The Awful State of Infotainment Systems

“How do you put a destination into the navigation system?” my father asked over the phone.  He was trying to figure out how to use the navigation system in his Lexus.  I know right away that I will not be able to successfully instruct him over the phone on how to use his car’s navigation system.  I would like to say the problem is due to the fact that his vehicle is 9 years old and that if only he had a new car, this process would be simple.  Unfortunately many of the problems that existed in 2003 still exist today: over-priced infotainment systems, an inconsistent market standard, and an overall confusing and clunky execution.  

•Price: The pricing format that automakers have taken is akin to that of concession stands at a Yankees game or the prices charged in restaurants at the airport.  In other words, they hardly correlate to external pricing rational. Take the 2013 Honda Civic for example.  If you want to add the navigation system with backup camera?  $1,500 option.  The Hyundai Elantra is even worse: it will cost you $2,350 to add the technology package.  You get more for your money with the Hyundai upgrade, but that is part of the problem as well.  Many automakers are bundling navigation systems into even more expensive package options, forcing you to either pay more than you would like to get the features you want or to simply go without.  So how is it that you can buy a windshield mountable Garmin for $100 and yet it costs 15-20x that for one to come standard in your car?  

•Inconsistency: Each automaker is developing and implementing their own infotainment system: Ford has Sync, Kia has Uvo, Cadillac has Cue, Lexus has Enform, and Subaru doesn't even have a standard system yet.  There is absolutely no standard in the industry. The only thing that seems standard right now is a CD player, and that is a terrible standard to have.  In a world of Pandora, Rdio, Spotify, and iTunes, why do we continue to trifle with CDs?  To show just how slow to adapt the auto industry is, look no further than the fact that it took manufactures until 2010 to fully phase out cassette decks!  With how risk averse automakers are, we are unlikely to see true innovation in this area for the foreseeable future.  

•Confusing:  The operating systems in these systems feel designed by automakers, not technology companies.  The problem is, they are designed by automakers.  Some systems use touch screens, others buttons, while some use a combination of touch and controllers. Many systems feel more like an afterthought than a well thought out system.  Performing simple operations such as changing the temperature in the car and then trying to change the song that is playing often requires way too many screen taps and menu layers to be convenient or safe.  The update process is also confusing, with most updates (if there ever are updates) requiring an inconvenient trip to the dealership.  

Ideal and Unrealistic Solution:  In a perfect world the automakers would team up with Apple, Microsoft, and Google.  The hardware installed in the vehicles would be capable of running iOS, Android, or Windows Phone operating systems.  When customers went to the dealership to purchase their car, they would then purchase an "install option" that would allow them to choose which operating system was installed in their vehicle.  Once chosen, the system would work just as it currently does on our mobile phones and tablets.  Updates would be available over the air and could happen from the convenience of your own garage.  There would be no drastic learning curve because each buyer could choose the mobile operating system of their choice. 

Realistic Solution: As much as I love and prefer iOS to Android, it seems like Android is in a better position to become the standard OS in vehicles infotainment systems.  Apple is a control freak and the willingness of Apple to collaborate with automakers seems unlikely.  This leaves Microsoft and Google.  With Google's Android being open source and Microsoft Windows not being open source, it would make more sense to go with Android.*  The wide array of services that Google offers, from Google Music to Google Maps would make it a natural fit.  Google has also been willing to play nice with Apple and Microsoft, still offering these platforms access to Gmail, Google Voice Search, and other Google functionality.**  The more “open” Google stays, the better fit they would be in the auto industry.  As automakers invest more money and development into their own proprietary systems, it will only get harder to convince them to switch.  Now is the time that adoption of a standard in the auto industry must happen.  The power lies with the automakers but it is up to one of these tech companies to make a compelling case.  Which makes me wonder: If Google can’t pull it off, who will? 

*Ford SYNC is actually developed by Microsoft and we’ve all seen how good that system is. Yawn.  Next.  

**Google has not been playing very friendly with Microsoft lately and lack of support for Windows Phone 8 is proof.


UPDATE:  This is interesting.  At least someone is making SOME headway.  Official: Hyundai and Kia adding Google Maps API to nav systems

Mung that iPhone up!

There is something liberating about dropping your new iPhone 5 on the sidewalk.  This doesn't including breaking the screen, that is never good.  I'm talking about simple cosmetic damage like what my iPhone sustained when it skidded across the sidewalk the other day.  The reason is simple: sometimes we are overly cautious or downright fanatical about our apple products. This can be overkill, babying the phone as if it were a piece of handcrafted China. The iPhone is a gorgeous product but ultimately it is a tool.  A tool that is meant to be used and shouldn't look brand new after 2 years. If it does, take the Otter Box case off your phone and let your hair down a bit.  Because let's be honest, munging up your iPhone may be the best thing you could do for your uptight self.*


*You need to have Applecare+ on your iPhone for this advice to fully apply to you.
**Always avoid water. Always. 

Delicate Face December

Now that No Shave November has passed, I have decided to declare the new month as Delicate Face December.  Gents, the concept is simple: Keep a nice shaven face.  This will take more effort and upkeep than the Movember but will be well worth the effort.  The cause to support is yet to be determined.  Feel free to leave suggestions in the comments section.  In the meantime, lather that mug up!

