Renault Opens Up the 'Car As a Platform' 318
pbahra writes "Renault has launched what it describes as a 'tablet,' an integrated Android device built into its next range of cars, effectively opening the way to the car-as-a-platform. At the Le Web conference last year, Renault's chief executive, Carlos Ghosn, announced the company's intention to open up the car to developers, safety considerations not withstanding. 'The car is becoming a new platform,' said Mr. Hoffstetter. He said the seven-inch device can be controlled by voice recognition or by buttons on the steering wheel. 'We need help now,' he said. 'We need developers to work on apps.' When it launches, there will be about 50 apps bundled with the device, mostly written by Renault. 'We will open a Renault app store for people to download their own apps,' he said."
While I like the idea of such apps for certain purposes — a maintenance interface, less-inconvenient navigation and stereo controls, interesting driving stats — I'm skeptical of the average driver's ability to use one of these without turning his car into a 3,000-lb angry bird.
Sounds like a downgrade (Score:5, Interesting)
While I'm a big Android supporter, having Android in your car sounds (mostly) like a downgrade. The in-car systems now are VASTLY more reliable than and smartphone/tablet I've come across, and running very reliable real-time OSes like QNX. Unlike phones, they have to meet the regulatory requirements of all other new car parts... being fully functional for 10 years, and working on the last day of the 10th year exactly like they did on day 1. It's a very different model.
The desire to have better in-car navigation systems is completely understandable, but car companies are well aware of this need as well, and will soon be addressing these concerns without throwing away their entire systems. (No, I can't provide any details)
The fragmentation of smartphone platforms is much more significant of an issue than in-car systems. Apps need to be cheap or free to entice end users. But when it's bundled with your vehicle, even a couple hundred bucks for an app is lost in the noise of the car's sticker price. With that kind of money available, in-car systems can be as fragmented as the manufacturers want, and they'll still attract developers because the smaller market and specialized skills are more than made up for by the larger sale price.
Re:Speaking as a road user not in a 4,000lb box... (Score:2, Interesting)
As a walker, I've noticed it is usually drivers of upscale vehicles (BMW is especially bad) that try to kill me as I cross streets.
I always assumed it was that only assholes bought status symbol cars, but maybe it isn't just that. Maybe those cars with all the silly worthless crap like windshield wipers for the headlights have more worthless, but distracting, entertainment crap inside them too.
Re:Obsolesence (Score:5, Interesting)
Compare and contrast with Voyager 1. Made 35 years ago, and the technology is so reliable it's still sending data back home from outside of the solar system.
For cars I can imagine something similar to car audio. You get something up-to date with a new car, and you put up with the fact that it ages. Eventually someone purchases it as a used car and decides the audio isn't good enough, and fits an updated one.
Between those two points, the actual music (the apps) change with the times, even if the hardware doesn't.
SAAB was first with this concept (Score:4, Interesting)
SAAB was first with this concept, in their IQON system:
http://media.saab.com/press-releases/2011-03-01/world-first-saab-saab-iqon-open-innovation-car-infotainment [saab.com]
Too bad it will likely never see production since SAAB is probably going to be dead next week. (one could argue SAAB is already dead and the mortician just hasn't declared time of death yet)
Re:Or, translated in plain english (Score:5, Interesting)
This isn't useless.
If the platform can read OBD, CAN, and other automotive buses, it is possible to write the equivalent of a Tech-II app, design your own gauges, your own trip efficiency calculators (and "most efficient" driving route), and possibly even design your own tuning profile (timing, fuel curve, boost pressure, etc.) or install a tuning profile from your preferred tuner, as well as enable vehicle options (e.g., if you change your head unit, add a disc changer (does anyone still bother with those?), add fog lights, etc.) and program driver profiles. There is a lot this can do for you.
The down side is: if everything (HVAC/defroster, radio tuning presets and volume control, etc) is done through the touch screen, I could see an increase in avoidable collisions occurring. They should never replace physical controls but merely augment them.
Re:Or, translated in plain english (Score:5, Interesting)
What's particularly a pain in the arse about BMW is that from at least the E30/E34/E32 family onwards the central locking actuators have a mechanical locking mechanism that prevents the lock rod being pulled out against the motor - that is, when the central locking is on the locks can't even be released from the inside, or with the key.
Now, imagine you need to recover a nice new 3-series with an electrical fault. There's no power, so the central locking doesn't work. You can't unlock it with the key (the newest models don't even have external locks). Even if you take out a window you can't get the doors open. You can't even release the locks without removing the door card, but you can't do that because the door is still closed and you haven't got room to get at it. You can't get at the wiring to the actuators (and in any case the newest cars use CANBus to talk to them so you're out of luck until you get the electrics back up. You can't get at the body ECU without the passenger door open, without sitting in a weird upside down yoga pose on the passenger seat, legs wrapped around the headrest and head under the dashboard (and if you can do that for any length of time I'd like to meet your sister).
At this point, just sawing the car in half, fixing the locks, and welding it back together starts to look like a viable option.