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Touch screens also make it easier to lock functionality behind subscriptions.

• acdha 4y ago
  This is only by coincidence. They’ll do that if they think they can get away with it no matter what type of controls it has.
  • javajosh 4y ago
    If your car doesn't have any internet connected software, then there is no mechanism to make a feature artificially scarce, requiring you to pay money on an on-going basis to remove the artificial limit. People may have sold subscription services for cars before 2010, but they were luxuries and without "teeth". This is different.
    • flavius29663 4y ago
      the car can be connected and still have manual controls...it's not like the touchscreen is required for internet.
    • acdha 4y ago
      > If your car doesn't have any internet connected software, then there is no mechanism to make a feature artificially scarce Here are things which were actually shipped for decades prior to internet restrictions: * charging for updates to mapping, and later GPS, software * restricting features based on physical dongles * restricting features based on dates (don’t forget that times can be set passively using radio so you can’t just easily roll the clock back) * restricting features based on use counts (anyone think some MBA isn’t dreaming of “pay $1000 for 200 crush-it™ acceleration boosts!”) * having some indicator of feature use (burnt out fuse, EEPROM, etc.) so using something you haven’t licensed means you can’t get any official service or warranty claims Beyond that, we’re talking about controls. Touchscreens are not internet access and there’s no reason to think the two would be linked here when they aren’t in any other area.