Windows 8

I'm a tech nerd.  I listen to The Verge Mobile Show as well as The Vergecast religiously.  I follow the top techies in the industry on twitter and I use Reeder primarily to stay up on the latest news.  Let me just state early: I like Apple products best.  I think Apple has been making the best products and I think they have been the best fit for me.  With that being said, I love technological improvements, opportunities, and new discoveries.  If that comes from Google or Microsoft, wonderful.  Let's have it. This leads into Windows 8 and the new Surface tablet by Microsoft.  It is awful. It really is. I walked into the pop up store they have set up here in Chicago. I tapped on the Internet Explorer app icon. It opened and then was unresponsive, after which I saw a message that said "IE is unresponsive."  I couldn't believe it. First experience.  Instant failure. The rest of the experience went better but the Surface feels heavy and awkward to hold. The screen ratio also doesn't help. It makes SO MUCH sense now why Apple went with a 4:3 iPad back in 2010. I moved on to the Windows Phones. The Nokia 920 is a freaking brick and after using such a thin and light iPhone 5, I would never be able to even consider such a heavy cumbersome phone. The HTC 8X on the other hand was really quite cool. The Windows experience on the phone feels much more comfortable and fitting than it did on the Surface. I'm not sure how I would like Windows Phone after a month or so, but it does have promise. We will see if it survives and thrives.

The 2013 Honda Civic

If you read my blog you already know that I have had plenty of gripes with Honda lately.  I just saw this article today and thought it was interesting.  I'm curious to see the changes they make for 2013.  If this article is accurate, looks like we will be seeing those changes very shortly.

2013 Honda Civic Update

Hyundai Genesis and the new 2013 Honda Accord

Remember my  post about the Kia Optima and the VW Passat?  Here is one of the Hyundai Genesis, initially released in 2008 and the newly released Honda Accord.

What do you think?  Did Honda pull a VW and head to the Korean automakers for some design cues?

It's almost here: Apple Event

The invites are out.  The banners are up.  Travel arrangements have been made by media personnel, most of which will be arriving in San Fransisco today.  The rumors have been swirling for months: larger screen, LTE, aluminum unibody, new dock connector, headphone port relocation, thinner, and a few others.  The world, specifically the tech world, has been like anxious kids in December, the ones who can't help but inspect the gifts under the Christmas tree, lifting them in the air, shaking them, and trying to pry through a loosely wrapped corner.  If a new part could be obtained, it would, and the images would circulate the web at alarming speeds.  There have been blog posts written with full hardware design analysis, debate on whether NFC would make it, and a plethora of other speculations. The most interesting thing of all?  The only thing Apple has said was this:  It's almost here with the number 12 and a shadow of the number 5.

It is a marvel of our day that so much effort, so much thought, so much debate and wonder goes into a product that had, up until a week ago, never been confirmed by the actual maker.  Some expect the iPhone to turn the world on it's head.  That happened in 2007 and I think those days of sheer revolution have given way to a consistent pattern of evolution.  The nice thing about tomorrow is that the rumors will fade into the past and we will have concrete details on a real product. One thing you can be sure of; regardless of what Apple announces, many will say Apple nailed it and others will say Apple's new iPhone is a letdown.  This will always happen with Apple.  As the most successful tech company in the world they are under a strong microscope of scrutiny.

Things are getting exciting in the smartphone realm.  The market is indeed competitive with Android finally becoming a real competitor with Jelly Bean and Microsoft about to attempt a strong push with Windows Phone 8.  The iPhone is no longer the only good phone available but one thing I can put my money on for tomorrow: It will be the best iPhone Apple has ever made.




One more thing:  I really think that the first manufacturer to make a really good companion product to their smartphone will have a very unique selling point.  I am referring to an iPod Nano type product, one that you can wear on your wrist, one that uses bluetooth 4.0 and allows you to read your tweets, text messages, see who is calling, change the song playing on your iPhone, and more.  This would make tomorrow really exciting!  Here's to hoping!

Instagram 3.0 and Photomap

Instagram is cool.  It has grown like a weed on some sort of magical fertilizer.  It boasts a user base of over 40 million.  That is no small number, especially for an app started by two guys less than 2 years ago.  Instagram has been so successful it was purchased by Facebook for 1 billion dollars.  The full acquisition is not complete, so anything still happening with the app is strictly Instagram influenced.  A few days ago Instagram launched a significant update to the app.  The biggest change is the inclusion of a new feature photomap.  The feature shows you on a map where all of your photos were taken.  This is a cool feature, one that has existed in iPhoto on the Mac for a few years now.  The difference here is that it isn't just about seeing where YOUR photos were taken, you can see where EVERYONE'S photos were taken.  Now, let's talk for a brief moment about privacy paranoia.  I wouldn't consider myself very paranoid online, I share a lot of information about myself through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and my blog.  I like to assume positive intent from those around me(a philosophy encouraged at Apple).  Most people are not creeps and most people aren't malicious.  Tragically, that is most and not all.  So does that mean that we go dark, putting our accounts on lockdown with full privacy settings, maybe even deleting them all together?  No, I do not think so.  I think caution online is essential but extremism isn't necessary.  

So what should you do about this new photomap?  

The easiest option is to deselect all of your photos from photomap.  When a user goes to view your photomap, they will not see any photos.  This is a very simple solution, still allows you to share your photos with your friends just like before, and not worry about your photo geotag being visible to everyone.  

Another option, the extreme end of the spectrum, is to show the location of all of your photos.  You trust those who follow you and anyone who may happen to stumble upon your Instagram account.  You feel it isn't a concern that they know where your vacation home is or where you work.  You can probably choose this option and never have a problem, but I do not think it is the best option.

The third option I would suggest is deselecting photos from your photomap that show things like 1)Location of your home 2)Location of your child's school 3)Location of vacation homes 4)Potentially work.  Is it cool to have photos from your Hawaii trip on the photomap?  Yeah.  Is it dangerous?  Probably not.  Don't fool yourself, you aren't Jason Bourne.  People don't care that much about you and your movements in this world.  But if you are a 16 year old girl, a 22 year girl, or a 30 year old, do you want anyone who cares to look knowing you live on blank street at roughly blank house number?  No.  So go ahead, share the pics of you at those cool waterfalls but there is no need to have the photos you took at home on the map.  Keep in mind, once you've removed a photo from the photomap, it is never going back.  It isn't deleting the photo from Instagram, just from the map.  

