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Watch makers have moved to this model over the last few years as well. The Swatch group has restricted access to movements and parts by acquiring major movement

by mwexler 9mo ago

Watch makers have moved to this model over the last few years as well. The Swatch group has restricted access to movements and parts by acquiring major movement manufacturers, forcing the industry to use duplicate parts, some produced in violation of patents (dep on region). The patents attempt to protect proprietary approaches adding complexity through unique pieces, which rarely add functionality or new value. BTW, none of this is surprising from BMW. They were the first to try a subscription model for in-car features like Carplay... Or seat heaters. https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a30139034/bmw-apple-carplay-free/ https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a30139034/bmw-apple-carpla... and https://www.edmunds.com/car-news/bmw-relents-on-heated-seat-subscription.html https://www.edmunds.com/car-news/bmw-relents-on-heated-seat-...

IAmBroom 9mo ago
"Wait, Boeing made life-saving features an expensive option, and almost got away with it??? Get marketing on the phone! We need to double down on our evil."
SanjayMehta 9mo ago
I have one Swatch automatic which can not be opened or serviced or repaired. Sistem 51. Once you're out of warranty you're done. Meanwhile my dad's 40 year old Swiss automatic has been serviced just 2 times, and the last time was 10 years ago when the integrated bracelet broke.
- criddell 9mo ago
  You probably should be getting the automatic serviced every 10 years. That basically involves cleaning it, replacing the mainspring, and applying new lubricant. If it's a dive watch, they would also replace the gaskets which dry out.
  - SanjayMehta 9mo ago
    The last time I persuaded him to give it for service he complained that the service cost was 3x what he had paid for the watch in the first place. For months. He had fashioned a strap for the watch using a piece of rubber when the bracelet broke and was perfectly happy with that unsightly arrangement.
    - criddell 9mo ago
      Well, that at least establishes how much he values the watch. Luckily for him, the market for watches is big and when he finally needs something new he has a lot to choose from. The watches on the low end are better than ever and the watches on the high end are excellent but crazy expensive.
Damogran6 9mo ago
Having just bought a Mini Cooper, I'm in the initial free-services period of the ownership and honestly, if it's the $10 a month I suspect, I'm okay with it. Primarily for the navigation...it really is superior to the Carplay experience (a square in the middle of the round screen, vs a map that takes up nearly the entirety of the screen...IIRC, traffic, Weather, remote start, and voice control come along for the ride. I won't pay for 5g (phone does that) or Serius XM (for all the channels, I'm really not jazzed about the offerings)...but $10 for the above features seems reasonable.
- salawat 9mo ago
  No, it bloody well isn't, and I kindly request you stop with that nonsense. Remote start is a glorified CAN message paired with either a TOTP or HOTP message. That's it. There should be zero room for a manufacturer to justify inserting themselves in the middle except greed. Goddamn tired of solving problems only to see companies keeping the problem around for the sake of market segmentation.
  - Damogran6 9mo ago
    Bundling. You get 5 things, one of which makes the other ones worthwhile. Yeah, I get it... By the same token, all ranges of Mini Cooper now have the B48 turbo 4...the top of the list had a bigger turbo and improved intake...the bottom two I suspect are identical with differing software. I will happily take advantage of that when the car's out of warranty. (I have the base motor)
- techjamie 9mo ago
  > it really is superior to the Carplay experience (a square in the middle of the round screen, vs a map that takes up nearly the entirety of the screen I haven't used CarPlay since I'm an Android user, but this reeks to me of a manufacturer developing a problem so they could seek rent for the solution. If there were no financial incentive otherwise, they certainly would have ensured the CarPlay experience was as nice as their own solution as a selling perk.
  - 9mo ago

by mwexler 9mo ago

IAmBroom 9mo ago

"Wait, Boeing made life-saving features an expensive option, and almost got away with it??? Get marketing on the phone! We need to double down on our evil."

SanjayMehta 9mo ago

I have one Swatch automatic which can not be opened or serviced or repaired. Sistem 51. Once you're out of warranty you're done. Meanwhile my dad's 40 year old Swiss automatic has been serviced just 2 times, and the last time was 10 years ago when the integrated bracelet broke.

criddell 9mo ago
You probably should be getting the automatic serviced every 10 years. That basically involves cleaning it, replacing the mainspring, and applying new lubricant. If it's a dive watch, they would also replace the gaskets which dry out.
- SanjayMehta 9mo ago
  The last time I persuaded him to give it for service he complained that the service cost was 3x what he had paid for the watch in the first place. For months. He had fashioned a strap for the watch using a piece of rubber when the bracelet broke and was perfectly happy with that unsightly arrangement.
  - criddell 9mo ago
    Well, that at least establishes how much he values the watch. Luckily for him, the market for watches is big and when he finally needs something new he has a lot to choose from. The watches on the low end are better than ever and the watches on the high end are excellent but crazy expensive.

Damogran6 9mo ago

Having just bought a Mini Cooper, I'm in the initial free-services period of the ownership and honestly, if it's the $10 a month I suspect, I'm okay with it. Primarily for the navigation...it really is superior to the Carplay experience (a square in the middle of the round screen, vs a map that takes up nearly the entirety of the screen...IIRC, traffic, Weather, remote start, and voice control come along for the ride. I won't pay for 5g (phone does that) or Serius XM (for all the channels, I'm really not jazzed about the offerings)...but $10 for the above features seems reasonable.

salawat 9mo ago
No, it bloody well isn't, and I kindly request you stop with that nonsense. Remote start is a glorified CAN message paired with either a TOTP or HOTP message. That's it. There should be zero room for a manufacturer to justify inserting themselves in the middle except greed. Goddamn tired of solving problems only to see companies keeping the problem around for the sake of market segmentation.
- Damogran6 9mo ago
  Bundling. You get 5 things, one of which makes the other ones worthwhile. Yeah, I get it... By the same token, all ranges of Mini Cooper now have the B48 turbo 4...the top of the list had a bigger turbo and improved intake...the bottom two I suspect are identical with differing software. I will happily take advantage of that when the car's out of warranty. (I have the base motor)
techjamie 9mo ago
> it really is superior to the Carplay experience (a square in the middle of the round screen, vs a map that takes up nearly the entirety of the screen I haven't used CarPlay since I'm an Android user, but this reeks to me of a manufacturer developing a problem so they could seek rent for the solution. If there were no financial incentive otherwise, they certainly would have ensured the CarPlay experience was as nice as their own solution as a selling perk.
- 9mo ago