Android Auto vs OnStar
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 926
Likes: 211
From: Sammamish Washington
Android Auto vs OnStar
Picked up my car Saturday and couldn't be happier so far. Still playing around with it but I'm beginning to wonder about On Star. I made the call and got On Star all setup and started the free trial period, then I setup Android Auto. I've got a ton of data with Verizon (30-40GB per month). Given what Android Auto does for me and the amount of data I have to burn, I can't see the benefit in keeping On Star past the trial period.
Am I missing something here? Probably a number of threads on this, so I'll keep looking to see what other opinions are.
Thanks,
Mike
Am I missing something here? Probably a number of threads on this, so I'll keep looking to see what other opinions are.
Thanks,
Mike
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,340
Likes: 463
From: Raleigh/Cary NC
I concur. I used OnStar directions to get home from NH when I bought the car, and it took me on a wild detour that cost me a couple of extra hours. Now I just use Android Auto.
If I traveled more with the car, maybe I'd pay for the service, but I think it's too expensive for what you get.
If I traveled more with the car, maybe I'd pay for the service, but I think it's too expensive for what you get.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 4,496
Likes: 1,209
From: Phoenix, Arizona
I believe most people find Onstar not worth the money. Many attempt very passionately to justify their decision to purchase Onstar. It might be helpful for you to enumerate what you think you get from Onstar and what you think you get from AA and kinda what you're looking to get and do the old pros and cons thing.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 1,168
Likes: 353
The only reason I keep Onstar (protection plan, $9.99 a month for me including taxes) is for the Crash Assistance where they call emergency services automatically.
AA does a far better job navigating than ANYTHING else. My fallback is my car navigation when I'm far outside cellphone coverage and haven't pre-downloaded maps.
AA does a far better job navigating than ANYTHING else. My fallback is my car navigation when I'm far outside cellphone coverage and haven't pre-downloaded maps.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,960
Likes: 1,106
OnStar has crash assistance, stolen vehicle tracking and shutdown (provides insurance discount with most companies), and the cell coverage will be marginally better in some areas than your smartphone. It is just like choosing an option on your car, if the value to you exceeds the cost then keep it and if not don't.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 2,769
Likes: 2,294
From: Central UT
Hey OP, congratulations!!!
We don't use OStar for nav at all any longer. 2-3 big errors and we were done with it for nav.
AA is great. I think you'll find the UI to be much better with AA than with the factory UI and voice recognition too. Just have AA running and all you need to do is say 'hi google' and it'll ask what you want to do. Unless you have the music running too loud.
Much better than the factory voice recognition and nav.
I still do subscribe to OStar though, for other reasons. For example, I can do a locate on my wife's car so I know she isn't driving it, and make the horn honk from wherever I am - including overseas. Very fun!!
We don't use OStar for nav at all any longer. 2-3 big errors and we were done with it for nav.
AA is great. I think you'll find the UI to be much better with AA than with the factory UI and voice recognition too. Just have AA running and all you need to do is say 'hi google' and it'll ask what you want to do. Unless you have the music running too loud.
Much better than the factory voice recognition and nav.I still do subscribe to OStar though, for other reasons. For example, I can do a locate on my wife's car so I know she isn't driving it, and make the horn honk from wherever I am - including overseas. Very fun!!
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 4,496
Likes: 1,209
From: Phoenix, Arizona
It is just like choosing an option on your car, if the value to you exceeds the cost then keep it and if not don't.
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Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,960
Likes: 1,106
I live and travel in rural parts of IL and I have experienced it. OnStar isn't as limited by antenna packaging constraints as a smartphone so it is pretty easy for it to have that advantage. If you live and travel in populous areas it isn't an issue.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 4,496
Likes: 1,209
From: Phoenix, Arizona
I'm not convinced that it's as much about population as it is about your particular cell phone's coverage. I believe I heard that OnStar uses AT&T. Theoretically you could be in an area where say Sprint, your cell carrier, has less coverage than AT&T or an area where there's better Sprint coverage than AT&T.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 6,486
Likes: 1,658
From: Las Vegas NV
You're in tech, so I know you are very well acquainted with such things. Most companies have figured out it is much more profitable to sell things as a monthly, repeating charge "service" instead of a one-time purchase.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 4,496
Likes: 1,209
From: Phoenix, Arizona
Welcome to the awesome new world of "<everything>_as_a_service". You're in tech, so I know you are very well acquainted with such things.
Most companies have figured out it is much more profitable to sell things as a monthly, repeating charge "service" instead of a one-time purchase.
You're in tech, so I know you are very well acquainted with such things. Most companies have figured out it is much more profitable to sell things as a monthly, repeating charge "service" instead of a one-time purchase.
And your implication doesn't wash either. There are some things that make sense to sell as a monthly subscription and other things that don't. OnStar fits into the former category but black badges doesn't. And it is only "profitable" to sell things on a subscription basis if it makes sense to your customers. Just because corps think it's more profitable to sell something on a subscription basis it does not necessarily follow that the customers and potential customers agree with the companies vision. It has to make sense (or you need very stupid customers... which I grant is not beyond this discussion but I will also say does not include Mwah! ( <- how is that spelled?)).