Technology is amazing.  I love it.  I think Instagram is one of the best social services out there right now.  Photos are amazing and it connects us in truly amazing ways.  Having recently moved away from family, it is great to have technology to keep us close.  So snap away and enjoy the sharing of your life with those you care about.  There is no need to become paranoid.  Just stay smart.  

This is a pretty decent article from Wired on the upgrade. 

Yogurtland Bountiful

Yogurtland Bountiful is the new definition of awesome.  Ice cream spots had their day in the sun but those days have melted away.  Americans have a new favorite sweet-tooth-satisfier: yogurt.  Up until a couple of years ago, Bountiful didn't have a yogurt joint.  Now there are three.  Both Yogurt Stop and Orange Leaf serve delicious yogurt but the new darling in town may have what it takes to earn your loyalty.  

Yogurtland is located next to Cafe Rio and will most definitely benefit from the heavy traffic Cafe Rio brings to the area.  Yogurtland maintains a quaint feel while still providing sufficient space to find a table on crowded nights.  

The styling, like other yogurt places, is fresh, modern, and hip.  The vibe easily beats all of the other joints in Bountiful and is most closely rivaled by the hip Orange Leaf.  

What makes Yogurtland unique are its exquisite flavor choices.  Of course you have your traditional chocolates, vanillas, cheesecake, etc.  However, you also have some flavors you won't see at the other local yogurt places. 

Taro:  A sweet potato flavor.  Maybe not something you would want a whole cup of but a nice supplemental flavor.  

Almond Midnight Mocha: A very rich dark chocolate flavor with a light mocha taste.  I personally don't like the flavor of mocha and still enjoyed this one.  

Toasted Coconut:  If you love coconut, you will love this flavor.  It is very true to it's name and Nikki and I both liked it.

Pistachio: You can't go wrong here.  Not as good as a gelato Pistachio but still delicious. 

Pecans and Pralines:  It was the only sugar free option on the menu but was very sweet.  

Blue Lychee Bliss:  This is another flavor I haven't seen at the other yogurt places.  Lychee is a tropical and subtropical fruit found in China, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia.  This flavor may be an acquired taste for some. 

Cheesecake: This flavor is usually one of my favorites but was actually my least favorite flavor here at Yogurtland.  It didn't have a rich cheese taste and was a little bland.

Tart and Raspberry Tart:  These are the tangy yogurt flavors and two of my favorites.  

The price of the yogurt is comparable to other establishments.  The toppings are also very similar, with Lychee berries being a unique item other topping bars are lacking.  

The other awesome thing about Yogurtland are the hours.  It is open until midnight on Friday and Saturday!

On our return trip, Nikki and I took our mothers with us.  They both loved the yogurt as well.  If you haven't had a chance to try Yogurtland yet, get over there.  In my opinion, it is now serving Bountiful's best yogurt!

Acura Beak

The high ups at Honda and Acura keep admitting their mistakes.  I like that.
http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/19/new-acura-design-chief-admits-company-went-a-little-overboard/

The New Nissan Altima Ads

I think these are good.  Watch all four.  Oh, and make sure to watch them in 720p.
http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/20/nissan-debuts-first-barrage-of-altima-ads/#continued

VW Passat looks just like the old Kia Optima

I noticed this while driving the other day and felt like it should be blogged.  It seems weird that VW designers would copy a Kia Optima that never sold well.  Of course, it is true that VW may not have copied Kia.  I mean, it sure doesn't seem typical of the German automaker to copy the design of a lackluster Korean sedan.  So how did this happen? Coincidence?   

Advertising: The real and the fake.

I like advertising.  Good advertising.  I think most people do.  Take a look at the view counts for Super Bowl Commercials and you will see the interest.  We are naturally inclined to want good products and advertising is the medium used to connect us to those products.  There are advertisements that are comical, touching, fascinating, and memorable.  Then you have the "junk ads" and this stuff drives me crazy.  Junk ads are the reason that so many people install Adblock Plus in their browser.  It is also a reason many people on iOS are willing to pay for an app in order to avoid ads that are distracting and annoying.  I pay $10 a month for an Rdio subscription and the annoying ads in Pandora is just one of the reasons I quit using Pandora long ago.  I decided to open up Pandora the other day and after choosing my station, this is the next thing I saw.  

Let's discuss all the problems with this ad:

1.  It looks shady.

2.  It is completely obtrusive, totally covering what I really want to see on the screen.

3.  It looks like an ad for a site that was designed in 2000.

4.  It is not relevant seeing that I am married.  This same ad would also not be relevant to women or     children.

I'm not exactly sure how advertising should be done on mobile.  It is brand new territory that is going to explode into a huge business.  Apple introduced iAd in 2010 with hopes of capitalizing on profits to be had from mobile advertising.  I don't love iAds myself but they are much better than the ad model used on Pandora.

I'm excited to be entering the world of advertising at such a unique time.  A time when radio, television, internet, and mobile advertising as we know it is changing drastically.  I hope to find a way to produce great stuff and never be associated with the garbage that plagues the sidebar in Facebook or the annoying pop up ads for games like Words with Friends or apps like Pandora.  

Here are a few examples of quality ads.  

The City Creek Project by Struck

Note: I personally believe that the kind of advertising used on the Pandora ad and the examples of good advertising that I listed here are not in the same category at all.  The problem is that many people just see it all as "advertising" and so it is worth pointing out that one type of advertising is going after quality and another is simply just a cheap, "in your face" quantity type ad.  I hope to produce the former and reinvent the later. 

  

Dos Erres: I cried today.

