Comment by razzaj | Hacker News Reader

Comment by razzaj | Hacker News Reader

I noticed other more annoying bugs in Audi console software.

And more generally, the automotive industry is weird with respect to software updates. To be clear, i only mean secondary systems such as entertainment console (so i am excluding core systems like engine, and other vital controls). In order to update your software, you need to ask your agent, who most of the time would just give you the default answer of "you have the latest update". Perhaps the agents are not lazy, but there is no place i know of on audi's website, where you can check for available updates. I would expect to be able and download a software update to my car using and SD card, or my phone data connection.

Car manufacturers should really just open up their in vehicle consoles to developers, somewhat a-la appStore.

Perhaps someone from the auto industry can explain this philosophy ?

Obviously Tesla is an exception by taking a more transparent approach to this issue.

Car manufacturers, like all traditional hardware makers, do not really know yet that they have become software makers.

Of course, they know it in the sense that, when you ask whether software is important to their business, they say they won't survive without it, but it is not in their genes yet.

Televisions, printers, washing machines, thermostats, even mobile phones made by traditional phone makers have the same issue.

If smartphones are an indication, old-style hardware manufacturers will either slowly change or disappear.

I agree. and car manufacturers should focus on making cars, that's a handful already. why not "outsource" the consoles to other more UX aware companies and just provide a universal connector. Imagine being able to plug in your favorite tablet in your car where the console is, and your car app will just popup. It makes sense especially for entertainment since you already have your music, and movies and games (for the rear seats).

Car makers do actually purchase (complete, in many cases) subsystems from suppliers. Features like dashboards, multimedia systems, LCD screens, the vehicle speed projection on screen, line hold, braking assistance, injection systems including the control unit and many others from 3rd party suppliers like Bosch, Continental, Delphi, Autoliv etc. Many patents behind innovations and inventions in modern cars are not held by automakers themselves, but by their suppliers (including software).

Of course, automakers do have a SW department of their own and their involvement varies from project to project.

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