Google Snags Ford Cloud Partnership in Coup Over Microsoft (bloomberg.com) 42
Google signed a six-year deal with Ford Motor that will bring Android technology to the automaker's cars and cloud services to its factory floor, in a triumph for the internet giant over rival Microsoft. From a report: Google Cloud Platform will be Ford's "preferred cloud provider" and the partners will form an innovation team called Team Upshift to jointly work on future projects, the companies said Monday in a statement. Ford dashboard infotainment screens will be powered by an Android operating system starting in 2023 and the automaker will adopt Google's artificial intelligence and data-analytics technology. The companies did not disclose the value of their deal, but Google will receive revenue from cloud services as well as a Google apps and services licensing fee for every Ford and Lincoln vehicle sold starting in 2023. Thomas Kurian, chief executive officer of Google Cloud, is trying to sell the Alphabet company's computing and storage services through broad strategic partnerships. Fresh off a multiyear alliance with Deutsche Bank announced in December, Google has snagged Ford, a longtime Microsoft client. Google will need to continue accumulating these types of customer wins to catch cloud market leaders Amazon.com and Microsoft.
So now you have to worry about (Score:4, Interesting)
the cloud provider your car/truck is using as a purchasing decision?
I'm still looking for a good condition '67 Chevelle, with no computers at all. Or maybe a minivan.
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I'm still looking for a good condition '67 Chevelle, with no computers at all. Or maybe a minivan.
No way, man. A '70 hemi Challenger.
Logged into Google Maps? (Score:2)
So my car will be permanently logged into Google Maps?
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According the CEO of Ford the google business model is kind of the plan: https://boingboing.net/2018/11... [boingboing.net]
Ford, Schmord (Score:2)
And at the end of six years? You could end up like me where Ford yanked the carpet under from under our Microsoft-based system while they were still under warranty basically saying "Suck it, customers, no more bug fixes/features for you." I imagine the same thing is happening now with their present QNX-based systems.
Anyone got a '70 Beetle for sale? Between that, and Ford's (you have no...) Privacy Policy, it's time for tech and driving to diverge.
Re:Ford, Schmord (Score:4, Interesting)
Agreed. Cars can last ten or even twenty years. After six years, this is going to be a tech brick. Google is not exactly known for its long-term support of its products [killedbygoogle.com].
The fact that Ford will have to pay for this service ongoing means that they'll either transfer the cost to owners, or will be quick to kill the deal after the term is done. In short, this is an incentive for me to stay away from new Ford vehicles.
Cars need to get away from the "smart TV" mentality and offer standardized integration with existing devices, whatever brand, and however much or little is desired.
RIP Sync 4. (Score:2)
While I am sure the Android navigation will be smoother and always up to date, I wonder if navigation maps will simply fail to work beyond a few miles if their is a network outage, leaving you possibly lost in the middle of a road trip. There is something to be said for storing all the maps on board, even if a year out of date.
Stop trying to be a Tesla (Score:3)
The problem with Auto makers today is they are trying to get Big Tech firms to make the Car Infotainment to be like a Tesla.
Tesla make Computers that happen to have car like feature, while Ford makes cars that happen to have computer like features.
I am seeing many new cars, with a table for its dashboard, and over the air updates to its software. However for the most part what is created ads little to the driving experience.
This works for Tesla because they are electric cars, and they take a while to charge up. This is why they have plush seating, advanced computing experience and a good sound system. The use case is waiting for the 20-40 minutes to charge up, is that you have something to do during that time.
For you ICE Cars, the advanced infotainment is only going to get in the way, because after you are done driving, you turn off the car and leave it. While driving, you may just want a good quality GPS maps, and be able to listen and hear your music.
I am not complaining about Electric Cars hear, just pointing out that they are being used differently, and features for one doesn't necessarily work well with others.
For most of you daily Electric Driving, you plug in at the end of the day, and leave in the morning with a full charge, so you are not spending as much time filling up gas, because you can fill up at home when you won't be driving. However while you are on a longer trip, you will need to charge up, if you do, it will take a while. So you may want to watch a show or a movie, while it is charging.
Also Tesla are still expensive cars, While the newer models are not excessive, they are still in the price of a luxury brand, not the price you expect to pay for a Ford brand. They are better suited at the low-mid range price and quality, this isn't bad, as it is what most people can afford to get, and they can make it up with volume.
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For most of you daily Electric Driving, you plug in at the end of the day, and leave in the morning with a full charge, so you are not spending as much time filling up gas, because you can fill up at home when you won't be driving. However while you are on a longer trip, you will need to charge up, if you do, it will take a while. So you may want to watch a show or a movie, while it is charging.
Which is why I think hybrids are the best of both worlds.
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Hybrids have the problem of having an engine and a motor and battery. The long term use of these will not lead to lower priced cars, compared to All Electric or All ICE. Being that you need space for both, performance normally suffers. That is why you don't have Prius considered mussel cars.
I am a Prius owner, while I normally get about 60mpg off of it, it requires me to be a little slower, and if I have to pass a car, I need to make sure I can really do it, as it may take me a half a mile to pass a car
Re: Stop trying to be a Tesla (Score:2)
The Europeans have a nice selection of performance hybrids. I have a new Volvo V60 T8. About 400hp, AWD, and you can drive it as a full EV for 45km. I plug it in at home and rarely ever need the gas engine unless Iâ(TM)m going on a roadtrip.
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For most of you daily Electric Driving, you plug in at the end of the day, and leave in the morning with a full charge, so you are not spending as much time filling up gas, because you can fill up at home when you won't be driving.
