(Ended) Comma 3x Sale for $899

[gerrylum]

Thanks for that. I really do not like that a third party can collect data from my vehicle. Seems like Rivian should be able to lock that so that only they can read our data. Smacks of Big Brother.

It's just a fact of the landscape we live in. No manufacturer controls 100% of their tech stack. Whether it's map data from Google or Mapbox, vehicle connectivity through cellular carriers, or cloud processing via AWS or Azure, there are always third-party partnerships involved. These external services often collect telemetry, location, or usage data as part of their operations. So even if you trust your carmaker, you’re inherently also trusting the ecosystem they’ve built around your vehicle — and that includes every company they’ve integrated with.

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[LivingInKaos]

It's just a fact of the landscape we live in. No manufacturer controls 100% of their tech stack. Whether it's map data from Google or Mapbox, vehicle connectivity through cellular carriers, or cloud processing via AWS or Azure, there are always third-party partnerships involved. These external services often collect telemetry, location, or usage data as part of their operations. So even if you trust your carmaker, you’re inherently also trusting the ecosystem they’ve built around your vehicle — and that includes every company they’ve integrated with.

I wouldn't be surprised if they start bouncing bluetooth between vehicles too like an airtag at some point. For AI driving, this has some great potential, if the vehicles could actually talk to one another - like a vehicle in the blind spot of another sending a signal that it's moving left and the other vehicle can send back, hey dummy don't do that.....

 

[Birdowin]

Yes, if all vehicles would do that then traffic congestion could be reduced by a massive amount, not to mention accidents. Of course that is a long ways off. Imagine if it could re-route traffic from high traffic areas to less used routes. Also vehicles could safely drive much closer together.

 

[Birdowin]

I keep hearing great things about Comma 3x. Is there anyone out there that has had a bad experience with it. When we first had my wife's 2015 Tesla the driver assist was pretty scary in some situations but got better fairly quickly.

 

[gerrylum]

I keep hearing great things about Comma 3x. Is there anyone out there that has had a bad experience with it. When we first had my wife's 2015 Tesla the driver assist was pretty scary in some situations but got better fairly quickly.

Honestly, even at its weakest, the Comma 3X with Openpilot outclasses Driver+ to the point where comparing them feels pointless. That's why you'll be hard pressed to find someone who's had a bad experience with it, because the Driver+ experience is just THAT much worse.

 

[harkco]

Is this compatible with the new car play harness that is being developed here by another user? I would like to do both, but don’t want to be a beta tester if it is currently unknown.

 

[Southern R1S]

Came from local news out of Seattle. They bought driving data that was collected by a third party from most brands of vehicles. They don't have personal data. However, the important thing that was mentioned is that they can see if certain vehicles are traveling the same roads at the same speeds frequently. So if you say have a stretch of road you go 100mph in frequently, they can see that and can sit and wait for you next time. That wasn't their goal to start though. The idea is that they can see for speed traffic patterns and patrol those areas harder to create safety zones.

People forget their cell phones (which contain extremely precise GPS chips, broadcast unique identifiers, and can be easily triangulated via cell towers and wifi networks) are essentially active tracking devices enabled at all times.

That's not me wearing a tin hat (spoiler: I carry my iPhone with me pretty much 100% of the time), but it's just a reality & I pretty much assume that any data my vehicle collects / is capable of sending out is less detailed than what the phone I have with me while driving that vehicle is capable of.

Is this compatible with the new car play harness that is being developed here by another user? I would like to do both, but don’t want to be a beta tester if it is currently unknown.

I believe that "EVPlay" is still vaporware at the current moment (unless I'm mistaken, units haven't shipped yet & the dev has been understandably silent on sharing how the mechanism works in an effort to maximize how long it takes for Rivian to patch the exploit and/or others to rip off his work and sell similar devices) so doubt anyone truly knows, but no reason to think they wouldn't both be compatible (assuming you aren't relying on OBD-II to power both units).

EV Play's website does mention the need to remove the panel under the dash and "plugging in a few connectors" - but I can't imagine any reason why that product would need to access the ADAS system (like Comma AI understandably needs to do) in order to work.

 

[narmstrong79]

I'm surprised no comments or questions here yet. I have over 9100 miles of assisted driving and can answer questions. I may not have all the answers, but @gerrylum is listening here as well. I'm sure between the two of us we can fill you in. Gerry also has a bunch of great YouTube content. Very worth while going to check it out and subscribe to stay informed !

The Electric Valentines - YouTube

Besides using this on non-mapped roads. what's the real benefit over Gen 1 Driver plus? I don't typically engage cruise control unless on a highway and most the highways are mapped here in my area (New England). Driver+ while still trash for this price point and should be more capable with the hardware it has, stayed engaged for most of my highway drive only turning off in a few spots (bridges which they didnt map i guess) and when the lines on the highway are present (I.e Road work being done or recently completed) . at 20% off i'm interested in getting one.

Other question: Do you leave it installed at all times? If so, does the unit ever overhead especially in direct sunlight ? The cabin reaches over 120 degrees at times.

