard port in a standard location to make them "dockable". AFAICT they don't even all have the same type of USB socket, so, like an iDevice, they would need a cable to connect to a standard Type A USB port.
Furthermore any dock in a car needs to be simple, rugged and to hold the device firmly, as well as being adaptable to different devices. Not an easy problem to solve elegantly.

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Re:How About Frigging Drive Kit Plus by petsounds · 2012-02-27 22:21 · Score: 1

They're going to do dangerous shit with their phones anyway, so may as well encourage them to not to message with their hands while driving and hence be slightly less dangerous.
Re:How About Frigging Drive Kit Plus by icebraining · 2012-02-27 22:32 · Score: 1

That depends on the car. Some have surprisingly good acoustic insulation.

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Re:How About Frigging Drive Kit Plus by justforgetme · 2012-02-28 00:03 · Score: 2

The funny part is:
Mercedes are planning to ditch their own efforts on voice control - a research that has been
ongoing since the late 90s and has cost them untold billions - in order to replace it with a
system that has less localization and (and this is the killer really) that needs to be on-line in
order to actually process speech.
I really do tend to like the Germans but they sure messed up on this one.

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Re:How About Frigging Drive Kit Plus by mhajicek · 2012-02-28 04:20 · Score: 1

Line out (headphone jack) from phone to line in on stereo.
Re:How About Frigging Drive Kit Plus by astrokid · 2012-02-28 06:02 · Score: 1

Are you talking about when they shifted from using the firewire pin on cables for charging on iPods and iPhones? That's not really DRM.

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Re:How About Frigging Drive Kit Plus by Occams · 2012-02-28 12:10 · Score: 1

We need a situation in which car manufacturers have nothing to do with the audio, video, phone, or navigation systems installed in their cars. They should simply implement a standard rack system and connectors whic will take any devices made to that standard. Then we can install and update as often as we like our equipment in our car as easily as we can do it in our house. I would avoid any car that attempted to tie me into Apple proprietary, closed, over-priced, devices and services.

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Re:How About Frigging Drive Kit Plus by tsa · 2012-03-03 20:13 · Score: 1

My father's Astra has a USB port to which you can connect an iPod or iPhone via the cable that comes with it. You can then browse that device using the car's software. The iPod's interface is enough of an industry standard to expect that to be useful for the lifetime of the car, I think. I really like it that Opel didn't make an optional ipod connector but chose the more versatile option.

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Re:How About Frigging Drive Kit Plus by tsa · 2012-03-03 20:16 · Score: 1

But many cars already have a touchscreen or something similar nowadays.

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Oh No by prichardson · 2012-02-27 11:15 · Score: 5, Informative

For me, Siri is unusable. I don't know if it's my voice or accent, but it rarely understands me, that is when the service is even up. A lot of the time, Siri is 'unavailable' presumably because Apple's servers are getting hammered by requests. I found the google voice recognition stuff to work a lot better. The only thing Siri has going for it is a rich set of commands.

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Re:Oh No by PessimysticRaven · 2012-02-27 11:27 · Score: 4, Informative

Sadly, the word you're looking for is "enunciating."
Saying it "like it's spelled" is what got us into the issue in the first place!

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Re:Oh No by CRCulver · 2012-02-27 11:29 · Score: 5, Funny

Try annunciating.

I tried telling my iPhone that it was highly favoured with the Lord, and, behold, it shall conceive in its womb, and bring forth a son. Unfortunately, nothing happened. Maybe I should have more clearly enunciated?
Re:Oh No by Anonymous Coward · 2012-02-27 11:34 · Score: 1

On this note, what are the FOSS alternatives? How does Sphinx compare? With all this buzz around voice recognition, and the fact that (I thought) all of this iStuff is kind of late to the game (technically), I kind of expected some more nerdy GNU alternative or something. I can't seem to find any...
Re:Oh No by Lambeco · 2012-02-27 11:50 · Score: 5, Funny

Help I'm a rock.
I have discovered the root of your issue. Have you tried not being a rock?
Re:Oh No by Deorus · 2012-02-27 11:50 · Score: 4, Informative

Your experience is completely opposite to mine. I'm Portuguese, meaning not even a native English speaker, and Siri understands me perfectly. Furthermore, I seldom experience service downtime, so I would attribute that to your carrier.
Also, how the hell is this insightful?
Re:Oh No by an+unsound+mind · 2012-02-27 11:59 · Score: 3, Funny

"Set me a wake-up alarm at 9am". And Siri dutifully sets "me a wake up" alarm at 9am.
Siri could be smarter. Siri could also understand me with accuracy that doesn't force me to hover my finger over the edit query button.
Re:Oh No by CohibaVancouver · 2012-02-27 12:18 · Score: 1

I don't know if it's my voice or accent, but it rarely understands me
Sounds like you and Barry have the same problem.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3bdXctq7DM
Re:Oh No by MobileTatsu-NJG · 2012-02-27 12:24 · Score: 1

Do you mumble and slur like most geek? Try annunciating.
He's probably on AT&T and it's poorly serviced. I have a similar problem, but it's localized. I often tell Siri something as I'm leaving my house. Somehow I manage to always time it so that it's right at that threshold where the phone thinks it's connected to WIFI but I have just gotten out of range. So it sits there and looks dumb until I make the request again, only this time the phone sees that the WIFI is out of range and the cellular signal has taken over.
I f'n hate that Siri is that dependent on an internet connection.

