EPA emissions tech: Please report the current engine NOx level. Passat: Ok, I found this on the web for "Engine knocks level"... EPA emissions tech: Please report engine PM 2.5 particulate level. Passat: Here's what I found on the web for 'Engine p.m. 2.5 particulate level"...
It's a match made in heaven.
I wish Apple the best, but the truth is that AI powered software made by Apple just isn't good. But I still prefer Apples stance to data privacy a lot more than what Google does, even if it means it's a bit behind.
But at this point, I think the only ways to catch up is to gobble up a few AI powered startups with their cash.
I wonder how much this was about Apple being "spurned by BMW and Mercedes", and how much it was about "no other car manufacturer was as desperate for sales and PR as post-dieselgate Volkswagen - or were prepared to sign up to Apple's offer of outrageously onerous terms and privacy/IP ownership clauses"?
"Apple once had grand aspirations to build its own electric self-driving car and lead the next generation of transportation. Over time, the tech giant’s ambitions ran into reality." Reality is Apple can buy VW AG for cash twice.
I wish Apple would stop chasing trends like self-driving cars and augmented reality. They used to have a strong vision for the future -- now it just looks like they're out of ideas.
I'm continually shocked at how easy tech companies think it will be to build a car.
It seems like there's been a lot more of their Lexus cars on the road in my part of Sunnyvale the past few weeks. They look like this: https://goo.gl/images/Kt9t3M
>In late 2015, Apple bought two Lexus S.U.V.s and hired a Virginia firm called Torc Robotics to retrofit the vehicles
More about Torc Robotics, founded by Virginia Tech autonomous vehicle competition team:
Unless I misread this deal seems to only cover shuttling for their employees. I think Apple has realized how far behind they are in this area and I'm not sure what they can do at this point to keep up with Waymo and others.
The project has suffered from repeated changes in direction that have hurt morale and led to hundreds of departures from its peak of more than 1,000 members two years ago, five former Apple employees said. ...
Instead, Apple has signed a deal with Volkswagen to turn some of the carmaker’s new T6 Transporter vans into Apple’s self-driving shuttles for employees — a project that is behind schedule and consuming nearly all of the Apple car team’s attention, said three people familiar with the project.
This is more like "we give up, but will do a symbolic project so we don't look too stupid."
This is harder to do than the web/mobile crowd thought. This is hard real time high-reliability, like avionics. Google/Waymo gets this. Most of the others don't. So far, Tesla, Uber, Volvo, and Apple have failed. Not sure about Cruise yet, but I saw one of their vehicles get stuck behind a double-parked car in SF and the human had to take over.
Anecdata: It used to be an almost perfect predictor in my social circles that people who owned a VW also owned lots of Apple gear. Two different people I knew where both VW enthusiasts AND Apple iPod collectors (these two things used to also be strong predictors of several other consumer habits coincidentally).
It's a good match in terms of synergy, but I don't see it doing much to grow the customer base of either company even if it might grow the revenue per customer. A term I've used for it in the past is "choir mining" where you keep squeezing your existing customers.
Can they please make Maps and Siri usable first?
The world is in need of a good computer company that actually cares about computers and wont get distracted by devices, TV shows and definitely not cars.
I really wonder why they chose a T6 as the platform, if MOIA as a 100% daughter of Volkswagen already has developed a vehicle very close to what is described as goal for the T6: https://www.moia.io/vehicle/
I wonder if this is the Motorola ROKR all over again
Autonomous vehicles are a safety issue and should be open source, not a race to innovate.
Dogfooding your driverless car software by driving your fellow employees around in a van powered by it?
There could be some awkward moments in the cafeteria chatting with your workmate, who's in a neckbrace after a software glitch.
I guess all bets are off on them fixing their lineup of computer hardware then.
I suspect they will end up in the same situation as they did with Motorola more than a decade ago, until someone reminds them that the people who are serious about software should make their own hardware.
Somewhat surprising since it seems that Audi (owned by VWAG) is so entrenched in the Google (Android Auto and Android Automotive) ecosystem. Although not entirely indicating that the Android presence will have anything to do with driverless, it would only make sense that this would be how Google gets their foot in the door with all of these auto manufactures. I guess it makes sense for car manufacturers to spread out the risk instead of completely committing to one ecosystem over another.
I think Jony really wanted to design a car but Apple came to terms with the fact that they just aren't that company.
The entire move is a stepping stone in learning the technology, which makes sense to me. The question on my mind is if this gives them access to VW AG, which would include Audi, Porsche, and what I place my bet/hope on: Bentley. Because I doubt that shipping employees around campus in vans is their long-term goal here.
Anyone know why Apple hasn't acquired one of the existing self driving car startups.
If a company known to be old and slow like GM could overpay and snap up Cruise, what's stopping Apple from opening their warchest to acquire one of the many other self driving car startups that have made decent progress?
This made me want to watch the series "Dirty Money" again...
shame on you Apple, you don't need this.
After visiting the bay area ... it makes me wonder if Tesla done f'd up by not working with them on an OS for their cars. It seems like such a natural fit for the two.
Considering how hard it has been for Tesla in the automotive industry, I'm not surprised in the slightest with this failure despite Apples 1000+ employee investment.
*Needs an actual driver outside of test conditions.
How about first improve Apple maps or at least let us use Google maps with Car Play?
https://www.justinobeirne.com/google-maps-moat/ Google Maps's Moat - Justin O'Beirne
Only then fix Siri and then try your hand at an automated car. Maps and Siri will not kill someone. But honestly if Apple can not figure out maps or Siri how on Earth would they do a car?
Does anyone feel Apple Maps 2 coming.....? ;)
I don't understand why Apple signed a deal with one of the most dishonest companies in the world. They are very likely responsible for thousands of extra deaths due to the emissions scandal.
I sincerely hope the software isn't designed with the same buggyness as the latest OSX renditions..
People are so quick at forgetting that there would be no 3D in Google Maps if Apple didn't release it with iOS 6. When using transit, Apple maps tells me the exact exit # to go to my destination. In a city with transit, I found Apple map to be far superior than Google which is remarkable.
Edit : my point is that it is a bit childish to state that one is better than the other. We need both in order to all have a better map experience. Som in some cases, it is better to use one and in some cases better to use the other.
Favorite tidbits:
- This is only for experimental self-driving vans shuttling employees. It will have drivers to take control on demand.
- Initially Apple planned self-driving vehicle where 4 seats face each other, sunroof material that gives less hit, electrically tinted windows and holographic windshields.
- Project was abandoned because they realized "designing and building fundamental parts of a new car was not simple".
- Apple tried to partner with someone who can do manufacturing while they do design. BMW, Mercedes, Nissan - all rejected that offer.
- Ive was charged with design. Tim Cook drives BMW so he wanted to partner with them.
- VW accepted the offer because they have been beaten a lot. They will supply basic components while Apple will add others.
It surprises to me no end that a company with $100B in funds, vast experience in supply chain and ability to suck up virtually all talent is struggling so badly at a technology that is over 100 years old while Tesla with its shoestring budgets leap frogged all established players. Goes on to show that leader at the top makes all the difference in the world.
Kudos to NYT for doing investigative journalism.