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Why the sideways fuck did they even have location data to begin with? It's like the checklist for buying a new car starts with figuring out what circuit drives

Why the sideways fuck did they even have location data to begin with? It's like the checklist for buying a new car starts with figuring out what circuit drives the cell modem and pop that fuse out before taking a test drive to confirm it doesn't brick anything critical. Fucking ridiculous.

ImJamal 2y ago
Most new cars have features that require it such as onboard GPS, speed limits on the dash, OnStar and similar features.
- forgetfreeman 2y ago
  All bullshit my car shouldn't do in the first place.
- tzs 2y ago
  Those are mostly things that require the car to know its location. They don't require that the car share the location with the car's maker except possibly sharing what region the car is in. The region sharing might be needed to efficiently update things like the map and the speed limits.
- NewJazz 2y ago
  Niche feature that shouldn't affect any other part of the car's operation if it were turned off or nonfunctional due to modem hardware shutoff.
- mulmen 2y ago
  None of that requires cellular connectivity. It can and was accomplished using only wifi sync at home. Live traffic information is (was?) broadcast on AM radio.
  - jazzyjackson 2y ago
    was it ever AM? info I can find points to traffic info being encoded in FM broadcast, as "audio" but above audible frequencies, 57khz, same as any metadata you get with modern digital radio - station name, song name, artist name etc. https://www.mediarealm.com.au/articles/fm-rds-radio-data-system-guide/ https://www.mediarealm.com.au/articles/fm-rds-radio-data-sys...
    - mulmen 2y ago
      Oh! Maybe it was FM. I always thought it was on the same band as the "Tune AM <whatever> for traffic information signs" but as you say outside the audible frequencies. Regardless the point is that the relevant information can be broadcast publicly and does not require location or cellular connectivity to function. My 2010 BMW knew about traffic jams but had no cellular connectivity to my knowledge.
      - jen20 2y ago
        Your 2010 BMW very likely did have cellular connectivity given that my 2008 model did. It might not work today though.
        mulmen 2y ago
        It had the ability to call emergency services. But I don’t think it got map or traffic data through the cellular radio. If it was getting data through the cellular radio it wasn’t very much data.
- jazzyjackson 2y ago
  speed limits come from a database written alongside map data
bdcravens 2y ago
Mobile apps (one of our cars in a VW ID.4, and I can see where it is right now), as well as repo/theft recovery.
- forgetfreeman 2y ago
  Repo isn't a customer's concern and is thus irrelevant. Incidentally I walked to the window and I can see where my truck is without my phone. Is there really no limit to the bullshit folks will allow themselves to be convinced to install on their phones?

ImJamal 2y ago

Most new cars have features that require it such as onboard GPS, speed limits on the dash, OnStar and similar features.

forgetfreeman 2y ago
All bullshit my car shouldn't do in the first place.
tzs 2y ago
Those are mostly things that require the car to know its location. They don't require that the car share the location with the car's maker except possibly sharing what region the car is in. The region sharing might be needed to efficiently update things like the map and the speed limits.
NewJazz 2y ago
Niche feature that shouldn't affect any other part of the car's operation if it were turned off or nonfunctional due to modem hardware shutoff.
mulmen 2y ago
None of that requires cellular connectivity. It can and was accomplished using only wifi sync at home. Live traffic information is (was?) broadcast on AM radio.
- jazzyjackson 2y ago
  was it ever AM? info I can find points to traffic info being encoded in FM broadcast, as "audio" but above audible frequencies, 57khz, same as any metadata you get with modern digital radio - station name, song name, artist name etc. https://www.mediarealm.com.au/articles/fm-rds-radio-data-system-guide/ https://www.mediarealm.com.au/articles/fm-rds-radio-data-sys...
  - mulmen 2y ago
    Oh! Maybe it was FM. I always thought it was on the same band as the "Tune AM <whatever> for traffic information signs" but as you say outside the audible frequencies. Regardless the point is that the relevant information can be broadcast publicly and does not require location or cellular connectivity to function. My 2010 BMW knew about traffic jams but had no cellular connectivity to my knowledge.
    - jen20 2y ago
      Your 2010 BMW very likely did have cellular connectivity given that my 2008 model did. It might not work today though.
      - mulmen 2y ago
        It had the ability to call emergency services. But I don’t think it got map or traffic data through the cellular radio. If it was getting data through the cellular radio it wasn’t very much data.
jazzyjackson 2y ago
speed limits come from a database written alongside map data

bdcravens 2y ago

Mobile apps (one of our cars in a VW ID.4, and I can see where it is right now), as well as repo/theft recovery.

forgetfreeman 2y ago
Repo isn't a customer's concern and is thus irrelevant. Incidentally I walked to the window and I can see where my truck is without my phone. Is there really no limit to the bullshit folks will allow themselves to be convinced to install on their phones?