Nowadays, most cars can be improved or even fixed via over-the-air (OTA) software updates. All it takes is a mobile internet connection or a wi-fi hotspot, and, at the press of a button, the vehicle downloads new instructions, installs them, and… Voila! There's something new! However, in some cases, software updates can become a nuisance. Fret not; there's a fix!
Remember when you had to go to the dealership for a new SD card to update your car's onboard GPS navigation system? It was the early days of add-ons, and we didn't even know it.
However, technology keeps advancing at a very fast pace. Automakers are taking advantage of these developments and are using the Internet to their and their customers' advantage. They can launch a vehicle faster and fix whatever goes wrong along the way. If they're honest and serious about their rides, then updates can bring new features or introduce things customers asked for.
But all this progress means car buyers must keep up with the changes, or they will be frustrated when things are going their way.
A 2022 Ford Bronco owner went to the movies with their small family. Upon leaving, the driver discovered that the vehicle's key was not working. They couldn't unlock any door. So, they used the physical key to open the driver's door like in the old days.
Once inside, the Bronco owner discovered that their SUV was updating the software. They had to wait around 40 minutes for the process to finish. But since it was late and they had a small kid with them, that proved to be a challenge.
Photo: Ford
Eventually, the trio decided to walk home and leave the Bronco to finish its update. Apparently, they were able to lock the vehicle despite the infotainment screen warning them not to mess with the doors.
Still, it's worth noting that the Settings menu contains an option to set up software updates. It's in the System Updates submenu. Once there, one more press on the Schedule Updates touchscreen button is needed. That's where a clock and a calendar appear.
Remember when Windows used to automatically install updates, no matter what you were doing? The operating system would simply kick you out of a video game, prematurely end the video you were watching, or abruptly close the document you were working on. There would be no way to recover your work or resume your favorite activity without waiting for the installation to finish.
It took Microsoft some time to give its customers the option to schedule updates or delay them without forcing users to dig deep into all kinds of settings. Maybe automakers should follow the same route. It would be wiser to give car owners the option to schedule or snooze updates by default and not impose unexpected upgrades on them. After all, not everyone is willing to read thick manuals and deal with all sorts of tech novelties.
Car shows on TV and his father's Fiat Tempra may have been Florin's early influences, but nowadays he favors different things, like the power of an F-150 Raptor. He'll never be able to ignore the shape of a Ferrari though, especially a yellow one. Full profile
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