Giles of the JungleMay 21, 2025

@neil I feel like I'm being chased around the Internet by a slimy AI slop monster that's insidiously engulfing everything I use. It used to be I could just ignore the rubbish bits of the net I didn't like, but no longer.

I hate being forced to move just to avoid all this, not to mention the time involved in learning new tools. And who's to say the services/products I move to won't also succumb?

It's exhausting.

And it takes a huge chunk of enjoyment out of being a fan of tech and computers.

Show threadJohanna JaniszewskiMay 21, 2025
@gilester45 @neil that is so true! "If you don't like it, don't use it" is not working, because that crap is shoved into my face everywhere.
Show threadAdvanced Persistent TeapotMay 21, 2025
@JohannaMakesGames @gilester45 @neil same deal with always-online cars. I -do not want- a continuously-phoning-home car. But do I get that choice for any car newer than 10 years old? No I do not.
Show threadSteve Hill ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บMay 21, 2025
@http_error_418 @JohannaMakesGames @gilester45 @neil my VW has an "offline mode", but who knows how "offline" that really is. I would like to be able to replace the SIM and reliance on VW's (unreliable) servers with a SIM of my choice and a connection to my own server... Not only because of data protection concerns, but because I don't think manufacturers should be able to hold you to ransom with obscene subscription costs to use the "online" functions of the car you paid tens of thousands for.
Show threadBeko PharmMay 21, 2025

@steve you're not alone with this. Do you know about https://docs.openvehicles.com/ already?

@http_error_418 @JohannaMakesGames @gilester45 @neil

Open Vehicles Monitoring System โ€” Open Vehicles documentation

Show threadSteve Hill ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บMay 21, 2025
@bekopharm @http_error_418 @JohannaMakesGames @gilester45 @neil worth noting that if anything pokes at the OBD II port while my car is locked, it will set off the alarm. So there is a limit to what you can retrofit to replicate the official functions (VW ID.3 1st). I believe that later editions of the car are even more locked down.
Show threadBeko PharmMay 21, 2025
@steve yes, this trend is horrible. I don't like it at all. Guess we'll need our own "John Deere" rights to repair campaign.
Show threadSteve Hill ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บMay 21, 2025
@bekopharm to be clear: stopping random devices from meddling in a locked car is probably good security, but it does rather bugger up people who have a legitimate reason to do so.
Show threadBeko PharmMay 21, 2025

@steve dabbling in car hacking I'm very biased on this ๐Ÿคท

Likeโ€ฆ asking customers twice a year for 90 bucks to re-learn TPMS sensors via CAN - a job of 5 minutes after changing tyres - is imho highly immoral. Yes this is a direct jab at Renault.

Show threadSteve Hill ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ

@bekopharm Is this not something that the tyre shop can do for you as part of changing the tyres?

But I'll agree that all main dealers are pretty crap when it comes to charging ยฃ150 for "diagnostics", where "diagnostics" means 5 minutes plugging in to the OBD II port and reading codes, which you could do yourself with a ยฃ20 device.

May 21, 2025 at 10:55amWeb
Show threadSteve Hill ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บMay 21, 2025
@bekopharm I thought that OBD II was introduced because regulators saw that small garages being unable to work on cars (due to not having access to the proprietary systems that main dealers had) was a Bad Thingโ„ข. So I'm surprised that we're now seeing various functions being locked away from generic OBD II dongles again - I would have thought that would not be allowed by the regulations that required OBD II in the first place!
Show threadBeko PharmMay 21, 2025

@steve error codes yes. _Setting_ anything is specific though and manufacturers tend to abuse this and make it a secret so unaffiliated shops have to purchase hardware explicit from that manufacturer. This is especially true when it comes to e.g. TPMS.

And this hardware is expensive, of course. Not because it's complicated and went to new highs of technical engineering - it's simply an artificial monopoly.

Any gorram smartphone can issue ODB commands via serial o0

Show threadBeko PharmMay 21, 2025

@steve it's what every official dealer is supposed to charge by list.

Yes a decent tyre dealer will just ask for a donation to the coffee fund. Been there :)