In the end, the KIA car company made its cars into subscription models, I really hate this because in the end the car we buy with our own money doesn’t feel like it belongs to us. Should we finally buy an old school car ? so as not to be affected by this subscription models or is there a way to crack the software installed in it ?

  • danc4498@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    Worth noting that these features appear to require your car to be connected to a cellular network. This isn’t the same as BMW charging a fee for heated seats.

    They could have just put a SIM card in your car and required you to pay your cell phone provider for a connection.

    • PriorityMotif@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      You don’t need a cellular connection for long range, low bandwidth communication. There are networks such as Lora that don’t require a paid subscription to use.

      • danc4498@lemmy.world
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        9 months ago

        That’s not what this is though. I have a Hyundai Tuscan that is always connected to a cellular network.

        I can always connect with the car with my phone if both the car and phone have internet access. It’s also how the “find my car” feature works. And also I believe software updates (OS and maps).

        • PriorityMotif@lemmy.world
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          9 months ago

          I meant that they don’t have to use a cellular connection, they could use something else if they wished. LoRa is a two way data connection designed for low bandwidth, long distance. Range can be anywhere from 3-10 miles depending on obstructions/obstacles. There are other similar protocols out there.

          • danc4498@lemmy.world
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            9 months ago

            3-10 miles is nothing though. With a cell phone connection your car can be anywhere a cell tower is and you can connect with it.

            • PriorityMotif@lemmy.world
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              9 months ago

              That’s farther than a cell phone. A cell phone might get 3 miles maybe more if you have the high ground. It’s a lower frequency and therefore has a longer range. There are both public and private gateways for LoRa. So you can use it even if you don’t own or operate a gateway.

              • danc4498@lemmy.world
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                9 months ago

                Maybe you misunderstood me. My car can be in New York City and I’m in Los Angeles and I can check it’s location and lock/unlock the doors

    • Wogi@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      I have something similar for my Subaru but it’s only 4 dollars a month.

      It’s a fee I gladly pay to be able to start my car and set the interior climate from my phone. I imagine there’s some cost the access a network to have that functionality and I don’t see a problem paying for it.

      The old style that started from a key fob required you to be a lot closer to the vehicle to start it. Right now I start it a few minutes before I leave my building a quarter of a mile away. I could start it from a different country if I wanted to. Needing to be within a few hundred feet would be pretty useless to me.

          • Deiv@lemmy.ca
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            9 months ago

            Yea, maybe like 4 cents a month lol it’s nowhere near 4 dollars a month to handle a hundred lightweight API calls

          • Compactor9679@lemm.ee
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            9 months ago

            You have already pay for it. Soon “cant turn Air on if you dont pay 1dll a month”

      • _g_be@lemmy.world
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        9 months ago

        What about when a security vulnerability is discovered and your car can be started and unlocked by someone else? That’s one of my concerns with smart features from companies that aren’t primarily tech companies

      • FurtiveFugitive@lemm.ee
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        9 months ago

        Congrats on the new Subaru. I also happily paid for the app using the introduction 3 year plan. Hit me up when you hit year 4 and see the REAL price tag they charge.

      • InTheEnd2021@lemmy.world
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        9 months ago

        This is free elsewhere. The fact that you’re okay paying monthly for remote start is hilarious and sad. Probably don’t tell people you’re okay with this.

        The tesla app does an INSANE amount of shit no other vehicle app does and its free. But you want to pay monthly to turn your car on 😆

      • JJLinux@lemmy.ml
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        9 months ago

        Very personal opinion of mine, I hate subscription crap. However, I have to agree that, based on what you say, Subaru’s cost is much easier to digest than Hyundai/Kia POS.

      • danc4498@lemmy.world
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        9 months ago

        Same for me. I have the blue link with Hyundai. It’s free for 3 years, then a reasonable amount after that.