Apple's Watch Software Chief Takes Over Self-Driving Car Project (bloomberg.com) 22
Apple appointed one of its top software executives, Kevin Lynch, to oversee its nascent self-driving car project after the previous leader left for Ford Motor. From a report: Lynch, an Adobe veteran who joined Apple in 2013 to run the software group for the company's smartwatch and health efforts, replaced Doug Field as the manager in charge of the car work, according to people with knowledge of the matter.
The executive first started working on the project earlier this year when he took over teams handling the underlying software. Now he is overseeing the whole group, which also includes hardware engineering and work on self-driving car sensors, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the move isn't public. The change marks the latest shake-up in the project's tumultuous history. Since Apple embarked on its plan to develop a self-driving car around 2014, the endeavor has seen management turnover, layoffs of engineers and strategy shifts -- all while shrouded in secrecy.
The executive first started working on the project earlier this year when he took over teams handling the underlying software. Now he is overseeing the whole group, which also includes hardware engineering and work on self-driving car sensors, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the move isn't public. The change marks the latest shake-up in the project's tumultuous history. Since Apple embarked on its plan to develop a self-driving car around 2014, the endeavor has seen management turnover, layoffs of engineers and strategy shifts -- all while shrouded in secrecy.
Apple Car Top 10 features (Score:5, Funny)
1. Requires an iPhone to start.
2. No radio, you must use iTunes for music.
3. It can't be driven on roads that haven't been approved by Apple.
4. If you try to drive to a location it doesn't think you really want to go, it'll override you and "auto-drive" you someplace else that rhymes with where you wanted to go.
5. You won't be allowed to visit any friends or family who don't own an iPhone.
6. You will have to pay extra if you want the one usable trunk space.
7. The tires must be Apple Tires. Third-party tires must be licensed from Apple.
8. Battery life will be subpar.
9. It will only let you carry items you purchased in the Apple Store.
10. It will cost more than your house, but you will buy it anyway.
Re:Apple Car Top 10 features (Score:5, Funny)
#8 should be "Your car's range and speed will drop significantly when the next model year is released."
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agree
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that's because you are tilting your head wrong when you make requests to Siri.
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11. The first version won't be worth buying, it will take a few revisions to get right.
12. If you crash it's because you were holding the wheel wrong, not because the wheel has been replaced by a touchscreen.
13. The charging connector is proprietary.
14. Needs a dongle to take more than 2 passengers.
Actually 12 and 13 have already been done by Tesla. Their latest steering yoke replaces the standard wheel with a device that has touch controls.
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12. If you crash it's because you were holding the wheel wrong, not because the wheel has been replaced by a touchscreen.
I wonder if Apple realizes that government regulation of car safety blows away cell phone regulation. If there is a problem with a cell phone, Apple mostly gets to decide if there's a problem and if they will address it. For car safety, Apple will be forced to do what the government decides, including inevitable recalls.
Similarly for warranties and repair, the laws are not as lenient for manufacturers.
Also, will Apple cars support Android connections? I'm guessing not. If that's the case, will that driv
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11. all tolls must be paid with apple pay and there will be an 30% service fee
12. Dealer only service Even changeing lights
13. Change plugs to convert non apple plugs are $999 each
14. Yearly map service fees
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If the car were built by Microsoft it would crash twice a day for no apparent reason.
If the car were built by Google it would tell everyone where you are going and where you've been the last 6 months.
If the car were built by Facebook the outside of the car would be covered with pictures of you drunk with your pants down taken by your stupid friends.
If the car were built by Twitter it would always include four strangers who spend your whole trip screaming expletives in your face.
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Now tell us about Xerox Parc and the G4 Cube.
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1. Requires an iPhone to start.
2. No radio, you must use iTunes for music.
3. It can't be driven on roads that haven't been approved by Apple.
4. If you try to drive to a location it doesn't think you really want to go, it'll override you and "auto-drive" you someplace else that rhymes with where you wanted to go.
5. You won't be allowed to visit any friends or family who don't own an iPhone.
6. You will have to pay extra if you want the one usable trunk space.
7. The tires must be Apple Tires. Third-party tires must be licensed from Apple.
8. Battery life will be subpar.
9. It will only let you carry items you purchased in the Apple Store.
10. It will cost more than your house, but you will buy it anyway.
11. Apple fanboys refuse to believe that automobiles existed before the iCar.
12. CmdrTaco declares it to be "lame" [slashdot.org].
Ticking Over (Score:2)
Sloppy seconds? (Score:2)
Or maybe you just have to hand it to him, cometh the hour etc....
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The watch dude (Score:1)
I hear he's really ticked off.
self driving cars are bs (Score:2)