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Current versions of the Ford infotainment platform are based on QNX, actually. The article mentions that Ford is switching to Android, but that hasn't happened

Current versions of the Ford infotainment platform are based on QNX, actually. The article mentions that Ford is switching to Android, but that hasn't happened yet.

HWR_14 4y ago
Why is Ford switching away from a RTOS with a great history in the automotive space to try to force me to have something to do with Google?
- rektide 4y ago
  Because there's a vibrant ecosystem around Android with wonderful third party support, with a rich platform & ecosystem already well known & loved by many developers & consumers alike. Where-as QNX is a toolkit for building one-off custom appliances that no third party will ever see or improve or enrich. One is a dead end stuck in a niche, the other realized it had to create more value than it captured. And generally the Google open ecosystem one is pretty ok.
  - NotYourLawyer 4y ago
    Android is cheaper because it hoovers up the “owner’s” data.
    - rnk 4y ago
      That may be, but it wins because it's vastly better than all the alternatives, except tesla or a few other leading 'new car companies' like rivian.
      - HWR_14 4y ago
        How on earth is it "better"? Dumb cars are better. Obviously, I want the EV to have mission critical things related to it being an EV, but there's no reason for anything else to get fancy. Tesla has the worst cockpit experience because it's a single large screen.
      - prepend 4y ago
        It’s not as good as my dumb bmw “connected drive” from 5 years ago.
        kernal 4y ago
        Is that why BMW is integrating Android Automotive? https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/global/article/detail/T0401875EN/bmw-group-expands-%E2%80%9Cbmw-operating-system-8%E2%80%9D-with-a-variant-that-integrates-%E2%80%9Candroid-automotive-os%E2%80%9D?language=en https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/global/article/detail/T040187...
        HWR_14 4y ago
        Because it's cheaper for BMW, not because it's better for their customers.
        kernal 4y ago
        So you know what's better for BMW customers than BMW? Have you informed BMW of this revelation?
        HWR_14 4y ago
        What makes you think BMWs goal is what's best for their customers?
        kernal 4y ago
        Repeat business, perhaps?
        HWR_14 4y ago
        So how was it a pro-consumer move when they started charging a subscription for heated seats?
  - HWR_14 4y ago
    Why would I want third party support, a rich platform or an ecosystem? I want a radio and something that plays what my cellphone tells it. That's it.
    - uncletaco 4y ago
      Well that's you, somebody else might want to use the subscription music service they pay for and use car controls to change the tracks, someone else might want a map that displays in the center console as opposed to their phone, etc etc. With android there's the possibility of adding apps that people would want to the car itself. This would be something device manufacturers could be interested in for dash cams or other electronics that could benefit from richer control interfaces.
      - HWR_14 4y ago
        And, if like more than half of Americans I decided I didn't want an Android phone, now I get coerced to use Android to listen to my subscription music service, etc.
        kernal 4y ago
        I suggest you research Android Automotive and what exactly it is, as it's not an "Android phone". As for half of Americans not wanting to use Android, because it's Android, I find that statement amusing as you would rather force their customers to continue using their maligned Ford Sync system then a superior solution with an actual ecosystem. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Android_Automotive https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Android_Automotive
        HWR_14 4y ago
        Yes, it's not an Android phone. It's an Android tablet hardwired into my vehicle's bus so it can hoover up data directly from the vehicle and has to be on when the vehicle is. It still runs Google Maps (and reports my location to Google) has the Google Play Store (so any apps would also feed data and money to Google) and still permanently runs the microphone's input through Google's algorithms 24/7 for the Google Voice Assistant. I don't see what meaningful way it differs. Is it even going to get updates for a longer period than Android phones? Maybe against security threats. Or it's just been 3 years, upgrade your car. I suppose it doesn't make phonecalls, that's a difference. And yes, what I want is a bluetooth speaker that has a radio. My point is I don't want an ecosystem for my car. Saying "Ford Sync system then a superior solution with an actual ecosystem" as an argument to upgrade gets everything backwards.

