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They really need to have a "rental car mode" in the infotainment center that provides a good UX for not leaking user information. I've seen TVs with a "kiosk m

They really need to have a "rental car mode" in the infotainment center that provides a good UX for not leaking user information. I've seen TVs with a "kiosk mode" option that do things like disable channel switching. My most recent rental car (a Dodge Caravan) had a USB port on the center console that mounted the phone as a USB drive for media playback.

thaw13579 10y ago
At the very least, there should be a mode to charge via USB while disabling the data pins at the hardware level
- runeb 10y ago
  This is a feature on computers (Macs at least), where on iOS you'll be prompted if you trust the device before it connects to it. If you choose "No" it will only charge. Edit: Which of course is not hardware level per se, but something similar should be possible to implement on iOS for anything it connects to. Trust this? Enable data.
  - mjevans 10y ago
    Recent versions of Android (I think anything >=4.4) also defaults to charging only mode, and makes you pick which type of data connection you want to offer. I detest that MTP is the 'best' protocol offered for sharing the filesystem. I find it incredibly buggy and limited. (I would like to be able to use some of that filesystem for carrying around large files!)
    - voltagex_ 10y ago
      I'm not sure how good that charging only mode is - it still presents an (empty?) MTP device to the host PC.
- sithadmin 10y ago
  This is why I carry around a 'USB condom' (in particular, a PortaPow FastCharge) for use whenever I want to charge from an untrusted USB port.
  - bbcbasic 10y ago
    That's a fantastic analogy
- ars 10y ago
  Just buy a USB cable that simply doesn't have those wires. I bought a retractable one that isn't available anymore, but other people have posted many links to products just like it.
  - dawnerd 10y ago
    I always carry two usb battery bricks. One for my macbook (although I've only used it to charge in testing) and an amazonbasics one for my phone. Never had to plug into a public charging port. If I'm in a hotel I'll use a one of my apple usb power adapters.
    - Hydraulix989 10y ago
      What do you use for your macbook?
      - dawnerd 10y ago
        Essentially last years version of this: https://www.amazon.com/Anker-PowerCore-Portable-Capacity-PowerPort/dp/B016HNALOI https://www.amazon.com/Anker-PowerCore-Portable-Capacity-Pow... It says Powercore 20100 but the form factor that comes up on amazon matches the one linked. Looks like they refreshed and increased capacity.
        Hydraulix989 10y ago
        Oh that's right, you can charge over USB, so no need for an inverter. I need to find one that works with 12VDC for my Thinkpad.
- ubernostrum 10y ago
  Like another commenter says, "USB condoms" are available pretty cheap. You can even get them without any kind of casing on them to be able to see that the data pins are cut or missing. I bring a couple on any trip where I think I might have to use USB to charge a device, since I don't trust strange USB ports.
timdorr 10y ago
Tesla does this with "Valet Mode": http://www.teslarati.com/depth-look-valet-mode-tesla-model-s/ http://www.teslarati.com/depth-look-valet-mode-tesla-model-s... However, the problem still remains for their loan fleet. I often get vehicles with a few different phones synced and several months worth of navigation history. I clear it all out when I get the car, but they should institute a policy to wipe out any saved data when getting a loaner back.
- badwolf 10y ago
  I've experienced that many, many times with Zipcar. One that I use regularly, will have several phones all synced (with contacts downloaded, etc...) :-/
- Hydraulix989 10y ago
  Wow, exactly what I was looking for. It's interesting that "Valet Mode" also limits the performance of the car and governs the speed to 70MPH max. Maybe there's a way to disable that?
  - AckSyn 10y ago
    Frankly, I don't see a problem with leaving it enabled. There will come a day when I would willingly limit the vehicles speed when my children start to drive and they'll be safer for it. Hopefully these vehicles will auto-limit speeds based on the area's speed limit. These chucklefucks that think they deserve to blast by me at 95 on a 65 area wouldn't cause so many accidents. (tons of blind curves == speed limit for a reason!)
    - was_boring 10y ago
      Most areas within the US have highway speeds at 70mph, and many are higher. Valet mode needs to be able to go at least the speed limit on the road its driven on. Asking for more than 70mph is simply a matter of safety on those roads.
      - 10y ago