I had the cruise control set to 71 as I listened intently to podcast number 465 of This American Life.  Podcasts are a way to make my commute go by faster and also keep my mind alert.  This is a routine I have formed, however, today was different than most morning drives.  Today I cried.  Episode 465 is titled "What Happened at Dos Erres" and is dedicated to the story of the Dos Erres massacre and an amazing ending to an atrocious event.  Dos Erres was a small village taken over by Guatemalan soldiers called Kaibiles.  An evacuation of the entire village was performed and the soldiers then proceeded to rape the women and murder every inhabitant: men, women, and children.  The bodies were then heaved into a deep pit, some still alive when their helpless bodies were thrown over the edge.  

Listening to this story is disturbing and again makes one's soul scream the question, "How could this happen?"  "How could anyone perform such atrocities?"  Then the part of the podcast came that brought the tears to my eyes.  Tranquilino Castañeda had a wife and 9 children.  He was out of town on that dark night.  When he returned, all was gone: His home was burned, his wife had been raped and killed, and his children had each been slaughtered.  My eyes welled up as I thought of this poor man in the jungles of Guatemala who in a night was robbed of everything.  The kind of tragedy he suffered is incomprehensible to me, to most everyone.  

Nevertheless, out of such a bitter cup comes an amazing story of reunion.  Oscar, Tranquilino's youngest son, was one of two boys whose lives were spared that night by an army commander.  He was raised by the commander's family and later moved to the United States.  After some amazing investigation, and surely the hand of God, it was determined that Oscar was Tranqilino's son and the two were reunited for the first time in 30 years.  Listening to this podcast flooded me with a multitude of emotions but the bottom line is this: We may not understand why such devastation and violence happens but I do know that everything that is unjust in this world will one day be made right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  

I encourage you to listen to the podcast, despite the mature topic at hand and some disturbing details.  

Below are the following links:

The podcast.

Oscar reuniting with his father.

Wikipedia article. 

P.S. I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments section after you have a chance to listen to the podcast. 

Dead: Lexus HS 250h

Here's the bottom line: No one wants to pay $37,000 for a luxury Toyota Corolla.  It is honestly amazing that Lexus released this vehicle in the first place. It is even more amazing that they tried to sell it for $37,000.  Why would Lexus sticker the HS at $8,000 more than the similarly packaged hatchback-hybrid CT?  When getting his Lexus serviced, my dad received the HS as a loaner a few times and it was far from impressive.  It is no surprise that Lexus only sold 2,864 units in all of 2011.  Consumers are demanding more fuel efficient vehicles, primarily to save cost.  When the vehicle is priced at such a ridiculous price, consumers are smart enough to see that there are no savings with such a hybrid vehicle.  See Autoblog's post on THIS.

Oh Toyota, who would have guessed?

So what is the best way for Toyota to compete with Hyundai?  Evidently it is to mimic their design.  

Take a look at the front end on the new Avalon.

Now take a look at the front end of the Sonata Hybrid.

 

What a crazy turn of events.  It was Hyundai who was playing catch up, mimicking design from the big hitters.  I guess we have come full circle.  

p.s. Use less chrome and I like the Avalon front design better. 

Acura RLX

I honestly did not intend on becoming an "Anti-Honda" blog but if I don't stop posting on the topic soon, it will sure look like that to my readers. With that said, here is another validation of my comments on the new Acura RLX concept from the New York auto show.  Below is a screenshot from a Auto show opinion wrap-up post by Cars.com.

 

The Honda Accord

Just in case any of you thought I was full of hot air regarding problems at Honda, here you GO.

Smartphone Apps

Marco Arment is right on with his last post titled Might upgrade to the paid version someday.  If you use a smartphone, I recommend that you read the post.  Here is my favorite part:

It’s a very common user mindset: they tolerate a lot of limitations, ads, and nags to avoid paying. It’s not that they’re cheap, per se: they just really don’t believe that apps are worth paying for, and they feel cheated or defeated if they end up needing to pay for one.²

I have definitely met a lot of people who fall into this category.  I don't think less of them.  It comes back to my philosophy that everyone has their favorite things in life and those tend to be the things that they spend their money on.  Buying a $200 smartphone and then paying somewhere between $70-$110 a month for service but being unwilling to pay for apps is like buying an expensive refrigerator, paying to run it all month long, but being unwilling to buy food to put in it.

I enjoy apps.  I think they add value to both my phone and my life.  Some people feel the same way about gardening, washing their car, buying new clothes, dying their hair, dining out, traveling, donating, etc.  To each their own.

The Death of Satellite Radio

I have to be honest here.  I have not closely followed satellite radio.  I have not studied the financials of Sirius nor do I know how many subscribers they currently have.  I do know that there used to be two head to head competitors in the US market: XM and Sirius.  In 2008, finding that competing wasn't a viable option, they merged.  On January 13th, 2011, XM was dissolved as a separate entity and merged fully into Sirius.  I don't like radio.  I like being in charge of my own music.  I also like listening to music and not annoying local advertisements.  This is also the reason I use Rdio rather than Pandora.  Let me quickly compare the three services.

Sirius Satellite Radio
Annual Cost: $199
Ability to choose your own music: Channel selection only
Ads: Very few
Mobile: Yes

Pandora
Annual Cost: Free or $39
Ability to choose your own music: Channel selection only
Ads: Yes
Mobile: Yes

Rdio
Annual Cost: $120
Ability to choose your own music: Yes
Ads: No
Mobile: Yes

Satellite Radio, as it is currently offered, will not survive.  This is my prediction and hopefully this won't end up being claim chowder.  In a world without smartphones, Satellite Radio makes a lot of sense.  It has a MUCH wider variety of channels than normal radio and it has a lot less ads (hence the annual cost.  Nothing is free.  Everything is either paid for with the user's money or paid for by advertisements.  Or, in the case of Hulu Plus, it is paid for by both.)  However, we DO live in a world of smartphones and internet everywhere.  The rising generation doesn't like to pay for things as it is, let alone for radio.  The music scene has already changed and matured a lot in the past few years and I think it will continue to evolve.  Pandora will survive and hopefully Rdio (and other subscription based services like Mog, Spotify, and Rhapsody) does as well.  Satellite Radio however will not.

