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Cars Are Rolling Computers Now. So What Happens When They Stop Getting Updates? (www.wired.com)

submitted 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) by jeffw to c/technology

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[–] [email protected] 43 points 5 months ago (4 children)

Phones are supported well beyond their average ownership lifetime.

Are they?

[–] [email protected] 17 points 5 months ago (1 children)

My hunch is that "average ownership lifetime" for mobile phones is MUCH lower than you or I (or anyone who is careful with their phone) probably expects. There is probably a too-big segment of the market that is trading in yearly for a newer model.

[–] FlyingSquid 1 points 5 months ago

These days, at least in the U.S., you can pay a relatively low monthly fee to your cell provider and get the newest and latest model and trade up when the next one comes along, so I think you're right on with this.

[–] NegativeInf 11 points 5 months ago

Supported in the sense that "We will update your device and deliberately slow it, break it, or brick it because fuck you."

[–] [email protected] 9 points 5 months ago (1 children)

By communities, but not the manufacturer. Custom ROMs is the only way to keep it up to date for long enough for the hardware to become too old to be worth it.

No custom ROM for cars anytime soon.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

There's plenty of custom ROMs for cars from all major manufacturers, you just don't know where to look.Google "ECU remap" or "dpf delete" for an idea. ECU remapping has been done by bold individuals ever since there were programmable ECUs, around 1985.

Apart from engine/drive line tinkering, there are also plenty of third party software that can tinker with body computers for "lifestyle" adjustments.

Is it easy and accessible? No. Because of environmental laws - and vendor lock in - you can't generally and easily dick around with the control software in your car. But it does exist.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 months ago

I know, but there us as quiet war going on between the chippers and manufacturers. EV is a new battle front and we the consumers are losing right now.

Law makes need to join this century and get involved ensuring competition and longer product lives.