Cool Car Tech – Ford SYNC

19 Nov, 2008  Stuff I Like, Tech

Recently Microsoft and Ford Motor Company have teamed up to create an interesting package for helping to manage your digital life in the car. Called SYNC, this Microsoft powered software helps integrate your cellphone and digital audio into your car. It is compatible with a many different MP3 players and cellphone models. By syncing your cellphone to the car through bluetooth and your MP3 player through the built in USB connection you can make or receive phone calls, receive text messages and select music to play all with voice control or by selecting options from the dash display like you would with a normal car stereo.

Here is a video from Common Craft that explains it all very nicely:

Sync in Plain English

I would really like a chance to try this out myself to see how well it works. If you have ever tried any voice activated device including voice dialing which is fairly common on most cellphone handsets these days you will know how awkward it can be talking to a machine. Here is a video from Ford that lets you see the system in action. It looks and sounds pretty good but you still have to train yourself to say the right commands and wait for the computer to respond. For example form the video it appears the rather than just saying “call SoandSo” you have to tell it you want to use the phone and then tell it to call. I still think we have a long way to go before we get to the same place as the crew on the Starship Enterprise.

Ford Sync™ Demonstration

All-in-all you have to give Ford and Microsoft credit for at least trying to make the integration of your digital life safer and easier when you are taking them along for the ride.



Comments

  • chai29
    The collaboration of Ford and Microsoft is much better compared to the Nokia and Renault's team up... The software (SYNC) has such features that I personally like the most and I think that such technology is a great addition to the car.
  • I agree... I am hoping to see it in real life action very soon!
  • your blog is great!
  • Well thank you for the compliment.
  • Well, it is not a news that Microsoft Auto - an embedded systems is extensively used in modern cars.

    It would be however interesting to see how this new package would be received by car buyers. I know onel onely guy who uses navigation system just because he likes the sweet voice of the girl who directs him to his destination!
  • You train SEO's.....yikes!

    I know lots of people who use in car nav systems, myself included. If you had actually taken the time to read the article and watch the video you would also have seen that SYNC is not a navigation system, in fact the option for that was only introduced recently. SYNC is much more.
  • This is cool. Hope this will fit every kind and car model. Things should be this advanced because technology is really needed and we must follow the trends.
  • Absolutely right, not to mention the other benefits of having hands free control over your phone and MP3 player no matter what the brand. I see that other manufacturers are starting to implement these systems, but no one is doing like Ford.
  • Very great but can I install it on another car brands?
  • Short answer is no. Long answer is anything is possible but you would have to get a hold of the system from another vehicle. I highly doubt Ford will just sell you the SYNC system.
  • Very cool. Thanks for sharing the news. In Japan too we have similar collaboration between Toyota and Microsoft to create futuristic cars.
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