360° Degree Camera feature is now FREE! Free Trial Extended to Permanent*!

[nvabill]

Just because the camera is built into the car for manufacturing ease and YOU CHOSE NOT TO PAY FOR THE OPTION, why should you get it for free?

Sounds like the OP and other 2023 Select buyers should just be happy Ford is giving them the 360 camera for free. And stop complaining about it.

Should Ford start charging a subscription fee for the cameras built into the F-150, Explores, Broncos and all the other vehicles they are in. Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[johnmark]

Just because the camera is built into the car for manufacturing ease and YOU CHOSE NOT TO PAY FOR THE OPTION, why should you get it for free?

Sounds like the OP and other 2023 Select buyers should just be happy Ford is giving them the 360 camera for free. And stop complaining about it.

It's. Not. Free. I paid for the damn car.

When did people turn into mindless sheep? "But who will think of the poor multi-billion dollar companies???"

Freedom. Use it or lose it.

 

[RedOctobrrr]

Just because the camera is built into the car for manufacturing ease and YOU CHOSE NOT TO PAY FOR THE OPTION, why should you get it for free?

Sounds like the OP and other 2023 Select buyers should just be happy Ford is giving them the 360 camera for free. And stop complaining about it.

Jesus Christ I simply cannot understand the mindset some people have in support of subscriptions for hardware that comes with a vehicle.

Not a data service or cloud computing service or something that requires regular updates - we're talking about access to a camera... behind a paywall. Let that sink in. A camera. Was built into the car, and you cannot use it without subscribing. That's the discussion here.

 

[bluestarct]

Should Ford start charging a subscription fee for the cameras built into the F-150, Explores, Broncos and all the other vehicles they are in. Inquiring minds want to know.

They can. Ford can start adding a number of technology features to a car. It is up to Ford to decide if they want to charge for the use of the technologies via a charge at original purchase, a subsequent upgrade fee or a monthly fee.

it also means used cars can be easier to upgrade by enabling features the previous owner didn’t want on.

It's. Not. Free. I paid for the damn car.

When did people turn into mindless sheep? "But who will think of the poor multi-billion dollar companies???"

Freedom. Use it or lose it.

You paid for the car but that did not include access to some technology available in the car. You can either subsequently buy access via a one time fee or subscription if the car company allows it.

Or you can get Forscan and try to turn it on yourself.

This is like reprogramming a chip in a car for higher RPMs or different shift points. Those cars could always do that (the hardware is the same) but now you are unlocking more potential.

Don’t forget there are likely programming boosters coming to the electric motors. They may cost money. Are you going to complain if they are not free?

 

[nvabill]

Jesus Christ I simply cannot understand the mindset some people have in support of subscriptions for hardware that comes with a vehicle.

Not a data service or cloud computing service or something that requires regular updates - we're talking about access to a camera... behind a paywall. Let that sink in. A camera. Was built into the car, and you cannot use it without subscribing. That's the discussion here.

Absolutely blows my mind also, if it's built into the car then you have already payed for it, it is yours.

 

[Mach1E]

Enjoy your future of rented oxygen and water.

I'm not saying things don't cost money and shouldn't be paid for. I'm saying it's morally wrong to send me an artificially crippled car. I'm not talking about services like bluecruise - but a camera that's already on the car? I, as a person with rights, should be able to easily access and use said device.

And speaking of bluecruise - I should have the right to choose an alternate service provider. Don't be a fool.

Morally wrong?
Rights?
Alternate service providers?

Oh yeah, zero chance we will see eye to eye on this one.

 

[Mach1E]

Absolutely blows my mind also, if it's built into the car then you have already payed for it, it is yours.

The cameras are yours.

But you didn’t pay for the software to access them.

Not any different than the GT being crippled with only 480 hp.

The motors, that I own, and paid for….. are 562hp.

But I only paid for 480 hp. I even knew that I would only get 480 hp when I ordered.

What’s crazy are the people that seem to be demanding access when they didn’t pay for it.

And now that they got it for free? Still complaining.

The only people who SHOULD be unhappy are those of us who paid extra for the cameras and For decided to give them away for free to those who paid less.

Side note: you own your cell phone. But it’s about useless without paying monthly for cellular access.

