Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Ford Tests DIY Firmware Updates

Posted by Soulskill on from the what-could-possibly-go-wrong dept.

wiredmikey writes "This month, Ford is borrowing something from the software industry: updates. With a fleet of new cars using the sophisticated infotainment system they developed with Microsoft called SYNC, Ford has the need to update those vehicles — for both features and security reasons. But how do you update the software in thousands of cars? Traditionally, the automotive industry has resorted to automotive recalls. But now, Ford will be releasing thirty thousand USB sticks to Ford owners with the new SYNC infotainment system, although the update will also be available for online download. In preparing to update your car, Ford encourages users to have a unique USB for each Ford they own, and to have the USB drive empty and not password protected. In the future, updating our gadgets, large and small, will become routine. But for now, it's going to be really cumbersome and a little weird. Play this forward a bit. Image taking Patch Tuesday to a logical extreme, where you walk around your house or office to apply patches to many of the offline gadgets you own."

22 of 164 comments (clear)

  1. Don't worry guys! by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · · Score: 5, Funny

    Just leave at least one wireless interface active and I'll handle all the updates for you!

    Sincerely, B. Hat,
    Honest Gentleman

    1. Re:Don't worry guys! by Ihmhi · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Custom ECUs (basically the main computing unit in a car) already exist. It used to be that you'd have to remove a manual piece of the car to get rid of pesky things like speed limiters - now that stuff is coded in software.The car enthusiasts decided to go all Wozniak on these bitches and just make their own car computers.

      --
      Random Thoughts From A Diseased Mind (Not For Dummies)
  2. Patch Tuesday... by LoudNoiseElitist · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Play this forward a bit. Image taking Patch Tuesday to a logical extreme, where you walk around your house or office to apply patches to many of the offline gadgets you own."

    I'm assuming by the time we need to upgrade firmware or software on our refrigerators, toasters, coffee makers, and toilets that they'll all be sentient and just do it themselves.

    1. Re:Patch Tuesday... by plover · · Score: 3, Funny

      Hey, I have a 10 year old ordinary Ford pickup, and I recently had to reboot it. The transmission wasn't leaving 2nd gear (a.k.a. the "safety" gear), so when I stopped at the next intersection, I shut the engine off, waited five seconds, then turned it back on. It was fine after that.

      I have no idea what went wrong, only that a reboot fixed it. I'm just glad I was able to choose the circumstances, rather than have the truck decide to update itself in the middle of the road because it forgot it wasn't in the garage.

      --
      John
  3. Wait a minute there... by 14erCleaner · · Score: 5, Funny

    Since when does an automobile entertainment system need security updates? Oh, the wonders of Microsoft...

    --
    Have you read my blog lately?
    1. Re:Wait a minute there... by mrquagmire · · Score: 5, Interesting

      It's not a security update. This update is more like a complete rewrite and has very little to do with Microsoft. You see, for their first attempt Ford decided to outsource the project to a company called BSQUARE who put the UI together using Adobe Flash Lite. For some reason, the results were slightly less than stellar.

      Anyway, the preliminary reviews of the new version sound promising so I am at least a little hopeful. I am still quite frustrated, however, that I've had to deal with such awful software for well over a year on a brand new vehicle that cost almost $40k.

      --
      giggity
    2. Re:Wait a minute there... by sparkyradar · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Well, the hardware was made by Sony, so "update" means:

      a) remove functionality
      b) rooting and snitching on your usage
      c) adding requirement for cryptic, lightning-fast keypresses to perform even the most-basic functions, like turning on
      c) new TOS to prevent suing

      I cannot think of a better Marriage Made in Hell than Sony and Microsoft. B*stards forever :-)

    3. Re:Wait a minute there... by geekoid · · Score: 3, Funny

      I would argue that if gave an unreasonable deadly for a hello world program, many of them would have a bug of some sort.

      "You have 1 minute to write a hello world program...45 seconds of which will be in a meeting to be sure every one knows what is taking place.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    4. Re:Wait a minute there... by AmberBlackCat · · Score: 3, Interesting

      It reminds me of years ago when my brother bought a Sharp Zaurus. It was our first experience with a Windows operating system on a handheld organizer, Windows CE. It was also the first time we saw a handheld organizer lock up. It's amazing how Microsoft can get car companies, who are trying to earn a reputation for quality and reliability, to put this software in their products.

    5. Re:Wait a minute there... by LordLimecat · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Maybe the problem is that touch screens are absolutely terrible in situations where you cant devote your whole attention to them. I can adjust basically everything in my '03 car without taking my eyes off of the road because of this fancy feature called "tactile feedback" which comes standard with all the knobs in my var.

      Try doing that with your fancy touch screen. Bonus points if its anywhere near as responsive as the knobs.

  4. *digs out cell* by AuralityKev · · Score: 3, Funny

    "Yeah, boss? I can't come into work today. My Ford Focus just BSOD'd in my driveway."

  5. Re:Wi-Fi? by SirGarlon · · Score: 5, Insightful

    What could possibly go wrong with a capability to wirelessly update your car's firmware?