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Re:Oh No by MobileTatsu-NJG · 2012-02-27 12:30 · Score: 1

If Linux is any indication, it takes about four years for OSS to come up with a usable carbon copy.

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Re:Oh No by Wizard+Drongo · 2012-02-27 12:33 · Score: 1

Where exactly do I send the invoice for a new Apple keyboard? My one, as a result of the cherry cola I've just had to wipe from it, no longer appears to recognise the letter that comes after y in the alphabet.

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Re:Oh No by ColdWetDog · 2012-02-27 12:35 · Score: 4, Funny

Don't paper over the issue.

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Re:Oh No by ColdWetDog · 2012-02-27 12:36 · Score: 1, Flamebait

Also, how the hell is this insightful?
It means we should all move to Portugal (or at least get rid of AT&T).

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Re:Oh No by uniquename72 · 2012-02-27 12:40 · Score: 1

For me Siri is unusable because I listen to music and podcasts (at a fairly low volume at that), and Siri can't differentiate background noise, music, talk radio, and me giving commands. I don't get how voice control could be useful in a car unless you keep it silent.
Re:Oh No by mbkennel · 2012-02-27 12:42 · Score: 1

Indeed.
Siri: Thanks Archangel, but I already have all I need in the iCloud.
Re:Oh No by macslut · 2012-02-27 14:05 · Score: 2

I have a convertible and Siri works great for me, even on the freeway with the top down. It works because my iPhone is integrated into the system. No cables, just Bluetooth. When I give it a command, it mutes whatever else I happen to be listening to (whether it's music from the iPhone itself, the radio, SD card, or thumb drive). If you're using your iPhone independent of your car system, 1) you're doing it wrong, and 2) Siri won't work with the music cranked up.
Re:Oh No by Deorus · 2012-02-27 14:06 · Score: 2

As far as the Siri's implementation is concerned, everything else stops when Siri is expecting input. If they are integrating / implementing it in a car, I would expect the rest of the car's equipment to follow the same rule.
Re:Oh No by Huge_UID · 2012-02-27 17:24 · Score: 3, Funny

My college sophomore son grabbed his apartment mate's 4s and said "Wake me up at 3am and remind me to masturbate". He was awoken at 3am by his roommate yelling at him.
Re:Oh No by AmiMoJo · 2012-02-28 00:29 · Score: 1

It is certain types of accent Siri has trouble with, not just any accent. In many ways non-native speakers are often clearer than native speakers who have picked up a lot of odd pronunciations and have a strong regional accent. Scottish seems to be the worst, but there are plenty of others in the UK who find Siri can't understand them. Then again half of England can't understand Rab C. Nesbitt (watch some clips on YouTube to see what I mean).

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Re:Oh No by B1ackDragon · 2012-02-28 02:46 · Score: 1

I've had pretty good luck using Siri with the music cranked up in the car. I haven't done much testing, but I suspect that my habit of speaking at the microphone on the bottom of the phone or holding it up to my face helps, that way it can do its usual noise cancellation thing with the secondary mic. Unfortunately, my results with siri aren't as good as other's overall, due to my poor enunciation (I have a slight lisp) :/

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Great... by epp_b · 2012-02-27 11:21 · Score: 2

So, now, it won't work *and* it'll sound like a female's prison warden.

Experience by omganton · 2012-02-27 11:30 · Score: 5, Insightful

As someone who's been in a traumatic car wreck due to another driver being distracted, I have absolutely no desire to talk on the phone, send texts or update my social networking while I'm driving. There is nothing happening on my phone that's more important than my life, and I'd rather ignore a phone call or postpone my next twitter update rather than see my femur sticking through my lower intestine. You can call me whatever you want, but car accidents are caused by distractions, and people die. These are massive, powerful, destructive machines, and I'm sick and tired of seeing self-righteous, inconsiderate pricks with their head in their phone doing 75 down the highway.

Re:Experience by mark-t · 2012-02-27 11:54 · Score: 1, Interesting

Hands free phones are no more inherently distracting than a passenger in the car. Ever driven somebody who was blind someplace? The conversation flow identical to being on a cell phone.

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Re:Experience by giorgist · 2012-02-27 12:13 · Score: 1

Chill ... Going for a coffee that morning was not more important than your life either.
That is not what people choose on the day of their accident.
Its about convenience Vs risk otherwise ... well there is no alternative.
Re:Experience by omganton · 2012-02-27 12:23 · Score: 3

Although driving by it's self is inherently risky, it can be done safely with the proper precautions. Car accidents can be reduced to mechanical failure.malfunction and unforeseen medical emergency if everyone just paid attention and respected the drivers they share the road with. Driving while talking on your phone, updating your social networking, or sending/reading texts (hands-free or otherwise) is a distraction and by definition cannot be done safely.

There is also a difference between hands-free and having a passenger in the car (even a blind passenger). At any point in a conversation with a passenger, you can tell them to shut the fuck up and let you drive, at which point the passenger can take care of themselves until further notice. They also have some form of sensory input that allows them to interpret the situation at hand and assist you in either shutting up or providing relevant information to the crisis at hand. A hand-free device, Siri powered or otherwise, cannot interpret your current situation. If your trying to navigate through congested traffic and need to concentrate, Siri might still be reading you the list of texts you asked for, not realizing it was 20 texts long. Siri might not understand you when you ask it to stop, and it has no sensory information that it can accurately and efficiently relay to you.
Re:Experience by LordNimon · 2012-02-27 13:34 · Score: 1

Except that another passenger in the car can also look out for dangers on the road and warn you.