 

[RedOctobrrr]

On the bright side, there is already legal precedent for laws banning this immoral practice that so many of y'all seem to think is a-okay.

https://www.ballardspahr.com/Insigh...ohibit-Automakers-from-Offering-Subscriptions

I thought of some new examples of why this is complete BS: your power side mirrors are now locked behind a subscription. For $1.99 per month you can adjust your side mirrors using the buttons on the door. If you opt out, you can still manually push the mirrors into position. (Profiles to save settings are an additional $9.99 per profile)

Opening the frunk from the display, an app, or a key programmed to open it remotely is now locked under a $4.99 per month subscription. You may still open the frunk from the release lever under the steering column.

Your auto-dimming rear view mirror is now locked and unavailable. To unlock this feature, subscribe to a $0.99 per month plan.

TPMS is $3.99 per month.

The lights in your visor $0.10 per minute of usage, pre-load your account with visor light minutes in blocks of 10 minutes.

Steering wheel controls are $7.99 per month.

FM radio access $14.99 per month.

Bluetooth connection between the car and your phone, $8.99 per month, only one phone connection allowed. Additional devices are $3.99 each.

Your speakers are $1.99 per month each to unlock. Unlock all 6 for $9.95 (buy 5 get 1 free!!!).

These are ALL built in features that, by some of y'all's logic, Ford can rightfully charge subscriptions to. None are required for safety, they are all luxuries. I still can't understand those who think locking features built into the car behind subscriptions is ok/ethically sound.

To be crystal clear, none of us are complaining about Blue Cruise being a subscription service. Literally not a single person in this entire thread has claimed that. It is the hardware/device with zero cloud subscription service or updates necessary that is the problem.

 

[Mach1E]

On the bright side, there is already legal precedent for laws banning this immoral practice that so many of y'all seem to think is a-okay.

https://www.ballardspahr.com/Insigh...ohibit-Automakers-from-Offering-Subscriptions

I thought of some new examples of why this is complete BS: your power side mirrors are now locked behind a subscription. For $1.99 per month you can adjust your side mirrors using the buttons on the door. If you opt out, you can still manually push the mirrors into position. (Profiles to save settings are an additional $9.99 per profile)

Opening the frunk from the display, an app, or a key programmed to open it remotely is now locked under a $4.99 per month subscription. You may still open the frunk from the release lever under the steering column.

Your auto-dimming rear view mirror is now locked and unavailable. To unlock this feature, subscribe to a $0.99 per month plan.

TPMS is $3.99 per month.

The lights in your visor $0.10 per minute of usage, pre-load your account with visor light minutes in blocks of 10 minutes.

Steering wheel controls are $7.99 per month.

FM radio access $14.99 per month.

Bluetooth connection between the car and your phone, $8.99 per month, only one phone connection allowed. Additional devices are $3.99 each.

Your speakers are $1.99 per month each to unlock. Unlock all 6 for $9.95 (buy 5 get 1 free!!!).

These are ALL built in features that, by some of y'all's logic, Ford can rightfully charge subscriptions to. None are required for safety, they are all luxuries. I still can't understand those who think locking features built into the car behind subscriptions is ok/ethically sound.

To be crystal clear, none of us are complaining about Blue Cruise being a subscription service. Literally not a single person in this entire thread has claimed that. It is the hardware/device with zero cloud subscription service or updates necessary that is the problem.

To be clear, what you posted is a bill, not a law.

And to be clear, you aren’t using any argument anyone here is making.

Still not understanding why people are assigning “morality” to this.

Ford just gave you something for free.

And had they not given it to you for free, you think that would have been “immoral?”

Just……. Wow. So shocked by the entitlement shown in this thread.

Would you buy a BMW M5, decide against the competition package, then demand BMW “unlock” the extra horsepower for you?

Or closer to home- Kinda shocked you haven’t purchased a regular Mach E Gt and demand the extra 34 lb ft of torque the GTPE gets…….

So “immoral” of Ford to not give the GT owners the extra torque that the GTPE gets.
I said it already, but I’ll say it again-

I wish more manufacturers did things like this- gave you the OPTION to activate features you didn’t choose nor pay for…… at a later date.

Seriously…… what harm is caused by this? Worst case scenario you don’t get something that you don’t want and pay $0 for.

 

[bluestarct]

On the bright side, there is already legal precedent for laws banning this immoral practice that so many of y'all seem to think is a-okay.

https://www.ballardspahr.com/Insigh...ohibit-Automakers-from-Offering-Subscriptions

I thought of some new examples of why this is complete BS: your power side mirrors are now locked behind a subscription. For $1.99 per month you can adjust your side mirrors using the buttons on the door. If you opt out, you can still manually push the mirrors into position. (Profiles to save settings are an additional $9.99 per profile)

Opening the frunk from the display, an app, or a key programmed to open it remotely is now locked under a $4.99 per month subscription. You may still open the frunk from the release lever under the steering column.

