Why I'm Cancelling My R2 Reservation

[R1TVT]

Subscriptions are optional for a reason. You OPT in - if you feel there is commensurate value for the services rendered. And you don't need a subscription for core functions. You pay a subscription fee to off-set costs incurred by the OEM typically. In the case of Rivian, those fees are related to WiFi subscription and extra development efforts for premium features. I do wish that Rivian offered ACP & AA though! In my own case, I will gladly pay a $150 annual subscription fee for in-truck WiFi, streaming, Assistant and other features - but I also use my truck as an office for work a lot. Makes that much easer.

 

[mbowman90]

Subscriptions are optional for a reason. You OPT in - if you feel there is commensurate value for the services rendered. And you don't need a subscription for core functions. You pay a subscription fee to off-set costs incurred by the OEM typically. In the case of Rivian, those fees are related to WiFi subscription and extra development efforts for premium features. I do wish that Rivian offered ACP & AA though! In my own case, I will gladly pay a $150 annual subscription fee for in-truck WiFi, streaming, Assistant and other features - but I also use my truck as an office for work a lot. Makes that much easer.

I agree. My comment was meant to convey don't block or purposefully omit common tech, like ACP and AA. I didn't mean to say subscriptions are necessarily bad - just don't try to force me (by omitting features) to have to use a proprietary version of a commonly available solution. We're talking about tech (cellular) that 99% of people have and use. Platform integration, not a single app. Granted, I can Bluetooth around not having ACP/AA and still use my phone for Waze, Spotify, calls, etc. I just need a good phone mount. My current car is old enough to not have AA so I have to BT anyway.

 

[robothero]

There are third party workarounds for the CarPlay thing!

 

[mbowman90]

There are third party workarounds for the CarPlay thing!

I just hope when Scout's full pricing, options, and standard features becomes available, things like AA/ACP are not just available, but included, in the entertainment package. I feel like Rivian had to make a conscious decision to omit those.

 

[LastDayScout]

I just hope when Scout's full pricing, options, and standard features becomes available, things like AA/ACP are not just available, but included, in the entertainment package. I feel like Rivian had to make a conscious decision to omit those.

All indications so far point to them being standard.

 

[strider]

I just hope when Scout's full pricing, options, and standard features becomes available, things like AA/ACP are not just available, but included, in the entertainment package. I feel like Rivian had to make a conscious decision to omit those.

IIRC they require the OEM to pay license fees, same as Homelink. I will never use them so I am fine to make them add-ons for those who want them in order to cover the licensing and development fees.

Also, plenty of OEMs want to maintain control over the look and feel of their UI. I am sorry, but carplay looks like the fake Playskool cell phones you give to toddlers. I mean, barf......

 

[R1TVT]

IIRC they require the OEM to pay license fees, same as Homelink. I will never use them so I am fine to make them add-ons for those who want them in order to cover the licensing and development fees.

This is not correct. There is no OEM fee paid to Apple for Apple CarPlay. Developers just need to be on the standard Apple Developer platform to start to build a CarPlay integration. The developer fee is $99/year: https://developer.apple.com/programs/enroll/

 

[Jkew]

Also, plenty of OEMs want to maintain control over the look and feel of their UI. I am sorry, but carplay looks like the fake Playskool cell phones you give to toddlers. I mean, barf......

View attachment 16357

You can customize the CarPlay look and icons to be less toy-like (change icons and background and add widgets), but the design philosophy is meant to serve more general tastes and abilities, eye sight and safety.

To each their own.

 

[chucchinchilla]

This is not correct. There is no OEM fee paid to Apple for Apple CarPlay. Developers just need to be on the standard Apple Developer platform to start to build a CarPlay integration. The developer fee is $99/year: https://developer.apple.com/programs/enroll/

I think the real cost w/CarPlay is handing customer data over to someone else.

 

[R1TVT]

I think the real cost w/CarPlay is handing customer data over to someone else.

That really IS the true cost...

And for most consumers, all of that data is on the ONE device that they take everywhere, inside and outside of their truck. Even if truck SW & interfaces were actually better (and weren't displayed on massive screens that you can't take with you) phones would still rule. Smartphones came first, so it is logical for users to want to extend their experience to a bigger screen while driving. But some companies (Rivian included) want to retain that control....

I don't agree with it, but I get it.

Personally, I think it should be all about choice. And if you give customers really good interfaces, you can still give them Carplay and they will still use your SW for non-carplay stuff anyway!