Radio station in Seattle accidentally broadcasts image over FM, bricks a bunch of Mazda entertainment systems

[CitizenVectron]

Radio station snafu in Seattle bricks some Mazda infotainment systems – Ars Technica

ARSTECHNICA.COM

 

Quote

According to the Seattle Times, the problem began on January 30 and afflicted Mazdas from model years 2014 to 2017 when the cars were tuned to the local NPR station, KUOW 94.9. At some point during the day's broadcast, a signal from KUOW caused the Mazdas' infotainment systems to crash—the screens died and the radios were stuck on 94.9 FM.

 

Quote

When afflicted owners took their cars to be checked at local Mazda dealers, they were told that the "connectivity master unit" was dead and needed to be replaced.

The snag? A new CMU costs $1,500—if you can find one, which you can't, because of supply chain problems.

 

Quote

The problem, according to Mazda, was that the radio station sent out image files in its HD radio stream that did not have extensions, and it seems that Mazda's infotainment system of that generation needs an extension (and not a header) to tell what a file is. No extension, no idea, and the system gets corrupted.

 

That seems like...a really bad design. It's classic "there's no need for try/catch in our program, it will always get the correct information coming in!" syndrome.

[GeneticBlueprint]

This is on Mazda. No error handling in your device with a computer in it? GTFO here.

[DarkStar189]

I have a 2019 Mazda CX5. Hopefully they fixed that shit so I don't have to worry about it.  The infotainment screen in it is garbage though. For being a 2019, I'm always surprised how slow and clunky it can be. 

[Air_Delivery]

37 minutes ago, CitizenVectron said:

Radio station snafu in Seattle bricks some Mazda infotainment systems – Ars Technica

ARSTECHNICA.COM

 

 

 

 

That seems like...a really bad design. It's classic "there's no need for try/catch in our program, it will always get the correct information coming in!" syndrome.

That was some shitty programming. My god how do you have no error catching for basic stuff like that.  And why do they need to replace the whole thing? Can't they just wipe it clean and reinstall the operating system?

[Anathema-]

One time at self checkout in a safeway I accidentally scanned my club card for food lion and the system crashed. 

[Keyser_Soze]

If you drive a Mazda you're just asking for this kind of thing to happen to you.

[Jason]

6 hours ago, Anathema- said:

One time at self checkout in a safeway I accidentally scanned my club card for food lion and the system crashed. 

 

The system was actually just following its protocol for when a dirty ass Food Lion shopper shows up.