this post was submitted on 20 Aug 2024
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[–] mindlight@lemm.ee 5 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

The hardware has full functionality from day one. The limitation is in what software you are using.

Active suspension is not a hardware feature, it's software collecting data from sensors and by analysing the data being able adjusting the suspension to "optimal performance". Just because certain hardware can be controlled by software doesn't mean that you will get whatever software features you like to have.

BMW would claim that "BMW Smooth Comfortable Cloud Ride Software" is included free of charge with the purchase of a BMW.

BMW would also claim that they offer "BMW Hyper Advanced AI Premium Sensation Masculine Active Road Experience Pro Suspension" as an optional subscription for alpha males and people with too much money in their pockets.

The outcome of what you are suggesting will be a slight change in the phrasing of the product offering at the most.

With access to the keys, the owner can subscribe to the BMW solution, unlock the features in breach of the agreement with BMW by not subscribing or get a software solution for the car from another provider.

[–] kautau@lemmy.world 0 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I never disagreed with that, I asked what the purpose of having an encryption key will be, you are creating some magical step between “subscribe to the software” and “don’t pay the bill” that doesn’t require modification of anything but somehow just requires encryption keys

[–] mindlight@lemm.ee 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

In my experience there always someone willing to create everything from homebrew software to software activation. Especially if there's some money to make on it.

[–] kautau@lemmy.world 0 points 3 months ago

lol thanks for the downvote. So you’re asking the average consumer to pay the grey market to write aftermarket untested software for their vehicle that will replace the car manufacturers active suspension software on their vehicle, and can be activated as such because they now have access to the encryption keys. That was what I was trying to ask in the first place. Glad we cleared that up