    --
    [Sir Garlon] is the marvellest knight that is now living, for he destroyeth many good knights, for he goeth invisible.
  6. my car crashed by v1 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    no, really. no, not like that. I was just running this firmware update and now there's a note on the dash telling me there was a problem and I need to restart my car? but when I turn the key it won't start anymore?

    --
    I work for the Department of Redundancy Department.
    1. Re:my car crashed by Em+Adespoton · · Score: 3, Funny

      At least you didn't get the blue windscreen of death....

  7. Re:Wi-Fi? by Sir_Sri · · Score: 3, Insightful

    seems more like the sort of thing that should be done routinely when you get your maintenance done, but then mechanic shops would need to have computer techs on staff, and replacement parts for when things go badly.

  8. But wait: How to drop from 5th to 23rd place... by phonewebcam · · Score: 5, Interesting

    ...in the JD Power IQS Customer Satisfaction Rankings:
    "Ford went from a fifth place ranking in the 2011 J.D. Power Initial Quality Study to a mediocre 23rd place showing this year. Sister-brand Lincoln took a similar nosedive, falling from eighth place all the way down to 17th place this year. ... Not surprisingly, MyFord Touch was the biggest contributor to Ford's fall from grace. "
    And who designed the MyFord touch? Give you one guess.

    1. Re:But wait: How to drop from 5th to 23rd place... by UberOogie · · Score: 5, Interesting
      Holy crap. I made a joke in my head about rebooting a car, but MS has again found a way to make truth stranger than fiction (from the wiki):

      "For new car owners whose MyFord Touch systems crash, both Ford dealerships and Ford-sponsored websites have been recommending that owners disconnect the black (negative) lead to the battery for several minutes, reconnect, then run the car for at least five minutes to reboot the MyFord Touch system. Owners have complained that this is extremely inconvenient, even dangerous in many situations, and should not be required of owners who have paid tens-of-thousands of dollars for their new cars."

      --
      "Enough of this wretched, whining monkey life." -- Marcus Aurelius, _Meditations_, Book 9, 37
    2. Re:But wait: How to drop from 5th to 23rd place... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

      Holy crap. I made a joke in my head about rebooting a car, but MS has again found a way to make truth stranger than fiction (from the wiki):

      "For new car owners whose MyFord Touch systems crash, both Ford dealerships and Ford-sponsored websites have been recommending that owners disconnect the black (negative) lead to the battery for several minutes, reconnect, then run the car for at least five minutes to reboot the MyFord Touch system. Owners have complained that this is extremely inconvenient, even dangerous in many situations, and should not be required of owners who have paid tens-of-thousands of dollars for their new cars."

      As mentioned in many other places, the User Interface software (Which is the crappy part) was written in Flash by a company called BSQUARED, and is pretty much unrelated to the Windows CE underpinning supplied by Microsoft, or the rest of the car designed by Ford...

      But hey, when has the truth ever stopped any Microsoft bashing around here?

    3. Re:But wait: How to drop from 5th to 23rd place... by afidel · · Score: 3, Informative

      It's not Microsoft's fault. The OS is fine (Sync never had anywhere near the problems that Touch has had). The problem is the Flash based UI designed by outsourcing firm BSQUARE that was the major problem for Touch.

      --
      There are 4 boxes to use in the defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, ammo. Use in that order. Starting now.
    4. Re:But wait: How to drop from 5th to 23rd place... by Compaqt · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Why should car owners have to understand anything (I'm not talking about the need to change the oil or keep up the tire pressure).

      Why should they have to understand the "need" for a reboot?

      Rebooting may well be a valid diagnostic technique, but it doesn't make it any more acceptable for the car manufacturer. Their anger was not directed at you as a mechanic. Their anger is directed toward the maker who can't get a car to run in the 21st century without "crashing".

      --
      I'm not a lawyer, but I play one on the Internet. Blog
  9. No way! by miffo.swe · · Score: 4, Insightful

    There is no friggin way i would let Microsoft anywhere near my car. They have a much too bad track record for that. This is something that makes me take two large steps away from any Ford car. I was entertaining getting a Ford but after having read this, no way in hell.

    --
    HTTP/1.1 400
  10. Horrible Summary is Horrible by Thelasko · · Score: 4, Informative

    Whoa guys! Ford has been allowing end user firmware upgrades since the SYNC system was rolled out. The salesman even told me how to do it when we bought my wife's car two years ago. I've even done it myself through the Ford website. Also note, that this upgrade does not change the ECU, only the SYNC system. Also note, that this mass USB stick mailing is for MyFordTouch, not SYNC (MyFordTouch is built on top of the SYNC system, but includes a touchscreen, and are commonly confused).

    In summary:
    User firmware upgrades !new
    User firmware upgrades !experimental
    Mass USB mailings !SYNC
    The only thing experimental is the mass mailing of USB sticks.

    --
    One of our competitors trademarked the term "hypothesis". From now on, we will call them "boneheaded ideas".