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Porsche Chooses Apple Over Google Because Google Wants Too Much Data

countach44 writes: As reported in number 5 of this list from Motor Trend, Porsche went with Apple over Google for the infotainment system in its new 911. Apparently, Android Auto wants vehicle data (throttle position, speed, coolant temp, etc.) whereas Apple Play only needs to know if the car is in motion. Naturally, people are curious what Google, as a company building its own car, wants that data for.

51 of 423 comments (clear)

  1. Not surprising by gurps_npc · · Score: 3, Informative
    On my new phone I wanted to get Google maps - until Google insisted on getting Microphone rights so that it could use voice commands.

    Delete App.

    You want to offer voice command only if you give microphone access? Fine. But to demand it is not acceptable.

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    1. Re:Not surprising by itamihn · · Score: 4, Interesting

      That is fixed in Android 6. You will now be able to accept or reject individual permissions.

    2. Re:Not surprising by amRadioHed · · Score: 3, Insightful

      As of Monday they can. But on any Android version older than Marshmallow it is not possible.

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    3. Re:Not surprising by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 3, Funny

      That's what Android Marshmallow will partially fix with changes in permission handling. It supposedly won't ask you for microphone until you click the voice command button.

      And, if you say "no", hopefully it won't turn around and delete the app.

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    4. Re:Not surprising by macs4all · · Score: 3

      LOL. Apple does the same thing.

      What "same thing"?

  2. It's not what Google wants.... by rotaryexpress · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Information about the car is what CONSUMERS want. Google is asking for it because we are asking for it.

    1. Re:It's not what Google wants.... by Ksevio · · Score: 2

      Exactly - people want to see all this data and have Google log/display it. It's already plugged into the car so it might as well be aware of its surroundings.

    2. Re:It's not what Google wants.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Information about the car is what CONSUMERS want. Google is asking for it because we are asking for it.

      Umm, no. Google is asking for it because Google's CUSTOMERS want it.

      Hint: You are NOT a Google customer. You are Google's PRODUCT.

      Google's CUSTOMERS are INTERNET ADVERTISERS looking to strip mine your life for data.

      Google's business model is to turn your privacy upside down, shake the shit out of it, and collect everything and anything that falls out.

      Then they go through your privacy's pockets looking for loose change because it's completely dead.

    3. Re:It's not what Google wants.... by tlhIngan · · Score: 2

      Information about the car is what CONSUMERS want. Google is asking for it because we are asking for it.

      Well, it's already available... I mean, coolant temp is that little gauge, fuel is the other gauge. I don't particularly care about throttle position since it's less useful (if I want to go faster, my foot presses harder on the gas pedal, and I watch the speedometer needle climb).

      Etc.

      The Apple model is "Don't collect anything unless there's a reason we need it". Google's is "Collect all the data, and when we can find neat analytics to do, we can do it on the stuff we collected".

      But you kinda-sorta already know Apple's been angling at the "you're not the product" aspect for privacy the past couple of years or so as a way to compete with Google.

    4. Re:It's not what Google wants.... by hackertourist · · Score: 2

      I might want information about my car to be displayed on my phone. I do NOT want it sent to Google.

    5. Re:It's not what Google wants.... by macs4all · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Yeah. This is useful for lots of automated diagnostics functions.

      Also, SOME of that data (not all of it) is highly beneficial for augmenting navigation systems (most notably, vehicle speedometer and steering position). Google even explicitly mentioned how this data would be used by Android Auto in a presentation somewhere (I don't have the link to it now...) It's hinted at a bit past one minute in to https://www.youtube.com/watch?... but I'm fairly certain I saw a presentation somewhere explicitly stating that vehicle GPS, steering position, and wheel speed would be used for location sensor fusion.

      Yeah, everyone wants minute by minute logging of their Coolant Temperature and Throttle Position.

      If that was Apple, Slashdot's Apple-Haters would be setting the Internets on fire with the hate-posts.

