How long until they start putting some kind of DRM in cars that prevents you from just installing an aftermarket android auto head unit?
this post was submitted on 28 Dec 2025
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They've been trying that for a while. They do it by routing critical cat functions through the radio that don't need to go through there.
Daaaamn. The closest thing I could think of was my friends’ 96 (98? Whenever the EK body started) Honda civic that had the factory alarm and remote locks in the radio. He ended up splicing some wires and shoving the factory radio into his glove box or something to get around it.
So manufacturers can bill you monthly for the same features...
oh look another problem I'm too poor to have
Fucking clickbait titles jfc
2015 cars came with bluetooth support for hands free calling using your phone. This was great.
After that, it was replaced with carplay or android auto as the only means to get hands free calling. Stupid...stupid.
Plus, last 2 new cars i bought, i had to take the interior roof apart so i could access the built in cellular antennae wire and remove that spyware P.O.S. And by the way, car works fine without it.
They didn't really replace it though. Pretty much every modern car sold today has Bluetooth. You don't have to use android auto.
Toyota didn't have Android Auto for many years after 2015
2017 Toyota. Android auto was optional. We opted not to pay for it
Toyota also had Bluetooth before then as well in fact many cars had Bluetooth before then. I had two 2014 vehicles including one Tacoma which I still have that is Bluetooth but not Android auto. I will say having Android auto is nice but it is limited as well. My new 2024 RAV4 has Android auto wireless and it's fantastic.
My 2018 Camry doesn't interestingly enough
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I am always surprised I don't hear more discussion about Automotive Grade Linux.
Gonna be honest. Its a multi thousand kilo death machine. I'm going to leave it to professionals to fuck with. I'm going to force as much of the liability on others as I can.
Because it's corporate controlled embedded Linux, you aren't guaranteed any freedom or control. Hell you aren't even guaranteed access to a debug menu. Technically a car manufacturer could make a open a free car running embedded Linux that does give you freedom but the chances are absurdly low.
TiVoization
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