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 6,486
Likes: 1,658
From: Las Vegas NV
This has nothing to do with <X>aaS. You cannot sell black badges as a monthly service (or rather you could try but I don't think people will buy it). Black badges are a physical thing you acquire. As such your analogy falls flat on its face.
And your implication doesn't wash either. There are some things that make sense to sell as a monthly subscription and other things that don't. OnStar fits into the former category but black badges doesn't. And it is only "profitable" to sell things on a subscription basis if it makes sense to your customers. Just because corps think it's more profitable to sell something on a subscription basis it does not necessarily follow that the customers and potential customers agree with the companies vision. It has to make sense (or you need very stupid customers... which I grant is not beyond this discussion but I will also say does not include Mwah!
And your implication doesn't wash either. There are some things that make sense to sell as a monthly subscription and other things that don't. OnStar fits into the former category but black badges doesn't. And it is only "profitable" to sell things on a subscription basis if it makes sense to your customers. Just because corps think it's more profitable to sell something on a subscription basis it does not necessarily follow that the customers and potential customers agree with the companies vision. It has to make sense (or you need very stupid customers... which I grant is not beyond this discussion but I will also say does not include Mwah!
It was mostly a tongue in cheek reply (probably poorly executed), and I was just expressing personal frustration at how seemingly everything nowadays needs a monthly "subscription". Sorry if you thought I was actually implying that badges be sold on a monthly fee system. I thought being in tech you might see the humor.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 4,496
Likes: 1,209
From: Phoenix, Arizona
And I was supposed to detect that how?
Indeed!
Not really. There are tons of "subscriptions" that I personally avoid. I cut the chord in 2008 and have not had a cable TV subscription since. I refuse to subscribe to Netflix and Hulu and HBO and all that crap. I don't subscribe to things like online dating and a myriad of things many, many people subscribe to. For example, I have over 100 apps installed now and I can count one one hand how many I've purchased and only one that I subscribe to and only because that tracks my time for my business and yes I write that off (Harvest time tracker).
Many, many people see shiny and say I must buy and think nothing of signing up for a yearly subscription. I THANK YOU ALL as it allows me to get tons of stuff for $0.00.
Acknowledging I'm in the computer business, a nerd and thus very detailed oriented, were you really surprised that I'd take you literally? Especially since doing so obliterated your analogy?
(probably poorly executed),
and I was just expressing personal frustration at how seemingly everything nowadays needs a monthly "subscription".
Many, many people see shiny and say I must buy and think nothing of signing up for a yearly subscription. I THANK YOU ALL as it allows me to get tons of stuff for $0.00.
Sorry if you thought I was actually implying that badges be sold on a monthly fee system. I thought being in tech you might see the humor.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 6,486
Likes: 1,658
From: Las Vegas NV
And I was supposed to detect that how?
Indeed!
Not really. There are tons of "subscriptions" that I personally avoid. I cut the chord in 2008 and have not had a cable TV subscription since. I refuse to subscribe to Netflix and Hulu and HBO and all that crap. I don't subscribe to things like online dating and a myriad of things many, many people subscribe to. For example, I have over 100 apps installed now and I can count one one hand how many I've purchased and only one that I subscribe to and only because that tracks my time for my business and yes I write that off (Harvest time tracker).
Many, many people see shiny and say I must buy and think nothing of signing up for a yearly subscription. I THANK YOU ALL as it allows me to get tons of stuff for $0.00.
Acknowledging I'm in the computer business, a nerd and thus very detailed oriented, were you really surprised that I'd take you literally? Especially since doing so obliterated your analogy?
Indeed!
Not really. There are tons of "subscriptions" that I personally avoid. I cut the chord in 2008 and have not had a cable TV subscription since. I refuse to subscribe to Netflix and Hulu and HBO and all that crap. I don't subscribe to things like online dating and a myriad of things many, many people subscribe to. For example, I have over 100 apps installed now and I can count one one hand how many I've purchased and only one that I subscribe to and only because that tracks my time for my business and yes I write that off (Harvest time tracker).
Many, many people see shiny and say I must buy and think nothing of signing up for a yearly subscription. I THANK YOU ALL as it allows me to get tons of stuff for $0.00.
Acknowledging I'm in the computer business, a nerd and thus very detailed oriented, were you really surprised that I'd take you literally? Especially since doing so obliterated your analogy?
Carry on and lighten up -- less stress means you'll live longer.
Last edited by Kent1999; Apr 10, 2017 at 06:22 PM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 926
Likes: 211
From: Sammamish Washington
OnStar has crash assistance, stolen vehicle tracking and shutdown (provides insurance discount with most companies), and the cell coverage will be marginally better in some areas than your smartphone. It is just like choosing an option on your car, if the value to you exceeds the cost then keep it and if not don't.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 4,496
Likes: 1,209
From: Phoenix, Arizona
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,960
Likes: 1,106