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Re:Experience by pseudofrog · 2012-02-27 13:42 · Score: 4, Interesting

I can see why you would think that, but the science doesn't confirm what you're thinking. I know of at least three potential explanations:

1) You don't feel the subconcious pressure to keep talking when someone's in the car with you. It's not considered "awkward" to shut up for 3-10 seconds in the middle of a conversation when you're driving. It feels awkward to do this on the phone.
2) It's far easier to understand someone in the car than someone over a cell network. Phones demand more brainpower.
3) You have a second set of eyes in the vehicle with you. Well, not so much in your example.

My guess is the the first reason I outlined is the biggest issue. Often when I'm driving with passengers I'll pause mid-sentence for some time while doing something that requires my full attention and nobody says anything or thinks twice about it. When on the phone, pausing that long prompts "Hello? Are you there? Did I lose you?" from the person I'm talking to.

I think if you did a test comparing people holding a cell-phone shaped device up to their ear while talking to a passenger to people actually talking on a cell phone, the former group would score higher. But the performance degradation of talking on a phone, in my opinion, is too great to be explained by having one hand occupied.
Re:Experience by mark-t · 2012-02-27 13:42 · Score: 1

Generally only if they are paying enough attention, or like to otherwise back-seat or passenger-seat drive.

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Re:Experience by mark-t · 2012-02-27 15:48 · Score: 1

I don't feel subconscious pressure to keep talking when I'm on the phone while driving.... most people know that if they are talking to me while I'm driving, and if I don't respond right away, then my concentration is sufficiently diverted that I can't respond (usually trying to negotiate with traffic). I'll often say something like "gimme a minute", and once I'm nicely in my target lane and everything's going smoothly again, it's easy enough to resume the conversation.

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Re:Experience by jittles · 2012-02-27 16:03 · Score: 1

My guess is the the first reason I outlined is the biggest issue. Often when I'm driving with passengers I'll pause mid-sentence for some time while doing something that requires my full attention and nobody says anything or thinks twice about it. When on the phone, pausing that long prompts "Hello? Are you there? Did I lose you?" from the person I'm talking to.
This is when a person with common sense says "Hold on a second." I do it all the time when I'm on the phone in my car. I have integrated Bluetooth in my car, and I absolutely love it. I use it maybe once every month or two (I hate the phone), but its great. You can just as easily pause a phone conversation as you can an in-person conversation.
Re:Experience by CodeBuster · 2012-02-27 16:09 · Score: 1

I'm sick and tired of seeing self-righteous, inconsiderate pricks with their head in their phone doing 75 down the highway.
Try driving a Volvo. The steel panels are thicker, the body and passenger compartment are reinforced and the doors all seem to be about 7 inches thick. In a Volvo you outweigh all similar vehicles in your class by a hefty margin. The gas mileage is somewhat lessened as a result, but compared to those tin-can Toyotas I see crushed like accordions on the sides of the road that doesn't seem like such a bad tradeoff. The Volvo has a long running and well deserved reputation for being a "tank" when it comes to safety. Just Google and you will find many real stories of people who swear that their lives were saved in an accident by their Volvos.
Re:Experience by DragonWriter · 2012-02-27 20:00 · Score: 1

I can see why you would think that, but the science doesn't confirm what you're thinking.

The only study I've seen (quite a while go) showed talking on a hands-free phone and carrying on a conversation with a passenger to both be about equal in effect on driving, and both had very serious effects. Particularly, both appeared to contribute to a very significant tunnel-vision effect in which drivers lost much awareness of events anywhere except directly ahead of the car (and had lesser, though still notable, reductions in facility in dealing with hazards originating directly in front of the care, as well.)
Re:Experience by deroby · 2012-02-27 22:18 · Score: 1

From personal experience I tend to disagree with this.
* Whenever I'm behind a car that "sways" or tends to accelerate/decelerate "without good reason" it's always a 50/50 chance that the person is either talking on the phone or talking to a passenger. In fact, to me, those talking to a passenger seem to be 'worse' as they often use gesticulation to convey the message and/or often try to look the other person in the face, both causing small but noticeable steer-movements @ 120 kph. Maybe there indeed is 'another pair of eyes' to catch something unexpectedly, it surely doesn't add to the overall driving skills of said person.
* Whenever I'm on the phone (handsfree) for more than a minute while driving I tend to try getting a 'requires less attention'-position on the road (eg. on the right lane (B) behind a lorry or something as those usually drive along at slow, steady speeds) because I have actually had it happen that I missed an exit simply because I obviously wasn't paying enough attention to the road. Although hardly 'dangerous', it did come as an eye-opener and ever since I've been paying more attention to it and indeed have a much harder time recalling things around me while on the phone versus while being able to pay full attention to the road even though the latter often feels like something that happens automatic without the need to actually think about it. Seems it DOES take brainpower.
* Whenever I'm talking to a passenger while driving I consciously 'refuse' to look away from the road ahead and will actually try to keep the conversation "light" as I'm sure I'm not invulnerable to the effect I've seen it having on other people.
PS: the most annoying effect seems to be the 'I go slow when you're behind me but will speed up whenever you try to overtake me' maneuver.
=> I tend to drive 95% on the highway and will use Cruise Control whenever traffic allows it. As I'm not the most 'sporty' driver around (instead I make it a sport of keeping my fuel-consumption low(ish)) I'm not always able to directly overtake them as there might be other cars approaching on the next lane and I prefer not to push the pedal to the metal simply to jump in between the 'faster guys'. So I'll trail behind a bit and learn that the car goes about 5 kph below my set CC-speed. Next lane frees up, I engage CC again and overtake the car and what happens in 25% of the cases : the other car let's me get up there about half way and then speeds up to match my speed or even sometimes above that !?!? Often-times adding another 5 to 10 kph still doesn't get me in front of them and by then I'm usually at the limit of said road. So, rather than risking a ticket I let them get ahead of me and go back to the right lane resuming my drive on my initial speed. And then the car in front seems to realize it's speeding and goes back to it's old speed so I find my self forced again to decelerate (or hit their trunk, tempting at times =) Rinse and repeat.
I've often wondered if this is purely 'human nature' where people simply don't want to get overtaken by another car or whether it is something related to my car somehow 'improving' their cars aerodynamics causing it to pick up speed ??
BTW: this also happens with drivers that are not (visibly) on the phone, nor talking to passengers but whenever I notice they are talking to a passenger I'm already betting it's going to happen... How I wished more people would use cruise-control to drive on the highway. Then again, I guess it will take a while before it's standard on all cars here in EU. From what I've heard it's more common in the US.

