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Tesla can change so much with OTA updates that it’s messing with owners’ heads
- crb002 8y agoOpposed to manufacturers still doing updates over USB hell who take years to patch vulnerabilities. Why the NTSB doesn't demand source code is beyond me.
- sschueller 8y agoThere is nothing wrong with being required to take you car in to get an update for something that need to pass certain safety standards. Do you want OTA updates from Boeing or Airbus? From what I have read on another post on HN, Waymo specifically does not have the ability to do OTA updates although the car is connected all the time.
- vntok 8y agoWaymo does not "go fast and break things and ask for permission after getting caught".
- greglindahl 8y agoThe more difficult an update is, the fewer cars get it. Many people unknowingly buy used cars that have outstanding maintenance notes and recalls.
- sschueller 8y agoIsn't that what state vehicle inspections are for? If you don't have the latest safety update you should not pass the inspection and not be able to continue to drive until you get the update.
- greglindahl 8y agoI don't know about your state, but in California, they have absolutely no fucking clue about whether your car has outstanding recalls or maintenance notes, all they check is smog. If your car isn't electric, and is sufficiently old. Back when I lived in South Carolina, they'd check that the blinkers and brake lights were working. Not in California.
- valuearb 8y agoDear XXX, We found your online 3 star review of your new Tesla inadequate, and are removing your right to air conditioning in your Tesla. Please notify us when you’ve updated your review.
- qbrass 8y agoReview has been updated to 0 stars.
- Digital-Citizen 8y agoI think that's entirely possible and likely to happen if not with Tesla than with some other proprietor. We've already seen something like this happen with a flight simulator (the proprietor indiscriminately distributed password-reading malware to all of their users as part of the standard install, and alleges that they only used the power of that malware against those who shared copies with others. Those users were smeared with the propaganda term "pirates"). It happens with each DRM story (for example: Neverwinter Nights 1 & 2, Microsoft Flight Simulator X, Swat 4, Sniper Elite, Hidden and Dangerous 2, Wings of War, Star Wars: Battlefront are no longer able to find and/or host multiplayer games. Proprietor, UK game developer Rebellion, tried to pass blame for this off onto their provider GLU Mobile instead of recognizing how they set the stage for this to happen early on by selling their users free software which would have allowed users to host their own multiplayer servers or pick another server). I hope Tesla releases free software for all of the software in Tesla vehicles and thus frees Tesla car owners to protect themselves from precisely what you describe. The only thing I think might play out differently: the proprietor won't be so forthcoming about why as you describe. The use of structurally abusive power (such as pulling people's purchased books from their eBook readers via DRM as was done with "1984") often happens with no explanation and some users are naive enough to not demand better. That's the power of proprietary software and a big part of the practical reason why we should all value software freedom for its own sake, run free software systems, and champion software freedom to others.
- Gravityloss 8y agoOh come on. It's likely that almost every product is released with a huge number of flaws. Over the air updates just makes it more apparent.
- madengr 8y agoAgreed. Better an OTA update than having to wait at a dealer for recall work.