i have a friend who's sponsored by cobb tuning who's going to look into what the latest is for the rx-8. although perhaps teamrx8 knows some more too.

 

They said they were showing the MS3 with all the components INCLUDING the AP...

But they show the AP every year...

Showing has never been the problem...its that whole pesky "delivering a product" thing that been the issue...

 

Indeed. just using it as a reference to them not having dropped the Mazda project.

 

I've danced around it as best I can, some things I'd rather not say as I've never really been cleared to discuss any of my experiences with Cobb Tuning

 

But I have.

The AP/Street Tuner software was completely re-written over the passed year to make it more streamlined and to take into account its multi-platform capability.
The hardware was also re-designed for the same reason.

This tied up their guys for a long time.

The RX-8 version will proceed the MS3 version and should be available at the end of the first quarter of next year. (Of course, Trey said that last year, but he seemed really committed to it this time.)

However, it will be the Access Port only version with pre-loaded maps for the N/A RX-8.

The Street Tuner software will follow, but not too quickly, I'm afraid.

 

By Street Tuner you mean for turbo'd applications or just for someone that wants more of their own control?

and will it be worth the wait?

 

The Street Tuner software for all applications.
Cobb doesn't want it going out until it is basically fool-proof.

 

Thanks MM..

 

Jeff, so your saying "don't get rid of your emanages & Xs yet" and it could be another year before the tuner version is released?

 

Well damn it...

I was kinda hoping I could go FI w/ the AP instead of the X or eMangle...

At this rate it's going to be another year...I'm starting to succumb to "get the X already"...

 

lol, that's all you got ...

fwiw, foolproof = incapable of hacking or reverse-engineering

 

Let me just say...

That's impossible...

The best anyone could ever do is...make it inconvenient...

Even at a hardware level...there is always a way to get at the data...always...

So now the question is...how long do we have to wait until they figure that out themselves...and finally just release...

 

True, in principal. no system is ever "secure", but things can always be made so incredibly complicated, or simple, that the required labor is incapalbe of being worth the effort.

 

it sure can...but the trial and error involved to get to that level is immense...

the company i used to work for went bankrupt trying to chase it...i was hired to tell them how it could be broken...and after 9 months...it became clear that it was pointless...a single person was able to break software that was created by a team of over 35 developers over and over and over...

it was recommended at the end of the project that the best way to secure the product was to bury me behind the building...

 

The easiest way would be to mislabel everything on any documentation pertaining to systems, circuits, etc, etc that wouldn't be used as a normal function of the product that made it to the public. That doesn't stop someone from doing it, but would take completely recreating all of their work to figure out what it should be. At that point you are infringing on more than 1 patent held by Cobb.

Even that, i think, is paranoia. With the kind of legal security Cobb has in all the patents he holds he has grounds to sue some to the point they wouldn't even own a computer in the future for coming anywhere close to messing with his systems.

 

what you are lacking to consider...is that stuff is stolen all the time and simply rehashed and resold...

its next to impossible to enforce a software patent because software is easily rewritten...and therefore very difficult to match with "stolen" software....

If the MD5 don't fit! You must acquit!

 

Security through obscurity is never a good way to fend off would be hackers. The best hackers are usually very patient and obviously very skilled. Misdirection does not fool them very long.

 

And the real professionals know that only amateurs rely on that method...one of a few rookie mistakes...and so don't even waste their time...and get right to probing and mapping...

 

5 months to the AP, 1 month after that for the ST software to go beta and an undefined amount of time before they get enough hands-on with a FI car so that they feel confident releasing it to the public.
The end of summer would be a early release, so, yeah - hang on to what you have.

The "hacking" issue is that they want to make it impossible to download the tweaked info back out of the PCM.
Cobb wants it to be a solo dialog between the PCM and the AccessPort.

 

Congratulations on escaping.

 

What business of Cobb's is it what talks to my PCM?? Not bashing, BTW, I know they make great producs... But this seems strange to me.

You're saying they want to make sure no one can extract the Cobb maps out of the PCM? That's called DRM and it's a losing proposition. If the CD, DVD, PC/console game, and online music industries haven't been able to figure it out (with the untold amount of money send down the drain pursuing it), I doubt Cobb will...

 

We just got more information in two days than we've had all year. At least there is a dim light at the end of this tunnel. Thanks Jeff

 

. <--- actual photo of light revealed

 

Its simple...

They need to prevent people from purchasing a single AP and using it to tune multiple vehicles...

If they ensure that the AP and the ECU remain married and exclusively work with only each other...then you generate more revenue as each person would need to purchase their own unique AP.

I do not blame them for wanting this...they do after all need to make money...I'm cool with that...well except for the lapse time part...

 

Funny you should say that...

This particular company hires ex-NSA, KGB, DIA, etc etc etc...

In fact, they lured me away from a gig w/ the NSA...my former boss who was "retired" air force intelligence recruited me away...we shall call him "Bob" for this story...

NSA: "A real patriot does not care about the money, but service to their country"

BOB: "If you want money, its in the private sector...and it makes the world go round"

ET: "Bob...I like the way you talk...you just hired your gun..."


The owner had a price on his head in Bolivia for some coup back in the day...he had the flyer framed in his office...and always packed a loaded .38 at all times...

Sniff...I miss those days...