My Sienna is a 2023 XLE, and, my salesperson indicated it TSS 2.5, but maybe there is a way to check that, not that it may make much of a difference.
Yes, I notice it can/does connect to wifi, and, of course, it will also connect to my Iphone 13. Some Apps appear on my car screen when connected to the phone.
You are correct, I no doubt have "MORE THAN A FEW" misconceptions. And, the TSS probably is indedpendent of wireless car play, but, it sounds like TSS 3.0 upgrades both of these..the infotainment and the wireless car play. There is obvious interaction between my phone (obviously upgradable) and the car, which apparently is not upgradable, or at least might not be upgradable.
If it took some parts (hardware upgrades), too, then Im willing to go for that. This 2023 was just made in Dec. 2022, so it should have close to the very latest technology, what ever that is.
For example, I noticed few, if any 2023 Sienna owners had trouble with the battery rundown problem caused by the hands free sensors so prevalent in 2022 Sienna models. So, there had to be differences between the 2022 and 2023 Sienna's, even tho they may not be visible "even with a magnifying glass".
Since a computer (hardware) is only as good as its software, and, of course, this car and other new cars are becoming more and more "like a computer" every year, it makes sense this may be upgradable.
With a Lexus I recently owned, it had an on board navigation. It had 2017 "maps" since it was a 2017. The dealer is able to upgrade those maps, for a fee, of course. So, there is some device that hooks up to the car and enables an upgrade. I hypothesized this may also be available in the 2023 Sienna, with 6 year newer technology.
Since a new car is "mostly operated by computer", and, I know the importance of software upgrades for security in computers, it may be a design flaw that it can not be upgraded. The reason is, hackers may soon, if they havent already, figure out how to hack the car and steal it. Apparently this is already done by Kia's. The car sends out a signal looking for the key fob..your key fob. And, when it finds it, the car works. Well, this constant signal emitted by your car looking for a key fob definately means there is wireless capabilities. And, there is little doubt in informed minds, cars are hackable.
Therefore, a security upgrade is almost inevitably needed on any modern car with modern technology. "Along with" Security upgrades (that is, bug fixes which allow hacker access), most software companies "put in new features" with the security upgrade. This way, they can call it an "upgrade" instead of a "bug fix". Microsoft, for example, does not use the term "bug fix" as its very negative connotations. Instead, they call them Updates or upgrades, and sometimes throw in a new feature to motivate people to install upgrades.
Car companies, tho certainly not software experts, are likely to follow suit with Apple and Microsoft's naming convention using the terms upgrade and update, instead of the more realistic "bug fix". Its a bad vibe to pay 50 grand for a car needing a bug fix to keep it from being stolen or hacked, but its much better to "update to new features and cool stuff", oh, and also have bug fix patches installed at the same time.
Im hoping a nerd will or has and will publish a way to upgrade this to TSS 3.0. There should be little doubt this upgrade actually means a safer car, since it upgrades the Toyota Safety Sense, in no small part responsible for the safety technology such as adaptive cruise, or forward collission warning and braking.
Its "unconscionable" that Toyota would make its owners drive a "less safe" car, because they did not allow sofware upgrades almost certainly some of which woulld repair "bugs" in the saftey technologies.
Yes, I notice it can/does connect to wifi, and, of course, it will also connect to my Iphone 13. Some Apps appear on my car screen when connected to the phone.
You are correct, I no doubt have "MORE THAN A FEW" misconceptions. And, the TSS probably is indedpendent of wireless car play, but, it sounds like TSS 3.0 upgrades both of these..the infotainment and the wireless car play. There is obvious interaction between my phone (obviously upgradable) and the car, which apparently is not upgradable, or at least might not be upgradable.
If it took some parts (hardware upgrades), too, then Im willing to go for that. This 2023 was just made in Dec. 2022, so it should have close to the very latest technology, what ever that is.
For example, I noticed few, if any 2023 Sienna owners had trouble with the battery rundown problem caused by the hands free sensors so prevalent in 2022 Sienna models. So, there had to be differences between the 2022 and 2023 Sienna's, even tho they may not be visible "even with a magnifying glass".
Since a computer (hardware) is only as good as its software, and, of course, this car and other new cars are becoming more and more "like a computer" every year, it makes sense this may be upgradable.
With a Lexus I recently owned, it had an on board navigation. It had 2017 "maps" since it was a 2017. The dealer is able to upgrade those maps, for a fee, of course. So, there is some device that hooks up to the car and enables an upgrade. I hypothesized this may also be available in the 2023 Sienna, with 6 year newer technology.
Since a new car is "mostly operated by computer", and, I know the importance of software upgrades for security in computers, it may be a design flaw that it can not be upgraded. The reason is, hackers may soon, if they havent already, figure out how to hack the car and steal it. Apparently this is already done by Kia's. The car sends out a signal looking for the key fob..your key fob. And, when it finds it, the car works. Well, this constant signal emitted by your car looking for a key fob definately means there is wireless capabilities. And, there is little doubt in informed minds, cars are hackable.
Therefore, a security upgrade is almost inevitably needed on any modern car with modern technology. "Along with" Security upgrades (that is, bug fixes which allow hacker access), most software companies "put in new features" with the security upgrade. This way, they can call it an "upgrade" instead of a "bug fix". Microsoft, for example, does not use the term "bug fix" as its very negative connotations. Instead, they call them Updates or upgrades, and sometimes throw in a new feature to motivate people to install upgrades.
Car companies, tho certainly not software experts, are likely to follow suit with Apple and Microsoft's naming convention using the terms upgrade and update, instead of the more realistic "bug fix". Its a bad vibe to pay 50 grand for a car needing a bug fix to keep it from being stolen or hacked, but its much better to "update to new features and cool stuff", oh, and also have bug fix patches installed at the same time.
Im hoping a nerd will or has and will publish a way to upgrade this to TSS 3.0. There should be little doubt this upgrade actually means a safer car, since it upgrades the Toyota Safety Sense, in no small part responsible for the safety technology such as adaptive cruise, or forward collission warning and braking.
Its "unconscionable" that Toyota would make its owners drive a "less safe" car, because they did not allow sofware upgrades almost certainly some of which woulld repair "bugs" in the saftey technologies.