I drive a cheap economy car that gets 39 MPG on the highway. I'm just guessing here, but I'm not sure how much time is actually saved when you've gotta futz with a charging cord every time you leave/return home, versus just gassing up on the way to your destination when the tank is low.
Yeah, I suppose if one always parks in a garage and can hang the cord up right next to the car it's probably not so bad. But for the typical suburban dweller with a garage full of crap and the car parked in the driveway, th
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for the typical suburban dweller with a garage full of crap
The problem there is not with the car. I don't get why people are so disorganized / hang on to so much junk.
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Most Electric Cars are cheaper than you 39mpg. If you look at the eMPG, you can get cars that are the equivalent on getting 100+ Mpg. Also charging at home you may pay $50 a month more to charge your car, and drive 300 miles a week. vs paying say $100 to fill up your tank.
Electric Cars are still not for everyone, there is a need for better charging infrastructure, especially around residential parking areas. A friend of mine got himself a new Car an ICE Car, he paid good money for it, where he could ha
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Most Electric Cars are cheaper than you 39mpg. If you look at the eMPG, you can get cars that are the equivalent on getting 100+ Mpg.
Mostly, my point was that charging at home isn't necessarily a time-saver. I'd personally consider having to coil and uncoil a cord each time I took a trip to be far more annoying than having to stop at a gas station.
As to the economics of an EV though, the purchase only represents a savings if you were in the market for a car in the price range of an EV in the first place. The difference in price between the car I'm driving and a Chevy Bolt, would buy a LOT of gas. In fact, at today's prices, it would b
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I think you missed the /s tag.
Actual EV owner here. Your claim is ridiculous.
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I should add that we have 2 EVs. One of which is normally parked on the driveway and the other in the garage, along with a load of crap in the garage, so I have experienced the exact scenario that you think would be annoying. It's not.
It's much less annoying than standing next to a cold car in the rain, holding a dirty filler, standing in the prior motorist's spilled gasoline. Or having the tank burp and send gasoline shooting out of the filler tube onto my arm.
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I cannot imagine anything I want less than a subscription service for a car (which Tesla just announced for their self-driving code). Or OTA updates for something whose use-case is so well defined already. I don't want to be spied on as I drive around. Why am I doomed to a ten+-year-old car?
Google's artificial intelligence & data-analyt (Score:3)
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Or more likely, "No Android Phone? No Cruising for you, bucko!"
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Ford and Google should publish the text of the agreement. You know, for transparency and to show good faith to their customers.
Opting out (Score:2)
Just give me the base radio and I'll buy a bluetooth/radio adapter to play my audiobooks. Or better yet, just delete the whole system and I'll buy one for two hundred bucks that does what I need without any cloud intervention. If I need a map and I'm off-grid, I'll have a tablet loaded with a GPS map.
One more reason not to buy Ford (Score:2)
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That would require a uniform communication protocol between the vehicle and the infotainment platform because manufacturers aren't going to support more than one. And the infotainment providers won't want to cooperate as that would decrease their ability to turn you into an annuity.
"Hi there, I see you want to be entertained. Is your monthly check in the mail? No lying, we see you when you are sleeping, ya'know."
the spy machine (Score:2)
That means Ads in your infotainment screen (Score:1)
Watch this ads to unlock heated seat. Have 0.03s better acceleration to beat the car next to you to the red light.
And BTW, you'll need a Google account to play the radio or listening music.
I hated sync so very very much (Score:2)
For example. I don't want my car dialling 911 if my airbags go off. So, I would turn that feature off. Every bloody time I would start the car, the voice would come on and tell me that the emergency service
Makes sense based on history between Ford & MS (Score:3, Informative)
All auto infotainment will lose support, but.... (Score:2)
With Android it MIGHT be easier for techy hobbyists to access and manipulate systems.
I doubt that though.
Infotainment should have relied on smartphone docking since they've been able to read OBD for many years and could share with a touch screen easily enough, but auto companies want a standard system for their convenience.
As a mechanic-owner I want a system I can remove and upgrade or replace but that's wildly unlikely to ever be offered. The obvious DIY option is disable OTA remote access after your vehic
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My mom recently bought a new car. She wanted help hooking up her Android tablet so she could listen to podcasts. "No problem," I said.
On my 2015 car, there's Bluetooth, there's a USB port that I think only supports certain-gen iPods, and finally there's an aux 3.55 mm stereo jack that I can plug a wire into. That wire, of course, supports any audio device at all with absolutely no worries.
On her 2020, there's Bluetooth (but with a little pop/stutter every few seconds that makes it very hard to listen to), t
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That's why I only buy phones with audio jack. Guess now I need to pay attention to audio jacks in cars too.
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Good move (Score:2)
I'm the prime market for expensive new vehicles... (Score:2)
And just NO. I don't want a goddamn touchscreen at 70mph, I want knobs I can turn without taking my eyes off the road and staring into something bright while driving at night. When I'm in the car I want to DRIVE, not fumble with somebody's shit entertainment system and repetitive childlike warnings. I have a fucking supercomputer in my pocket, and it gets directions on its own, reads them to me when necessary, and if I want to poke at a screen, I'll pull i
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If you bought it from a dealer, the dealer sold them your details. If a private seller, then your DMV sold them the details.
I bought a new vehicle with Sirius XM. They wrote to me a lot. I ignored all the letters, except for that one time
strange decision (Score:2)
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"Coup" over Microsoft? (Score:1)