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I'd love a subscription to heat my seats, or better yet a remote start device that needs the cloud... It would be nice to open physically locked compartments w

I'd love a subscription to heat my seats, or better yet a remote start device that needs the cloud... It would be nice to open physically locked compartments with an app too! And if I could purchase more for my Steam library I'd be almost completely happy with my new advanced motor vehicle.

bilbo0s 4y ago
You just went and gave carmakers some ideas for easy cash grabs. Don't complain when they extrapolate to the subscription based door locks and braking system. Just about everyone would almost have to sign up for them! /s
- ajross 4y ago
  Too late, you get literally all of that on current Teslas for free (well, Steam games cost money I guess). I actually can't tell if grandparent was being sarcastic or not, but yes: these are already products.
  - xattt 4y ago
    I was indeed being genuine with my question, as I see these hacks (Mazda headunit too) but I’m curious if I’m missing the point other than the sake of tinkering.
- ilyt 4y ago
  Some already sell unlocks for extra power
prottog 4y ago
I do appreciate the sentiment, but I wonder if there's any actual market demand for a car with nothing smart whatsoever that isn't also a budget econobox?
- shortstuffsushi 4y ago
  Huh, maybe the people I know are the exception, but everyone I know gripes constantly "ugh, I wish my car didn't have all this electronic crap, I just want the analog stuff and no computer." The exception for at least a portion of that group would be the rear camera, which I believe is now mandated by law, but... the rest of it could be left dumb and I think most people (I know) would be as happy, if not happier. ETA: I guess it could be debated as well whether the "auto brake" type features would be desirable by that group. My personal opinion is no, but I think other threads have indicated I may be in the minority.
  - bentcorner 4y ago
    > a portion of that group would be the rear camera, which I believe is now mandated by law, but... the rest of it could be left dumb and I think most people (I know) would be as happy, if not happier. I rented a uhaul last year and it was mostly analog, with not a screen anywhere on the dash. The backup camera was ingeniously placed under the glass of the rear-view mirror. Most of the gauges were "digital-lite" (lots of lcd/led segmented displays). I'd say if there was a car version with the same interior I would have been quite happy to drive it.
    - buran77 4y ago
      I'd say people who object to high-tech-ifying the car aren't against high-tech as much as against bad tech and poor implementation. For example a screen in the car doesn't have to be bad tech. But if the screen is where all the controls of the car are located then it probably is. Internet connectivity doesn't have to be bad tech. But if it allows access to the most critical parts of the car it probably is. Then there are things that aren't bad until you realize they're probably abused by the manufacturer. Your internet connectivity meant to allow you to locate your car in the parking lot is great and might be harmless until the manufacturer starts selling that data to pad the profits. Sometimes all the high tech in the car might be super useful, super secure, super private, and still be bad because in a few years it makes the car prohibitively expensive or outright impossible to maintain and repair.
  - 4y ago
leetbulb 4y ago
I own two vehicles requiring the cloud for remote start. It's the only useful "cloud" function, too. Very annoying.
judge2020 4y ago
If you got $1500 off the price of the vehicle to instead pay $20/mo, would you do it? What features would be reasonable to gate with this IAP? Especially considering you're not paying interest for that $1500, you only lose money via the subscription if you keep the car for 80 months, or 8 more months than a 72 month loan.
- photoGrant 4y ago
  My spite trumps their audacity. If I count one more entity looking to shake my pockets empty every month, I'm gonna start calling these crooks Al Capone. No, I don't want to subscribe -- to anything. Anymore.
  - di456 4y ago
    Do you think RICO statutes could be a way out of subscription hell? It smells like a racket but I don't think it legally meets the bar for extortion because it's an at-will transaction between willing parties, and no one is making anyone buy a car. It does seem anticompetitive though so maybe there are antitrust and interoperability angles?
    - calvinmorrison 4y ago
      Everything is regulated. Why not a "no subscriptions on safety measures" isn't one i don't know. Having a warm butt is a safety measure
      - di456 4y ago
        Too much wiggle room. A cold butt never killed anyone. How about "no subscriptions on titled property"
        calvinmorrison 4y ago
        I think that, subscriptions are fine for items that require a subscription. Sort of circular reasoning but, for example, OnStar or onboard wifi or other things of that nature makes sense as a subscription. Compare to a heated seat. They are some of the simplest circuits out there. Apply 12V and it will heat up a nichrome alloy wire. Same way a cigarette lighter works.
m-p-3 4y ago
Doom, of course.
- jonathankoren 4y ago
  Carmegeddon
  - m-p-3 4y ago
    Odd way to spell Tesla trollface
monksy 4y ago
That would actually make sense. Most cellular modems are pushed through the head unit, and most car operations are controlled by the canbus. Given this, you could probably talk to the canbus unit to control the seat warmers.
- BoorishBears 4y ago
  They were being sarcastic, BMW already did this
  - fragmede 4y ago
    https://www.theverge.com/2022/7/12/23204950/bmw-subscriptions-microtransactions-heated-seats-feature https://www.theverge.com/2022/7/12/23204950/bmw-subscription... for the disbelievers
nxpnsv 4y ago
And perhaps we can get some block chain in the units?