    6. Re:It's not what Google wants.... by thegarbz · · Score: 2

      I'll be cynical, and guess that Google wants the data so they can sell it to insurance companies

      I highly doubt it. That would involve directly linking data to a customer. It would also involve giving the data to another party. Neither of these things is something Google has been shown as willing to do.

    7. Re:It's not what Google wants.... by thegarbz · · Score: 2

      I don't particularly care about throttle position since it's less useful

      Think outside the box. You may not want information about the throttle position, but maybe you want some information about the car economy? Maybe you want to know if your mileage is going to hell because something is wrong or because your driving style has changed. Things like throttle position can help give you that data. People rarely if ever are interested in the raw data from sensors but are often very keen to know some information derived from the analytics of these sensors.

      Since we're talking about cars let's add a computer analogy:
      I couldn't care how long my laptop CPU spends in each power state, but I want the OS to know and track this data so it can give me an estimated battery life remaining.

    8. Re:It's not what Google wants.... by macs4all · · Score: 2

      But you kinda-sorta already know Apple's been angling at the "you're not the product" aspect for privacy the past couple of years or so as a way to compete with Google.

      You're mistaken.

      Although Apple has come to realize that they can "Market" their Privacy Policy, it was already in place long before people started getting sensitive to being data-raped continuously.

      Apple sells hardware (primarily). They have no need nor interest in monetizing your data. And they freely admit that "iAd" is the (really, really miniscule) exception to that rule.

    9. Re:It's not what Google wants.... by Altus · · Score: 3, Insightful

      That's what the lovely built in computer that porche provides is for. The dashboard can show you many of these things. Porche will provide more info than almost any of its customers would care for. The rest will prefer using their custom tools to read more detailed raw data. Android is there to do gps and handle in car entertainment and communication. Nothing else

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    10. Re:It's not what Google wants.... by Nethemas+the+Great · · Score: 2

      You're missing it. Apple's product requires third-party implementations to make up the difference. Google's product has it built in. As far as I can tell, my Q50's electronics for instance are a cobbled together mess of a few different OEMs, with an Infiniti badged facade wrapped around them. Android Auto, eliminates the bug prone piecemeal approach in favor of a common and inclusive platform. This makes it easier to maintain and secure, provides user's a broader eco-system of on board apps, and allows the car manufacturers to focus on what they know and do best.

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  3. Dashboards by hsa · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Google Dashboard:

    Throttle position
    Speed
    Coolant temp
    Fuel Consumption
    etc.

    Apple Dashboard:

    The car is moving.

    1. Re:Dashboards by American+AC+in+Paris · · Score: 2

      This issue pertains to which types of data are being centrally tracked by the service itself, not dashboard data.

      --

      Obliteracy: Words with explosions

    2. Re:Dashboards by Anubis+IV · · Score: 4, Informative

      Both the article and summary explicitly state that this is about what data is sent back to the companies, not what data is available to the apps for use in-car. From the article (emphasis mine):

      [...] Android Auto tracks variables including vehicle speed, throttle position, fluid temperatures, and engine revs, information that is collated and then sent back to Google. Apple's CarPlay, on the other hand, only checks with the car's powertrain control module to ensure that the vehicle is moving.

      That said, the article has been updated with a link to a report on Google's denial of the allegations. Google denies that they collect that information, but they do say that users can opt-in to sharing data. That alone may be what Porsche had an issue with (assuming the original report is to be believed), since they may be concerned that their users will opt-in to sending back information that Porsche would rather keep in-house, instead of allowing a separate company making cars--Google--to get their hands on it.

    3. Re:Dashboards by Last+Warrior · · Score: 2

      The only reason Porsche is rejecting this is because they would prefer to be able to charge a premium for this type of functionality.

