this would perhaps try to start the car by routing power to the starter, but if the car is newer than ~10 years old, it would probably have a car alarm and an immobilizer. Since the immobilizer would still be in effect there would still not be any power to the fuel pump and the ignition so the engine wouldn't start anyway, and since the car alarm would also be active it would probably go off. Bummer, eh?
And besides, if you have a stick-shift car (manual gearbox) you'd better make sure it's in NEUTRAL before placing the call (and that the parking brake is engaged).
Oh, and you'd better hang up after the first signal because otherwise the starter would engage every ~5 seconds or so. Not very nice to the engine.
I think commercial aftermarket systems are a little safer. There are car alarms with these functions built in.
but imagine a brain surgeon who does nothing BUT brain surgery - at work and in his spare time... I bet he's one hell of a brain surgeon, but not really useful for anything else than just performing brain surgery.
What about advancement opportunities? Nah, he won't be interested since his one and only interest is brain surgery.
Now is the opportunity for opensource to show what it's good for. Someone whip together a small app to extract all info from the Sidekick, put it up on sourceforge for FREE and you have tons of goodwill for OSS. Of course, the app should be Linux-only, thus forcing all Sidekick users to install Ubuntu...
Oh yeah, I forgot the punchline:...and get your car stolen by any of the small-time crook / crackhead who doesn't have access to the high-tech methods, using the old-fashioned screwdriver-in-the-ignition method.
So the best thing you can do to avoid fights with your insurance company is either to have the transponder removed or disabled and to have it documented, or just not buy cars with that kind of anti-theft protection.
Bush: They have weapons of mass destruction
Iraq: No we don't
Judge Hans Blix: Motion dismissed
Bush: Destroy them!
SCO: They have the source code!
IBM: No we don't
Judge: Motion dismissed
SCO: Nag nag nag!
SCO: Destroy them! Oh wait! GAAAAH! We're broke! HEEEEELP!
Wouldn't surprise me if it eventually turns out that the lawfirm handling SCO's lawsuit are actually undercover Linux-zealots with a cunning plan who managed to convince SCO that they could actually win the case, then proceeded to produce a MASSIVE amount of billable man-hours which they from the start knew would eventually lead to SCO filing for bankruptcy. When the lawsuit is over, all proceeds from the lawfirm will be donated to promote Linux.
Hmm, I'd actually like that!
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Yep, another proof that it only does everything. Even things Sony never imagined =)
but the lawyers are still alive (and feeding on the corpse)
this would perhaps try to start the car by routing power to the starter, but if the car is newer than ~10 years old, it would probably have a car alarm and an immobilizer. Since the immobilizer would still be in effect there would still not be any power to the fuel pump and the ignition so the engine wouldn't start anyway, and since the car alarm would also be active it would probably go off. Bummer, eh? And besides, if you have a stick-shift car (manual gearbox) you'd better make sure it's in NEUTRAL before placing the call (and that the parking brake is engaged). Oh, and you'd better hang up after the first signal because otherwise the starter would engage every ~5 seconds or so. Not very nice to the engine. I think commercial aftermarket systems are a little safer. There are car alarms with these functions built in.
but imagine a brain surgeon who does nothing BUT brain surgery - at work and in his spare time... I bet he's one hell of a brain surgeon, but not really useful for anything else than just performing brain surgery. What about advancement opportunities? Nah, he won't be interested since his one and only interest is brain surgery.
Yeah, the forcing part was a joke, change that to *encourage* and everyone will be happy :)
Now is the opportunity for opensource to show what it's good for. Someone whip together a small app to extract all info from the Sidekick, put it up on sourceforge for FREE and you have tons of goodwill for OSS. Of course, the app should be Linux-only, thus forcing all Sidekick users to install Ubuntu...
just take all the laptops marked DELL...
Oh yeah, I forgot the punchline: ...and get your car stolen by any of the small-time crook / crackhead who doesn't have access to the high-tech methods, using the old-fashioned screwdriver-in-the-ignition method.
So the best thing you can do to avoid fights with your insurance company is either to have the transponder removed or disabled and to have it documented, or just not buy cars with that kind of anti-theft protection.
Bush: They have weapons of mass destruction Iraq: No we don't Judge Hans Blix: Motion dismissed Bush: Destroy them! SCO: They have the source code! IBM: No we don't Judge: Motion dismissed SCO: Nag nag nag! SCO: Destroy them! Oh wait! GAAAAH! We're broke! HEEEEELP!
Well, I studied law for 5 years before drifting along into IT, I guess it paid off... =P
Wouldn't surprise me if it eventually turns out that the lawfirm handling SCO's lawsuit are actually undercover Linux-zealots with a cunning plan who managed to convince SCO that they could actually win the case, then proceeded to produce a MASSIVE amount of billable man-hours which they from the start knew would eventually lead to SCO filing for bankruptcy. When the lawsuit is over, all proceeds from the lawfirm will be donated to promote Linux. Hmm, I'd actually like that!