Current versions of the Ford infotainment platform are based on QNX, actually. The article mentions that Ford is switching to Android, but that hasn't happened yet.

HWR_14 4y ago

Why is Ford switching away from a RTOS with a great history in the automotive space to try to force me to have something to do with Google?

rektide 4y ago
Because there's a vibrant ecosystem around Android with wonderful third party support, with a rich platform & ecosystem already well known & loved by many developers & consumers alike. Where-as QNX is a toolkit for building one-off custom appliances that no third party will ever see or improve or enrich. One is a dead end stuck in a niche, the other realized it had to create more value than it captured. And generally the Google open ecosystem one is pretty ok.
- NotYourLawyer 4y ago
  Android is cheaper because it hoovers up the “owner’s” data.
  - rnk 4y ago
    That may be, but it wins because it's vastly better than all the alternatives, except tesla or a few other leading 'new car companies' like rivian.
    - HWR_14 4y ago
      How on earth is it "better"? Dumb cars are better. Obviously, I want the EV to have mission critical things related to it being an EV, but there's no reason for anything else to get fancy. Tesla has the worst cockpit experience because it's a single large screen.
    - prepend 4y ago
      It’s not as good as my dumb bmw “connected drive” from 5 years ago.
      - kernal 4y ago
        Is that why BMW is integrating Android Automotive? https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/global/article/detail/T0401875EN/bmw-group-expands-%E2%80%9Cbmw-operating-system-8%E2%80%9D-with-a-variant-that-integrates-%E2%80%9Candroid-automotive-os%E2%80%9D?language=en https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/global/article/detail/T040187...
        HWR_14 4y ago
        Because it's cheaper for BMW, not because it's better for their customers.
        kernal 4y ago
        So you know what's better for BMW customers than BMW? Have you informed BMW of this revelation?
        HWR_14 4y ago
        What makes you think BMWs goal is what's best for their customers?
        kernal 4y ago
        Repeat business, perhaps?
        HWR_14 4y ago
        So how was it a pro-consumer move when they started charging a subscription for heated seats?
- HWR_14 4y ago
  Why would I want third party support, a rich platform or an ecosystem? I want a radio and something that plays what my cellphone tells it. That's it.
  - uncletaco 4y ago
    Well that's you, somebody else might want to use the subscription music service they pay for and use car controls to change the tracks, someone else might want a map that displays in the center console as opposed to their phone, etc etc. With android there's the possibility of adding apps that people would want to the car itself. This would be something device manufacturers could be interested in for dash cams or other electronics that could benefit from richer control interfaces.
    - HWR_14 4y ago
      And, if like more than half of Americans I decided I didn't want an Android phone, now I get coerced to use Android to listen to my subscription music service, etc.
      - kernal 4y ago
        I suggest you research Android Automotive and what exactly it is, as it's not an "Android phone". As for half of Americans not wanting to use Android, because it's Android, I find that statement amusing as you would rather force their customers to continue using their maligned Ford Sync system then a superior solution with an actual ecosystem. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Android_Automotive https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Android_Automotive
        HWR_14 4y ago
        Yes, it's not an Android phone. It's an Android tablet hardwired into my vehicle's bus so it can hoover up data directly from the vehicle and has to be on when the vehicle is. It still runs Google Maps (and reports my location to Google) has the Google Play Store (so any apps would also feed data and money to Google) and still permanently runs the microphone's input through Google's algorithms 24/7 for the Google Voice Assistant. I don't see what meaningful way it differs. Is it even going to get updates for a longer period than Android phones? Maybe against security threats. Or it's just been 3 years, upgrade your car. I suppose it doesn't make phonecalls, that's a difference. And yes, what I want is a bluetooth speaker that has a radio. My point is I don't want an ecosystem for my car. Saying "Ford Sync system then a superior solution with an actual ecosystem" as an argument to upgrade gets everything backwards.