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If there is one thing to be learned on slashdot, it has to be sarcasm.
Re:Experience by drinkypoo · 2012-02-28 02:07 · Score: 1

You are, in fact, wrong. Thicker steel is also softer steel, not by law but practically as nobody uses thick high strength steel, and it deforms more predictably than harder steel made from recycled american cars. The safest strategy involving only steel (since the safest is to use a carbon fiber crash cell) is to use a mix of mild stuff for crumple zones and high strength stuff for anything that is supposed to remain rigid in a crash, especially side-to-side bracing.
Volvo is still in business in this highly competitive market because they compromised quality, so your point about not buying a Volvo is at least well-taken. Saab went out of business in the process of not compromising quality, so I'm not sure what to buy now if you truly want a safe car. I can tell you that I sold a 1993 Impreza (GC5, LS) to someone who was struck at highway speed; it rolled over five times and he walked away.

--
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Re:Experience by thesandtiger · 2012-02-28 16:31 · Score: 1

"Siri, shut the fuck up!" should be an option, and I'm quite serious.
I agree with you about the general points you make about being distracted, though I think there can be technological solutions.
For example, limited radar - if your speed and the speed of cars around you is changing suddenly in a way that's not akin to simple stoplight/stop-go traffic, Siri would shut up - maybe a little beep to say "Hey, you need to focus, I'm shutting up" and then it can come back when things lighten up.
I think it would be possible for a properly configured device to know before I or my passengers can consciously register that the shit has hit the fan and behave accordingly.
Sorry about your wreck - I was in a rather bad one myself and absolutely know where you're coming from on that!

--
Since I can't tell them apart, I treat all ACs as the same person.

Re:Don't leave the city... by PopeRatzo · 2012-02-27 11:31 · Score: 1

But I assume you're just being polite.

Then it won't matter much if you are able to operate your phone or not.

It sounds like they're using Siri for voice activation of radio controls, but it doesn't sound like they're planning to use it to engage turn signals or anything.

Plus, I'm pretty sure that you'll still be able to operate your dashboard via the usual knobs and buttons, just like you can still use you iPhone without Siri.

Personally, using voice commands for operating anything inside a car doesn't really interest me. It's probably a generational thing, but using voice commands to control anything makes me feel like a douche. It's nothing but a higher-tech Clapper.

--
You are welcome on my lawn.

Just what I would want.... not by markdavis · 2012-02-27 11:32 · Score: 5, Insightful

Great- just what I would want in my next car, a non-changeable link to a totally proprietary technology that also will not work unless in a cell/data carrier area.

I was already pissed that my existing car had an ipod-only connection, and like most vehicles, the software is never updated. And of course, it only works with CERTAIN models of the iPod and nothing newer or older.

I have enough lock-in in my life already!

Re:Just what I would want.... not by mark-t · 2012-02-27 12:02 · Score: 1

I was already pissed that my existing car had an ipod-only connection
Apparently, however, it did not piss you off enough to not actually buy the car in the first place. This is like being pissed off that the Hummer you bought won't fit into the motorcycle parking spots that you used to use.

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File under 'M' for 'Manic ranting'
Re:Just what I would want.... not by caitsith01 · 2012-02-27 12:20 · Score: 1

Exactly - another product I can cross off the list of possible future purchases due to a decision to lock buyers in to an association with Apple in order to get full use out of the product.
I'll put it on the list with every clock/radio alarm clock in existence and various other cars.

--
Read Pynchon.
Re:Just what I would want.... not by markdavis · 2012-02-27 13:09 · Score: 1

While that is a good point, there were many factors to consider and it was not enough to prevent the sale. It was a serious negative, however.
No car had everything I wanted, I had to settle for the best available choice. Thankfully, I could find a used ipod that worked, but years from now, if it fails, I might not be so lucky.
Re:Just what I would want.... not by markdavis · 2012-02-27 14:13 · Score: 1

I can see the Apple fans are already modding the post down.
I propose this as a *far* more interesting possibility:
http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/27/realvnc-teams-up-with-sony-to-bring-android-apps-to-the-dashboar/
And one that could work with not only Android, but ANY phone. THAT is the power of non-proprietary. *THIS* should have been the interesting Slashdot story. :)
Re:Just what I would want.... not by mug+funky · 2012-02-27 14:42 · Score: 1

if you're choosing your car on the basis of ipod connectivity alone, i shudder at the thought of sharing a road with you.
i'd rather sing to myself for the lifetime of the car than plug an ipod into it.
Re:Just what I would want.... not by oodaloop · 2012-02-28 02:48 · Score: 1

I have enough lock-in in my life already!
Married too, huh?

