Why Your New Car's Technology Is Four Years Old

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Why Your New Car's Technology Is Four Years Old

Posted by samzenpus on Monday May 6, 2013 @03:09AM from the playing-catch-up dept.

Lucas123 writes "While you can buy a 1TB hard drive for your computer for less than $100, Ford today offers 10GB. Don't expect much more anytime soon. Apart from the obvious — a car's development process can be four years long — the automotive industry also tends to be behind the tech curve because of a lack of equipment standardization. And, while it's possible for the industry to build modular infotainment systems that could be upgraded over the life of the car, there are no plans to do so. Instead, car companies intend to offer software upgradable vehicles through 4G connectivity and data storage and entertainment streaming through the cloud, which means they have to worry less about onboard hardware reliability and standardization."

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Not to mention... by Scoth · 2013-05-06 03:10 · Score: 4, Insightful

They'd probably rather sell you a new car with fancy new technology than let you upgrade your existing technology.
1. Re:Not to mention... by poetmatt · 2013-05-06 03:25 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  hey it's not all bad. the security exploits come free of charge! You also have no guarantee they'll be patched, ever! enjoy!
2. Re:Not to mention... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-05-06 03:36 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  Sell us a new car rather than a 64GB card to allow for more storage? I'm shocked, I tell you. Shocked!
  With so many cars being leased, then returned in two or three years, most people wouldn't bother replacing or upgrading anything in the car. How they can't develop a car with "hooks" for a new (eg, less than 6 months old) piece of technology is beyond me. These are top shelf engineers and I bet they could work wonders without the corporate red tape.
  TFA mentions at least one challenge. Kit in automobiles have to be built for extreme conditions (temperature range, vibrations, chemicals, dust, etc). I can see consumers grabbing a cheap pc-grade harddrive and putting it into the vehicle then complaining when it gets fried. The car manufacturer would probably be blamed, much as Microsoft gets blamed anytime a program crashes on Windows.
3. Re:Not to mention... by jedidiah · 2013-05-06 03:41 · Score: 2
  
  Nonsense. Sounds like a standard laptop.
  You just sound like you are trying to justify an absurd markup and a development process mired in more red tape then they have to deal with even at NASA.
  The car PC concept is very old news already.
  
  --
  A Pirate and a Puritan look the same on a balance sheet.
4. Re:Not to mention... by drakaan · 2013-05-06 03:56 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  You must have only become familiar with cars after they got rid of non-integrated replaceable in-dash radios.
  
  ...TFA mentions at least one challenge. Kit in automobiles have to be built for extreme conditions (temperature range, vibrations, chemicals, dust, etc)...
  Pure, unadulterated horseshit. There have been companies manufacturing aftermarket electronic components suited for automotive and marine use (and ones that typically exceed car manufacturers' gear) for decades.
  I didn't bitch to Ford when (after 4 years in a lowered isuzu pup sitting on its bump-stops) my cd changer began skipping constantly. I understood that Pioneer did the best they could and Isuzu had nothing to do with me valuing ride height over suspension performance.
  I'd love a return to DIN-sized dash openings (or even standard GM and Chrysler sized ones...anything that makes replacability an option).
  Ahh, the good old days of IASCA and USAC competitions...
  
  --
  "Murphy was an optimist" - O'Toole's commentary on Murphy's Law
5. Re:Not to mention... by cjjjer · 2013-05-06 04:04 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  And this is different than say cell phone providers or cell phone software vendors? Google, RIM and MS would rather you buy a new device with the latest software than have to support some older version of the software I am sure.
6. Re:Not to mention... by iamgnat · 2013-05-06 04:17 · Score: 2
  
  And this is different than say cell phone providers or cell phone software vendors? Google, RIM and MS would rather you buy a new device with the latest software than have to support some older version of the software I am sure.
  Last I checked the vast majority of phones don't have their prices measured in the thousands of dollars for used models and in the tens of thousands for new models even without a contract subsidy.
  I dislike the phone lock-in model as much as most people, but we are talking a slightly different scale here. Hell, most of these integrated head units alone cost more than vast majority of unsubsidized phones.
7. Re:Not to mention... by gmarsh · 2013-05-06 04:23 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  TFA mentions at least one challenge. Kit in automobiles have to be built for extreme conditions (temperature range, vibrations, chemicals, dust, etc).
  Hyperbole. The engine management and other systems vital to operation of the car have to meet such specifications, but infotainment systems can be mounted in the passenger compartment side of the firewall and so don't need to withstand such environmental conditions.
  Take a consumer hard drive, put it in a deep freeze and let it chill to -20C. Now take it out and plug it in your PC.
  Is it gonna work? No? Well I guess the same hard drive won't work in a car that's been parked overnight in the winter.
  And that's just the first test your hardware has to pass before it can be installed in a car. Next up, vibration testing...
8. Re:Not to mention... by Waffle+Iron · 2013-05-06 04:27 · Score: 2
  
  It still can be extreme conditions, based on where you leave the car parked. You're expecting a cheap high capacity big-box-store-grade hard drive to operate correctly after being: Parked in the sun all afternoon in Arizona: that's probably +140F. Or parked overnight in an Alaska winter: that's probably -40F. Or parked for years on the Gulf Coast at near 100% humidity. Then you expect it to keep operating while the car's heating and A/C rapidly change those conditions.
  That's a tall order. These drives already barely work in a climate controlled household environment.
9. Re:Not to mention... by jbolden · 2013-05-06 04:30 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  Laptops are not left out in the cold to experience -20 temperatures for weeks at a time.
  Laptops are not left out in the sun to experience 130 temperatures for weeks at a time.
  Laptops don't experience the degree of shaking a car component does.
  Laptops don't have a 6-10 year life expectancy.
10. Re:Not to mention... by frosty_tsm · 2013-05-06 04:36 · Score: 2
  
  And this is different than say cell phone providers or cell phone software vendors? Google, RIM and MS would rather you buy a new device with the latest software than have to support some older version of the software I am sure.
  Last I checked the vast majority of phones don't have their prices measured in the thousands of dollars for used models and in the tens of thousands for new models even without a contract subsidy.
  I dislike the phone lock-in model as much as most people, but we are talking a slightly different scale here. Hell, most of these integrated head units alone cost more than vast majority of unsubsidized phones.
  Case in point, Audi's MMI is over 3K to upgrade from an already fancy screen to manage car and entertainment.
11. Re:Not to mention... by Lumpy · 2013-05-06 04:36 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  "Kit in automobiles have to be built for extreme conditions "
  Nice theory, in reality that does not happen. most of the electronics in your car is standard old consumer grade crap. GM is king of this. in 2001-2005 the BCM (Body Control Module) computer would wig out on most of their cars... problem was the capacitors would die because the modules were built in china with low grade caps that spewed their guts on their own after 2-3 years. I have seen the inside of the ECM, the engine computer, on most cars and there is nothing that is "extreme condition" about them.
  Your car is built as cheaply as possible to maximize profits, dont ever forget that.
  