bilbo0s 4y ago

You just went and gave carmakers some ideas for easy cash grabs. Don't complain when they extrapolate to the subscription based door locks and braking system. Just about everyone would almost have to sign up for them! /s

ajross 4y ago
Too late, you get literally all of that on current Teslas for free (well, Steam games cost money I guess). I actually can't tell if grandparent was being sarcastic or not, but yes: these are already products.
- xattt 4y ago
  I was indeed being genuine with my question, as I see these hacks (Mazda headunit too) but I’m curious if I’m missing the point other than the sake of tinkering.
ilyt 4y ago
Some already sell unlocks for extra power

prottog 4y ago

I do appreciate the sentiment, but I wonder if there's any actual market demand for a car with nothing smart whatsoever that isn't also a budget econobox?

shortstuffsushi 4y ago
Huh, maybe the people I know are the exception, but everyone I know gripes constantly "ugh, I wish my car didn't have all this electronic crap, I just want the analog stuff and no computer." The exception for at least a portion of that group would be the rear camera, which I believe is now mandated by law, but... the rest of it could be left dumb and I think most people (I know) would be as happy, if not happier. ETA: I guess it could be debated as well whether the "auto brake" type features would be desirable by that group. My personal opinion is no, but I think other threads have indicated I may be in the minority.
- bentcorner 4y ago
  > a portion of that group would be the rear camera, which I believe is now mandated by law, but... the rest of it could be left dumb and I think most people (I know) would be as happy, if not happier. I rented a uhaul last year and it was mostly analog, with not a screen anywhere on the dash. The backup camera was ingeniously placed under the glass of the rear-view mirror. Most of the gauges were "digital-lite" (lots of lcd/led segmented displays). I'd say if there was a car version with the same interior I would have been quite happy to drive it.
  - buran77 4y ago
    I'd say people who object to high-tech-ifying the car aren't against high-tech as much as against bad tech and poor implementation. For example a screen in the car doesn't have to be bad tech. But if the screen is where all the controls of the car are located then it probably is. Internet connectivity doesn't have to be bad tech. But if it allows access to the most critical parts of the car it probably is. Then there are things that aren't bad until you realize they're probably abused by the manufacturer. Your internet connectivity meant to allow you to locate your car in the parking lot is great and might be harmless until the manufacturer starts selling that data to pad the profits. Sometimes all the high tech in the car might be super useful, super secure, super private, and still be bad because in a few years it makes the car prohibitively expensive or outright impossible to maintain and repair.
- 4y ago

leetbulb 4y ago

I own two vehicles requiring the cloud for remote start. It's the only useful "cloud" function, too. Very annoying.

judge2020 4y ago

If you got $1500 off the price of the vehicle to instead pay $20/mo, would you do it? What features would be reasonable to gate with this IAP? Especially considering you're not paying interest for that $1500, you only lose money via the subscription if you keep the car for 80 months, or 8 more months than a 72 month loan.

photoGrant 4y ago
My spite trumps their audacity. If I count one more entity looking to shake my pockets empty every month, I'm gonna start calling these crooks Al Capone. No, I don't want to subscribe -- to anything. Anymore.
- di456 4y ago
  Do you think RICO statutes could be a way out of subscription hell? It smells like a racket but I don't think it legally meets the bar for extortion because it's an at-will transaction between willing parties, and no one is making anyone buy a car. It does seem anticompetitive though so maybe there are antitrust and interoperability angles?
  - calvinmorrison 4y ago
    Everything is regulated. Why not a "no subscriptions on safety measures" isn't one i don't know. Having a warm butt is a safety measure
    - di456 4y ago
      Too much wiggle room. A cold butt never killed anyone. How about "no subscriptions on titled property"
      - calvinmorrison 4y ago
        I think that, subscriptions are fine for items that require a subscription. Sort of circular reasoning but, for example, OnStar or onboard wifi or other things of that nature makes sense as a subscription. Compare to a heated seat. They are some of the simplest circuits out there. Apply 12V and it will heat up a nichrome alloy wire. Same way a cigarette lighter works.

m-p-3 4y ago

Doom, of course.

jonathankoren 4y ago
Carmegeddon
- m-p-3 4y ago
  Odd way to spell Tesla trollface

monksy 4y ago

That would actually make sense. Most cellular modems are pushed through the head unit, and most car operations are controlled by the canbus. Given this, you could probably talk to the canbus unit to control the seat warmers.

BoorishBears 4y ago
They were being sarcastic, BMW already did this
- fragmede 4y ago
  https://www.theverge.com/2022/7/12/23204950/bmw-subscriptions-microtransactions-heated-seats-feature https://www.theverge.com/2022/7/12/23204950/bmw-subscription... for the disbelievers

nxpnsv 4y ago

And perhaps we can get some block chain in the units?