--
Tic-Tac-Toe, Global Thermonuclear War, and relationships all have the same winning move.
Re:Just what I would want.... not by thesandtiger · 2012-02-28 16:41 · Score: 1

So don't buy it? Or buy cars that have general purpose connections for these features if you must have them?
If it's enough to piss you off that your car has an ipod-only connection, why did you buy it in the first place?
If you have enough lock-in in your life already then, uh, it's pretty easy to not have that: don't buy things that lock you in. And stop acting like a victim when you do buy something that locks you in - you *do* have choices, you know.

--
Since I can't tell them apart, I treat all ACs as the same person.

"Siri, what was that noise . . . ?" by PolygamousRanchKid+ · 2012-02-27 11:32 · Score: 2, Insightful

"Sir, while you were using your 'solution to listen to music, change channels on the radio, send texts, or make calls,' you crashed your car, Sir. You have now transformed a 200,000€ automobile into scrap, Sir."

"Shall I call an ambulance, Sir?"

--
Schroedinger's Brexit: The UK is both in and out of the EU at the same time!

Really /.? by wbr1 · 2012-02-27 11:33 · Score: 4, Informative

Siri to power...

Siri is an interface, she doesn't power jack shit. That's like saying the steering wheel and accelerator power the car, or KDE powers the computer.

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Silence is a state of mime.

Wait. by drolli · 2012-02-27 11:39 · Score: 2

A car has a lifetime of up to 20 years (mercedes are known to have a long life). A car has enough power to power on-board computer which can do voice recognition. A car often travels far, sometime trough mountains without reception, maybe to foreign countries with different data service provider, who may, or may not have the right roaming agreement.

And still they are putting something in which is based on a could service , which may vanish at any time when it does not pay off any more?

Well done.

Re:Wait. by Deorus · 2012-02-27 12:02 · Score: 2

It's a usability aid. Doesn't hinder you in any way if it's not there, but can help you a lot when it is.
Re:Wait. by forkfail · 2012-02-27 13:17 · Score: 1

On the other hand, the folks buying new Mercedes probably aren't looking at long term investment... we're talking 0.01% for the most part here.

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Check your premises.
Re:Wait. by jittles · 2012-02-27 16:05 · Score: 1

A car has a lifetime of up to 20 years (mercedes are known to have a long life).
My first car was 30 years old when I started driving it. I had to work on it quite a bit, but it was still in pretty decent mechanical shape. Any worthwhile car should last a lot longer than 20 years, if properly maintained. This depends on how you use the car, and how many miles you put on it, of course.

So? by x1r8a3k · 2012-02-27 11:42 · Score: 1

This is already available in Mercs and most high end cars. You can buy one today that can "control the phone, audio and navigation by saying city names and your phonebook contacts normally" Does this add anything beyond apps? Does anyone care about anything beyond making calls, adjusting the nav, and the stereo?

# I'm driving ... by fahrbot-bot · 2012-02-27 11:53 · Score: 3, Insightful

... so drivers will even be able to update their Twitter accounts and post messages to Facebook.

No good can come of this.

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It must have been something you assimilated. . . .

Re:Don't leave the city... by Deorus · 2012-02-27 11:57 · Score: 4, Interesting

I find Siri to be quite useful, actually. Want to type a note in plain sunlight where your face's reflection is more visible than the contents of the screen? No problem, have Siri do it for you! Wanna set up a date / reminder / alarm? No problem, Siri can do that without even taking the phone out of your pocket. Wanna call someone? Just ask Siri, it's a lot more efficient than searching for their contact in the Contacts or Spotlight. Wanna switch playlists while listening to music? Just tell Siri which to switch to! Call it whatever you wish, but your feelings about voice recognition in general and Siri in particular are irrational.

Bandwidth by Calydor · 2012-02-27 12:02 · Score: 5, Insightful

What I want to know is who foots the bandwidth bill.

Siri works by sending each and every command to the cloud and getting replies back, right?

The cell companies keep yapping about how limited the mobile network's bandwidth is, which is why mobile data plans are so costly.

So who will be paying for this, and what happens when Car-Siri (Carrie? Now THERE is a scary thought!) exceeds its monthly allowance and dips into costly overtime?

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Re:Bandwidth by Deorus · 2012-02-27 13:03 · Score: 1

Bandwidth usage is much lower than during a typical phone call, because a voice command only lasts a few seconds and Siri uses exactly the same audio compression algorithms. Once it's on the Internet it is no longer a cell network issue and there's plenty of bandwidth there.

Apple's way behind here... by narcc · 2012-02-27 12:12 · Score: 3, Informative

Apples a bit late to the automobile integration game.

It's no secret that RIMs QNX car application platform *actually* powers over 20 million vehicles on the road. They've already taken integration to a whole new level:

QNX lets BlackBerry PlayBook become in-car controller

The QNX car app platform can power your vehicle’s in-car monitors, including the speedometer and the entertainment unit. [...] you can easily bring things like Pandora or even YouTube to you in-car entertainment unit as well as have realistic maps or song album covers overlaid next to your speedometer.
[...] The BlackBerry PlayBook can then be used to control the climate in the car and you can also get the media from the device over to your car’s entertainment unit with just a few clicks.
QNX also showed off how BlackBerry Traffic can be integrated into the in-car unit via Bluetooth and this provides live, turn-by-turn navigation with an emphasis on how long it will actually take you to get there

RIM's strong relationship with Porche is no secret either (see the Porche designed BlackBery 9981) Concept Porsche Shows Off RIM QNX

QNX shows off its versatility, powers OnStar accessories

Police are also starting to use RIM's in-vehicle technologies: Cop Conference Features BlackBerry PlayBook As Law Enforcement Tool Some details: Serving and Protectingwith a BlackBerry PlayBook

It keeps getting better New QNX Platform to Transform the Automotive Experience

You could say that less than impressed with Siri in the Mercedes after seeing what RIM is doing in the same arena with their technology.