  --
  Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
12. Re:Not to mention... by Archangel+Michael · 2013-05-06 04:40 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  No, it is improper planning in the design phase of the car. If Engineers were required to have upgradable components and build a design around modular secondary systems, they could solve these problems quickly. However, modular designs using industry standards is an anathema to dealerships who want and need proprietary components that only they can fix, and charge $150 hour for, while paying their workers $20/hr.
  Tesla is right, why do we need expensive dealerships to sell cars? Why do we even allow protectionist laws on the books? I'm sure they had a great reason to require dealerships 80 years ago. All laws need sunset clauses. And new laws should require compelling evidence that the laws are doing what their purposes were.
  
  --
  Agent K: A *person* is smart. People are dumb, stupid, panicky animals, and you know it.
13. Re:Not to mention... by Medievalist · 2013-05-06 04:44 · Score: 2, Interesting
  
  Laptops are not left out in the cold to experience -20 temperatures for weeks at a time.
  Yes they are. The local warehouses are unheated and they stack laptops in them all winter, for weeks at a time.
  
  Laptops are not left out in the sun to experience 130 temperatures for weeks at a time.
  Yes they are - the four laptops baking in my car right now have been there for a month now. I fully expect them to work when I eventually pull them out - I know people who use generic, non-hardened laptops year-round in completely unconditioned environments. For at least 15 years now I have routinely subjected Dell, Micron and Thinkpad laptops to 120+ fahrenheit by leaving them in locked car over a weekend, never had a problem.
  
  Laptops don't experience the degree of shaking a car component does.
  Yes they do - all the cops around here have plain-jain Dell laptops mounted on arms in their cars, which actually increases the vibration they endure.
  
  Laptops don't have a 6-10 year life expectancy.
  OK, you got me on that one, but I don't really get your point - I keep both my cars and my laptops running longer than ten years, it's just a matter of good maintenance.
14. Re:Not to mention... by iamgnat · 2013-05-06 04:49 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  Case in point, Audi's MMI is over 3K to upgrade from an already fancy screen to manage car and entertainment.
  Indeed, but if you want a real shock go look at what it will cost to replace it if you have to do so out of pocket. And since the systems are so integrated anymore you are almost forced to do so as you've lost a lot more than just your radio/maps (and if they pass the laws that they are talking about to require reverse sensors then you'll have to by law or fail your inspections (in states that have them) since it would then be "safety" equipment).
15. Re:Not to mention... by Medievalist · 2013-05-06 04:52 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  Take a consumer hard drive, put it in a deep freeze and let it chill to -20C. Now take it out and plug it in your PC.
  Is it gonna work?
  Yes.
16. Re:Not to mention... by dead_user · 2013-05-06 04:57 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  My Empeg mk2 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empeg has been living in my current car for over a decade (and my jeep for 3 years before that). It uses standard ide laptop drives (dual 30gb). The same two drives have been mounted in my car since February, 1999. The only special consideration they get is the rubber mounting grommets holding the drives to the frame of the Empeg. The ONLY issues I've had with this setup was with the rotary encoder getting dirty and now the VFD is getting weak. So now I have an mp3 player that is almost old enough to drive itself that has been parked outsidein a mustang in the elements on the Gulf Coast for the entire time. Nothing on the market yet can do what the Empeg does, at least without me having to take my eyes off the road.
  
  I know my story is anecdotal, but I've had my car 3-5 times as long as most people keep theirs and I just haven't seen the hard drive failures you are talking about. To be fair, the empeg guys did a lot of smart things when they built it, such as using caching to memory heavily. This way that the drives could be spun down when not in use. The drives auto-parked when not active, etc.
  
  And remember, we're talking about laptop drives. They're slow on purpose. 5400 rpm drives are preferable in a situation like this. We're not talking about 15k server class multi-TB storage units.
17. Re: Not to mention... by necro81 · 2013-05-06 05:02 · Score: 2
  
  A decent amplifier with powered USB fed DAC and a way to provide various horizontal docks for a variety of handheld devices would be cool. I don't really need much beyond that. A tablet with 64 gb or 128 gb solid state storage makes for a decent mobile AV system
  Soooooo, you're looking for an iPad and about $50 of accessories to patch it into your car? You could wander down to a big box store and get yourself outfitted today for less than the cost of a typical OEM car stereo.
18. Re:Not to mention... by jbolden · 2013-05-06 05:13 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  Yes they are. The local warehouses are unheated and they stack laptops in them all winter, for weeks at a time.
  
  That isn't the worst thing It is using the laptop starting from that cold that matters. Though frankly even exposing the laptop to those changes is very bad.
19. Re:Not to mention... by iamgnat · 2013-05-06 05:14 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  The problem is that most MFGs are moving to systems where there is no traditional headunit to replace. Go look at the Volvos that seem to have started the trend that others are following. There is no custom kit because there is nothing to actually replace. Even for the cars that still have identifiable and removable headunits, other car functions are so integrated that you either can't replace it at all or you drop a lot of functionality in the process (go look at any hybrid for extreme examples). In my latest car (in which I despise the interface and functionality of the headunit) I would lose my park assist function (not a bad thing in my opinion), my trip meters (really important), fuel economy information (it lies, but since I know by how much it's still valuable), key based preferences (e.g. seat memory, etc..), steering wheel controls, and a 1/4 of my dash would go dark (which also means I'd drop a whole other list of functions). Sadly this is the path the MFGs are taking and it's going to continue to get worse.
  So instead the aftermarket market is moving towards tapping into the outputs to clean up the signal and route it off to better amplifiers and (where possible) tap into the inputs (usually bypassing the headunit altogether) to add additional functionality (HD radio, iPod, BT, etc..). Unfortunately those aren't really integrated (from the control aspect) so aren't appealing to those that want it all in one place.
20. Re:Not to mention... by HideyoshiJP · 2013-05-06 05:25 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  Most of the cops around here have Dell Latitude ATG laptop variants which are hardened for harsh environmental use, yet look remarkably like their unhardened versions. I've also seen plenty of Panasonic ToughBooks as well. Just an anecdotal counterpoint.
21. Re:Not to mention... by tibit · 2013-05-06 05:39 · Score: 2
  
  You haven't gotten the memo that the functions you all bundle together run on their own, individually hardened (or not!) CPUs, in their own dedicated assemblies. You don't want the SRS or ABS/traction modules sharing the guts with anything else. They have their own ride-through power, suitably sized, and don't have any unnecessary busses on the processor chip.
  
