The End of 3G Service Exposes The DIrty Secret and Dishonesty Of "Connected" Cars
Posted by freedomforall 2 years, 1 month ago to Business
Excerpt:
"One of the neat things about “connected” things is they can be disconnected – and not by you. Rendering them useless to you and (best part) making you perpetually beholden to whomever (whatever) has control over the “connectivity.”
A lesson – and a warning – comes in the form of the pending disconnect of the 3G wireless network, which will among other things result in the disconnection of 3G “connected” services millions of car owners paid for when they bought their cars, such as remote engine start/door unlock, roadside assistance/emergency crash response and even GPS (navigation). These wireless features depend on “connectivity” – the ability to send and receive data wirelessly.
When they no longer do, they no longer work.
“We’re talking about millions of vehicles that will lose features that were promised to owners, and that no longer will be delivered,” said William Wallace of Consumer Reports. “In some cases, those features are safety features, things that can help them from dying or getting seriously injured after a crash.” "
"One of the neat things about “connected” things is they can be disconnected – and not by you. Rendering them useless to you and (best part) making you perpetually beholden to whomever (whatever) has control over the “connectivity.”
A lesson – and a warning – comes in the form of the pending disconnect of the 3G wireless network, which will among other things result in the disconnection of 3G “connected” services millions of car owners paid for when they bought their cars, such as remote engine start/door unlock, roadside assistance/emergency crash response and even GPS (navigation). These wireless features depend on “connectivity” – the ability to send and receive data wirelessly.
When they no longer do, they no longer work.
“We’re talking about millions of vehicles that will lose features that were promised to owners, and that no longer will be delivered,” said William Wallace of Consumer Reports. “In some cases, those features are safety features, things that can help them from dying or getting seriously injured after a crash.” "
I have the same thought for a any new car as well. I don't want it connected in any way. I always said what happens when they decide to stop supporting that service. You'll have paid all that money for nothing and your car is at their mercy, they control it.
What happens when Tesla's cars start to get older? All of that connected self drive, navigation, camera's and the car itself will stop working. in spite of their promises it will eventually happen to ever car that is connected. It cost them to muc hmoney to upgrade your car, they don't car about the consumer just their bottom line. They think well your car is too old just buy a new one. That is when the DIY and right to repair crowd comes in and hacks it.
Too bad the computers in cars can't be easily swapped out by third party inventors to get around all this crap.
My iPhones and cell equipped iPad all go dead on 12/31/2022. Meaning I'll have to spend a fortune to replace them or just go dark.
Unless you mean for me to switch when I replace the Apples. That's tempting, but I have an awful lot of software infrastructure that is Apple specific built up over many years of use - all that would go away and have to be rebuilt. Hmmm, makes me wonder, do I own Apple products or do Apple products own me?
The rest of the phone makers are all jealous and I suspect they would all love to have captive customers, too.
You still have Linux option for your computers with free alternative software for almost everything, and also the ability to run virtual machines if you have Windows software that you 'must' use.
I can't believe your car starter/key phob/ back up/proximity sensors rely on a cell tower or satellite.
Glad I kept my simple 07 ranger...it does not rely upon the outside world except for a gas station.
The automakers who 'promised' all this gadgetry obviously knew these technologies would shift and be rendered obsolete. If an automaker wants to keep their clientele, they'll figure out a way to retrofit the older models with 4G LTE or even 5G connection. Even so, the technology will not end at 5G and we shouldn't expect it to.
One could simply reject technology altogether, but then one must ask how far back one should go. The early 90's? 80's? 70's? Return to horse and buggy?? Everyone has a line where they say 'enough' and they should be happy with that decision. When you think about it, the Amish have it pretty good.
In the long run, what car we drive shouldn't matter. Whether we have prepper food stashes for 30 years shouldn't matter. What we want to do with our own lives we should do and let others decide for themselves.