--
Required reading for internet skeptics

Re:Apple's way behind here... by ackthpt · 2012-02-27 12:19 · Score: 4, Insightful

Apple may be late, but the way some people listen, they'll believe Apple invented it.

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A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
Re:Apple's way behind here... by MobileTatsu-NJG · 2012-02-27 13:00 · Score: 2

More accurately, you'll believe that people exist that will actually say that.

--

"I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Apple's way behind here... by Deorus · 2012-02-27 13:05 · Score: 2

Apple was late to the cell phone and music player markets too...
Re:Apple's way behind here... by Daniel+Phillips · 2012-02-27 14:45 · Score: 1

It's no secret that RIMs QNX car application platform *actually* powers over 20 million vehicles on the road.
Wow, I didn't know RIM owned QNX until you pointed it out. It's too bad RIM just squats on it like a dog in a manger. QNX really needs to get free. If QNX got free under a copyleft license there would be gazillions of Linux devs in there working on it instantly. Just speaking for myself of course, but ask around if you doubt.

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Have you got your LWN subscription yet?
Re:Apple's way behind here... by narcc · 2012-02-27 20:12 · Score: 1

They're doing quite a bit with it now, as I mention above. It's also the OS that powers their BlackBerry PlayBook tablet and the OS (branded BB10) that will power their next line of smart phones.
I don't expect the OS to go free any time soon (it offers too much of a competitive advantage right now) but you can check out the Native SDK is out in beta (beta 3) if that interests you at all.

--
Required reading for internet skeptics
Re:Apple's way behind here... by Daniel+Phillips · 2012-02-28 01:18 · Score: 1

I don't expect the OS to go free any time soon (it offers too much of a competitive advantage right now) but you can check out the Native SDK is out in beta (beta 3) if that interests you at all.
Unfortunately, QNX does not mean a thing to me in practice unless it gets free. Then it would rock.
BTW, I seriously doubt there is any particular competitive advantage in keeping it closed, whereas there is an obvious advantage in opening it: more developers.

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Have you got your LWN subscription yet?

hands-free phones are more distracting by Anonymous Coward · 2012-02-27 12:15 · Score: 1

That's a false assumption, not even taking into account that the probability that someone drives with a blind person is way, way less than driving with a cellphone on.

With the person absent and a digitized voice coming out of speakers, the brain works double time to imagine the person you are speaking with as well as pre-process the voice, since the spectrum of the voice you're hearing is different than the one hear in real life. Those people angrily gesticulating at their dash board are having difficulty detaching themselves from the virtual environment they built up for themselves and aren't paying as much attention to driving. Even you, who thinks you're a great multitasker, are smiling at the other person who can't see you while talking on the phone.

Hands free phones are no more inherently distracting than a passenger in the car. Ever driven somebody who was blind someplace? The conversation flow identical to being on a cell phone.

Re:hands-free phones are more distracting by mark-t · 2012-02-27 12:36 · Score: 1

Granted... the number of times I've driven somebody who was legally blind anyplace I can count on my fingers. I don't know how many times I use a cell phone while driving.
But I only ever use voice-activated bluetooth while driving. If something I heard on the phone even started to divert my attention from driving, I would be rapidly finding a place to pull over.... telling the person on the other end I would call them back, if necessary.

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File under 'M' for 'Manic ranting'

Can't top Raj's idea.... by mark-t · 2012-02-27 12:19 · Score: 1

... of what Siri is. BBT, Season 5, episode 14 clips

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File under 'M' for 'Manic ranting'

I'm sorry, I didn't understand that. by reluctantjoiner · 2012-02-27 12:25 · Score: 1

Please try again.

--
Plan My Week for iPhone

Re:Don't leave the city... by PopeRatzo · 2012-02-27 12:28 · Score: 1

I find Siri to be quite useful, actually.

I have no doubt that voice commands could be quite useful. I'm well aware that my discomfort with them is anomalous and makes me the exception.

I also understand that Siri is a significant technology and an important breakthrough. I don't care for the notion that I have to be connected to the cloud to use it though (I'm not even sure if that's completely true. It's just something I heard that might be wrong).

Every year or so, I'll try voice commands to see how I feel about them. As with a few other technologies, I might well find a killer app that makes it something I'll work to adopt.

--
You are welcome on my lawn.

Re:Oh no! by MobileTatsu-NJG · 2012-02-27 12:33 · Score: 1

This could be a dangerous approach of Apple to cars... so they will soon patent stuff like, maybe, the car wheels.

Well, that's what the Slashdot headline would say after news got out that Samsung's lawyer tried to get into the wrong car in the parking lot.

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"I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)

How can Siri nag upper class unethical drivers? by RemiT · 2012-02-27 12:35 · Score: 1

OK Apple, here's your chance to serve all us other plebian drivers on the road!