thaw13579 10y ago

At the very least, there should be a mode to charge via USB while disabling the data pins at the hardware level

runeb 10y ago
This is a feature on computers (Macs at least), where on iOS you'll be prompted if you trust the device before it connects to it. If you choose "No" it will only charge. Edit: Which of course is not hardware level per se, but something similar should be possible to implement on iOS for anything it connects to. Trust this? Enable data.
- mjevans 10y ago
  Recent versions of Android (I think anything >=4.4) also defaults to charging only mode, and makes you pick which type of data connection you want to offer. I detest that MTP is the 'best' protocol offered for sharing the filesystem. I find it incredibly buggy and limited. (I would like to be able to use some of that filesystem for carrying around large files!)
  - voltagex_ 10y ago
    I'm not sure how good that charging only mode is - it still presents an (empty?) MTP device to the host PC.
sithadmin 10y ago
This is why I carry around a 'USB condom' (in particular, a PortaPow FastCharge) for use whenever I want to charge from an untrusted USB port.
- bbcbasic 10y ago
  That's a fantastic analogy
ars 10y ago
Just buy a USB cable that simply doesn't have those wires. I bought a retractable one that isn't available anymore, but other people have posted many links to products just like it.
- dawnerd 10y ago
  I always carry two usb battery bricks. One for my macbook (although I've only used it to charge in testing) and an amazonbasics one for my phone. Never had to plug into a public charging port. If I'm in a hotel I'll use a one of my apple usb power adapters.
  - Hydraulix989 10y ago
    What do you use for your macbook?
    - dawnerd 10y ago
      Essentially last years version of this: https://www.amazon.com/Anker-PowerCore-Portable-Capacity-PowerPort/dp/B016HNALOI https://www.amazon.com/Anker-PowerCore-Portable-Capacity-Pow... It says Powercore 20100 but the form factor that comes up on amazon matches the one linked. Looks like they refreshed and increased capacity.
      - Hydraulix989 10y ago
        Oh that's right, you can charge over USB, so no need for an inverter. I need to find one that works with 12VDC for my Thinkpad.
ubernostrum 10y ago
Like another commenter says, "USB condoms" are available pretty cheap. You can even get them without any kind of casing on them to be able to see that the data pins are cut or missing. I bring a couple on any trip where I think I might have to use USB to charge a device, since I don't trust strange USB ports.

timdorr 10y ago

Tesla does this with "Valet Mode": http://www.teslarati.com/depth-look-valet-mode-tesla-model-s/ http://www.teslarati.com/depth-look-valet-mode-tesla-model-s... However, the problem still remains for their loan fleet. I often get vehicles with a few different phones synced and several months worth of navigation history. I clear it all out when I get the car, but they should institute a policy to wipe out any saved data when getting a loaner back.

badwolf 10y ago
I've experienced that many, many times with Zipcar. One that I use regularly, will have several phones all synced (with contacts downloaded, etc...) :-/
Hydraulix989 10y ago
Wow, exactly what I was looking for. It's interesting that "Valet Mode" also limits the performance of the car and governs the speed to 70MPH max. Maybe there's a way to disable that?
- AckSyn 10y ago
  Frankly, I don't see a problem with leaving it enabled. There will come a day when I would willingly limit the vehicles speed when my children start to drive and they'll be safer for it. Hopefully these vehicles will auto-limit speeds based on the area's speed limit. These chucklefucks that think they deserve to blast by me at 95 on a 65 area wouldn't cause so many accidents. (tons of blind curves == speed limit for a reason!)
  - was_boring 10y ago
    Most areas within the US have highway speeds at 70mph, and many are higher. Valet mode needs to be able to go at least the speed limit on the road its driven on. Asking for more than 70mph is simply a matter of safety on those roads.
    - 10y ago