  --
  A successful API design takes a mixture of software design and pedagogy.
22. Re:Not to mention... by wolrahnaes · 2013-05-06 05:44 · Score: 2
  
  And the hundreds of thousands of Chrysler MyGig systems with ordinary 2.5" laptop hard disks contained within are failing in massive quantities, right? Or any number of other manufacturers offering hard disk based storage in their entertainment system. Or the thousands of custom-built in car PCs rigged up by enthusiasts, until recently often equipped with full desktop disks for capacity reasons.
  FYI, the "freezer trick" is a common way to coax some last remaining life out of a hard drive that won't spin up. They seem to like the cold, since one that doesn't work at room temperature in my experience has about a 20% chance of coming back to life if frozen. More than once I've rescued data with a USB cord running out from my minifridge.
  Or we'll skip the hard drive altogether, SSDs are well under $1/GB for non-performance applications (which media storage in a vehicle certainly fits within). Since when did they care about vibration or the sort of temperatures cars are tested for? Hell, for the role a SD slot would be more than sufficient. Then not only is it practically indestructible media but it's entirely user swappable, allowing easier loading of content and trivial upgrades down the line.
  Anyone who's used MyFord Touch or Cadillac Cue for more than a few minutes knows that the idea of these systems being heavily tested is laughable anyways. Supposedly old Sync was nicer and I haven't had any problems with Kia's Sync-derived UVO system, but I haven't used any of the others to really compare.
  
  --
  I used to get high on life, but I developed a tolerance. Now I need something stronger.
23. Re:Not to mention... by LordByronStyrofoam · 2013-05-06 05:47 · Score: 2
  
  Typical absolute max storage temps are from -65 to 150 C (-85 to 302 F). 130 degrees F is only 55 degrees C, which even commercial chips are fine to operate at (they typically go to 70 C (158 F). I don't think a cop sitting in -20F temperature is giong to try to operate a laptop. Obviously, rotating drives is a different issue - I'd use SSD in my car for vibration sake.
  
  --
  Slashdot's name? When my compiler sees /. it generates a warning about a badly formed comment.
24. Re:Not to mention... by mspohr · 2013-05-06 05:49 · Score: 3, Interesting
  
  Everything is becoming integrated... no modularity.
  My Fiat 500 has a problem with the clock... it runs slow (a few minutes a month). This is a known problem and they are going to fix it.
  However, in order to fix the clock, they have to replace the entire dashboard electronic unit (speedo, tach, all the computers, etc.). The real problem is the odometer. The dash unit has the odometer so they are replacing the odometer with one that has the same number of miles as the old odometer so it has to be specially ordered and programmed and then it has to be replaced at the exact right time.
  Major hassle and expense for a lousy clock timer unit... they really shot themselves in the foot on this one.
  
  --
  I don't read your sig. Why are you reading mine?
25. Re: Not to mention... by rjr162 · 2013-05-06 05:50 · Score: 2
  
  No, you can replace them. The S40 (or is it the 60 I forget) not really because of the gap behind the display but there's still a double din sized unit in the dash.
  And as for the integration, pac, scosche , idatalink and others make integration kits that allow you to install a new radio while retaining the factory functionality. This even applies to fiber optic systems like in the Mercedes and BMW.
  I've dealt with this stuff for over 13 years now professionally (although I have to admit I do like doing remote starts a lot more than audio stuff)
26. Re:Not to mention... by tragedy · 2013-05-06 06:27 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  I don't think there are any fundamental laws of physics that follow your claim here. Please don't go around making up imaginary laws of physics based on bad models. Of course, it may all depend on what you mean by increasing vibration. As you say, it could increase amplitude, but it could also increase the duration of the vibration. There's also no reason to think a particular, although unusual arrangement could increase the frequency as well. In fact, the right mechanical arrangement could increase amplitude, duration and frequency. Your concern about where the energy comes from is a little silly. There's plenty of energy to be exploited from the motion of the car as it is jostled around. Just look at those watches that wind themselves. While the swing arm may not be a custom designed device, the existence of such devices shows that such a thing is not absolutely impossible.
27. Re:Not to mention... by NJRoadfan · 2013-05-06 06:43 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  there are no hard drives in cars.
  Yes there is. Plenty of OEMs built hard drive based navigation systems into their cars over the years.
28. Re:Not to mention... by jklovanc · 2013-05-06 06:53 · Score: 2
  
  How much did that Empeg cost?
  
  Prices started at $1,100 US for the 4GB version and went all the way up to a $2,400 28GB
  
  That seems a lot for most cars. Many would say 10% of a car's value for an MP3 player is a bit much.
29. Re:Not to mention... by AK+Marc · 2013-05-06 07:34 · Score: 2
  
  No, there's not. I worked with a company that sold a networking device for $10,000. It was designed 10+ years ago. the price didn't drop over time. They didn't build it themselves, but had it "commissioned". The equivalent device today would cost under $100 to make. But they've since fired all the builders, and re-doing the firmware to run on new kit would cost more than they are willing to pay. But they have to commission limited runs of the old chips and boards to make new ones that are the same as the old ones, so the price never drops.
  
  Prices drop for commodity hardware, but not the specialized hardware.
  
  --
  Learn to love Alaska
30. Re:Not to mention... by Cyberax · 2013-05-06 07:44 · Score: 3, Interesting
  
  I've actually tried to build a replacement computer for my Chevy Volt with as much integration as possible. So far I can:
  1) Control AC, including "remote start" feature that doesn't suck.
  2) Get information about fuel economy, battery charge, temperature, heading, GPS coordinates.
  3) Use my own hacked voice recognition system though bluetooth.
  4) Send directions to the in-dash navigation system.
  5) Use the forward collision alert sensor for crude (but useful) adaptive cruise control.
  All of that simply by spying on GMLAN CAN bus and a bit of RE. Some parts can't be replaced easily - for example, rear parking assist camera is completely analog and wired directly to the video processor. But most of the car's computer functionality can be pretty easily replicated by a third-party.
31. Re:Not to mention... by overshoot · 2013-05-06 08:01 · Score: 2
  
  Take a consumer SSD and put it in a deep freeze to -50C look it still works!
  See what the data retention is like after it's been parked for a few years in Arizona.
  $EMPLOYER builds chips for the auto trade (and not just under the hood.) As a matter of fact, I design chips for the auto trade. And they are serious as death about data retention across temperature and have the hard data to show why. Those HDR (high data retention) chips cost more, and if there's one thing I've learned in almost 40 years of making semiconductors for the auto industry, they never spend a penny more than they have to. As far as they're concerned, every penny they spend has to be surgically removed from the CEO's nutsack.
  
