Ford Tests DIY Firmware Updates 164
wiredmikey writes "This month, Ford is borrowing something from the software industry: updates. With a fleet of new cars using the sophisticated infotainment system they developed with Microsoft called SYNC, Ford has the need to update those vehicles — for both features and security reasons. But how do you update the software in thousands of cars? Traditionally, the automotive industry has resorted to automotive recalls. But now, Ford will be releasing thirty thousand USB sticks to Ford owners with the new SYNC infotainment system, although the update will also be available for online download. In preparing to update your car, Ford encourages users to have a unique USB for each Ford they own, and to have the USB drive empty and not password protected. In the future, updating our gadgets, large and small, will become routine. But for now, it's going to be really cumbersome and a little weird. Play this forward a bit. Image taking Patch Tuesday to a logical extreme, where you walk around your house or office to apply patches to many of the offline gadgets you own."
Re:Wi-Fi? (Score:5, Insightful)
my car crashed (Score:4, Insightful)
no, really. no, not like that. I was just running this firmware update and now there's a note on the dash telling me there was a problem and I need to restart my car? but when I turn the key it won't start anymore?
Re:Wi-Fi? (Score:4, Insightful)
seems more like the sort of thing that should be done routinely when you get your maintenance done, but then mechanic shops would need to have computer techs on staff, and replacement parts for when things go badly.
No way! (Score:4, Insightful)
There is no friggin way i would let Microsoft anywhere near my car. They have a much too bad track record for that. This is something that makes me take two large steps away from any Ford car. I was entertaining getting a Ford but after having read this, no way in hell.
Re:Wait a minute there... (Score:4, Insightful)
Maybe the problem is that touch screens are absolutely terrible in situations where you cant devote your whole attention to them. I can adjust basically everything in my '03 car without taking my eyes off of the road because of this fancy feature called "tactile feedback" which comes standard with all the knobs in my var.
Try doing that with your fancy touch screen. Bonus points if its anywhere near as responsive as the knobs.