Slashdot Mirror
Hyundai Now Offers an Android Car, Even For Current Owners
An anonymous reader writes: Looking more like a computer company than a car company, Hyundai ships Android Auto on 2015 Sonatas and unlocks it for owners of the 2015 Sonata with a software update. Says the article: To enable Android Auto, existing 2015 Hyundai Sonata owners outfitted with the Navigation feature can download an update to a USB drive, plug it into the car's USB port, and rewrite the software installed in the factory on the head-unit. When the smartphone is plugged into the head-unit with a USB cable, the user is prompted to download Android Auto along with mobile apps. Android Auto requires Android 5.0 or above.
That sounds like a good description of how I'd like my car's head unit to work -- and for that matter, I'd like access to all of the software.
I have a 12 year old BMW with an integrated navigation system. It works very well indeed. It is simple to use.
What I hate about the newer model BMW's is that the UI has become extremely complicated. It is not any easier to use and I actually find it slower.
I'm not convinced at all that things are improving.
I tried that and got a virus, and now every time I pass through a McDonalds, the car automatically maneuvers through the drive through, generating a "referral" fee for the virus writer. You have to order SOMETHING so you don't look like an idiot. Do you KNOW how many McDonalds there between Greensboro, NC and Charlotte? A lot, I will tell you that. I've gained 20 pounds in the last week.
Tequila: It's not just for breakfast anymore!
...I'd like access to all of the software.
Given the current state of security in "smart" automobiles, who would want to be able for anyone to plug something into the USB port of the car's entertainment system and completely update the software for the car?
.
Isn't that just asking for your car to be hacked?
The driver may get distracted enough when a malware pops up a porn site on the car's screen.
Come to think of it, that was the malware I remember i.e. that for Internet Explorer 5 and 6. I kind of miss porn malware.
We bought a 2015 Dodge Journey Blackout Edition. Now I like the 280+HP but the in dash/navigation is shit. Navigation went out 6 months into owning the car. Went to the dealer three times for "firmware updates" which they say must be downloaded on a car to car basis as they are serial number specific :rolleyes: The downloads/upgrades failed three times and were told had to wait for new update so come back next time. On the third time they got a fuck you when we come back you're installing a new unit.
The unit was installed but now the volume on the unit only goes to 38 previously it went up much higher (although the audio only sounded good up to 36-38max) and the 38 level is now closer to 34-36 on the broken unit.
There's still a bug in the dash unit. If you are using usb as the source, when you stop the car while audio is playing, turn the car off and open the rear hatch the unit resets the play location to the first file on the usb drive. There are a couple of combos of this LOL.
by TheSpoom (715771) Uncaring Linux user here. I have nothing to add to this but please continue. *munches popcorn*
I've often thought of building a "Power Suit" to wear on my motorcycle. Transparent OLED HUD in the helmet connected by bluetooth to my phone, along with touch inputs in the fingers to behave like a mouse with clickers where I could just "draw" on my tank to move a cursor on my HUD. The whole purpose for this was only to further the Enlightenment territories. I dropped the whole thought process, and the game, within a week... though, I can still think of some viable uses for the setup. Ingress was quickly shaping up to be much more of a time-sink than I had the desire to spend.
When it comes to the software that makes a car a car, things shouldn't be so simple that even an idiot could do it.
Yes, I'm all for revoking copyright- and DRM from such software, but it should be a little more regulated than "plug and play."
Here is what I would recommend:
1) Use a standard, very simple, well-understood, non-patent/copyright-encumbered interface like a serial port or, if they aren't encumbered, existing car diagnostic ports.
2) Allow "anyone" to upload software that is "signed" by the manufacturer and for which the manufacturer will take full responsibility for. This is so Joe SixPack or any shade-tree mechanic with the hardware to access the diagnostic port can install factory-authorized software updates such without having to go to the dealer (think "your car has been recalled due to faulty software, here's the patch if you want to install it yourself rather than driving in to the dealership").
3) Any user who chooses to blow a hardware "fuse" can install any software he wants to without permission from the auto-maker, BUT prior to driving the vehicle on the public road he must register his car as an "experimental vehicle" and he assumes complete responsibility for it from that point on. Not only is the warranty void but he inherits the legal liability from the automaker if any mechanical or computer failure causes anyone any injury or death. Why? Because maybe there is a latent bug in the air-bag-sensor computer that, thanks to a different bug in the main computer's factory firmware, is never reached. A few days or weeks after the customer loads his own software into the main computer, the air bag bug rears its ugly head and someone dies because an air bag didn't deploy or deployed when it shouldn't have.
4) A dashboard indicator would show that the fuse had not been blown and it would be illegal to cause the indicator to come on if the fuse had been blown. The absence of this indicator would alert the driver that either he had a faulty indicator light or that he was driving an experimental vehicle.
Knowledge is how to play a game, intelligence is how to win, wisdom is knowing what game to play.
On-star is an advertising company?
"I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)
At least it isn't fucking Windows. "Please do not turn off your car while it updates" "Installing 1 of 11,234......"
Ford GM and Chrysler will never EVER let you do this. They hate open standards. Hell GM is trying to get congress to say you dont own your car.
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
And do you think a cheap little GPS receiver and software add that $1000? Most of that price goes to the touch screen and SoC. Really, most of that price goes to the fact that they are the only ones who can give it to you as a factory fit feature. So it's mostly extortion and not paying for any one piece of it.