Chicago

There is something nostalgic about Chicago. I zoom in and out on Google Maps and for a moment it feels like I am there again. Something emotional about my oldest brother moving away when I still felt so young. He moved to Milwaukee, only a two hour drive away from "The Windy City." Or at least it was supposed to be a two hour drive but I remember the Chicago traffic prolonging travel by at least an hour. Boy do I remember Chicago. If you've ever been to Chicago, you remember it. It is that kind of city. The type of city that evokes a surge of passion through your veins. One that feels larger than life. It resembles New York City but feels much more personal. It's as if you could walk up to any one of the big sky scrapers, press your palm against the brick in a gesture akin to a handshake, and instantly become friends. It's the kind of city where even if you do watch what you eat, you start to believe that Chicago Deep Dish Pizza is good for you. It's where you choose your own identity and then let the world know. That's the Chicago I remember.

That piece was written about two weeks ago. Ladies and Gentlemen, that Chicago I wrote of, will be our new home! After much struggle with what I wanted to do in this life, I have finally decided: Advertising. Specifically, copywriting. Last Friday, the 13th of April, I received my acceptance to Chicago Portfolio School  Wahoo! We will be moving around the end of June in order to be all moved in before classes start on July 9th. We love Utah, our beautiful family, our terrific friends, and the life we have here. However, the call has come and we are ready to leave our mark on the world. First stop: The Windy City!

Photo by Trey Ratcliff 

Honda and Acura Design Woes Continue.

The New York Auto Show is in full swing and there are some awesome new models that have been

introduced. I look forward to discussing a number of those new models here on The Juicebox.  However, I couldn't resist that my first post be about Honda and Acura.  Honda introduced the "Crosstour Concept" which is basically a refresh to the current Crosstour.  It may be a refresh but only a trained eye is going to see the changes.  The problem is, even if you do notice the changes, they aren't any good.  The vehicle is still incredibly ugly.  This is an opinion coming from a guy who really likes wagons.  Now, on to Acura.  Acrua introduced the RLX Concept.  THIS car my friends is supposed to be the company's flagship sedan.  This car is more boring than a white wall.  The best thing about this car would be to drive next to one on a road trip and watch it cause all your passengers to fall asleep.  I honestly don't see how Acura can put this thing on the show floor and feel good about it while Audi and Mercedes are selling legitimate beauty pageant contenders.  Again, I'm not going to argue that this car is going to be a bad car mechanically or not a quiet, comfortable ride.  I am fairly confident it will meet those criteria.  This is about design and the design scheme is seriously flawed, from top to bottom at Honda.    

Note: While I think the Crosstour is downright ugly, I just think the Acura is boring.  The Acura would look fine in a retirement home parking lot.  

Deseret News Hybrid Article

A week after I posted my article discussing the potential saving possibilities of driving a hybrid vehicle, the Deseret News wrote a similar article.  Their results are different than mine based on different calculations but I felt the article may be of interest to you.  Click HERE to read the article.

Going Broke in Order to Have the INTERNET.

I had a conversation the other day with a couple about the iPad.  We discussed the Wi-Fi model vs the LTE 4G model.  So, which model is better they asked?  The answer: This isn't even a competition.  The 4G model is hands down the better model.  The thing is capable of blazing internet speeds on one of the most amazing devices on the market.  So why is every iPad sold not a 4G iPad?  I like to call it the Pay for Internet Connectivity Individually on Every Device Everywhere and Go Broke Problem.  Let me explain.

Meet Jack and Jill Goodfolk.  Jack and Jill have been happily married for 20 years.  We can accurately categorize the family as middle class.  They have 3 kids: Adam, Jane, and Ashley, ages 11, 13, and 15 respectively.  They also love technology and enjoy staying connected.  Here is their current set up and what they are paying.

Verizon family plan.
5 lines on the 1,400 minute plan with unlimited text messaging.  The minutes and texts plus additional lines per month cost $150.  We, however, aren't going to focus on the cost of minutes and texts.  We want to focus on data.

Jack, iPhone 4S, $30 for 2GB of data.
Jill, Galaxy Nexus, $30 for 2GB of data.
Adam, iPhone 4, $30 for 2GB of data.
Jane, Samsung Galaxy II, $30 for 2GB of data.
Ashley, iPhone 3GS, $30 for 2GB of data.

Total cost for data connectivity for the family's smartphones: $150.

There is more.

Jack has the new iPad with Verizon LTE, $30 for 2GB of data.

Jill was jealous so she went out and bought herself a new iPad.  She wanted to break the Verizon way of doing things and got the AT&T model and is paying $30 for 3GB of data.

The family also has Comcast XFINITY internet at home and they pay $45 a month for it.

Jack also purchased a small condo in sunny St. George 5 years ago and pays $40 a month for internet (part of his HOA fee that was added two years ago).

So how much are the Goodfolk's paying each month JUST IN INTERNET COSTS?

The answer: $295.