      Great, who is making the car again? Are you telling Porsche that they cant make money on additional functionality like this? Even if they said yes to google, they could still turn the functionality off and on based on some premium pricing. That wouldn't change. It seems a lot more likely that they didn't like Google's terms in relation to the way the data is used, handled, processed, and transmitted. Porsche could even write the app themselves if they wanted to. My guess is that they don't want some company telling them what information they need to give up about their customers. Customers that pay a premium price already for the name and functionality of the vehicles they produce.

  4. Google claims NOT to collect throttle + temp data by jenningsthecat · · Score: 4, Informative
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  5. Re:My biggest fear by GungaDan · · Score: 2

    I, for one, welcome our new Goople overlords.

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  6. Re:Any sufficiently powerful corporation by willworkforbeer · · Score: 3, Insightful

    ...thinks it's indistinguishable from Government.

    FTFY.

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  7. Re:Why do they need ANY info? by hrimhari · · Score: 5, Insightful

    To block you from doing distracting tasks while driving such as editing a playlist or browsing your contact list.

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  8. Re:Google Response by ashpool7 · · Score: 2

    Or, the actual article. That seems like a stub.

    http://www.theverge.com/2015/1...

  9. Re:Why do they need ANY info? by Alascom · · Score: 5, Insightful

    A couple of years ago, your probably asked why a phone needed sensors - like gyros, compass, temperature, motion, fingerprints, cameras, etc.

    If you want to do really innovative and cool stuff, you need a way for the computer to be aware of the world around it. If you are a "car" system and you want to make really useful and cool apps for cars, then things like speed, g-forces, braking, turn signals, GPS, temperature and other sensors all become really essential.

  10. Not acurate by vovin · · Score: 4, Informative

    My information *may* be outdated as I did the work over a year ago.

    Google and Apple both *want* a similar (small) set of data, neither actually *require* much of the data to operate. Car companies are really weird about providing the access (although the Head Unit either as a vendor, the common case, or the company itself, need the data anyway).
    IIRC Google's version wants to know if you are in reverse, and compass heading. Apple will infer.
    The biggest difference as an integrator for the systems is that Apple call audio used the same USB channel as entertainment / navigation audio.
    Google's call audio requires the Bluetooth HFP 1.5 which most head units already support.

    Each solution had it's own challenges, Apple with it's USB wackiness that severely the hardware options[1] and Google with the Bluetooth adding to the audio mux logic.

    Personally I find it *MUCH* more likely that Porsche vendor has CarPlay(tm) working and has a USB hardware issue with using the same port for both systems and/or dropped the Bluetooth from the CarPlay(tm) head unit to save cost.

    Basically most vendors had over a year longer to get CarPlay(tm) working before they had access to AndroidAuto but getting AndroidAuto working once you have done the work to get CarPlay(tm) to work was pretty trivial. As always getting things into production quality takes time and effort and for many of these head units it may only require a software update to get either/both systems working. In my initial prototype I supported the use case of AA for navigation and ACP for playing music handling phone calls [in part because my initial HFP work kinda stank, damn you Broadcom :-)].

    [1] Original described as variation of USB-OTG but it really isn't ... any chip with hardware/firmware OTG is unlikely to work.

  11. Re:Why do they need ANY info? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    To block passengers in your car from doing useful tasks while you are driving such as editing a playlist, browsing your contact list, or searching for food/gas/bathrooms on your route.

    FTFY. This nanny corp crap really needs to go away.

  12. Re:OBDII by macs4all · · Score: 2

    Isn't all that information readily available via OBDII anyway?

    Not to Google, it isn't.

  13. Re:Why do they need ANY info? by Last+Warrior · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The point is that Porsche should be telling google what they want their entertainment system to do and how much information they want to send to it. Google should not be asking for this information and they should definitely not be the one dictating what information is required for an embedded audio entertanment system. the next thing you know Google will be sending all the data back to their datacenters, monitoring not only where you are but how fat you are diving, what rpms you are changing gears so they can let your insurance know if you have a lead foot, and your auto mechanic if you like to bounce off the rev limiter a little too often.

    losing out on my privacy and autonomy in the name of someone elses stupid feature is the wrong way to go. Google making demands on a car company when the car company is the one who should be making decisions about the features and functionality of the car is the wrong way to go.