 

[gerrylum]

Besides using this on non-mapped roads. what's the real benefit over Gen 1 Driver plus? I don't typically engage cruise control unless on a highway and most the highways are mapped here in my area (New England). Driver+ while still trash for this price point and should be more capable with the hardware it has, stayed engaged for most of my highway drive only turning off in a few spots (bridges which they didnt map i guess) and when the lines on the highway are present (I.e Road work being done or recently completed) . at 20% off i'm interested in getting one.

Other question: Do you leave it installed at all times? If so, does the unit ever overhead especially in direct sunlight ? The cabin reaches over 120 degrees at times.

It's a hands-free system that works on all roads, and has features like MADS which makes hands-free driving on local roads a breeze. If you're lucky enough that Driver+ works on most of your roads and you don't really care about non-highway driving any of the other features, there probably isn't much of a benefit for you.

The unit *can* overheat if, for example, you're parking in the direct sunlight and leave it up on the windshield. I live in Texas and sometimes leave it up - it basically says the temp is high when you turn it on and the fan spins up. It won't let you activate driver assist until it cools down which takes a few minutes.

I also have it on a magnetic mount so I can quickly put it up and take it down, which I usually do if I'm parking in the sun - mostly so I can put my windshield shade up.

 

[LivingInKaos]

Besides using this on non-mapped roads. what's the real benefit over Gen 1 Driver plus? I don't typically engage cruise control unless on a highway and most the highways are mapped here in my area (New England). Driver+ while still trash for this price point and should be more capable with the hardware it has, stayed engaged for most of my highway drive only turning off in a few spots (bridges which they didnt map i guess) and when the lines on the highway are present (I.e Road work being done or recently completed) . at 20% off i'm interested in getting one.

Other question: Do you leave it installed at all times? If so, does the unit ever overhead especially in direct sunlight ? The cabin reaches over 120 degrees at times.

1. You mentioned the unmapped roads- this is one big factor. But also, with the right software (sunnypilot) you only need cruise control to initiate the drive, but can turn cruise control off and operate the throttle as normal. This makes city driving or highly curvy roads useable. Another benefit is that it is smoother operating than D+, not jerky like D+ can be at times. There is automatic lane change as well with settings in how that functions.

2. There are magnetic mounts available to make removal of the unit quick. Even with the standard slide mount, removing and re-mounting is not a huge deal. I tend to leave it in my rig all the time except when I bring it in the office to upload.

(Guess I should have figured Gerry would beat me to it here )

 

[narmstrong79]

2. There are magnetic mounts available to make removal of the unit quick.

You both mentioned these mounts, where do I find that?

 

[LivingInKaos]

You both mentioned these mounts, where do I find that?

There's a few opitions. They are listed on page 3 of this tips and tricks document HERE

 

[gerrylum]

You both mentioned these mounts, where do I find that?

Check out Erich Moraga's youtube channel. He's reviewed all the mag mounts that are currently out there and tells you how to get them:

https://www.youtube.com/@ErichMoraga

I use the Chun mount.

 

[Riviot]

Thanks for that. I really do not like that a third party can collect data from my vehicle. Seems like Rivian should be able to lock that so that only they can read our data. Smacks of Big Brother.

It's just a fact of the landscape we live in. No manufacturer controls 100% of their tech stack. Whether it's map data from Google or Mapbox, vehicle connectivity through cellular carriers, or cloud processing via AWS or Azure, there are always third-party partnerships involved. These external services often collect telemetry, location, or usage data as part of their operations. So even if you trust your carmaker, you’re inherently also trusting the ecosystem they’ve built around your vehicle — and that includes every company they’ve integrated with.

I understand collecting the data and that data drives progress with these systems, I don't have issue there. My issue is with the reaction to someone abusing the return policy; "we know who/where you and your GPS camera are, I hope you don't connect to our servers. We won't ban you, but..." It's reminiscent of Tesla's programmers abusing their system and spying on people (linked below, and one reason I'll never buy a Tesla). Rivian collects your data and camera images as well, but doesn't threaten to brick your car because someone abuses a sale/return system.

https://www.reuters.com/technology/...-images-recorded-by-customer-cars-2023-04-06/

 

[LivingInKaos]

I understand collecting the data and that data drives progress with these systems, I don't have issue there. My issue is with the reaction to someone abusing the return policy; "we know who/where you and your GPS camera are, I hope you don't connect to our servers. We won't ban you, but..." It's reminiscent of Tesla's programmers abusing their system and spying on people (linked below, and one reason I'll never buy a Tesla). Rivian collects your data and camera images as well, but doesn't threaten to brick your car because someone abuses a sale/return system.

https://www.reuters.com/technology/...-images-recorded-by-customer-cars-2023-04-06/

Was it the right place to go with the conversation, probably not. He was just getting frustrated with the back and forth. We all say things we regret later. Comma is not a big company by any means and customer engagement is a learned thing. Would he actually do what he was suggesting, I highly doubt it. Dealing with the public takes a special kind of person and I know for one, I'm not that kind

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