  --
  Lacking <sarcasm> tags, /. substitutes moderation as "Troll."
32. Re:Not to mention... by Mike+Frett · 2013-05-06 08:03 · Score: 2
  
  Exactly, all that proprietary software will come at a price when you buy one of those Cars used and filled with exploits and the like. Not just Cars, but TVs, Blu-Ray etc. The future is very hackable and costs a lot of money knowing you're basically forced to buy everything brand new or live with exploits.
33. Re:Not to mention... by iamgnat · 2013-05-06 08:07 · Score: 2
  
  Yes playing with CAN is a fun thing and gives you all kinds of access, but what you can do for rolling your own system is drastically different than what is worthwhile for someone like Alpine to do. Yes they have the experience to build a unit that could emulate all those functions, but they can't focus on just one car and expect to make money. Instead they would have to build a HU that supports the Volt, Leaf, Prius, Tesla, etc.. and each has very different methods of communicating very similar information (and that is just the electric/hybrid crowd). You also have some companies (VW) that are starting to encrypt messages on the CAN which makes it that much more difficult.
  I said I wasn't ever going to put another computer into a car (it was fun and cool, but I never had time to do all the stuff I wanted and it caused other issues) and I didn't want to build anymore audio systems, but the system in my new car is royally irritating me. Unfortunately, however, due to the level of integration it's not a "plug it in and tweak as you go" situation like my old car was.
  Are you on MP3car or have a blog somewhere? I'd be interested in checking out what you've done so far if you have it documented.
34. Re:Not to mention... by Puls4r · 2013-05-06 09:46 · Score: 2
  
  I'd love to return to standard dash configurations too. However, that doesn't have a lot to do with why manufacturers put certain components in cars. The fact of the matter is that unless most people WANT that particular feature, it's not even going to get a passing glance by a car manufacturer. In addition, 10 gigs is still enough for 99% of the consuming public to fit their entire mp3 collection on. To other posters: The first thing you need to do before having this conversation is set some reasonable goals. 10gb harddrive? Covers just about everyone. USB port for charging? Sure. Audio in / ipod integration? Why not. Bluetooth? Easy. And all those items cost the manufacturer very little to include. It's a win/win. Swappable and upgradeable components? Why? To satisfy the .05% of computer geeks who want to customize their infotainment system? Not a chance in hell. These companies don't 'cheap out'. Saying that is like asking why every laptop on the market isn't coming with a pre-installed SSD drive for you operating system and a 3 terabyte drive for storage. It's because, for the average consumer, that makes NO sense. Allowing end-user upgradeability is the bane of all companies, because they don't want to deal with all the people invitably blaming them for problems that weren't caused by the OEM. There's a reason that car manufacturers don't warranty your car if you've swapped out your ECM, or your motor, or etc etc.
35. Re:Not to mention... by gl4ss · 2013-05-06 10:05 · Score: 2
  
  Until condensation kicks in, sure. You know, that stuff that builds up all over your windshield when your windows are fogging up? Now imagine that inside your hard drive. Good for it, Im sure.
  it doesn't exactly work it's way inside the hd like that though.. I walked all winter to work(15 mins or so, sometimes took longer routes) with laptop in backpack. both the regular hd and the ssd work just fine still. seriously, nobody in Finland considers this as something strange. OF COURSE It's gonna work, if it would break from that people would buy something else or commuting would be nigh impossible. even the screen is just gonna pop right up and work. this is not some 1980's hd technology we have where it had trouble spinning up if it had been in -20c for couple of days.. or iphones of "operating range over +0c".
  anyhow, if you turn it on right away isn't there going to be less condensation as it heats up? so you would actually want to kick it "ON" right away as you enter a warmer room. not that it matters since 100gb of sd cards costs next to nothing if they would have bought it this year and not 4 years ago, you know, the same fucking memory they have ten gigs of.
  
  --
  world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
36. Re: Not to mention... by HideyoshiJP · 2013-05-06 10:53 · Score: 2
  
  You should also tell him/her Freecell is way cooler.
Reliability needs by Anonymous Coward · 2013-05-06 03:13 · Score: 5, Interesting

Or, it could be that older technology is more reliable, and that's needed for the service of the vehicle. Much like how SCSI drives have never been up to the same spec for capacity as their IDE counterparts because SCSI was using tried & true technology to maintain reliability. Imagine having a rash of failed 1TB HDs in vehicle infotainment systems. Backlash galore.
Flash will fill the gap eventually, if not already happening.
1. Re:Reliability needs by NJRoadfan · 2013-05-06 03:35 · Score: 2
  
  Its an Audi MMI 3G+ system with Google Earth and Audi Connect GSM, new for 2012&13 models. It was sourced from Harman-Becker. It likely shares some hardware design with the older 3G system from 2009.
2. Re:Reliability needs by jellomizer · 2013-05-06 03:43 · Score: 3, Interesting
  
  It is a common misconception from Techy Guys. They look at old technology with the blinding light of nostalgia. Often confusing equipment they bought 20 years ago that cost thousands of dollars and comparing them against their modern counterpart that cost a few hundred bucks.
  
  --
  If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
3. Re:Reliability needs by dpilot · 2013-05-06 03:58 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  There has been enough time for it to have a known reliability - time enough to measure it.
  It may well be that new tech is more reliable - but there hasn't been time to measure that. By the time there is, today's new tech will be tomorrow's old tech.
  Accelerated life testing is all well and good, but sometimes there are new mechanisms that aren't kicked out by the old testing. Nothing beats time in grade like time in grade. Twas ever thus when life and liability is on the line.
  
