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OldGreyTroll t1_jefqtg6 wrote

  1. Remove support for phones.
  2. Force migration to clunky automaker built apps.
  3. Add subscription fee to said clunky automaker build apps.
  4. Profit!
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secondarycontrol t1_jefr7g0 wrote

Well, removing that option is certainly is one way to ensure that I'll not have to shop GM - Thanks, GM! You've made my shopping decisions easier!

FWIW-Really, really dislike integrated infotainment shit. Companies are integrating this stuff so deep it's getting hard to replace with anything but OEM. And OEM, for the most part, is made down to a price.

I've got a 10 year old Subaru - Subaru decided they could provide a better mapping app, with paid updates, than Google Maps. Thanks, Subaru! Thanks for maps that are perpetually out of date! Thanks for that resistive touchscreen, with common settings buried two or three screens deep! Thanks for screen real-estate taken up by paid-for services (Satellite, etc!) that I have no need for. Thanks for the shitty, shitty FM tuner! Thanks for the non-intuitive interface! Thanks for the non-standard double-DIN opening! Thanks for the random drop-outs and resets that your techs couldn't find/duplicate or repair while the vehicle was still under warranty!

The only thing I want/need is the ability to mirror my phone screen and amplifiers/equalizer/speakers. I really don't want to learn anything about how another set of engineers decided the interface should work, when I already know how mine does.

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Musicman1972 t1_jefsl6r wrote

At least they're replacing with Android Automotive so it's not as bad as introducing their own terrible sat nav etc. But I agree... The option of Android or iOS integration was perfect and unfortunately seems to be short lived. I have Android Automotive at the moment and it's ok but doesn't, yet, have as much to offer as Android Auto... I'm not even sure why...

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ShuRugal t1_jefylll wrote

>is a far better route to follow

you're thinking like a consumer.

If you think in terms of "how can we squeeze more money out of consumers" taking away features and then charging for a replacement feature is better.

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ShuRugal t1_jeg2lsf wrote

I agree, it shouldn't.

However, that's the society we have constructed and the business culture we allow to exist. Wanna change it? Advocate for stronger unions and consumer protection laws. Or, as the right would tell you that means: vote for socialists.

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mmarollo t1_jeg4ury wrote

Cool! Now I don’t even have to consider GM products when I trade my car year. Makes shopping a bit easier.

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ShuRugal t1_jegcl9f wrote

>the only way they’ll learn is by not buying the product and causing them to lose money.

This isn't about "teaching" companies to behave better. You can't. They've worked out how to exploit consumers to their own benefit. You might as well suggest that we can change the behavior of casinos by just waiting for all the gambling addicts to stop gambling.

The only way to stop the behavior is to force it to stop.

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kleptokiller82 t1_jegdwyf wrote

Unfortunately you can’t force a company to use another companies technology (in this case android auto and CarPlay), only if that’s a genuine deal breaker for the majority will they adjust their strategy. If we’re talking about safety, better pay and conditions etc.. then you’re suggestions would absolutely help. The EU can do some things (such as the usb mandate for charging or all new cars required to have a SOS function to call police in the event of a crash) but these are open standards and not tied to a specific company.

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ShuRugal t1_jegkytt wrote

>Unfortunately you can’t force a company to use another companies technology

Ignoring that we can do exactly that...

Something we can do without doing that is to require that if the car is sold with a physical capability, that capability must be enabled without additional fees being required.

Another option is to require that if the car is sold with a software integration feature, it must include integration with an open standard.

The third option, "force them to support someone else's software" is to mandate that if the car has any connectivity features, it must support connectivity with all devices having over a certain percentage of market share or raw number user base.

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TheQuarantinian t1_jeh0tko wrote

IBM found out the hard way that exclusive tie-in was against the law. Once upon a time they tried to force only IBM brand punch cards to be used with their machines, but International Business Machines Corp. v. United States, 298 U.S. 131 (1936) put a stop to that.

So imagine that GM says "you can buy this car with remote start, but you can only use said feature if you also purchase a subscription to GMremote. And using DMCA protections we will block you from using an aftermarket remote starter.

That probably wouldn't fly.

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JamimaPanAm t1_jeh16rg wrote

Wasn’t going to buy GM anyway. Just more fuel for my conviction

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