Minimal phone gets back to basics with E Ink display and real keyboard

Re:Minimal phone gets back to basics with E Ink display and ... by electroly on Saturday March 02, 2024 @05:18PM (#39576265)

I think car salesmen are particularly pushy about it because car manufacturers are starting to sell monthly subscriptions for things in the app. They can't sell it to you if you won't install the app. For instance, my Toyota came with some kind of trial subscription for a remote unlock/lock and GPS location service. Served, of course, through the Toyota app. They have an incentive to get you to install the app that goes beyond just not thinking it's a big deal.

Email I got today:

> Your access to Safety Connect and Remote Connect services will expire unless you access your Toyota app or call 1-833-914-0992 to extend your subscription. For as low as $8.00 per month, you can enjoy the convenience of Safety Connect or Remote Connect. For further savings, you can choose an annual plan.

I won't be doing that, but it makes the reason for the push to install their app starkly clear.

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Re:Minimal phone gets back to basics with E Ink display and ... by steelframe on Saturday March 02, 2024 @06:16PM (#39576703)

The car I bought last week is a Toyota. Upon getting home I immediately followed the instructions on the sticker near the center console to hit the "SOS" button and request deactivation of their telematics services. The rep on the phone mentioned something about how she needed to create an account for me or something before she was able to process the opt-out and then, I guess, did so.

Of course I have no idea what this opt-out does. The skeptical part of me suspects that the system still collects and transmits my location and such, but then they simply don't trivially attach that telemetry to my account.

I'm also going to try pulling the DCM fuse that's supposed to cut the cut the gateway/telematics antenna. I also plan to wrap the transmitter in a Faraday cage.

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Re:Minimal phone gets back to basics with E Ink display and ... by MBCook on Saturday March 02, 2024 @09:52PM (#39578035)

I would not be at all surprised if the salesman got a little bonus for every app that was confirmed installed on a sale.

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