Your auto-dimming rear view mirror is now locked and unavailable. To unlock this feature, subscribe to a $0.99 per month plan.

TPMS is $3.99 per month.

The lights in your visor $0.10 per minute of usage, pre-load your account with visor light minutes in blocks of 10 minutes.

Steering wheel controls are $7.99 per month.

FM radio access $14.99 per month.

Bluetooth connection between the car and your phone, $8.99 per month, only one phone connection allowed. Additional devices are $3.99 each.

Your speakers are $1.99 per month each to unlock. Unlock all 6 for $9.95 (buy 5 get 1 free!!!).

These are ALL built in features that, by some of y'all's logic, Ford can rightfully charge subscriptions to. None are required for safety, they are all luxuries. I still can't understand those who think locking features built into the car behind subscriptions is ok/ethically sound.

To be crystal clear, none of us are complaining about Blue Cruise being a subscription service. Literally not a single person in this entire thread has claimed that. It is the hardware/device with zero cloud subscription service or updates necessary that is the problem.

I understand your reasoning but you are missing a critical point.

If all of the cars are built with the exact same set of hardware as the following car, the manufacturing costs can drop. The cars can be sold at different prices based on what level of options you chose to activate: Base at $47k; Premium at $55k or Yahoo at $73k. If you don't want any bells and whistles then you can choose the base at $47k.

Later you move from sunny Miami to Buffalo to get back to your roots. Now those seat heaters are looking pretty good. You pay Ford $450 to activate Option 201A and now you have heated seats and mirrors and a much happier spouse. You don't have to pay Ford and you can instead get the death stare from the passenger seat. It is your choice.

And don't forget, manufacturers still have to compete with each other of what features are standard. Chevy Blazer SS vs Mustang Mach E GT vs Hyundai Ioniq 6.

 

[Mach1E]

I understand your reasoning but you are missing a critical point.

If all of the cars are built with the exact same set of hardware as the following car, the manufacturing costs can drop. The cars can be sold at different prices based on what level of options you chose to activate: Base at $47k; Premium at $55k or Yahoo at $73k. If you don't want any bells and whistles then you can choose the base at $47k.

Later you move from sunny Miami to Buffalo to get back to your roots. Now those seat heaters are looking pretty good. You pay Ford $450 to activate Option 201A and now you have heated seats and mirrors and a much happier spouse. You don't have to pay Ford and you can instead get the death stare from the passenger seat. It is your choice.

And don't forget, manufacturers still have to compete with each other of what features are standard. Chevy Blazer SS vs Mustang Mach E GT vs Hyundai Ioniq 6.

Yup.

Even if Ford never gave this away for free, I see nothing but positives here.

Access to an option And ability to change your mind.
Better resale value.
Cheaper manufacturing costs.

To those calling this “immoral,” I have two questions for if Ford didn’t give this away:

1. where do you see that this was ever planned as a “monthly subscription?” I can’t find that reference anywhere. My assumption was the activation would be a 1x cost of whatever the option price is for everyone else.

2. if immoral, who, if anyone is harmed and how are they harmed?

 

[RedOctobrrr]

I have come to realize you will have people firmly on one side (nothing wrong with paywalling options behind subscription plans) or the other (no hardware should ever be paywalled - software services only).

Thank you all for the good, sensible debates.

 

[Addos]

With as glitchy and buggy as some of these software updates have been, that is all we need, tiers and subscriptions that will probably be applied poorly and lead to loss of access to things we previously had access to. Instead of trying to simplify things, and cleaning everything up, Ford is trying to complicate things, and add more opportunities to screw things up. Can't wait to see how much of a dumpster this will be going forward.

 

[Mach1E]

I have come to realize you will have people firmly on one side (nothing wrong with paywalling options behind subscription plans) or the other (no hardware should ever be paywalled - software services only).

Thank you all for the good, sensible debates.

While true, I’m still not seeing where this was ever a monthly subscription plan.

Seems some people are arguing against something that never existed.

That’s fine though, probably half the internet is filled with that kinda debate.

 

[Richard L.]

Ford just recalled 820K Explorers for a software issue with the 360 Degree Camera. I’m just happy that ours work.