Ford slashes Sync price by $100, coming to all models in three years
Filed under: Safety, Technology, Ford, Infotainment
With Ford stepping up to become the first automaker to support the Safe Drivers Act of 2011, the Blue Oval is putting its money where its mouth is by dropping the price of its Sync system from $395 to $295.
The updated pricing will extend first to the 2012 Explorer and Edge, and will be available on all trim levels of the Edge, with the SEL, Limited and Sport models coming standard with the system and the SE now available with Sync as an option. The pricing will later extend to the 2013 Escape, Flex, Focus and Taurus.
In addition to the standard infotainment and navigation functions, Ford is touting the hands-free capabilities of Sync as a safety feature, along with 911 Assist and the Sync Services subscription plan which includes turn-by-turn directions, traffic reports and business searches, all of which can be performed without ever taking your eyes off the road.
Ford plans to make Sync and the new pricing strategy available on every North American model by 2014, and expect a host of upgrades and refinements to happen in the process. Hit the jump for the full details.
Continue reading Ford slashes Sync price by $100, coming to all models in three years
Ford slashes Sync price by $100, coming to all models in three years originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 01 Aug 2011 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsOnNotice? Ford beta-testing live operators through Sync
Filed under: Technology, Ford, Lincoln, Infotainment
Sync Services - Ford's lesser-known on-demand, voice-activated news and information service - has begun running a very OnStar-like beta. The new system allows registered Sync customers to connect with a live operator to fulfill business searches and address entry, but don't think of it as a replacement for the standard cadre of voice-activated features.
Ford has found that 70 percent of all Sync Services calls are for business searches and address input, and in the latter's case, the system is best used if Sync's voice-translation function doesn't input the proper address. All owners have to do to use the service is ask for "Operator" and the Live Operator Assistance feature connects them with a living, breathing human being. Addresses can be sent to the car for turn-by-turn navigation, along with POI searches, and for the time being, it's free for all Sync Services customers. Make the jump for the full details.
Continue reading OnNotice? Ford beta-testing live operators through Sync
OnNotice? Ford beta-testing live operators through Sync originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Jul 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFord named in patent infringement case over SYNC, safety systems
Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety, Technology, Ford, Lincoln
Eagle Harbor Holdings has named Ford in a lawsuit, contending that the automaker infringed on seven of its patents after talks between the two companies stalled out in 2008 - and the claimed infringements strike right at the heart of Ford's recent tech expansion.
In addition to claiming that Ford cribbed its technology for Active Park Assist, Stability Control, Blind Spot Information with Cross Traffic Alert and MyKey, the small Bainbridge Island, WA tech firm claims that the technology behind Ford's incredibly popular SYNC infotainment system. Specifically, the voice control and remote MP3 player connection technology.
According to Eagle:
"Our representatives began meeting with Ford in 2002 to discuss and disclose our patented automotive systems technology and its applicability for use in Ford vehicles," said Jeffrey Harmes, general counsel for Eagle Harbor Holdings, LLC. "These meetings continued until 2008, when Ford stopped communications with us. In early 2009 we informed Ford that its automotive audio systems infringed on our patents. In March 2010, we again informed Ford that its automotive electronics systems, including Ford SYNC, infringed on our patents. Unfortunately, despite our many efforts to communicate with Ford and resolve these issues, Ford continues to refuse to license its use of our patented technology. Ford is ignoring our patent rights and continues to use, without permission or license, Eagle Harbor's technology."
Those talks also included Volvo - at the time, owned by Ford Motor Company - but it's unclear if Eagle will pursue the recently sold Swedish automaker for similar tech infringement.
A Ford spokesperson tells Autoblog, "We were just served with this lawsuit late last week and we have not yet had an opportunity to review the details. We believe it would be premature for us to comment until we have had a chance to do so."
It's unlikely that Ford will have to stop production of its SYNC and advanced safety-equipped vehicles, but if Eagle wins the suit or settles out of court, we wouldn't be surprised to learn of the Blue Oval cutting a hefty check.
