My first car, an old Toyota Corolla, was about as low-tech as you could get.
You had to roll down the windows manually and, horror of horrors, there was no way to connect a phone to the stereo.
I was pretty happy last year when, after a decade in that old jalopy, I traded up to a brand new Subaru Forester. It had all the features you’d expect in a modern vehicle: back-up camera, touch-screen dashboard, satellite radio and, thankfully, power windows.
That last one isn’t exactly considered modern anymore, but I was ecstatic nevertheless to finally have a car that fit more in this century than the last.
However, at just over a year later, I’m feeling some of that old dissatisfaction again. I’m discovering new frustrations in what my new-ish Subaru is lacking, or with the flaws in its existing features.
The car’s Bluetooth capability is particularly maddening. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. Sometimes it connects calls from my phone, but not music, sometimes it’s the opposite.
There’s no apparent fix for this. I’ve asked the dealership if there’s anything to be done, but no luck. They tell me it’s just something the manufacturer is working to improve in future models.
That just doesn’t cut it anymore. If it were virtually any other electronics item, the issue would likely be resolved within days. A quick over-the-air software update and boom, the Bluetooth would be fixed, maybe with a few new features added in as an extra bonus.
Some car makers are evidently understanding this new reality better than others – that cars are rapidly becoming gadgets and that consumers, like me, are expecting the same rapid iteration from them as they’re getting with smartphones, tablets and so on.
In developed economies, luxury car manufacturers are leading the way. BMW, in particular, is rapidly transforming its vehicles into regularly updating devices, to the point where they’re basically becoming smartphones on wheels.
The German car maker last year introduced its Connected app, which added several remote-control functions to certain models. Drivers could lock and unlock their vehicles through a smartphone app, as well as control the air conditioning and heating system. It’s a handy feature for warming up or cooling down the car before getting into it.
The company is now rolling out its Connected+ app across 19 countries, which will add a number of new functions to models running on newer versions of its iDrive operating system.
Drivers will get to ability to share their location and trip status with others in real time and be able to send directions directly from their phone to the car.
Most impressively, the app will also let drivers remotely see their car’s surroundings by using its cameras to build a three-dimensional view around it. It’s going to be a good way for owners to keep tabs on their vehicles, especially when parking in a dodgy neighbourhood.
More features are coming, and fast, according to BMW. The company has three research labs – in Munich, Chicago and Shanghai – working on additional capabilities. An engineer at the Chicago lab recently told me his team is capable of adding new functions every two weeks.
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Read more:
UK issues anti-smart car hacking guidelines
Bosch helps robot drivers learn the art of safe motoring
Airbus unveils its flying car designed to take driving airborne
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BMW looks to be at least one of the manufacturers that understands the new paradigm, where the old five to seven-year design cycle is no longer acceptable. “The thinking has been that when the car leaves the factory it's done,” Dieter May, the company’s senior vice-president of digital services and business models, told me. “No, that's when it starts to live.”
BMW’s main competitors, Audi and Mercedes, also have apps that allow for remote locking and temperature control, and they’re under pressure to keep adding features and capabilities. It’s a safe bet that continually updating cars will be the luxury market’s new arms race.
The trend is starting to migrate down market too. U.S. manufacturer General Motors is adding similar functionalities to its cars via its OnStar system. Meanwhile, SAIC Motor – China’s biggest auto maker – last year unveiled an “internet car” packed with a number of remote-control functions.
Wireless capability is key to all of this, with the number of connected cars expected to hit 37.7 million by 2022, a big jump from 5.1 million in 2015, according to analysis firm Research and Markets.
But cars don’t necessarily have to have their own cellular connections to benefit. In many cases, drivers could simply download updates onto USB keys and plug them into a properly designed operating system.
What I wouldn’t give for that to be the case with my car’s lousy Bluetooth.
Winner of the Week: Google Chrome. Google's web browser will soon have the ability to block web pages from automatically playing sound, a welcome addition given the plethora of sites that launch videos as soon as a visitor lands on them.
Loser of the Week: Uber. Downward momentum for the company is becoming more apparent, with reports suggesting it is pursuing cost-cutting measures. The Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com, meanwhile, is reportedly making a big investment in Go-Jek, Uber's main rival in South East Asia.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Bio
Born in Dibba, Sharjah in 1972.
He is the eldest among 11 brothers and sisters.
He was educated in Sharjah schools and is a graduate of UAE University in Al Ain.
He has written poetry for 30 years and has had work published in local newspapers.
He likes all kinds of adventure movies that relate to his work.
His dream is a safe and preserved environment for all humankind.
His favourite book is The Quran, and 'Maze of Innovation and Creativity', written by his brother.
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Company%20profile
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Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)
Power: 141bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh64,500
On sale: Now
Results
5.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Dirt) 1,600m, Winner: Panadol, Mickael Barzalona (jockey), Salem bin Ghadayer (trainer)
6.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,400m, Winner: Mayehaab, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass
6.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh85,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Monoski, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer
7.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (T) 1,800m, Winner: Eastern World, Royston Ffrench, Charlie Appleby
7.50pm: Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (D) 1,200m, Winner: Madkal, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass
8.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (T) 1,200m, Winner: Taneen, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities
Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails
Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies
Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
The Pope's itinerary
Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial
Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport
Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
MATCH INFO
Asian Champions League, last 16, first leg:
Al Ain 2 Al Duhail 4
Second leg:
Tuesday, Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha. Kick off 7.30pm
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
FIXTURES
Thu Mar 15 – West Indies v Afghanistan, UAE v Scotland
Fri Mar 16 – Ireland v Zimbabwe
Sun Mar 18 – Ireland v Scotland
Mon Mar 19 – West Indies v Zimbabwe
Tue Mar 20 – UAE v Afghanistan
Wed Mar 21 – West Indies v Scotland
Thu Mar 22 – UAE v Zimbabwe
Fri Mar 23 – Ireland v Afghanistan
The top two teams qualify for the World Cup
Classification matches
The top-placed side out of Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong or Nepal will be granted one-day international status. UAE and Scotland have already won ODI status, having qualified for the Super Six.
Thu Mar 15 – Netherlands v Hong Kong, PNG v Nepal
Sat Mar 17 – 7th-8th place playoff, 9th-10th place play-off
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