    Google should STFU and be happy that someone wants to pay to license their technology and then they should work to provide the features that the licensee wants.

  14. Re:Why do they need ANY info? by LWATCDR · · Score: 4, Interesting

    1. Google says it is not true.
    2. Adding things like current speed and wheel angle can really help with dead reckoning when GPS is having a problem getting a lock like going through a tunnel.
    3. Knowing how much fuel you have left and your current mpg can help it find the cheapest gas along your route.

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  15. Re:Why do they need ANY info? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    FTFY. This nanny corp crap really needs to go away.

    Car companies do this because they fear that if they don't, government will hit them with all sorts of new regulations. Judging by past government behavior, that's a reasonable fear.

  16. Re:Why do they need ANY info? by geeper · · Score: 3, Insightful

    My truck has a variable volume based on speed so that the volume lowers as the truck slows. It's a handy feature. That is the only reason I can think of.

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  17. Re:Why do they need ANY info? by tripleevenfall · · Score: 3, Informative

    It's not just Apple doing this. Many car navigation systems prohibit certain functions (such as typing an address or a text message with the fingers) while the car is in motion.

    This is not a change from the industry standard for Apple. It is for Google.

  18. Re:Why do they need ANY info? by ArmoredDragon · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I don't know if you've kept up with the latest and greatest when it comes to maintaining a car, but car manufacturers are VERY CONTROLLING when it comes to being able to read sensor data. The reason they do this is because they can keep third party mechanics out unless they pay $$$$$ to become a licensed technician or otherwise obtain the diagnostic information needed to effectively work on today's cars. Car repair is big bucks for the manufacturer if they keep that information proprietary.

    If Porsche handed that stuff over to Google, it would make it a HELL of a lot easier for end users to be able to troubleshoot their car and fix it on their own, and THAT could seriously hurt Porsch's aftermarket revenue, hence I could see why they wouldn't want it. I'm guessing that Google might want this information mainly to allow app developers to be able to better use their imagination, but still, I doubt Porsche would give it up anyways.

  19. Re:Why do they need ANY info? by SeaFox · · Score: 2

    Ok, why do they even need to know if the car is in MOTION at all just to play music??

    This isn't about music.
    It's fairly standard for Infotainment systems to need a sensor input as to whether the car is in motion (or in gear), as many can play back video and they don't want you watching movies when you're driving. Some also tie into gear selection so they know when to activate an installed backup camera and display its video feed.

  20. Re:Why do they need ANY info? by Noah+Haders · · Score: 2

    Imagine if Google tracked your car telematics and automatically showed you ads for auto mechanics when your car breaks down, or driving school if your drive recklessly? They want unlimited power to shows you with relevant ads.

  21. Re:Why do they need ANY info? by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 3, Insightful

    To block passengers in your car from doing useful tasks

    Most modern cars have weight sensors in the front seats, so the computer will know if there is someone in the passenger seat. If the car is in motion, and there is no passenger, then it is reasonable to change the UI behavior.

    This nanny corp crap really needs to go away.

    You may feel different when some distracted driver runs over your kid. This isn't just about protecting people from themselves. Distracted drivers are a danger to other people as well.

  22. Re:Why do they need ANY info? by danceswithtrees · · Score: 5, Funny

    Mixed feelings: Porsche (do want) with nanny controls( don't want). Sort of like watching your Ferrari going over a cliff driven by your mother-in-law.

  23. Re:Why do they need ANY info? by kelemvor4 · · Score: 2

    You may feel different when some distracted driver runs over your kid. This isn't just about protecting people from themselves. Distracted drivers are a danger to other people as well.

