KeriBlog

Cars, Security and a Peek into my Life

Paired my Phone to a Car for the First Time

Ever.

Why never

I don’t think Chrysler (or any manufacturer) is going to do anything nefarious with my information, nor will the following auto journalists to test this car, but…

1 – Your contacts database is one of your most precious files, and ideally, you have a copy on an external drive, that’s been backed up in the last couple weeks (if you say you store all your contacts in Facebook, please leave my blog.) So why be careless about where that file ends up?

2 – I don’t know what information the car copies, then saves, from my phone. Nor do I know that the data is fully deleted when I un-pair the phone. Not-knowing means not-happening.

3 – I’m still undecided if I trust the cloud, and so I don’t use it. And pairing the car means I’ve dipped my toe into the cloud.

4 – pairing usually requires Bluetooth, which I don’t use. I’ve been attacked via Bluetooth before, so I quit using it (that’s why you never see me anymore, in my beloved hands-free headsets)

So why now?

I’m conducting a test for an upcoming ‘Keri on Driving‘ column…

The test is: automakers say we’re now able to fully control our car, without removing our hands from the wheel. Okay then, let’s see.

I set up for success and chose Chrysler because their ‘UConnect’ infotainment system is one of the best available.

How I paired it

I did not pair my own phone, not a chance.

Instead, I got a pre-paid SIM card from TELUS (talk & text only, no data), and put it in the Android they gave me. I saved the contacts I chat most with, and fired it up.

What happened

1 – the car now has saved all my contacts list, and my call history 
2 – the car can now access my text messages, and can send as me

So to word it dramatically – the car now knows all your friends, whom you speak with most, and can text them. This is why you always delete your phone from a rental car, and don’t name your phone your name.

Because a possible attack: return the rental car > next guy gets in > your phone is your name > look up home address for that name > guy now knows where you are not

That’s pretty high-level, and the guy would have to be quite skilled, but still, why chance it.

Let the test begin

Figured out voice command navigation this afternoon, and how to send texts but only using the screen (think I’m doing something wrong there), audio is easy, and not sure if climate controls are even a possibility…

How nice did this photo turn out

When it launched, I reviewed this car for the paper, click here.

Short review – the 200 went from barely competing, to the one to compete against.

 

My First Data Block

What Happened – using my mobile blog app, I hit publish on a blog post, and it failed to upload.

Fine, I’ll post from my laptop then.

Tethered my phone > opened a new browser > this page is there:

  1. an alert: you have exceeded your monthly data plan by $50, you’re now denied access to all data
  2. to restore data, text TELUS “Yes”, you understand, and agree, to additional data costs
  3. or instead of text, call. Which I did, because I’m not clicking on something so odd

And it’s TELUS, so I got back an educated, helpful answer:

To avoid bill shock, the CRTC has set a cap on additional phone charges. Once the cap is reached, the data connection is shut off unless the consumer actively agrees to spend more.

Caps are: $50 data – $100 phone calls

That feeling, when I had no data: gah

All my accounts out there, all logged in, alone and unattended.

To get online I’d have to leave the house, and even then it wouldn’t be on my phone, my usual tool, where all my information is… find a computer, import contacts, good thing I have a copy of my contacts… do you… here’s how to properly backup.

A giant wave of “how will I run my life tomorrow, if I can’t use my phone?”.

I wouldn’t be able to. Gah.

 

 

Well that First Week Back Flew By

It’s a luxury car week, a Jaguar XF, $75k.  It’s big.  Been liking it.

Put on a road trip earlier this week, a 400 km one.

Mobile office front seat.

I have this down, this “publish and run the show from anywhere, with a little backpack”. Took years though. And thanks again, TELUS.

This afternoon, we sat down and 2pm, and got up at 7:30. New blog coming very soon. Finally!

You’ll be able to …. use the search bar. Leave a comment. It’ll be like 1998 around here.

Non-nerds: best metaphor I can think of: re-doing a blog is like a house renovation; a big deal, there’s nervousness. So if slow updates here, that’s why.