  --
  The living have better things to do than to continue hating the dead.
4. Re:Reliability needs by beelsebob · 2013-05-06 04:04 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  Often confusing equipment they bought 20 years ago that cost thousands of dollars and comparing them against their modern counterpart that cost a few hundred bucks.
  Interesting, I always assumed that it had an element of confirmation bias to it. "I have a hard disk from 20 years ago that still works" gets conflated with "hard disks from 20 years ago last 20 years", as they ignore all the disks that had failed.
5. Re:Reliability needs by Cenan · 2013-05-06 04:10 · Score: 2
  
  What makes you think older tech is more reliable?
  It's not.
  But older tech generally has more implementations available to choose from, and has been thoroughly tested in real world use by real world ginea pigs (you and me). When faced with a choice of components, you're going to choose the one that's not going to be back in your shop for replacement until after the X year warranty expires.
  If you want to put in these new gizmos, as a auto producer, you'd have to take engineers away from the core business (designing cars) and put them on harddrive crash test duty. Very few of your costumers will be choosing their next car based on wether it has USB 7 or 8 installed, they'll be looking at engine performance, room for 3 more kids, room for a bike in the back, you know, shit car buyers care about.
  
  --
  ... whatever ...
6. Re:Reliability needs by rjr162 · 2013-05-06 04:32 · Score: 2
  
  A lot of companies used a small HD inside to store system info and nav data (even in the after market units) and used the data from the DVD to update the firmware and maps on the hard drive.
  Of course there were also those that ran off of the DVD and RAM memory (one such unit is my way old by this point Pioneer AVIC-N3 that's still chugging away). Others like some of the Eclipse and higher end Pioneer units back in the mid 2000's stored the info on a hard drive for faster access and no need to mess with discs. I think even Alpine had a HD based add-on nav unit around the same point, but don't quote me on that I forget. But seeing that both Eclipse (Fujitsu 10) and Pioneer are large OEM supplies.. as well as Alpine but like I said I can't remember if they did offer one or not after market... if there were an increasing amount of hard drive based setups as OEM in the mid 2000's
7. Re:Reliability needs by jellomizer · 2013-05-06 04:48 · Score: 2
  
  Most of them still failed. They were just easier to fix. I remember having to debug a circuit board then jumping a bad connection and a putting in a new resister to get it back to specification for it to work. Stuff failed all the time. But because it was simple enough and large enough we could fix it ourselves. However stuff is much harder to fix, however they tend to run that much better and the cost of replacement is cheaper over the long run then the old stuff.
  
  --
  If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
Keep the tech out of the car by ModernGeek · 2013-05-06 03:15 · Score: 5, Insightful

There is no reason to have all of this junk in a new car. The only thing one needs is a USB charging port and an aux in for the smartphone to play audio through the cars audio system. Anything else the car does will be done poorly and until more standardization ensues, shouldn't be done. Where there is standardization, there is prosperity (USB, 3.5mm audio, Bluetooth, 12V power plugs)

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Sig: I stole this sig.
1. Re:Keep the tech out of the car by jeffmeden · 2013-05-06 03:25 · Score: 2
  
  There is no reason to have all of this junk in a new car. The only thing one needs is a USB charging port and an aux in for the smartphone to play audio through the cars audio system. Anything else the car does will be done poorly and until more standardization ensues, shouldn't be done. Where there is standardization, there is prosperity (USB, 3.5mm audio, Bluetooth, 12V power plugs)
  Dead on. The first thought I had was "why would I want a 1TB hard drive in my car? By the time the 3 months elapsed for the content to be fetched, it would all be out of date!" A smartphone (or other personal electronic device du jour) is in a much better position to be the downloading/processing/storing device in the car, just give it as many good options as possible for the content to be used, and maybe a few good ways for the device to fit (factory smartphone "nest" in the dash? please?)
  Of course, selling a car with "just" a good bluetooth system and a decent sounding stereo doesn't really turn heads, so we can be sure to see all of this stuff proliferate on all mid-range and high-end cars.
2. Re:Keep the tech out of the car by X0563511 · 2013-05-06 03:38 · Score: 2
  
  I plug a 32gb flash drive into my car. Screw CDs...
  
  --
  For large sets, this will be our guide even unto death, for the LORD will work for each type of data it is applied to...
3. Re:Keep the tech out of the car by Sarten-X · 2013-05-06 03:49 · Score: 2
  
  Wishful thinking, I'm afraid.
  Standardization is important to nerds and manufacturers, but it's not the source of profit for car manufacturers, especially in the luxury market. When somebody's buying a new computer, they look at the number of USB ports and consider what kind of future capabilities the machine will have. When buying a car, they look at the gadgets and think about what features they get now. It doesn't matter if the stereo can't be upgraded with new codecs. What matters is that it plays music from an internal MP3 library now. When the salesman says the car can "play movies", the buyer doesn't think about the need to load those movies using a proprietary Java program that only runs on Windows XP. That hands-free calling looks great as a bullet point, but only one in a hundred buyers will notice that it doesn't work with some particular brand of phone.
  The manufacturers can get away with this because cars are an infrequent purchase. If a customer gets burned by a poorly-working feature, they'll forget about it by the time they're ready to make their next purchase, by which time all of the features' trademarked names will change and the salesmen will say how vastly improved the new system is.
  Standards are future-proofing, but car buyers are firmly planted in the world of today.
  
  --
  You do not have a moral or legal right to do absolutely anything you want.
4. Re:Keep the tech out of the car by Attila+Dimedici · 2013-05-06 04:27 · Score: 2
  
  If a customer gets burned by a poorly-working feature, they'll forget about it by the time they're ready to make their next purchase,
  This is the same mental mistake the U.S. car manufacturers made in the 70s. It will take longer with this stuff because it is less critical to the long term operation of the car, but in a few years, certain manufacturers' cars will have a lower resale value than those of other manufacturers because they made these decisions now. This will lead fewer people being willing to buy their cars new. Sooner or later, one or more manufacturer will realize that they can gain an edge in the market by selling a vehicle with replaceable units in those functions (probably a manufacturer with a poor reputation--such as the Japanese car manufacturers had in the late 60s). This manufacturer will become the new standard. It will take 10-20 years (just as it took the Japanese manufacturers 10-20 years to go from being considered cheap and unreliable to being considered top quality).
  
  --
  The truth is that all men having power ought to be mistrusted. James Madison
the gizmos = huge pr0fit$ by alen · 2013-05-06 03:18 · Score: 2, Insightful

first it was car DVD players with LCD screens
then navigation
now infotainment systems
these are normally $2000 upgrades on top of the most expensive models. these are huge profit upsell for what are essentially fairly cheap and old tech. MP3 players were around 15 years ago. it doesn't take a lot of CPU power to play an MP3 and fast forward the songs
1. Re:the gizmos = huge pr0fit$ by SJHillman · 2013-05-06 03:30 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  That's because a lot of manufacturers bundle together unrelated systems for upgrade packages. Want in-dash navigation? You have to get our Deluxe Travelling Upgrade for only $2499, which includes a moonroof, spoiler and complimentary handjob.
2. Re:the gizmos = huge pr0fit$ by berashith · 2013-05-06 04:07 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  how frequent is the handjob?
3. Re:the gizmos = huge pr0fit$ by drinkypoo · 2013-05-06 05:58 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  how frequent is the handjob?
  They didn't mention this is a handjob you're giving, to the dealer, along with the $2,499.
  
