Zeus plus...

[SnapOnKid]

Snap-on products also provide guided component tests, service resets and relearns, tire wheel and maintenance, and Altus drive. How many smartphone or android tablet apps can do that?

Well Tech_A,

Unfortunately Service Resets and Relearns that are not preformed Via a Specific scan tool function can generally be found on line. Same with Tire wheel and general maintenance....

Altus is just tracking what the tool is doing.
The tool already stores the information, can print it, and if you connect to the internet and log into a email you can send your own emails with the report and screen shots that are stored on the tool. It may provide some ease of use for a shop owner. But lets face it, on the other side of that coin, Snap On is just tracking what user's are doing and collecting that data to see market trends and common repair's. It helps forecast Specific needs and what to focus on. It's the same thing every Online company like Face Book, Google, Apple, and so on do.

Now the Guided components test Is a nice and useful Feature. There are a few users online that document this in there repair video's on You tube.

However, when I am pointed to go on line to a website to retrieve the information, It takes the functionality away from the tool.

IMO, When you remove that type of functionality from the tool you remove the Advantage of the added cost of the tool...

[Tech_A]

Well Tech_A,

Unfortunately Service Resets and Relearns that are not preformed Via a Specific scan tool function can generally be found on line. Same with Tire wheel and general maintenance....

Altus is just tracking what the tool is doing.
The tool already stores the information, can print it, and if you connect to the internet and log into a email you can send your own emails with the report and screen shots that are stored on the tool. It may provide some ease of use for a shop owner. But lets face it, on the other side of that coin, Snap On is just tracking what user's are doing and collecting that data to see market trends and common repair's. It helps forecast Specific needs and what to focus on. It's the same thing every Online company like Face Book, Google, Apple, and so on do.

Now the Guided components test Is a nice and useful Feature. There are a few users online that document this in there repair video's on You tube.

However, when I am pointed to go on line to a website to retrieve the information, It takes the functionality away from the tool.

IMO, When you remove that type of functionality from the tool you remove the Advantage of the added cost of the tool...

Service resets and relearns are component based functional tests and repair information so you don't have to leave your tool to access this info.

Same goes for tire wheel and maintenance these are catered to the selected vehicle so you don't have to dig through a service manual if a functional reset is available it will also be provided.


"Altus is just tracking what the tool is doing." this is an interesting thought. Altus started out as a way for the diagnostic thermal imager to share images and has grown to something similar to cloud storage. I would assume it would take a tremendous effort and resources to sort through that data to make anything useful of it. Sure you may get some trends from the automatic tagging but it's mostly noise without additional research or context. As with most data analysis garbage in, garbage out...

I feel once the internet gets more HP and shops can provide better WiFi inside of their faraday cages, there will probably be more usage of diagnostic tools that support remote access programming (RAP), but there will still be a need for an aftermarket tool when the technician can't figure how to navigate an OEM diagnostic system.

[SnapOnKid]

Service resets and relearns are component based functional tests and repair information so you don't have to leave your tool to access this info.

Same goes for tire wheel and maintenance these are catered to the selected vehicle so you don't have to dig through a service manual if a functional reset is available it will also be provided.


"Altus is just tracking what the tool is doing." this is an interesting thought. Altus started out as a way for the diagnostic thermal imager to share images and has grown to something similar to cloud storage. I would assume it would take a tremendous effort and resources to sort through that data to make anything useful of it. Sure you may get some trends from the automatic tagging but it's mostly noise without additional research or context. As with most data analysis garbage in, garbage out...

I feel once the internet gets more HP and shops can provide better WiFi inside of their faraday cages, there will probably be more usage of diagnostic tools that support remote access programming (RAP), but there will still be a need for an aftermarket tool when the technician can't figure how to navigate an OEM diagnostic system.

Unfortunately alot of shops don't or have not invested in Wifi Infrastructure within there shop unless the shop is newer or was recently purchased and updated.

A basic router, Usually from the ISP, and maybe a repeater if the shop is large enough is generally the norm. From what I have seen.

[Tech_A]

Yes, id also add most shops are also built like faraday cages, which makes even cell phone service difficult, and are located in areas where cable/fiber internet is not available yet. For those challenges there needs to be a way to access content directly on the tool but have a way to update it as content gets enhanced.

[SnapOnKid]

Yes, id also add most shops are also built like faraday cages, which makes even cell phone service difficult, and are located in areas where cable/fiber internet is not available yet. For those challenges there needs to be a way to access content directly on the tool but have a way to update it as content gets enhanced.

And this is why I posted about having to go to a website, Even if the tool has a direct link to access the info. Same thing if you required to maintain a subscription to access that portion of the info

A few of the shops I worked at had all the utilities under ground. Great!!! and I don't just mean the shop itself, were talking several blocks of the utilities buried under ground. But that was all done before Fiber was ever available...

The cable company tried to get us to upgrade but they wanted us to sign a contract and pay for a portion of the cost for them to bring it in. How ever they could not give us an exact cost... They also wanted to get everyone in the business center on board and some business just didn't need it at the time. and that was over 10 years ago...

This is why the old timers preach about functionality and the usefulness of that data being on the tool as well as being able to access it.

[greasybob]

IT's probably all a moot point. In a year or two we will all be using ChatGPT or some other chat bot AI system connected to our scanners to diagnose things. Heck if ChatGPT turns out to be as good as they say you can build your own scanner to your own specs. If the Mopar gateway thing takes hold you won't be able access the vehicle without an internet connection anyways.

[Tech_A]

IT's probably all a moot point. In a year or two we will all be using ChatGPT or some other chat bot AI system connected to our scanners to diagnose things. Heck if ChatGPT turns out to be as good as they say you can build your own scanner to your own specs. If the Mopar gateway thing takes hold you won't be able access the vehicle without an internet connection anyways.

I think AI will be good for redundant tasks like writing RO's, diagnosing P0100-P0300, and maybe some U code stuff. We will still need a human to intervene for more complex things like MPIs, rats chewing up wiring, DYI youtube experiments gone wrong, or EVAP monitors that will never run due to unique climate conditions.

We will definitely need an internet connection for "secure" diagnostics and reprogramming...even farm equipment will need the internet to reprogram or calibrate machines after repair.

[GypsyR]

I like how we have to pay fees and jump through security hoops just to do a reasonable repair on a customer's vehicle when the thieves are still gone in 60 seconds with any of them like they had no security at all. (Cough, STELLANTIS)