Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

The Coming Wave of In-Dash Auto System Obsolescence

Posted by timothy on from the new-din-standard-called-for dept.

jfruh writes "Automakers are striving mightily to bring their in-dash systems into the modern age, providing integration with smartphones and other advanced features. The problem: while smartphones go in and out of vogue every few years, modern cars have lifespans of a decade or more. Add in the fact that many (though not all) manufacturers have no plans to allow software upgrades to their systems, and you might end up driving a car with a fancy in-dash computer system that's completely useless for much of the time you own it."

6 of 445 comments (clear)

  1. Like BMW's startac phone integration? by jaymz666 · · Score: 4, Informative

    Many BMWs from 2000 or so have built in Startac phones... how useless are these now?

  2. Re:This is already the case with in-dash GPS. by ZorinLynx · · Score: 3, Informative

    Since the introduction of security codes, car stereo theft isn't as much of a problem as it used to be.

    Without the security codes, stolen car stereos are paperweights.

  3. Wife went through this ... by gstoddart · · Score: 4, Informative

    My wife's last car had an in-dash GPS. After a few years when the maps started showing their age and missing entire subdivisions, we looked into replacing it.

    Turned out to buy the DVD from GM to update the maps was on the order of $700 or so. Which, was obviously way more than it would cost to buy a Tom Tom or similar.

    I try to avoid such things because they do go obsolete far faster than the thing they're attached to. Though, the BlueTooth integration in my KIA is pretty sweet.

    --
    Lost at C:>. Found at C.
    1. Re:Wife went through this ... by eth1 · · Score: 3, Informative

      My wife's last car had an in-dash GPS. After a few years when the maps started showing their age and missing entire subdivisions, we looked into replacing it.

      Turned out to buy the DVD from GM to update the maps was on the order of $700 or so. Which, was obviously way more than it would cost to buy a Tom Tom or similar.

      I try to avoid such things because they do go obsolete far faster than the thing they're attached to. Though, the BlueTooth integration in my KIA is pretty sweet.

      Not to mention the fact that for the initial cost of most of those "navigation packages," you could buy a brand new standalone GPS every year for about THREE DECADES... :P Maybe only one decade if you're buying top-of-the-line units.

      I've never met a car salesdroid that has a good answer when I point that out.

  4. DIN form factor mounting by Peter+Simpson · · Score: 4, Informative

    Best thing since FM radios in cars. Don't like the factory "whatever"? Pull it out and put in your own.

  5. Rand McNally by boristdog · · Score: 4, Informative

    I upgrade my big $6.95 book of Rand McNally road maps every couple years. It's not that expensive.