Ford named in patent infringement case over SYNC, safety systems originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Jul 2011 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFord talks Sync tweaks, adding airbag seatbelts to more models
Filed under: Etc., Technology, Ford, Lincoln
Ford says that it's in the process of responding to customers who feel that the company's Sync and MyFord Touch systems are cumbersome or difficult to use. According to the Detroit Free Press, the company's internal quality evaluations have discovered a few issues. While speaking to reporters, Mark Fields, Ford's President of the Americas, said that the automaker is committed to improving the connectivity options in its vehicles, adding that by and large, customers enjoy the features. So far, it's unclear exactly what changes Ford will make to Sync and MyFord Touch/My Lincoln Touch moving forward, but we'd wager that software engineers will focus on further improving the software's voice-recognition system, though many Autoblog staffers hope they also reevaluate MyFord Touch's control scheme.
Fields also made it clear that the Blue Oval plans to expand its Sync AppLink service to the 2012 Fusion, F-Series, Expedition and even the Mustang. Currently, the $395 option is only available on the Fiesta, and it allows buyers to download various smartphone applications straight to their vehicle.
Finally, the Dearborn-based automaker said that we can also expect to see more seatbelts with integrated airbags crop up across is Ford and Lincoln lines. Right now, the safety device is only an option on the 2011 Ford Explorer.
Ford talks Sync tweaks, adding airbag seatbelts to more models originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsDesignated Distraction? SYNC begins offering Fantasy Baseball updates
Filed under: Technology, Ford, Lincoln
The Ford SYNC hands-free tech has proven to be a well-liked commodity over the past several years, in part because the automaker continues to update the feature-packed system. Now the automaker is catering to the estimated seven million fantasy baseball fans with on-demand weekly statistic updates right from the comfort of the driver's seat of a SYNC-equipped Ford or Lincoln.
To access hitting and pitching stats, the driver needs only say "Sports," then "Baseball," then "Fantasy Update" from Services. The system will then read off the leaders in batting average, home runs, RBIs, wins, strikeouts, saves and other relevant categories. Of course, the SYNC system will need a paired Bluetooth-enabled phone with a SYNC Services account, which is free for the first three years of vehicle ownership.
Ford is hoping fantasy baseball owners will use this new feature to get up to speed on the latest fantasy baseball news, but we're a bit torn on this one. As fantasy baseball team owners, we're always up for any news and analysis that will help us win. Typically, though, we want that information in front of us when we set our lineups, and we can't do that sort of thing while driving.
Then again, we're sure many fantasy baseball fans will take whatever info they can get when they can get it. We'll just have to see how the new feature works in person. Hit the jump to read over the Ford press release.
Continue reading Designated Distraction? SYNC begins offering Fantasy Baseball updates
Designated Distraction? SYNC begins offering Fantasy Baseball updates originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Jun 2011 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsMulally facing pressure to fix Ford tech and quality glitches
Filed under: Technology, Crossover, Ford
Ford has had its share of quality issues with its fledgling MyFord Touch technology, and watchdogs like Consumer Reports and J.D. Power have taken notice. Bloomberg reports that Ford CEO Alan Mulally is all too aware of the automaker's latest technology glitches, saying, "We've had just a few issues with some technologies associated with Sync and MyFord Touch."
The "just a few issues" Mulally is referring to include reports of touchscreens blacking out, general complaints about a steep learning curve and a recent crossover ranking by Consumer Reports that placed the 2011 Explorer 17th out of 19 vehicles tested due in large part to the tech. CR also dropped the coveted "Recommended" nod for the 2011 Edge because of MyFord Touch.
Mulally's recent statements come just before the release of J.D. Power's June 23 new car quality report. J.D. Power's VP Dave Sargent claims the automaker's own data shows that quality has taken a hit, adding that Ford is "making an early warning to the market that this may be a problem." There is no telling how car buyers would react to Ford slipping a bit in the rankings, but the company's stellar performance in the study over the past few years has likely been a major reason why the Blue Oval managed to re-pass Toyota on the sales charts.
Ford isn't taking the potential quality issues lightly, recently spending $100 million to deploy laser-guided robots in 17 factories to help reduce wind noise in its automobiles. The robots will enable Ford to install doors to within one tenth of one millimeter of specification. The automaker is also working hard to stay on top of quality even as it continues the torrid pace of new vehicle launches.
Mulally facing pressure to fix Ford tech and quality glitches originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Jun 2011 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsPaging Dr. SYNC: Ford developing in-car monitoring of motorist health [w/video]
Filed under: Etc., Safety, Technology, Ford
Ford believes that in-car diagnostic information could be expanded beyond the health of your vehicle. In fact, the automaker is researching ways to make sure you stay healthy. Using its Sync technology and in conjunction with medical professionals, Ford is developing monitoring services and applications for drivers who might suffer from chronic illnesses that range from diabetes to allergies.