I hope this number bothers you.  It bothers me.  I also don't believe that this number is exaggerated.  I think the current model is very pro-Telecom and ISP and very anti-consumer.  I think the model is outrageously expensive.  Sure you can argue that no one needs internet on all of their devices. I argue this same point, more or less, in a previous post.  But we want internet on all of our devices.  Our devices are made to use the internet.  New infotainment systems in cars are designed to connect to the internet.  TVs are now "Smart TVs", designed to connect to the internet.  I even saw a Kickstarter project the other day for an internet connected Toothbrush.  If you don't think that in the near future that almost everything we use will be connected in some way, you are short-sighted and need to wake up to the Age of Technology.  The current model is not conducive to a normal family on a normal budget.  Your definition of normal may differ from mine, but most people would agree that paying nearly $300 for internet a month is steep, regardless of income.  This is especially true when streaming a HD movie over LTE can eat up your 2GB data allotment in just ONE hour.  So not only are you paying a fortune but you are also limited in how you can use your data.  The solution is a shared data package that can be used on any device you own at any time in any location.  I understand that there may still be a need for data limits until additional spectrum is freed up and infrastructure is built out to support the increasing loads.  These limits need to be short term.  Shared plans need to be implemented and prices need to be realistic for the consumer.  Obama was happy to implement Cash for Clunkers.  How about Cash for Connectivity?

Prius C Update #2

$6,995 mark up on a Prius C?  What a joke.  That's increasing the price of the car by an extra 33%.  Sure this dealer is crazy but it also shows how popular this little car already is.  Take a look HERE.

Also to note, Toyota is already working on plans to increase production.

Prius C Update

I have a confession to make:  I went and test drove the Prius C.  The guilt that I was feeling for writing a blog post about the vehicle without ever driving one was too much to handle.  Let me be clear: I really hate the styling of the 3rd Gen Prius as well as the Prius V.  However, the Prius C is really not bad.  It's no looker but it probably won't get you scoffed at.  In fact, many less-informed drivers may very well mistake your Prius C as a Toyota Yaris.*

I drove the Prius C for about 5 minutes.  Part city, part freeway.  The thing is quiet on the city roads, especially on start up.  This is, of course, due to the battery technology being utilized under the hood.  I didn't feel like the vehicle was uncomfortable on the freeway but it was a far cry from the comfy cruiser that my 13 year old Lexus is.  Two years ago I drove my Lexus across the country and was very comfortable.  I'm not sure how confident I am that the Prius C could provide a similar comfortable experience.  But let's not get sidetracked here; you wouldn't be buying a Prius C for freeway comfort, you'd be buying it to save a load of greenbacks at the pump.

To write a more in depth review, I definitely need more time behind the wheel.  I also need to not have a 200 pound sales rep in the passenger seat with me.  The Prius was the definition of slow and uninspiring to drive but shedding that extra passenger weight could potentially increase the fun factor by a hair.  

I may not end up buying a Prius C but it looks like Toyota is finding plenty of shoppers who will.  Click HERE to see how fast these things are selling.


*This is not a confusion you should hope for.  The Yaris is the bottom of the totem pole in the Toyota camp.

Fuel Economy: Is a Toyota Prius C worth it?

Gas prices are going up again and the end is not in sight.  Gas prices are a mystery, differing from state to state and fluctuating week to week.  As one who commutes 50 miles a day, this tends to be something I think about often.  I decided to do a little number crunching to see what the cost difference would be between driving my 1999 Lexus GS 300 vs buying a brand new 2012 Toyota Prius C.  See the comparison of the two below, compliments of www.fueleconomy.gov.

2012 Toyota Prius C

So here are the numbers I calculated.
The MSRP of a new Prius C Two is $20,000 (including a $660 haggling discount).  This is a payment of roughly $400 a month.
Over 5 years that is $24,000.
Fuel for 1 year is $1,150 and 5 years is $5,750.
If the resell value of the vehicle mimics a 5 year old Toyota Prius today, it would sell for somewhere between $12,000-$15,000.  Let's go with $14,000.
So, the cost to drive a Prius C for 5 years is $24,000+$5,750-$14,000 = $15,750.
Per year, that is a cost of $3,150.
Per month, that is a cost of $262.50.

1999 Lexus GS 300

Now here is the cost of driving my 1999 Lexus GS 300.  My car is paid for so the purchase price is $0.
Fuel for 1 year is $3,050 and 5 years is $15,250.
If the resell value of my vehicle mimics current 18 year old Lexus vehicles, it would be somewhere between $1,000-$2,500.  We'll say $1,750.
Now, since the car is coming up on 200,000 miles, we need to factor in repair costs.  Over 5 years, I'm estimating $1,300 in repair costs.
So, the cost to drive the Lexus GS 300 for 5 years is $15,250 +$1,300-$1,750=$14,800.
Per year, that is a cost of $2,960.
Per month, that is a cost of $246.66.

The additional cost per month to drive the Prius would be $15.84.  I'm surprised at how little of a difference there is between the two choices.  $15 is marginal, money spent in a heartbeat at lunch out at Cafe Rio.  Now I understand that these numbers are not cold, hard facts.  Some of them may be wrong.  I didn't do a full, lengthy analysis on this, so I may be missing some other essential elements.  I didn't take into account other maintenance costs.  Also, if my Lexus were to blow a head gasket, have the transmission go out, or die altogether, then this numbers would also need to be adjusted.

So the question is, do I want to drive a Prius or my Lexus?  It should be noted that I have hated the Toyota Prius with so much zeal that it is amazing I actually 1)wrote this post and 2)am even considering the Prius as a car worthy of buying.
If you see errors with my calculations, please let me know in the comments section.  Remember, it was my brother who received the Math Sterling Scholar award in high school, not me.

iPad: Which one to buy?

Apple announced the new iPad yesterday. It launches in 8 days and is going to be hot, hot, hot.  The biggest questions you face are probably 1)Do I need to upgrade?  2)If I do decide to buy an iPad, which model do I get?

Did I upgrade?  Yes
What will I do with my iPad 2? Give it to my dear wife.
Which model did I pre-order? iPad 32GB Black Wifi.
Why? See below.

