Now you can surf the web from the driving seat of your Polestar 2
- Reference: 1640174469
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2021/12/22/vivaldi_polestar/
- Source link:
Electric cars and browsers have been a thing for a while; a Chromium-based browser has lurked within Teslas, but for cars running Android Automotive on their dashboards, options were limited.
Its presence on the Polestar 2, Swedish carmaker Volvo's sub-brand, was announced prior to the vehicle's availability last year. Unlike Android Auto, which simply mirrors Android apps from a device onto a car's information and entertainment display, Android Automotive is designed to be embedded within the vehicle itself.
[2]
However, despite the presence of all manner of apps, one omission from the world of Android Automotive on the Polestar 2 was a browser, much to the bafflement of some drivers ( [3]judging by forum posts on the matter ).
[4]
[5]
"Why the hell don't we have a basic web browser?" asked one driver.
A reasonable question; after all, it's not as if Google doesn't have in its claws in a good many devices around the world thanks to Chrome.
[6]
Enter Vivaldi, which has popped its browser into the Google Play Store in Polestar 2. The company told The Register the browser was "the full tablet experience," just without downloads. While only Polestar 2 owners get to play at the moment, Vivaldi's aim is to make its browser available to all other cars running Android Automotive.
[7]Volvo V60 Polestar: Speak softly, carry a big stick, dress like a Smurf
[8]Power management IC shortage holding cars, laptops, hostage
[9]Server errors plague app used by Tesla drivers to unlock their MuskMobiles
[10]Self-driving towards an IPO? Intel unveils plans for Mobileye offering
Being pretty much the full browser experience means that drivers get ad-blocking, tabbed browsing and all the goodies their tablet-owning chums are used to. Provided they have parked up first, of course. Get rolling again, and streaming content will continue in audio-only form.
It makes sense; one would not want drivers jabbing away at the touchscreen while their vehicle thunders down the highway.
"We have listened to our owner community," said Thomas Ingenlath, Polestar CEO, "and it's great that we could answer their desire for a browser with Vivaldi as a nice Christmas present."
It's a handy addition to the Polestar 2, especially when sitting around waiting for the car to charge up. The Vivaldi browser app for Android Automotive is available in all European, North American, and Asia Pacific markets and will get updates alongside the company's other supported platforms (Windows, macOS, Linux and Android). ®
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[1] https://vivaldi.com/
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2YcNZv5pfRHZvFfEfVrXv0wAAAQA&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[3] https://www.polestar-forum.com/threads/one-week-rant.2814/
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44YcNZv5pfRHZvFfEfVrXv0wAAAQA&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33YcNZv5pfRHZvFfEfVrXv0wAAAQA&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[6] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44YcNZv5pfRHZvFfEfVrXv0wAAAQA&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2015/04/05/volvo_v60_polestar_car_review/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2021/12/07/car_ic_shortage/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2021/11/21/tesla_server_error_500_lockout/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2021/12/07/mobileye_ipo/
[11] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Re: It makes sense...
Yes, no wonder 80s and 90s cars are making a "comeback" in some countries. Here in Argentina, out of every hundred cars I am seeing one or two cars that are over twenty years old and keep on good condition, also these old cars are Internet and hacker proof, but not being hacked with an axe proof.
Cue the anti-moving work-around in 3, 2, 1...
Anything one software person can restrict a hacker can restore. You just know some fekwit will unlock the ability to browse while driving, crash their (car/OS), then sue the manufacturer like the wanker they are.
Re: Cue the anti-moving work-around in 3, 2, 1...
That's their right.
Re: Cue the anti-moving work-around in 3, 2, 1...
What? To be a wanker?
Re: Cue the anti-moving work-around in 3, 2, 1...
If they're wankers they'll tell you it's their right.
Re: Cue the anti-moving work-around in 3, 2, 1...
In the meantime, people will have to keep using their phone to update their Facebook profile and chat on WhatsApp while driving...
Re: Cue the anti-moving work-around in 3, 2, 1...
And hopefully the manufacturer will be able to point to the hack and it will be thrown out with all costs assigned to aforementioned wanker.
Don't look down
> Get rolling again, and streaming content will continue in audio-only form.
> It makes sense; one would not want drivers jabbing away at the touchscreen while their vehicle thunders down the highway.
Unless they are randomly jabbing away trying to get the video back. Something that mysteriously disappeared as soon as the driver should have started paying attention to the view in front, rather than on their screen.
its not Chrome but would anyone really want Google embbedded system in their car?
At least it's not Chrome, but would any right-minded pperson really want Google OS embedded in their car?
Surely there needs to be somaethings left that Google.is creaming data off of?
So it will soon be only kit cars, old defenders and what ever classic car you can get if your still allowed to drive them that aren't scanned, tracked and analysed.
Re: its not Chrome but would anyone really want Google embbedded system in their car?
You just made the Rush song "Red Barchetta" start playing in my mind. Damn your earworm! =-)p
*Hands you a pint & goes off to grab the album for a trip down memory lane*
Information highway, redux
"Why the hell don't we have a basic web browser?" asked one driver. A reasonable question
Are we really at the point where "why doesn't my car have a web browser?" is a reasonable question?
On a different question...
Does this mean it has 'privacy' mode if it's the full tablet version?
Unrelated enquiry... Does the Polstar come with blacked out windows as an option?
Asking for a friend..
I'll just leave.. Mines the one with the filthy manual in the pocket...
It makes sense...
It makes sense; one would not want drivers jabbing away at the touchscreen while their vehicle thunders down the highway.
And yet far too many manufacturers insist on making drivers do exactly that to access HVAC controls and other vehicle functions. Stop taking away our physical controls, morons!