  --
  "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
and MP3s by BonThomme · 2013-05-06 03:18 · Score: 2

The top o' the line factory MP3 player in our 2013 Sienna trips all over itself if it encounters a non-standard bitrate. My 3 year old, low budget aftermarket player one takes whatever I throw at it.
Better than Uncle Sammy by SanDogWeps · 2013-05-06 03:20 · Score: 2

Our tech in the Department of the Navy is 10 years old right out of the gate... Tape backup drives, 80/86 processors, bowling alley displays for Combat Information Center. And these things are showing up on newly commissioned warships! Perspective folks - suddenly Ford and their ilk aren't so bad... :-/
1. Re:Better than Uncle Sammy by SJHillman · 2013-05-06 03:36 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  The Antarctic research bases make your Navy tech look bleeding edge. It's all about how reliable you need something and older tech typically has few or no "unknown bugs" left to stumble upon.
  Ford Explorer - If electronics fail, worst case is you have to call a tow truck. More likely, you just need to switch to AM/FM until you get around to fixing the radio.
  Warship - Worst case, you get blown up. More likely, you'd have to withdraw from combat for a bit and can get a replacement flown in within a few days.
  Antarctic Research base - Very limited supplies and the potential to go six months in darkness until a replacement can be flown in.
2. Re:Better than Uncle Sammy by TubeSteak · 2013-05-06 04:49 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  Not to mention that warships need electronics that are hardened against EM weaponry.
  As it turns out, Moore's law works against that requirement, since smaller circuits are more susceptible to interference.
  The older designs, with the larger process, are all we know how to harden right now.
  
  --
  [Fuck Beta]
  o0t!
A $15 dollar SD car gives me more. by Picass0 · 2013-05-06 03:22 · Score: 3, Insightful

Honestly, if they can't keep up they shouldn't even pretend. I'm sick of cars that have overworked electronics that are just waiting to fail. I don't want my car to be a computer.
I'd like to see a car maker have the courage to go in the opposite direction - simpler engineering that's easier and more affordable to maintain over the life of a vehicle.
Back in the 50's and 60's it was much easier for a kid to pop the hood and learn to tear down and rebuild an engine. Now it requires specialized tools. You don't see as many self taught gearheads.
1. Re:A $15 dollar SD car gives me more. by alen · 2013-05-06 03:34 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  that's because cars broke down a lot and doing the work yourself saved a lot of money
  modern cars will go a hundred thousand miles before a $350 service to replace some worn out parts. and even more before real components start to fail. no reason to learn to fix a car anymore except for the very basics. waste of time.
  as far as GUI, my Honda CR-V has a nice GUI to show me the speed, mileage, and other data. Google and some of the other data fiends are going into the wrong direction with apps that try to bombard you with useless data
2. Re:A $15 dollar SD car gives me more. by H3lldr0p · 2013-05-06 03:35 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  The problem here is that you will loose a lot of the things which make the engines smaller (better managing of head-gasket displacement, so smaller bore and stroke to get the same amount of power), more efficient (direct fuel injection and stroke cycles), less polluting (no need for a leaded fuel to get burn and temperatures necessary for combustion not to mention the catalytic converters), quieter (see the previous reasons), and generally more pleasant to be around as I am not choking on the smog created by the engine when it is started up.
  I, for one, like to have all of those things in my car and any future cars I wish to purchase. Of course those things will require special tools. Working on engines have always required special tools.
  There is a certain amount of missing the forest for the trees in your statement, I feel.
3. Re:A $15 dollar SD car gives me more. by DerekLyons · 2013-05-06 04:47 · Score: 2
  
  Back in the 50's and 60's it was much easier for a kid to pop the hood and learn to tear down and rebuild an engine. Now it requires specialized tools.
  You must not be young enough to remember those days, or you are old enough but don't really have any experience. Or you have a *seriously* thick pair of rose colored reality distortion glasses and false memories of a lost Golden Age.
  
  Back then, you frequently *had* to learn how to maintain and overhaul your car - because the damn things broke down so often, and after 50k miles or so they were frequently shot to hell or pretty close to it. Otherwise, you paid a mechanic (which could get expensive) and put up with not having a car for a day or two. (Or more if he had to get parts in... Overnight delivery was practically non-existent back then, and expensive as hell when it *was* available.) People held *parties* if a car reached 100k miles with the original engine and transmission because that was a significant and rare milestone. This was why the flood of cheap imports in the early/mid 70's nearly toppled the American auto industry - not only were they not gas guzzlers, they were reliable and they *lasted*. (Good thing too, parts for imports that weren't Volkswagen could be hard to come by sometimes.)
  
  Today? Today is a very different story - cars are warrantied for 75 or 100k miles. If you don't abuse them and regularly get your oil changes, it's fairly trivial to reach that milestone. I've owned two in the last twenty years that exceed 100k miles before I sold them. One of them was when I owned a used and rare bookstore, and I routinely bought and loaded enough books to nearly bottom the shocks. (And after I sold it to a friend, he put another 25k miles on it as a short range commuter car - if he actually maintained it, it probably would still be around today.)
  
  Not to mention, serious engine maintenance has always required special tools.
4. Re:A $15 dollar SD car gives me more. by drinkypoo · 2013-05-06 06:13 · Score: 2
  
  The problem here is that you will loose a lot of the things which make the engines smaller (better managing of head-gasket displacement, so smaller bore and stroke to get the same amount of power), more efficient (direct fuel injection and stroke cycles),
  DI diesels aren't necessarily more fuel efficient than IDIs, and IDIs can burn more fuels which seems odd but is true in practice. Variable valve timing is quite beneficial, however, so it seems a shame to throw over all modern features.
  
  less polluting (no need for a leaded fuel to get burn and temperatures necessary for combustion not to mention the catalytic converters), quieter (see the previous reasons),
  They didn't need leaded fuels either, it was just much cheaper than hardened valves and seats.
  
  and generally more pleasant to be around as I am not choking on the smog created by the engine when it is started up.
  Only EVs offer that.
  