Size? 32GB.  With the iPad 2 I recommended the 16GB to most people.  That is going to change.  With the introduction of the retina display on the iPad, app sizes will increase across the board, and even more so in graphic intensive apps.  Since I've toed the line of running out of space on my iPad 2 since I got it, buying a 32GB model will give me some breathing room and allow me to have additional apps with less concern about running out of space.

Wifi only?  Yes.  Do I want a 4G LTE iPad? ABSOLUTELY!  Does it make sense in terms of a good financial decision? No.  The problem I face(the problem all of us connected users are facing) is paying for internet connectivity on all of our devices.  I pay for my iPhone data plan, Nikki's iPhone data plan, and internet at home through Comcast.  The iPad would be one more.  If I were to buy a 4G iPad, I would do one of two things:  1)Not enable the data option on the iPad and thus make it pointless(not entirely, but we won't get into that right now) to have paid a $130 premium for the 4G enabled model or 2)Pay for data and now be paying for internet in 4 different places and creating additional expenses for myself.  I should have tethering enabled on my iPhone within a week or so and will use that when I need internet on the iPad.

The new iPad or iPad 2?  This, like most gadget purchases, is a combination of financial ability and need.*  The iPad 2 is not a bad iPad.  I LOVE the iPad 2.  The fact that it is a great device today doesn't mean it is a bad, outdated, or unusable device tomorrow.  Quite the contrary.  At the price point that the iPad 2 will be sold at, it is a very attractive option for many users.  Is the new iPad preferable?  Of course.  The screen will be gorgeous, camera (I've never really used mine) is much improved, and it has faster graphics and increased performance.  When you make your decision, decide how frequently you will use the device and how long you plan on keeping it.  If you plan on keeping it two years and using it on a daily basis, spend the additional cheddar and get the new iPad.

Here are some great links to some other opinions in the industry:

Marco Arment: Which iPad Should I Get?
The Verge: Verizon or AT&T? 
Shawn Blanc: iPad Event

Enjoy!

*Note: I am far from wealthy but I prefer to spend money on technology/electronics rather than other things.  Every individual has things that they feel are worthy of their hard earned dollar.  For me, this is one of those things. 

Mercedes Benz M-Class

I think the new M-Class SUV is one of the most gorgeous luxury SUVs on the market right now*.  If you haven't seen it, you should. M-Class.

*For comparison sake, The BMW X5 is starting to look very dated.  Hope BMW will take the M-Class serious and invigorate the X5 with some sleek new styling.

FOLLOW UP to: Hyundai, Not the "affordable option" anymore?

I ended my post on Hyundai's increasing price with a question.  That question read, "Now that Hyundai is shrinking the price gap between competitors, would you still consider a Hyundai?"  Well, according to a newly released analysis by Edmunds.com for USA Today, Hyundai buyers, on average, are paying more for their Elantra than Toyota and Honda buyers are paying for the Corolla and Civic.  This shows that Hyundai vehicles aren't just now costing more than competitors but that they already DO cost more.  This also answers the question on whether or not consumers are willing to pay the same(or more) than competing brands.  The answer? A resounding yes.   

Hyundai, not the "affordable option" anymore?

It is no secret that Hyundai is a changed brand.  Go drive a Hyundai Sonata from 2004 and you will most likely not want to drive another Hyundai ever again.  Fast forward to 2012 and you have an array of gorgeous, high quality vehicles.  Hyundai has, in the past, been referred to as the "affordable" option when compared to competitors like Honda and Toyota.  Things are changing.  Hyundai just announced the prices of the new Azera as well as the Genesis Coupe.  The Azera's base price increased from $25,495 to $32,000.  That is a substantial increase.  The Genesis Coupe 2.0 base price went from $22,250 to $24,250 and the 3.8 went from $26,750 to $28,750.  Now that Hyundai is shrinking the price gap between competitors, would you still consider a Hyundai?

The New Face of Lexus

Car companies have generally followed a similar design theme throughout the automaker lineup.  This brings a necessary cohesion to the design team and also makes it easier for the brand to be recognized by consumers.  When an automaker introduces a redesign, typically focusing on the front of the vehicle, it often is polarizing and can split brand faithful.  Let's take a look at a few companies and the effect a "corporate face" can have on the brand's success.

Subaru

Sometime during 2003, Subaru decided it was going to introduce a new grille design that would become the face of all Subaru vehicles.  Our first glimpse of this new face was the Subaru B9 Concept shown at the 2003 Tokyo Auto Show.  Despite very opinionated responses from critics, Subaru designers went ahead with the new front end design.  The first vehicle to showcase the design was the 2006 B9 Tribeca. The new SUV from Subaru was mocked and rejected for its ugly grille design and sales were evidence of that sentiment.  This however did not stop the face from making its way onto the 2006 Subaru Impreza .  Although not nearly as prominent or ugly as the Tribeca, the new Impreza was never deemed beautiful by the masses.  Before the face could make its way to the Legacy, Subaru's flagship sedan, Subaru ditched the face with hopes that it would quietly slip into history with no serious fallout.  With how strong Subaru sales have been the past few years, it appears that this is exactly what the public has done with the failed Subaru face: forgotten.

Audi

If you see a new Audi driving down the road, there is no mistaking that it is an Audi.  What may be mistaken however is which model Audi you have just spotted.  Audi vehicles have always had a very close resemblance to one another, but never as the current generations.  What makes each Audi model so similar to the next is the single frame grille.  Audi developed the "single frame grille" design almost 10 years ago and implemented it on the 2004 Audi A3.  Subsequently it was integrated into the A6, A8, and A4.  Now every Audi vehicle proudly displays this grille design.  Audi is producing gorgeous vehicles right now but must be cautious as some in the industry have complained that there is "too much commonality" between models, specifically between an Audi A8 and the Audi A4, which can have a price difference of between 40-70k between the two models.   Audi may need to differentiate more than they currently are but overall their current design theme is striking and is successfully helping customers identify and associate with the brand, regardless of which model in the lineup they see.