    Which is why manually operated cars should be outlawed.

  24. Re:Why do they need ANY info? by adolf · · Score: 3, Insightful

    All of the things listed in TFS are already available on the OBD-II port.

  25. Re:Why do they need ANY info? by Barnoid · · Score: 2

    1. Google says it is not true.
    2. Adding things like current speed and wheel angle can really help with dead reckoning when GPS is having a problem getting a lock like going through a tunnel.
    3. Knowing how much fuel you have left and your current mpg can help it find the cheapest gas along your route.

    True, but to implement 2 or 3 only the navigation app needs that data. You don't need to send it all the way to Google (and TFA says so).

  26. Re: Why do they need ANY info? by Redbehrend · · Score: 2

    I'm a Google auto app pre-dev and they ask for information required by law to be available, on top of this they only wanted read access. This ontop of mining allows you to create really cool apps and diagnostics systems for auto makers. Apple just wants to be an ipad where google wants to become part of the car with custom app experience. Remember it's not running critical components just extra user experience stuff.

  27. Re:Why do they need ANY info? by Noah+Haders · · Score: 2

    You don't find it creepy? If they track you in your car then drop ads in your browser at work or insert it into your gmail?

  28. Re:Why do they need ANY info? by Jack+Griffin · · Score: 2

    Or block the passenger from doing it, just like my car does with the GPS. It's my fucking car, unless it's against the law, it shouldn't be controlling my behaviour (Even then it still shouldn't).
    Same goes for stupid seat-belt warnings, or door open warnings which prevent me from playing the stereo while cleaning out my car. Oh no, the door is open and the key is in the ignition, I'll sound an unending obnoxious warning sound to prevent you from doing something every car owner has done for decades.
    My next car will be a vintage car. I've had enough of technology that makes my life harder...

  29. Re:Why do they need ANY info? by Wovel · · Score: 4, Informative

    Google absolutely did want all the data set back to their data center. Porsche clearly states this.

  30. Re:Why do they need ANY info? by fractoid · · Score: 2

    And it's perfectly reasonable for the in-car electronics to have and display all of these things. The problem is this conflation of "the local device needs this information to do its job" with "the company supplying the local device needs to upload all of this information to its servers and log it against your profile."

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  31. Re:Why do they need ANY info? by Plumpaquatsch · · Score: 2

    To block passengers in your car from doing useful tasks while you are driving such as editing a playlist, browsing your contact list, or searching for food/gas/bathrooms on your route.

    FTFY. This nanny corp crap really needs to go away.

    Nice try. The user interface is placed for operation by the driver. Whatever the passengers do with it will at least be in the peripheral vision of the driver, if not actually in the way of his right hand and arm - which I would count as a distraction again. Not to mention that to reach the UI, the passenger will likely need to move from his seat, probably including unbuckling, putting him in danger in case of accident. Which is actually more likely because he is fucking distracting the driver.

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  32. Re:Why do they need ANY info? by AmiMoJo · · Score: 2

    What they are really worried about is people being able to install apps that diagnose problems with their car automatically. No need to buy and fit a cheap OBD-II dongle, just head over to the app store and download an app. They are probably also worried about things like emission data becoming common knowledge. The car has sensors, it knows how bad its exhaust is, but most people never see the data from them.

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  33. Re:Why do they need ANY info? by Plumpaquatsch · · Score: 2

    So you are okay with Google checking if your car service light comes on and then to send you straight to the garage paying them to give them precedence over all others.

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  34. Re: Why do they need ANY info? by Plumpaquatsch · · Score: 2

    No, and that's not how it would work, either. At worst, they'd have a couple sponsored results, which would be labeled as such, jus like current Google Maps searches

    Yeah right. Get with the times, fanboy. Google has been selling search results without indicating it in their "special" searches like "Hotel Finder" and "Flight Search" for years.

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