  I, for one, like to have all of those things in my car and any future cars I wish to purchase. Of course those things will require special tools. Working on engines have always required special tools.
  Well, no. "Special" tools are those not good for working on anything else. The only tool like that which is necessarily involved in long-lifespan engine maintenance is a head resurfacing machine. Everything else can reasonably be done with some other kind of machine, even turning brake rotors which can reasonably be done on an ordinary lathe, or could if we had even close to enough machine tool operators. I have special tools for working on my Mercedes, like the oh-so-special wrenches needed to adjust the valves. Now there is a modern engine technology I would like to have in my car, self-adjusting valves :)
  Some special parts can be maintained with ordinary tools, some require special and magical tools, if you need special and magical tools then someone is an asshole.
  
  --
  "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
5. Re:A $15 dollar SD car gives me more. by tompaulco · 2013-05-06 09:16 · Score: 2
  
  Working on engines have always required special tools.
  I don't know about that. You can do most tasks with just screwdrivers, some pliers and a good deep socket set. Now, if you're replacing a head gasket or something, you will want a proper torque wrench (note that if you take it the dealer, they are probably NOT going to bother to torque it to spec, just wrench the hell out of it until it won't turn any more). There are a few special tools that I have borrowed from time to time from O'Reilly or Autozone. Spring pullers and the like. But I could have found something to work. There are obnoxious car companies that do have special tools required for certain parts, but I have yet to find one that was even remotely necessary, other than to prevent you from doing the job yourself at a reasonable cost.
  By they way, make sure you have both metric and imperial sockets. I find that most cars these days have a healthy mix of both metric and imperial. Oddly, American cars manufacturers use a lot of metric bolts and nuts so they can appear hip, while import manufacturers tend to have more imperial nuts and bolts because they cater to the U.S. market. (I am in the U.S., YMMV).
  
  --
  If you are not allowed to question your government then the government has answered your question.
6. Re:A $15 dollar SD car gives me more. by longbot · 2013-05-06 10:47 · Score: 2
  
  Is it bad that I know that your Mercedes is one of the W123 era diesels (or older) just from you mentioning those special wrenches (of which I also have a set)?
  
  --
  I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it! --Longbottle
so to better understand this by nimbius · 2013-05-06 03:27 · Score: 5, Informative

car companies intend to offer software upgradable vehicles through 4G connectivity and data storage and entertainment streaming through the cloud
in english: car companies are and will continue to be behind the curve because most technology has to be tested to ensure it does not affect the engine control module, electronic stability computer, or other critical systems necessary to have a car in the 21st century. a 10gb drive may be ok, but a 1tb drive with different geometric characteristics may result in a current induction or RF interference that overrides TPMS and reports tires as too low, or for example triggers impact pre-sensors for the airbags (or worse, enabling a multistage airbag for a passenger under 45 pounds.) Having worked for a major asian automotive manufacturer, i've personally seen RF emitted from a hybrid vehicle transmission that caused unpredictable, unintentional airbag detonation. after 6 months of additional testing it had been resolved before the vehicle entered production, but the fix produced another bug that resulted in TBW signal corruption and a sharp vehicle accelleration, followed by a forced shutdown as the vehicle detected the condition.

TL;DR: your car has more technology than most people readily consider. slow and steady is a good thing.

--
Good people go to bed earlier.
1. Re:so to better understand this by nimbius · 2013-05-06 05:03 · Score: 3, Interesting
  
  not so.
  there is indeed an astounding amount of shielding and grounding that go into an automobile. the alternator for example is quite possibly the loudest RF emitter onboard (direct coil ignition a damn close second.) car stereos are manufactured to explicitly withstand this condition, adn they do it very well despite having unbalanced speakers to drive. hard drives and wifi may fall under the Federal Communications Commission Radio Frequency Interference Statement, but that is not stringent enough to make them an approved part of a car. the ECM encounters a tremendous amount of electromagnetic noise and crosstalk, but is entirely capable of continuous performance under this condition.
  
  other conditions for your consideration: did you know certain electronics in the car are wired with cables that are impregnated with capsaicin? this prevents chewing by mice and rats. some data cables explicitly requre proprietary shielding applied at the factory because none exists to date for the application. other cables must be capable of withstanding hundreds of degrees of temperature changes or must operate in the presence of condensation (which does occur inside the dashboard, this is normal.)
  
  and to answer the question, we mark up the car by selling luxury models. $1100 more in shocks, struts, engine mounts, tail lights, and what we term 'livery' inside the vehicle (shit like a 10 gig drive in the first place) mean we can charge $20,000 or more on top of whats basically just a 'base model'.
  
  --
  Good people go to bed earlier.
Am I the only one? by TheRealMindChild · 2013-05-06 03:28 · Score: 5, Insightful

Am I the only one that doesn't want a car that needs software updates?

--

"When life gives you lemons, don't make lemonade. Make life take the lemons back!" -- Cave Johnson
safety tech by schlachter · 2013-05-06 03:38 · Score: 4, Interesting

the tech I care about is safety related...I can't wait until all this stuff is standard equip
blindspot detection
lane departure
collision detection
adaptive cruise control
electronic brake distribution / ABS
navigation

--
My God can beat up your God. Just kidding...don't take offense. I know there's no God.
1. Re:safety tech by freeze128 · 2013-05-06 04:21 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  If you need technology in the car to tell you that you have just been in a collision, then I don't think you should be driving,
2. Re:safety tech by c.r.o.c.o · 2013-05-06 05:12 · Score: 2
  