What I look like tonight.

Don’t feel like being on camera today. Put in a big week, this one. Joggging pants, obviously. Been working out eh, started 4 months ago. It’s sticking this time, and there’s those V-lines under there ha.

I’m on a patio hi hi, typing on my lap, alone, a beer to my right. Behind me, the conversation is about dogs. I’d rather be alone, than surrounded with people but have to listen to those stories.

Next week’s column was going to be aimed at the young generation, how they’re not bothering to get their licence. Until I heard the thump.  I snapped my head around, and there was a girl flat out in the middle of a four-lane downtown road, and the driver opening his door all stunted, and I could see the whites of his eyes from metres away.  Writing about that.

I’ll leave you with some photos, from cleaning off my camera.

Time to retire this dress that summer’s over; my nicest ‘Summer 2013’ dress, to be sure.

Outtake from Honda’s Manual Driving School this year.

Another one.

Blue dress.

1 of my 3 material weaknesses – jewellery.

Daydream time now, the end.

 

A BlackBerry Q10 Review

While physically it’s a beautiful phone, and the OS is greatly improved since my old Bold…

BlackBerry’s security is why you buy.

Of the 3 big ones (Android / BB / iPhone) BlackBerry does end-user security best.

3 small examples:

1 – find most of the features I’m talking about in there
2 – the security section of the help file has 32! items, huge
3 – more feedback and control over

I didn’t realize I missed having more control over my phone, until I did (currently on iPhone).

Security aside, the Q10 made me miss having a BlackBerry. Remember the BBM days? (I’ve had a cel phone for 15 years, see my history here).

Saturday night Skyping.

It was nice to type on a physical keyboard again.

BB Q10

(aside: best part of getting a new phone is this)

Modified my GoPro for filming.

It worked well as my car stereo.

Before I hooked it into my home WiFi, I took the opportunity to change my router password.

(here’s how to do that)

Lastly, the OS.  I had an epiphany about the OS when writing about cars a couple weeks ago… click here to read about BlackBerry’s QNX OS, which is poised to become the go-to-OS for all auto infotainment systems… this is HUGE, this is what could bring BlackBerry back to its former glory.

I feel excited for you BlackBerry; I think this Q10 is terrific,
and good luck with your comeback! #GoCanadaGo

PS – fellow car-nerds: it’s a 2013 Infiniti M37xS, here’s the blog post about it

PPS – Thanks to TELUS for this opportunity

 

I Finally Switched to TELUS

2 Saturday’s ago, I switched cel service providers. I spent the early afternoon backing up, then went to the store to the make it official.

I ported my number over, and the changeover was faster than I thought it’d be… insert new SIM,  jokes with the guys and sign a form, maybe an hour. And the phone was live and receiving text messages before I left the store.

The guys!

The TELUS Guys

L – R – Ian, me, and Tyler

Go see them too, they’re fun and knowledgeable; downtown Toronto at 500 Yonge Street.

Upgraded to an iPhone 5.

This was my old phone name.

Friendly reminder – don’t name your phone your actual name, here’s why .

Lastly, ever notice this?

That in all the years I’ve shared my life online, I’ve never talked about my cel service provider? And like, internet and my phone are a huge part of my life, after rent it’s my largest monthly expense, and I can’t work without it. But I never said a word, because I abhor them.

Each month I hemorrhaged money, and no matter how many phone calls and bill reviews I did, more haemorrhaging. And really, if I opened my mouth to talk about it, doubtful I could stop the stream of garbage that would come out, and although they earned it, that’s not classy, and I don’t want to be in Google for that. You know who I’m talking about. Ask me IRL though, there’s a couple good stories there.

But that’s all done!

I now have an amazing and affordable 6 GBs / month on my phone, and that’s how…

… a 5-year-old daydream became real:

I can tether my laptop, and work from the driver’s seat.

Really, anywhere; that’s a life changer. For the last 2 weeks I’ve spent way less time at my desk.  Can’t tell you how great that is.

 

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