Firmware Alternatives in the Future.

[m33rkat]

Since we’re seeing a lot of manufacturers like BMW locking hardware functionality that’s in the car, behind paygates. I’m curios if we’ll see an emergence or push behind rooted/unlocked or even completely replaced firmwares for Rivian and many other cars.

I love my R1T and have been okay with missing a lot of features my 2020 $30k Nissan Rogue has, because the Rivian software has slowly but consistently been closing the gap.
I love my R1T an even the lack of CarPlay support is not that bad if I can expect that Rivian will consistently be updating and improving their software.

I’m definitely going to love my R1T less if I stop receiving these updates which adds capabilities that should have been there anyway, for free. Or, if I am not given an alternative option.

For Example. I don’t need an AT&T hotspot in my car, but I do need traffic updates in my nav. Either allow me to get traffic updates through my phone internet or allow me to use CarPlay. Or something like that.

However, let’s assume or even expect they won’t do that and just fleece us all for stuff that we technically already paid for. Do you think an open source movement for firmware will pop up?

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[sub]

No

 

[jebinc]

Since we’re seeing a lot of manufacturers like BMW locking hardware functionality that’s in the car, behind paygates. I’m curios if we’ll see an emergence or push behind rooted/unlocked or even completely replaced firmwares for Rivian and many other cars.

I love my R1T and have been okay with missing a lot of features my 2020 $30k Nissan Rogue has, because the Rivian software has slowly but consistently been closing the gap.
I love my R1T an even the lack of CarPlay support is not that bad if I can expect that Rivian will consistently be updating and improving their software.

I’m definitely going to love my R1T less if I stop receiving these updates which adds capabilities that should have been there anyway, for free. Or, if I am not given an alternative option.

For Example. I don’t need an AT&T hotspot in my car, but I do need traffic updates in my nav. Either allow me to get traffic updates through my phone internet or allow me to use CarPlay. Or something like that.

However, let’s assume or even expect they won’t do that and just fleece us all for stuff that we technically already paid for. Do you think an open source movement for firmware will pop up?

No

 

[StevePresley]

It could happen, if they keep it open. Based on the job postings, the infotainment system is based on Android. There wad a other position that I looked at around 6 months that used a different real time operating system that I don't recall right off. That would be harder to tweak and debug as it requires specialized VMs that I don't think are available outside of the automotive circle.

 

[Donald Stanfield]

I think there is a different solution to this problem. I will tell you with absolute certainty that I will not be driving a vehicle that locks things like HP or basic functions like heated seats behind a paywall. I will drive a 20 year old beater POS before I get nickel and dimed like that. If enough people got together and told the manufacturer trying that shit they aren't going to tolerate it, it would end.

If rivian wants to charge for wifi fine, if they want to have you buy a subscription pack for holiday sounds/ lighting I'd pay for that too. What I will not do is pay to unlock the HP my truck already has. I will not pay to use my heated or cooled seats or bluetooth music either. I quite like my truck but it's just a thing. The second a company thinks they can unfairly leverage my money for subscriptions to basic features is the second I look for a different company. Middle America wouldn't pay for these features, so why am I getting strong-armed just because I make more?

 

[astonius]

I wish a new automaker would start with the opposite of Rivian's approach. Build a simple infotainment with CarPlay/Android Auto for driving apps and AirPlay/MirrorLink as well as a Chrome web browser when in park. Then over time build bespoke experiences like native navigation, Spotify, Netflix, etc. This would have two major benefits: casting the widest net to please early adopters and freeing up limited dev resources to focus more on the vehicle-specific aspects of the software -- entry/exit, HVAC controls, energy management, dash cam, etc.

 

[VSG]

Rather than speculating and assuming the worst from Rivian, why don't y'all just read the IPO documents and all the other public parts of their business plan? These official documents, which constitute promises to the shareholders, spell out a lot about what Rivian plans to do with membership and how much revenue they expect to earn from membership per vehicle.

Membership has *always* been planned as part of their revenue stream. In general terms, membership was going to be free for some initial period (1 year?) then monetized. At this point, Rivian is pretty much obligated to start charging for membership because that is what they promised shareholders as part of the IPO.

Rivian started shipping to customers about 1 year ago.

Therefore, I EXPECTED Rivian to start communicating about membership revenue right about now. Didn't you?

Even the fact that their communications suck and raise more questions than answers was to be expected. Why go off into the weeds with all the conspiracy nonsense, when this latest email was just par for the course?

Do you think an open source movement for firmware will pop up?

I have been heavily involved in open source since before it was called open source. Before Linux existed, for example. There will always be people who hack the firmware, but releasing a full vehicle firmware as open source would open up incredible liability to whoever participated. All it takes is one fatal crash due to software (FSD anyone?) and any contributor will be bankrupted, whether there is a disclaimer on the software or not. You can't just give away crack and blame the user for the consequences.

 

[elektrode]

I won’t even install rooted/jailbreak firmware on my phone. No way I’m putting that stuff in my car.

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