Howsabout some Siri functionality to nag upper class (and wanna be) Benz drivers who behave as predicted by today's preceding PNAS study item (on unethical behavior in the upper class, including driving).

Shrill harridan warnings for running reds, being more than the second left turn after the red, egregious speeding, passing in the right turn lane on red lights, illegal u-turns, rolling non-stops at 4 way intersections, high-speed drafting/tailgating, etc.

Yeah, I 'spose that the Prius owners should pay extra, but upper class Land Rovers and Bimmers should get it as a stock option too...

Probally happen when St. Steve's widow puts plates on his silver SL...

Fo' sho'!

['DB]

Re:Don't leave the city... by MobileTatsu-NJG · 2012-02-27 12:42 · Score: 4, Interesting

Personally, using voice commands for operating anything inside a car doesn't really interest me. It's probably a generational thing, but using voice commands to control anything makes me feel like a douche. It's nothing but a higher-tech Clapper.

This is a little OT, but I was sold on Siri the moment I said "read me that last text message". It actually tells you the message and you don't need to look at your display. It's as close as I've ever seen to Captain Picard asking the Enterprise's computer a question.

I really can't wait for version 2. Siri right now feels like a poor beta.

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"I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)

More? by Fuzi719 · 2012-02-27 12:45 · Score: 1

As if there weren't already enough egotistical pricks behind the wheel of Mercedes', now there will be Apple Fanboy pricks in them, too. Quick! Get out the Android Spike Strips, STAT!

It works great on bikes, too... by rocket+rancher · 2012-02-27 12:54 · Score: 5, Insightful

Personally, using voice commands for operating anything inside a car doesn't really interest me. It's probably a generational thing, but using voice commands to control anything makes me feel like a douche. It's nothing but a higher-tech Clapper.

Hmmm...not everybody drives cars, dude. I think Siri is fan-fucking-tastic because my daily driver is a Ducati 1098. Suddenly, with Siri, I can actually do more than queue up a new playlist or make/take calls with the Sena SMH10 comm system in my helmet. Much beyond that, I would have had to find a spot to pull over so that I could get to the touchscreen interface on my iPhone. With Siri, I can text my pals, pull up (and edit!) my calendar, get turn by turn directions even easier than on my very-motorcycle-friendly Garmin Zumo 660, and even jump in vent and chat with my guildies if I want to, all without having to stop, or even having to take my eyes off the road, which I still sometimes have to do with the Zumo, despite it's well thought-out interface. If Siri is a glimpse of the future of voice interfaces, I'm liking it.

Re:It works great on bikes, too... by PopeRatzo · 2012-02-27 14:48 · Score: 1

The bike thing makes great sense.
I understand that Siri is really good new technology and a lot of people are making great use of it. The problem is not with Siri, it's with me. I keep trying voice commands every so often, including Siri, but it just doesn't feel right to me. I wish I could use it on my iPad2, because maybe I'd get more comfortable after a while.
I was born a decade or two too soon, I think.
Plus, I'm holding out for a direct neural interface. I honestly don't think I'd have nearly as great an objection to that. Although, I don't think I'd want my thoughts connected to iCloud in any way.

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You are welcome on my lawn.
Re:It works great on bikes, too... by rocket+rancher · 2012-02-28 17:00 · Score: 1

I'm sure the friendly folks at the New Avalon Institute of Science will happily install a DNI for you. Unless your real name is Burke Kale, of course... :)

Can we get .... by PPH · 2012-02-27 12:54 · Score: 1

... Siri with a female, German accent?

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Have gnu, will travel.

Mod parent up by SoftwareArtist · 2012-02-27 12:59 · Score: 1

I was going to say exactly the same thing.

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"I'm too busy to research this and form an educated opinion, but I do have time to tell everyone my uninformed opinion."

I can immagine two conversations by forkfail · 2012-02-27 13:00 · Score: 1

The first a very frustrated one between Siri and the driver. Or rather, between the driver and nothing.

The second between the driver and ATT, wherein ATT informs the drive that his bandwidth has been throttled, and thus, Siri isn't going to be responding.

--
Check your premises.

Re:Oh no! by jrumney · 2012-02-27 13:16 · Score: 2

This could be a dangerous approach of Apple to cars... so they will soon patent stuff like, maybe, the car wheels.

Don't worry, they won't patent all wheels. Just ones with rounded corners.

Re:Don't leave the city... by Nethemas+the+Great · 2012-02-27 13:33 · Score: 1

Wow, who the heck would mod me down for this? Mercedes or Apple fanatic? Really? Mod me down for suggesting there might be problems operating your Siri enabled car controls when you go outside of cellular coverage?

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Two of my imaginary friends reproduced once ... with negative results.

Re:I know the jokes has been done to death but... by DeathElk · 2012-02-27 14:11 · Score: 1

Dave: (knock knock)
Siri: Who's there?
Dave: Dave
Siri: Dave's not here, man

Excellent. by Daniel+Phillips · 2012-02-27 14:17 · Score: 1

Excellent, this reinforces my decision to go with BMW.

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Have you got your LWN subscription yet?

Re:Excellent. by drinkypoo · 2012-02-28 02:09 · Score: 1

The only thing you needed to know is that Mercedes can't build a reliable car for love nor money any more. BMW probably can't either, but if you can have either, the BMW is going to be more the driver's car, so it's probably better on all fronts.

