GM's OnStar system is a regular little Yenta. It already helps owners decide where to go, tells them how to get there, remotely unlocks doors for forgetful PGA golfers, runs remote diagnostics on the car (and emails the results), summons first responders in an accident, helps police track the vehicle if it's stolen and finds you a nice Jewish girl to marry (well, almost). If that wasn't intrusive helpful enough, The AP (via the Miami Herald) reports the next step in OnStar's eNannyism: Robocopping car thieves. First, they'll advise the miscreant that the police are watching. If the crook isn't prone to paranoia (do you hear voices?), OnStar's helpful representative will cut engine power until the vehicle slows to a stop– provided police deem it safe to do so. OnStar says owners can opt out of the engine kill switch program, but also claim 95 percent of their subscribers are down with it. Yes but– I doubt they raised the possibility that the technology could also be used as a speed limiter. Anyway, it's only a matter of time before plans for an OnStar jamming device hits the web.
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I’m waiting for them to install the Batmobile kit. You press the Onstar button on your belt buckle, and your Escalade self-valets.
I’m sure this can be overcome. My son has been using software in our shop for the last five years or so to modify GM computers. He’s even modded GM pursuit vehicles for our county’s Sheriff’s Dept. Hot Rodding modern efi controlled powertrains with a computer is such a giant leap in performance that it is worth the inconvenience of having to bypass a few intrusions. by the way, a smart thief would just pull the OnStar fuse.
Or, if you are an amateur car thief, steal something besides GM products – you know, something nice.
By nice you mean less technically sophisticated and slower.
How much does all this cost? I’ll bet it’s not cheap.
Reminds me of this brilliant fake ad in the 1st or 2nd Robocop, where a car thief is restrained by automatic metal restraints popping out from under the seat, and then electrocuted…
Also, your GM vehicles (and most others makes) are already speed limited. The speed varies with models and sometimes varies within a model line depending on such things as tire speed ratings. The computer does such things as limits engine rpm in nuetral and cuts engine speed when you try to floor it and slam it in drive. There are many anti abuse and torque management parameters programmed into most all post 1997 OBDII vehicles.
Ford’s version works well to. It seems Jeremy Clarkson’s GT40 was stolen several times even though he was driving it at the time.
Yet another reason not to buy a GM product. I was offered OnStar when I bought my Saturn 3 years ago and declined. The only remotely useful (remotely… I kill my self sometimes!) is the unlock feature, but with a a key chain alarm I never lock the keys in the car in the first place. All the other features are unneeded or too nannyish. Also I bet a good number of that 95% don’t know about the feature as I’m sure it’s in the contract but is not told to them by the salesman… like most small print.
philbailey
How much does all this cost? I’ll bet it’s not cheap.
I’d buy that… for a dollar! :-0
It’s an illusion to think any product is ‘nanny’ free. Cell phones have built-in GPS that’s designed to work with the next-generation e911 emergency systems to pinpoint your exact location when you call them. Manufacturers now use ‘black-box’ technology that keeps the last 30 seconds of what the ecu logged prior to any airbag deployment. IP addresses and entries are logged whenever you use a search engine. Don’t be fooled into thinking that OnStar is the only system out there that has the potential for abuse. There are worse things out there than a friendly voice that can help you get from A to B and stop a thief from getting away with your ride.
“Anyway, it’s only a matter of time before plans for an OnStar jamming device hits the web.”
It has already been invented. It is called the flatbed truck. They will have disconnected the battery and reduced your whip to parts, before you know its gone.
Wait until the insurance companies latch onto this… They’ll offer “discounts” for RoboNanny (i.e. charge higher rates for those in “urban” zip codes that don’t utilize the feature). And it will be defeated or bypassed by determined crooks.
A few seconds googling finds cell jammers under $50 and GPS jammers under $100.
“How much does all this cost? I’ll bet it’s not cheap.”
On the contrary, it is very cheap to implement. Modern vehicles have full computer control of the engine, transmission, brakes, door locks, etc. With a cell phone connection and a
This new OnStar feature definately cuts both ways.
Still, the thought of the Voice of Doom coming out of nowhere ordering the perp to pull over or be wasted has an……
appealling quality to it…..
At least they have an opt-out. OnStar tracks your stolen vehicle well enough that insurance companies offer discounts (I believe ours was 15%, a nice savings). Also, if you don’t spend all your time in the big city, OnStar works where cell phones often don’t (you people in the Arizona Strip know what I’m talking about). We’ve had a couple of instances where the reliable phone connection alone was worth every penny.
Onstar obviously isn’t for everybody however, it does give GM one heck of a money making opportunity for each and every purchaser of a GM vehicle. Given the fact that the first year of OnStar service is gratis, there is a good chance that the car owner will use it. If they decide they like it, they subscribe for just under $200 a year. Hence it creates a nice little revenue stream. Isn’t that what building cars is all about? And at what price to GM? GMm is simply leveraging existing technology (engine management)built into each vehicle. I guess the alternative would be to buy a Ford who has a huge R&D budget but no OnStar product offering.
KPS,
You make a good, and nightmarish, point.
What happens when all this technology starts some all out electronic warfare? I will tell you – the technology will become useless. Airplanes will become much more expensive to operate, car gps units will become more of a bother than an aid, and just forget about having a useful cell phone.
Billions will be wasted.
First thing we need to do is tell the government to stop even thinking about a GPS based tax system. The tax will be on society in general, not those driving around a lot.