Bluetooth, cloud services and Ford apps can work together with medical devices and services, keeping you abreast of a multitude of important health-related information. Ford hopes to provide glucose monitoring services, alerts for allergy sufferers and a connection to the WellDoc platform.
Ford is hoping to go even deeper into the realm of health monitoring and information. The automakers believes that it's not far from having the ability to bring the allergy alerts and glucose monitoring systems to production vehicles. Down the road, Ford hopes to offer systems that monitor the driver's heart rate and stress levels. That information would be useful for the automaker to determine how to make driving a less stressful event. Click past the jump to watch a clip that provides a bit more insight into this research.
Continue reading Paging Dr. SYNC: Ford developing in-car monitoring of motorist health [w/video]
Paging Dr. SYNC: Ford developing in-car monitoring of motorist health [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 May 2011 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFord Focus adds on-board WiFi in Europe
Filed under: Europe, Technology, Ford, UK
You might figure that, with a name like Focus, Ford's compact model would be all about eliminating distractions. But the new global Focus is jam-packed with technology, and the latest among them is a new in-car WiFi system.
The device works with SYNC and MyFord Touch to pick up the signal from a mobile internet dongle or smartphone and share it with as many as five additional devices in the car. This should come in handy for road trips and traveling salesmen, but we hope drivers will be able to stayed focused while behind the wheel.
One way or another, the system appears to be available - at least initially - only overseas in European markets, but we'll be keeping an eye out for its introduction in the United Sates, as well. In the meantime you can follow the jump to scope out the full details in the press release from Ford's British subsidiary.
Continue reading Ford Focus adds on-board WiFi in Europe
Ford Focus adds on-board WiFi in Europe originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 May 2011 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFord cleans up at 2011 Edison Awards, Chevy Volt wins Gold [w/video]
Filed under: Technology, Ford, GM, Electric
The annual Edison awards that celebrate innovation in goods and services have been handed out, and Ford and General Motors have taken no prisoners with regards to all things automotive. Ford was the big winner, with three gold metals and one silver. Further, CEO Alan Mulally was named a 2011 Edison Achievement Award Winner.
Ford won the Applied Technology gold thanks to the inflatable seatbelts that were introduced on the 2011 Explorer. The Blue Oval took both gold and silver in the In-Car Driving Aids segment, with MyFord Touch and Sync finishing one and two, respectively. MyKey took the last gold for Ford under the Remote Driving Aids segment, besting GM's MyLink, which took silver.
GM's Chevrolet Volt won the top spot for the Personal Transportation category, beating The Copenhagen Wheel (silver) and the Nissan Leaf (bronze).
Hit the jump to watch a short interview with Alan Mulally, who discusses manufacturing and its impact on jobs and the economy.
[Source: Edison Awards]
Continue reading Ford cleans up at 2011 Edison Awards, Chevy Volt wins Gold [w/video]
Ford cleans up at 2011 Edison Awards, Chevy Volt wins Gold [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsFord’s second-gen SYNC system off to a buggy start *UPDATE
Filed under: Safety, Technology, Ford, Lincoln
In 2010, Ford reinvented its SYNC system with the launch of the refreshed Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX. But the new integrated system - MyFord Touch and MyLincoln Touch or what's known as "SYNC generation 2" - has been plagued by more than a few bugs. And part of the problem is due to its design.
If one of its various functions trips up - navigation, phone or entertainment, among others - the system can restart. This can leave the driver faced with a blank display and a restart procedure that can take two to three minutes. Double bummer: It usually wipes out your paired phones and indexed music.
After talking with several colleagues who have experienced similar issues (including one where the volume was stuck on max while the A/C continued to blow cold air in 42-degree weather) and experiencing these issues first hand for ourselves, we called up Ford's Head of Technology Communications, Alan Hall, and got on the phone with one of the Blue Oval's engineers to see what's causing the issues and how the automaker is addressing them.
Continue reading Ford's second-gen SYNC system off to a buggy start...
*UPDATE: Official statement from Ford added after the jump.
Continue reading Ford's second-gen SYNC system off to a buggy start *UPDATE
Ford's second-gen SYNC system off to a buggy start *UPDATE originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments