The issue of privacy when it comes to in car infotainment systems like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay flared up again yesterday when it came to light that Toyota took a pass on Android Auto because of privacy concerns. They joined Porsche who famously did the same thing a few years ago.
That made me wonder if it is spelled out clearly what data either of these systems collects and how it is used. Why does that matter? I’d like to know if Google or Apple is motioning how aggressively I drive. And what they do with that information and who gets to see it. Thus I spent a day looking around the Internet to see if such documentation exists. The net result of my research is that neither company does a great job of spelling out what data they collect via their infotainment systems and how it is used. To illustrate this, I want to use Tesla as an example of what I am looking for. Their privacy policy makes it very clear what they collect in terms of data. And they go into a great amount of detail about how it is used. That way, you know exactly what Tesla is doing. As far as I am concerned, this is the gold standard when it comes to this sort of thing as it removes any questions from my mind about what Tesla may or may not be doing.
Now let’s go over to Apple. They have a privacy microsite that is better than most and specifically mentions Apple CarPlay here where it says this:
All the rigorous privacy measures built into your iPhone and apps carry over to CarPlay. Only essential information that enhances the CarPlay experience will be used from your car. For example, data such as your car’s GPS location can be used to help iPhone produce more accurate results in Maps.
That’s something I suppose, but beyond that there’s no specific mention in their privacy policy or anywhere else on their microsite about what CarPlay collects and what is done with that information.
In the case of Google and Android Auto, I was unable to find anything that specifically mentions Android Auto, and I looked at the Android Auto site and their privacy and terms microsite which if you dig for bit lists pretty much every product that they make except Android Auto. Which means that I have no idea what info Google collects. And that’s a step behind Apple who at least gives me some minimal information on this front.
So in either case, both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay fall well short of telling their users about what data they collect and how it is used when compared to Tesla. That’s a problem given how privacy and the security of data is now a top of mind issue. As a result, we’re left with rumor rather than fact. And that’s a huge problem for both companies if they want their infotainment systems to be adopted widely.
My challenge to both companies would be for them to make their data collection and usage policies for their infotainment systems as clear as Tesla does. At least when Tesla spells it out, I know what I am getting myself into up front assuming that I read the document. I believe that Google and Apple owe us the same.
So how about it Apple and Google? Will you do what’s right for users of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, or will you continue to keep them in the dark about what data you collect and how it is used in terms of those products? Inquiring minds want to know.
It’s Been Seven Months Since The Apple Watch With LTE Was Released And Rogers Still Lacks Support
Posted in Commentary with tags Rogers on April 20, 2018 by itnerdWe’re now about 7 months since the Apple Watch Series 3 with LTE has been launched, and Rogers who is Canada’s largest telco still lacks support for it. Now I have said each time that I have talked about this that they risk losing customers over this as other telcos, most notably Bell, are looking to snatch their customers away from them. Now there appears to be definitive proof of that. Take these for example:
https://twitter.com/andrelmmatos/status/987335681516195840
https://twitter.com/karewpah/status/983811697872846848
You’ll note the last Tweet is yours truly. Well, having switched from Bell to Rogers about 5 years ago because of Bell’s horrible customer service, I made the decision to go from Rogers to Telus so that I could get an Apple Watch with LTE. Now I was on a retention plan with Rogers which means the cost of using my iPhone 7 Plus is going to go up a bit. But Telus offered me a deal that will minimize that impact. Plus it will get even cheaper when my wife who has been a Rogers customer for almost 20 years moves to Telus this June and we leverage the Telus Family Advantage Plan to lower our costs to the level that we are used to paying. Why is she waiting until June? Her birthday is in June and she plans to buy an Apple Watch with LTE for herself as a birthday present. Assuming I don’t get her one first.
As for Rogers, the only reason that I can think of that they haven’t rolled out eSIM support (which the Apple Watch with LTE requires) yet is that they must figure that they might as well wait until the fall when the Apple Watch Series 4 (if that is what Apple calls it) makes an appearance. I can see from Rogers point of view why they might not want that as it would ensure that they wouldn’t get stuck with a large amount of Apple Watch Series 3 models in their inventory. Plus it would give them time to make sure that eSIM support is bullet proof. The cynic in me also says that they’re counting on their Q1 results where they gained 95000 customers on the wireless side of the business offsetting any defections because of lack of eSIM support. But whatever their strategy is, it’s clearly costing them customers because all Rogers saying is that they “don’t have specific timing to share” which is frustrating to hear if you are a customer looking for a reason not to switch from Rogers. Meanwhile your buddies on Bell or Telus have the latest and greatest wearable from Apple. Add all that up and you get the PR disaster that Rogers is in where departing customers are taking shots at Rogers on social media as they leave. That from an optics perspective is craptastic.
Of course all of the above assumes that the only other possibility which is that they just can’t get eSIM support to work properly on their network for whatever reason isn’t in play. Which I hope for their sake it is not as that would truly end badly for them if that were true.
If I were Rogers, I’d come clean on what their plans are for the Apple Watch with LTE. Just lay it out there whether it is good bad or ugly. Because their current tactic of they “don’t have specific timing to share” isn’t working. But the truth might actually work because people like the truth. In short, unless they change course, many others will be joining me in leaving Rogers for another carrier. And that has to suck if you’re Rogers.
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