Hence it creates a nice little revenue stream. Isn’t that what building cars is all about? And at what price to GM?
What price? Well at the price of losing money, as OnStar is most likely unprofitable for them. Also at the price of making their cars a few hundred bucks more expensive than they would otherwise be — which I suppose is why GM has reneged on their long-touted promise to put OnStar in “every GM vehicle” by 2007. (Go out to a lot, easy to find Aveos and even brand new 2008 Cobalts without OnStar).
Not to bash them too much. I just think it’s kind of silly to expect me to $20 a month as insurance against locking myself out of my car (which seems to be what they’re promoting lately) — which never happens anyway since the Japanese cars I buy cannot be locked upon exiting, without the key.
I personally think it is a good idea. Too many conspiracy theorists here. All they are trying to do is make a GM vehicle safer. Nothing wrong with that.
When are they going to limit your speed? To do so without being asked would lead to so many lawsuits that they wouldn’t even consider it.
Obviously there are enough customers who are willing to pay the $20 a month for their own peace of mind knowing that there is always someone there for them. It’s a service that they continue to offer because it does make money in the fact that there are many who buy GM vehicles for that feature alone. (The elderly, handicapped, etc. etc.) Not everyone is a 32 year old male driving a souped up Saturn. Again the point being, it’s a service that’s not for everyone and it provides and angle, a niche, call it what you want. While GM may not be putting OnStar into every car, they aren’t gonna yank the product because it’s too expensive. Equiping a car with an on-board cell phone is not a costly endeavor. Lexus does it too. Lastly, if you think people can’t lock their keys in Japanese cars, call AAA club. I bet they tell you a different story. You can lock your keys in any car, the difference is the Japanese don’t make it as easy as GM does.
Since OnStar is a give-away item along with a free year’s worth of subscription on many new GM’s, folks can amuse themselves with an assortment of ‘Stupid Onstar Tricks’, during the trial, including:
1) Requesting a remote door unlock and horn honk by phone on a car which has been left parked and un-touched for over 48 hours (can’t be done since the unit goes into hibernation to preserve battery life).
2) Doing a ‘where am I’ request in the vehicle, after you’ve disconnected the GPS antenna connection to the unit, or even put aluminum foil over the oval, horizonal part of the exterior antenna (which receives the GPS signal) – The ‘knowledgeable’ Onstar advisor will insist you are stationary at the last location before you ‘blinded’ the GPS reception capability of the unit – while you are hundreds of miles away from the location.
Once my ‘freebie’ subscription was up, and I received a CDN$600+ ‘invoice’ for an additional year of ‘service’, the choice was easy: a 5-minute “Onstar-ectomy” in my driveway yieded a shiny aluminum box as a cool conversation piece…
No Onstar unit… no Onstar capabilites… no Onstar interference ;)
P.S. TomTom navigation units are around the CDN$200 range these days…
The Natural:
Perhaps you missed my earlier post. GM, and I imagine, other manufacturers have been limiting your speed through the powertrain control module for years. It’s just at a greater speed than most people will ever attain. And, yes they are making the vehicles safer, more convenient, and much, much easier to Hot Rod!
Stupid OnStar Trick #3:
Have a real breakdown actually requiring roadside assistance. Press OnStar button. Wait on hold several minutes before “OnStar” actually connects. Explain you need a tow. Wait several more minutes to be ‘trasnferred’ to representative of roadside assistance company. Listen to roadside rep ask YOU which municipality you are in and which intersection you are nearest as the OnStar people did not give her precise directions. Explain you want to be towed to X dealership and be prepared to explain where that is. When you ask, be told that she cannot connect you to the dealership’s service department, as they do not provide that service. Wait for over half an hour in a freezing car and have the tow truck driver finally find you as he was not given more precise directions…. It sure don’t happen like the commercials…
Lastly, if you think people can’t lock their keys in Japanese cars, call AAA club.
OK, well I confess it CAN happen if you try. Like the time I casually tossed my keys into the trunk while grabbing a box … and then shut the trunk! But that’s a once in a decade event and you just call for a taxi: the drivers are trained to jimmy doors.
Equiping a car with an on-board cell phone is not a costly endeavor. Lexus does it too.
Lexus Link actually IS OnStar, in case you didn’t know. Maybe GM does make money on that deal. Anyway those telematics units cost around $400, I’ve heard.
“Onstar Jamming Device” done correctly: I can’t wait to see the look on the Z06’s owner’s face when he is overtaken by my Corolla and the OnStopper 2000. Hey Sajeev- Z07/Blue Flame my ass! Side Benefit: Ghost Riding the Whip becomes a much safer activity…
Ten years ago,when teenagers used my cars, I’d have said that OnStar does too little.
Back in those days, I’d have loved to tell the OnStar operator, “Kid’s using the car tonight. Limit the top speed at 65 and make sure it takes him no less than 14 seconds to get there.”
Maybe I’m on to something. GM, you’re welcome to crib my idea for Governor on Demand. It should prove popular with parents.
zenith: Maybe I’m on to something. GM, you’re welcome to crib my idea for Governor on Demand. It should prove popular with parents. The only problem with Governor on Demand (GoD) is when law enforcement agencies start playing GoD and installing technology that keeps cars from going faster than the posted speed limit. Of course, that would cut out a major source of revenue so it probably would never happen. They'll just continually monitor the car's telemetrics to see how fast it's going and email the owner a ticket the minute it exceeds the speed limit.