  the tech I care about is safety related...I can't wait until all this stuff is standard equip
  blindspot detection
  lane departure
  collision detection
  adaptive cruise control
  electronic brake distribution / ABS
  navigation
  Blindspot detection: I have no idea why In North America they don't teach this, but your side mirrors are PERFECT blind spot detectors. The trick is to have ZERO overlap between the cabin mirror and the side mirrors. If you see the same thing twice, you're doing it wrong. With my current setup, by the time a car beside me disappears from the side mirrors, it's already visible while looking ahead. Turning my head to check blindspots can EMA.
  Lane departure: That only happens if you're distracted or falling asleep at the wheel. In either case you should NOT be driving. I have wandered out of my lane before, and a warning would have been nice, but that simply cannot take the place of being conscious behind the wheel. When you're distracted or tired you will find other ways to kill yourself.
  Collision detection and adaptive cruise control: Ok, these two features I can understand. But they both use radar to gauge the distance to the car in front, and are unable to detect anything beyond that. So they are unlikely to help in highway pile-ups or similar accidents, where the car in front comes to a dead stop far quicker than your brakes can compensate. An alert driver can spot the brake lights coming on in the distance, cars swerving, dust cloud, etc (yes, I had it happen in front of me). And what concerns me is that drivers would just zone out thinking the car will do the braking for them. Still, would be helpful.
  EBD/ABS: As all driver aids, they enable poor drivers to avoid minor mistakes while not giving them the tools to prevent bigger accidents. No amount of EDB and ABS will help you maintain control over your car if you start severely fishtailing or you drive too fast for the road conditions (snow or ice).
  Navigation: So that in a few of years, when the built in maps are outdated, we can all read stories about the guys who drove up into the hills and froze to death. I'll stick to my foldable map and smartphone that are guaranteed to be current (as long as I buy a new map every year or so).
  Speaking of safety, and knowing I'll sound like a luddite, the worst invention as far as I'm concerned is the automatic gear box. People completely lacking the hand eye coordination, with poor motor skills can drive because of it. I don't think that's a good thing. At the very least the driving exams all over the world should require a manual transmission car to pass. Afterwards you can buy whatever vehicle you want, because you proved capable of driving.
  Driving is that it's a privilege, not a right. YOU are in control of a (multi)tonne vehicle that can easily kill you and others around you. Driver aids are great, but they cannot substitute for situational awareness, respect for others and yes, skill. Just watching Canada's Worst Driver is enough to make me cringe that those people hold a valid driver license, yet they somehow passed their local DMV exam.
Standard DIN anyone? by bertomatic · 2013-05-06 03:39 · Score: 4, Insightful

International standard ISO 7736. Cars have had "modular infotainment systems" for as long as I can remember. My old Z car had an am radio, that later upgraded to FM cassette, then added a 6-disc CD changer, then when the changer finally died, yanked it all, installed a flip out 7" LCD w/bluetooth, NAVi, Pandora, etc. Every car I ever owned eventually got some kind of upgrade to the "infotainment system." What I see happening is bluetooth taking the show, and your phone does everything else, the car would only have an amp, speakers, touchscreen, and bluetooth, that is all, it doesn't NEED a hd, no 4G, no disks, no computer, nothing. Want an upgrade? Get a new phone, or may only need an app for that.
Error in summary by GameboyRMH · 2013-05-06 03:40 · Score: 2

And, while it's possible for the industry to build modular infotainment systems that could be upgraded over the life of the car, there are no plans to do so.

O RLY?
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/04/22/nvidia_car_software/

--
"When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
Same reason NASA uses older hardware by GodfatherofSoul · 2013-05-06 03:43 · Score: 2

You don't want to find out about an SSD read/write bug when you're 1 billion miles from earth. Let the technology shake out the bugs, then buy a reliable, cheaper product.

--
I swear to God...I swear to God! That is NOT how you treat your human!
Re:Makes no sense by Joce640k · 2013-05-06 03:51 · Score: 3, Insightful

Laptops don't have thousands of lawyers constantly watching them and salivating over the possibility of a class-action lawsuit.
(they only have hundreds...)
If I was the boss of a car manufacturing company, I'd be cautious about everything. Nerdy customers moaning over the size of the onboard storage would be a distant second.

--
No sig today...
I weep for automotive future by sinij · 2013-05-06 04:05 · Score: 2

>>> Instead, car companies intend to offer software upgradable vehicles through 4G connectivity

This is fundamentally bad idea. Ability to remotely modify anything on a car is a disaster waiting to happen. Cars still last 15-20 years, what decade-old security or cryptography do you still trust in your everyday computing?

I can already see buffer overflow into root, then pushing custom firmware that interprets any accelerator input as maximum throttle and overrides braking by using traction control to redirect it to a single front wheel resulting in a spin-out.
Automotive development time by BenJeremy · 2013-05-06 04:07 · Score: 5, Informative

I spent 3 years (2003~2006) working with a company to deliver MP3 Car Stereos for GM. I believe they still deliver vehicles with them, but keep in mind, very little change had occurred in car stereos before that. Telematics (Auto PCs) had been worked on, too, I was involved with projects at Visteon and Lear, but that was 1999~2002 time frame, and the technology just wasn't there.
There is also a lot more to development of automotive ANYTHING. Electronics have to be a lot more robust (-40degF~140degF, high humidity, vibration, shock, etc...), materials used have to match the car interiors (and be properly made to not fade 'differently' from the rest). Once a product is usable, it goes through a lot of tweaking, as product line engineers determine calibrations to set (like lighting, for example). Failure Modes need to be sorted out to make it as bullet-proof as possible.
Oh, and LOTS AND LOTS of testing. On the bench, in the cars...
We had looked at jumpstarting more advanced tech, like HDDs in the radios to act as radio 'DVRs' and store user's audio tracks. At the time, drives were cost prohibitive and there were still too many legal issues to make it practical.
Mix in the regulatory issues like Driver Distraction, and an immature market, and there are good reasons why design hasn't settled down yet. It's just not as simple as throwing in a general purpose PC with a touchscreen mounted to the dash.
Five years ago, we (drivers) were all buying dedicated GPS units - now we get those features in our smart phones and tablets and desire integration into the car. Dashcams are all the rage in Russia, and probably should be everywhere else. Cars are getting smarter with vision systems (having worked on some of those systems now in use, you cannot imagine just how complicated those are) that do everything from detecting lane changes, signs and oncoming headlights (to dim brights) to braking for unexpected hazards.
The problem with this, and why I bring it up, is that we have no idea what form factors and features we'll demand in 5 years. Automotive, much like mobile, is undergoing tremendous growth where automation is concerned. Unlike mobile, there are still a lot of things computers can do for us as features of our cars that we really haven't fully figured out yet.
Tesla does most of this today by TomGreenhaw · 2013-05-06 04:42 · Score: 2

Tesla regularly loads software updates via 3G to add new features to the car. While the Tesla Model S has ample storage, its 2 USB ports and ability to stream music make this largely unnecessary. Many other "futuristic" things mentioned in TFA like using a smartphone to control the car are already available on the Tesla as well as other makes. On a Tesla you can beep the horn, Lock/Unlock the car, access climate control, see the car's location on a Google map (with speed if its moving) and much more. More oddly, my 2009 Mariner Hybrid has a 40GB hard drive for Music. Why would I need that to be much bigger? It also has so called futuristic things like pairing with my phone, speech recognition and USB slots. Was this article written 4 years ago???

--
Greed is the root of all evil.
sarcasm? by schlachter · 2013-05-06 05:09 · Score: 2, Informative

Ugh. Well...
1. in many cars, prior to the anticipated accident it tightens the seat belts and applies the brakes
2. post accident it cuts off the fuel lines, unlocks the doors, turns on the hazard lights, and calls 911 and reports your GPS coords.

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