Apple’s “We don’t want to know” non-snooping data protection policy may not be making it too many friends in government, but it’s certainly won over Porsche.
According to a new report, Porsche opted to go with Apple’s CarPlay platform over Google’s Android Auto for its new 911 Carrera and Carrera S models. The reason? The massive disparity in data the two companies demand.
All Apple needs to know for CarPlay is whether a car is moving while its technology is being used.
Google, meanwhile, asks car manufacturers to enter an agreement with the data-gobbling search giant allowing it to access information including (but almost certainly not limited to) vehicle speed, throttle position, coolant and oil temp, and engine revs.
It should be noted that Porsche isn’t concerned about user privacy — which is what motivated Apple’s tightening-up of privacy controls — but rather than it worries about spilling the “secret sauce that makes its cars special.” Particularly when you’re giving this information to companies who are working on building their own cars.
While this isn’t necessarily a big story in isolation, it does have potentially significant ramifications going forward. Should Apple’s car project turn into anything, it’s got one more car manufacturer and potential ally on its side. Google, on the other hand, may have shot itself in the foot if word spreads that Android Auto is unworkable for auto-makers due to its information demands.
Porsche’s decision probably also wasn’t hurt by the fact that Apple is, by far, the more premium brand.
Source: Motortrend
Via: VentureBeat
