Daimler, not Daimler-Benz
they changed name years ago.
A job ad posted by Daimler-Benz has lit the world up with speculation about Google's plans to keep pace with Apple in the in-car operating system market. The ad, posted here, is calling for an engineer to work on “Google Projected Mode” technology, to integrate Google's technology with Mercedes' MBConnect communications system …
All the major brands will support both iOS and Android in a few years, all the announcements now are just Apple and Google jockeying for mindshare and trying to make people think this support means much of anything. It isn't like the car is running the OS, the entertainment/nav system will have integration for the products.
Consider how long a car lasts. Does anyone expect iOS and Android to be around in anything like their current form in 2030? 16 years ago Windows 98 was new and shiny, and Linux was a hobbyist OS. A lot can change over the years, so I'm not sure I want a new car to support anything CE product beyond a simple interface to get info/sound/graphics in and sound.
You really don't know much about car systems, do you?
Are we talking about an iPod connection in to the stereo, or are we talking about voice integration with a phone and the voice activated commands in the car?
Historically in the 90's MB integrated with a Moto flip phone for many years. Then you had hands free and it could interrogate the phone's contact list.
Today, you do that all by blue tooth so the phone really doesn't matter.
But when you start integrating the phone/data tech beyond just the phone's capabilities... that's when you start to get to the point where you have to pick and choose.
My wife's car already sends her emails telling her it needs service or that tires (tyres for the chaps on the east side of the pond) need air.
"Google Protected Mode" sounds a bit sinister... especially the "Protected" part. Or is this just ploy to provide in-car advertising... like "Low on gas. There's an XYZ fuel station 2 miles ahead on the left" followed by "sponsored ad"?
You already hand of plenty of data in a Merc. German police was able to listen in on criminals via the onboard phone, why does this need expanding to the NSA?
I have no issue with properly controlled and sanctioned intercept as it's a law enforcement tool - the problem is that I don't want to add an uncontrolled 3rd party acquiring the same ability and Google's hands are not exactly clean.