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I explained it several times in this thread, but I'll try to clarify:
My concerns are not strictly around updates, but around the amount of updates. The number of updates I've received since taking delivery a few months ago makes it feel like the Bronco software wasn't quite ready upon release and the subsequent updates are coming so quickly I have a hard time believing they have been properly regression tested and are truly ready for release.
It's annoying to have to acknowledge an update every few weeks when I'm just trying to go get some milk and eggs.
The update notes SUCK! "A tweak here and there" is not an acceptable release note for a professional corporation and my $60K plus vehicle.
While software updates often fix old bugs, they also install new ones
Ford is apparently not doing a proper backup/restore method with these updates, because at least one has been bricked by a failed update. Vehicles sometimes fail to start for various reasons, many of them predicable (almost every dead battery I've had showed warning signs and I was not surprised). No reason to add another reason to fail albeit with zero warning. https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/threads/failed-software-update-unable-to-start-vehicle.66872/
I find it interesting how divided everyone is on this subject, and how the "pro update" crowd is so quick to label themselves and state they thy are "pro update." I am, believe or not, not anti update, but I am neither pro update. I am very concerned with the frequency of updates, lack of documentation, and method of rolling out updates that we are experiencing. This feels VERY junior league to me, and makes me question the quality of the software running my vehicle.
Still nobody with a fix to no updates happening and saying that it is up to date?
Are you sure about that? I thought Sync4 was still based on Microsoft Auto or QNX, with Ford's transition to Android Automotive pushed back to select vehicles starting late 2023 at the earliest.
Am I sure that they're breaking the OS into smaller chunks to be more easily updated and managed?
Yes.
Ford has mentioned their goal is to be able to update all modules individually instead of doing full system wide updates.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Power-Up_version_history
Tons of the released updates are simply prepping and breaking modules away from each other, making things "ready for future updates". Their current goal is to simplify updating the vehicles, and getting them ready for bigger changes.
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Nothing on that page to suggest Ford are going more modular, it's just an (out-of-date) list of updates? Not disputing, just wondering where the info came from as Sunc4 has nothing to do with Google's recent segmentation of Android updates.
I believe you're misinterpreting my original post.
I didn't say they were going full Android. I said they're following in their footsteps, in the sense that they're making their system easier to update.
https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/news/2021/05/13/ford-power-up.html
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It's funny because my early '21 build went until february of this year before I got my first update. Now I can't keep up with all the updates I've been getting. Just got the latest last night. I do like the full screen Carplay.
That full screen Carplay and Android Auto is NICE, right?
Freaking loving some of these updates. The updated backup camera view is nice too.
Lol I know you didn't say they are going full Android! But I am curious how you know the architecture is being modularized? The media release just talks about the usual "quality improvements, new features and capabilities". Nothing about architecture changes.
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From the article:
"A new fully networked, second-generation electrical architecture and advanced tech stack create the foundation to deliver unique Ford Power-Up software updates. These quick and easy wireless upgrades help enhance features, quality, experiences, capability and convenience. Capable of updating the vast majority of vehicle computer modules – more than 80 on higher end models – these upgrades can help improve the ownership experience and may help reduce the need for repair trips."
"Ford Power-Up software updates will quickly expand to nearly all vehicle computer modules"
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I'm no fan of Ford's software department but I'm not sure what the frequency of updates has to do with anything. They might be an agile shop with a 3 week feature release cycle so we'll be seeing frequent updates. They probably do off-cycle bug fixes which would be totally normal.
I'm a firmware developer and both agree and disagree. Aircraft for example the A320 do not get regular updates. Because of the obvious critical nature of the systems, updates don't occur very often, and when they do it requires a massive amount of testing. One example is the MCAS problem with the 737Max. The software fix took many months and probably hundreds of millions of dollars to roll out, even though the flaw was pretty obvious. Phones and PCs are not aircraft and far more dynamic so updates make sense. A vehicle falls somewhere in the middle. After hearing about cases of Broncos being 'bricked" after an update, I turned off automatic updates. I will perform them manually.
Understandable, and agreed that vehicles are not the same as a PC or phone (both of which can indeed be bricked by a bad update as well).
I also believe that Ford making it easier for themselves to update individual modules instead of the entire system is a good thing. Hopefully if a bad update rolls out in the future, instead of bricking the entire vehicle, just that one function is shut off until it can be taken to a dealership or ideally they push a second fix remotely, and you don't even have to leave your home.
For something like an aircraft, I'm glad Ford aren't the ones writing the code. Lots of legacy devices should be left alone, especially if the original code developers are no longer around to help.
how do you know what updates you've received -- all i see is "up to date"
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