Lexus

Since the title of the article is "The New Face of Lexus", it seems appropriate to finally discuss the topic.  Lexus, one of the most successful selling luxury brands in the United States, has been criticized for years for being "too soft and too boring."  Despite the fact that many shoppers buy Lexus for just this reason, Lexus has decided to take Lexus in a direction that they hope will evoke more passion from owners.  The first vehicle to display the new Lexus design is the 2013 Lexus GS.  The first thing anyone familiar with Lexus will notice is the all new grille design.  This new "spindle" design is anything but bland and screams for attention, quite a contrast from the quiet whispering done by the previous generation GS.  Today, and the motivation for this post, a brochure for the 2013 RX leaked onto the internet.  It looks like Lexus is going all in on the grille design and will be implementing it on other models in the lineup.  This is a potentially risky move when you understand what the RX means to Lexus.  The RX has not only been the best selling Lexus model but also the best selling mid-size luxury SUV in the United States.  With Mercedes and Audi sales surging, Lexus can't afford to have a design failure with the RX, or any other future Lexus for that matter.  The public is finicky.  Luxury car buyers are even more so.  Just look at the "Bangle Backlash" for proof of what uproar you can hear from brand faithful when you muck up the design of an entire lineup.  Lexus is anxious to move ahead of the competition and that success depends on the company's brand new design.  So the question is, will the public smile upon the new face?  Only time will tell.

*Note: I avoided discussing Acura and the corporate front end design since I recently discussed my distaste for Acura's current lineup.

Hyundai, hard at work.

Now this is a company who is hard at work.  Look at the new models/updates all due before Fall 2012.
Click HERE.

Honda: Asleep at the Wheel

The Chicago Auto Show Media Preview began today.  As a result, we get a look at two new production Acura vehicles, the refreshed RDX and the all-new ILX.  Really?  Seriously Acura?  This is the BEST you can do?  I think Acura has strayed a long way from the beautifully designed Acura Legend, Integra, and NSX of the early 90's.  During a time when most car companies were still producing hideous vehicles, a result of a terrible design style of the late 80's, Acura was the exception.  Sure Acura produced the terrible SLX (a re-branded Isuzu) but they made up for it with beauties like the Legend coupe.  Fast-forward to 2012 and you have a brand new ILX that does nothing to engender love in a car buyer.  It has the now company standard "shiny beak", drab dark interior, and unconvincing lines.  From a sales perspective, this car makes little sense because it will most likely cannibalize Accord and TSX sales.  Does Acura really need a luxurious Honda Civic?  These new Acura vehicles aren't as boring as the new VW Jetta or Passat, but they are pretty terrible.  A discussion on the root of the problem is in due measure.

Honda, the parent company of Acura, is really to blame here.  I would say the only semi decent looking model that Honda has produced lately would be the brand new 2012 Honda CR-V.  This is primarily due to the fact that they basically copied the design of the Volvo XC60.  The CR-V is the exception; the rest of the lineup is the rule.  The 2012 Honda Civic is a design failure and a great example of how unimaginative the designers at Honda can be. The 2012 Honda Civic, to an untrained eye, looks almost the same as a 2006 Honda Civic.  The fact that the 2006 Honda Civic was probably designed sometime around 2004 means that Honda is continuing use of eight year old design styles.  The 2012 Honda Civic is so bad that the CEO of Honda has practically made a public apology.  I'm not the only one who feels this way either.  Consumer Reports failed to recommend the Honda Civic for the first time in history and The Wall Street Journal referred to the Civic as heavy on the "ick."

The problems don't stop with the Civic.  Cars.com just recently named the Crosstour to their "10 Ugliest Cars from the past 30 years List".  The CR-Z easily could have made the list as well.  Then you have the Honda Pilot, which very nearly resembles the Acura SLX that I mentioned earlier.  I actually don't think that the Honda Pilot is ugly, I just find it induces uncontrollable yawning.  For some reason many car companies still like to sell ugly hybrids.  The Insight is proof of this and tragically, the Insight is almost as ugly as the Prius.  The Honda Accord is decent but, in my opinion, far behind the new Toyota Camry or Hyundai Sonata.  We won't spend too much time on the Accord, since it continues to be one of the top selling vehicles in the country.  This, however, is most likely a result of it being a good car and not a beautiful car.  This brings me to my last vehicle in the lineup that I want to talk about: the Honda Ridgeline.  Released in 2005 as a 2006 model, this truck has gone through nothing more than minor tweeks in the last 7 model years.  That is a sad sentence since it was ugly the moment it hit Honda dealerships in early 2005.  Being born ugly and staying ugly until you die is a tragic life and most likely the path that the Ridgeline will follow.  The Ridgeline is also a sad excuse for a truck and is the laughing stock for every other truck on the market.  It is kind of like a woman wearing a sweat suit and never actually doing any physical exercise or a guy in a full ski suit who just hangs out in the lodge all day because he can't ski down the hill.

Honda needs to wake up.  The competition is increasing.  Hyundai is selling more Elantras than they can keep on their lots.  Kia is spending serious marketing money on the new Optima.  Nissan is about to release the redesigned Altima and  Toyota just debuted the newly designed Toyota Camry.  Honda, your move. Acura too needs a hot coffee to alert the company's senses.  If they haven't noticed, Audi, Mercedes, BMW, and Lexus are all making extremely attractive, quality vehicles.  Acura has the quality but the looks, when compared to the competition, are embarrassing.  Since the ILX and RDX were just shown today it doesn't look like the design team will be making serious changes any time soon. And that is sad.