--
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"

Re:Don't leave the city... by witherstaff · 2012-02-27 14:26 · Score: 1

I don't recall Picard ever using the enterprise when he had a PADD handy

we don't need Benz drivers to be any worse... by mug+funky · 2012-02-27 14:28 · Score: 1

i can only say this is a bad idea.

it might be an exclusively Melbourne thing, but if there's a mercedes on the road, they're pretty much guaranteed to be doing something wrong.

one woman i saw in one of those sporty SLK things - cuts in front in the fast lane, sits at 20k/h, wobbles around and i nearly hit her. after honking quite spiritedly, she gestures to a sheaf of paper, as if the fact she was reading her printed-out email while driving was an excuse to be driving 20k in the fast lane.

i suppose it's the 99% that make the rest look bad... and i'm not really wanting to start a flamewar. this is a bad idea in any make of car, but IMHO mercedes is the worst place to start.

Not safe by slasho81 · 2012-02-27 14:30 · Score: 1

Siri is nowhere near the level of usability required for the safe operation of vehicles. Even if Siri doesn't control car functions, the frustration involved operating Siri would be too distracting for drivers.

Re:Don't leave the city... by bronney · 2012-02-27 14:42 · Score: 1

I find reminder most useful for Siri. Normal people won't believe how many trivial stuff we reminded ourselves to do on a daily basis and ended up forgetting until they give Siri a try.

Re:Don't leave the city... by narcc · 2012-02-27 14:56 · Score: 1

You should try some of the alternatives to Siri that could do those sorts of things long before the iP4s.

Siri feels like a poor beta because 1) it's poor and 2) it actually IS still in beta.

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Required reading for internet skeptics

Re:Don't leave the city... by CodeBuster · 2012-02-27 15:56 · Score: 1

I don't recall Picard ever using the enterprise when he had a PADD handy

Well, Picard was always billed as being a bit old fashioned and traditional, even by 24th century standards. The other characters, but not so much data and the other engineers, DID use the voice interface more often. It's interesting that among the TNG bridge crew, Data probably used the voice interface least. He was so blindingly fast on the keypad that he mainly used that or just plugged his positronic brain directly into the computer (ala the "decker" in Shadowrun, for those of you pprpg geeks out there).

Re:obfz by Swampash · 2012-02-27 16:29 · Score: 1

I wish I was anything but a rock. Heck, I'd even like to be a policeman.

and further to your point.. by schlachter · 2012-02-27 17:49 · Score: 2

Mercedes sometimes stay in use for much longer than 10 yrs. I routinely see Mercedes on the road that are 20+ yrs old. What happens then?

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wake me up tomorrow at 8am by schlachter · 2012-02-27 17:52 · Score: 2

When I ask Siri to wake me up tomorrow at 8am....and it's 12:10am or something like that...I don't get an 8am alarm for the morning...but for two days out! It takes tomorrow very literally.

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My God can beat up your God. Just kidding...don't take offense. I know there's no God.

They must have given up on the British market by Chrisq · 2012-02-27 20:37 · Score: 1

They must have given up on the British market. I just hope they don't use it to control le breaks:

British driver: Stop. Stop Stop!!!!
Crash!!!!!
American passenger: You should have just said 'staap'.
British driver: fucking useless Siri.

Re:They must have given up on the British market by maxwell+demon · 2012-02-28 09:39 · Score: 1

I just hope they don't use it to control le breaks:
Or even worse: The brakes!

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The Tao of math: The numbers you can count are not the real numbers.

WRONG by jpapon · 2012-02-27 21:11 · Score: 1

With this move, Mercedes-Benz earns the distinction of being the first carmaker to integrate Apple technology into its vehicles' in-car systems."

My 2009 G37 has an iphone/ipod dock and navigator integrated into the dashboard-screen gps.

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Naked insanity by cheros · 2012-02-27 21:46 · Score: 1

Whoever dreamt that one up must live in a nice, comfy ivory tower..

1 - it's already been proven that car electronics are not exactly well shielded - studies have shown an ability to kill brake functionality from outside the vehicle. I would thus *seriously* frown on the ability of anyone to gain access to my vehicle without security and authorisation. Siri works by sending instructions back - if there is no decent segregation between consumer and onboard electronics you're setting yourself up for VERY big problems (and evidence suggests that said separation is more wish than reality).

2 - Siri works by farming off processing to external resources. That's going to be *so* much fun when you try to do something in a tunnel.. I thus assume it's instead mapped to local processing, which is going to be limited in comparison.

3 - Anyone who can afford a vehicle like that should not be enthusiastic about an "always on" mike in the vehicle. If they are, their protective detail needs to be sacked and replaced by people who take their job a bit more serious.

Thankfully I'm no Merc fan anyway..

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The smarter move by checkup21 · 2012-02-27 23:05 · Score: 1

Would have been to expose a 'car API' to the user and provide an iPhone app using that API. I reckon stability and user experience must be important to Mercedes, so they could keep development in house to meet their quality requirements.

And: Maybe it's just me, but, Mercedes ads make bubbles of quality and conservative values appear in my head. Adding twitter and facebook integration to that, makes that bubbles burst right away.

Nobody, so far, mentioned K.I.T.T.? by BigWhale · 2012-02-27 23:17 · Score: 1

I've been gone too long from this site. Now I'm depressed.

Well, I want an iWatch along with the car, so I can remote control it!

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The Sig, the sig

Tweaked? by mwfischer · 2012-02-28 01:40 · Score: 1

SMASH

Siri, I was in a crash! Call me a tow truck and an ambulance!

Ok. For now on, I will call you a tow truck and an ambulance.

fuuuuuuccck

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Siri To Power Mercedes-Benz Car Systems

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