Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by Loughla 1598 days ago
This is the answer. I would prefer to buy physical switches and dials, but the options just aren't there.

So I'm stuck with laggy, buggy, bad software and a stupid touchscreen full of features that I will never use.

Seriously, who needs to be able to play movies in their car's center front console?
2 comments
the_snooze 1598 days ago
At least as of two years ago, Honda pushed back against touchscreens dominating the center console: https://www.thedrive.com/tech/32797/long-live-buttons-hondas... But looking at the 2022 HR-V, it seems like they've given up on that design philosophy:

>The automatic climate control system offers a high-tech touch-screen interface...

https://automobiles.honda.com/hr-v#interior

I'm of the opinion that the only touchscreen that belongs in a car is a barebones non-networked Apple CarPlay / Android Auto pass-through for sound and navigation. All other controls are physical.

link
Schroedingersat 1598 days ago
Also, why can't we just have a fucking shelf or a bracket.

Ever since radios stopped being a standard rectangle, and the dashboard was filled with kevlar sacks and explosives there's nowhere to put anything down.

link
JohnBooty 1598 days ago
As of 5-6 years ago some (many? most?) cars still had a good old standard double-DIN slot for the infotainment unit, if you popped off the dashboard's plastic cover.

No clue if that's still true; I think it has become less true over time for sure.

There are benefits to automakers for retaining that standard form factor. Most factory-branded infotainment systems are made by a handful of OEM manufacturers like Bose. Bose makes systems for multiple automakers. So the double-DIN form factor has persisted, it's just hidden.

Problem is, for most cars, the climate controls and shit are all bundled into that infotainment system. So you can slot a standard double-DIN stereo into most modern cars, but you need a replacement dashboard panel and fairly elaborate kit to replace the OEM climate controls and whatever else.

Metra is a company that makes those kits, I think they were pretty much the only game in town last I looked into this. https://www.crutchfield.com/S-57MGZyBW0Mm/fg_112200_FFBrand%...

link