Firmware Updates for Your Car?

Our family has grown to a considerable size of five. We decided that our little Saturn SL1 just wasn't cutting it anymore. Back in December we got a 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan.

I've been doing some reading on the technology in this vehicle and in other newer cars. I am very intrigued by the fact that newer cars actually have software updates. I found that there were several versions of the software that runs the head unit in my van that had been released in the past couple of years. I couldn't allow something I own to not be running the latest and greatest software available!

The process was pretty painless. I downloaded the firmware files and copied them to an empty FAT formatted USB stick. Then I stuck it in the radio's USB port, held down the phone button, and a prompt came up asking if I wanted to upgrade the software. In about five minutes it was done.

Honestly, there are only difference I have noticed so far. First, the interface changed from a blue color to a black color. I like this change because it matches the color of the radio itself. Second, there is now an option for a camera delay. This causes the rear backup camera to stay on for a few seconds after you put the car into drive.

Anyway, the point of this post is to say that our cars are now in line with our computers. It's time that we keep them up to date just like we do with our computers.