It was just last month when we reported the announcement that Microsoft had taken Ford's SYNC to the next level. It was good news for Ford, and good news to consumers who apparently like the award-winning hands-free communication and entertainment system. Even with $395 price tag, SYNC was selling faster than Hanna Montana tickets at a middle school box office.
Ford isn't the only automaker using the Windows CE 6.0 based Microsoft Auto technology. Before Ford inked their deal, Microsoft had licensed the technology to the Italian automaker Fiat SpA. Now, as Ford's exclusive U.S. rights to the technology are set to end later this year, Microsoft is eager to bring other automakers on board. It shouldn't be a tough sell, as consumers are embracing technology-laden vehicles, and Ford's SYNC has proven to help sell cars.
[Source: Freep]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
AlexP @ Feb 20th 2008 7:31PM
Chrysler is likely to embrace it, doubt GM will however.
Bryan @ Feb 20th 2008 7:35PM
Doubt toyota will jump on board. Scion already has a deal with Apple and they're already working on something to "beat" SYNC in the next wave of vehicles.
stang_fan @ Feb 20th 2008 8:17PM
I recently tried to "price out" a Focus WITHOUT SYNC....it's impossible to get cruise without taking SYNC so that on all but the top of the line Focus, cruise now costs about $800. I don't have an ipod and I don't use a 'phone while driving, but if I want a Focus S or SE I have to pay the $325 for SYNC to get cruise. Thanks Ford, thanks Microshaft.
Reality @ Feb 20th 2008 8:59PM
Why on earth would you want a Focus other than sync? That is the only desirable part about the car.
Shakatar @ Feb 20th 2008 8:17PM
That's it! I've had enough! There's just too many unnecessary and complicated gizmos being crammed into dashboard nowadays. I'm gonna find a nice Rambler to restore and stick an 8-track player in it.
StickShift @ Feb 20th 2008 9:10PM
nice to see I'm not the only one who thinks the proliferation of technology is getting ridiculous. why not pay attention to driving?
lx703 @ Feb 20th 2008 9:37PM
Hear, hear.
John @ Feb 20th 2008 8:33PM
SYNC almost brought me to buy a Focus.
Then I remembered it was a Focus.
mk @ Feb 20th 2008 9:25PM
I want my external devices to work in my car, I don't need more devices IN my car.
Bluetooth speakerphone, audio input from my music player, power for a portable GPS maybe... Homelink for garage door opener.
What else does your car need to control that isn't driving related?
How out of date is SYNC going to be when those cars are trying to be re-sold as used to the second or third owners?
I don't want a car with a Windows 3.1 or Windows 95 computer in it. I won't want one later.
And if Vista's reliability is any indication, (I am an IT worker, and fix vista problems EVERY DAY) I don't think I want Microsoft anywhere near my car, let alone built into it.
sw @ Feb 20th 2008 11:53PM
I'll agree with that. A Linux box that's completely open source though would open up a world of neat stuff for guys like us
MasterCKO @ Feb 21st 2008 5:28AM
"Bluetooth speakerphone, audio input from my music player, power for a portable GPS maybe... Homelink for garage door opener."
So let me get this straight. You'd rather have to use the devices in question with your hand (and probably have to look AWAY from the road) than to allow them to hook up to SYNC and be able to control them with your voice? ooookay.
"How out of date is SYNC going to be when those cars are trying to be re-sold as used to the second or third owners?"
As long as phones still use Bluetooth and mp3 players still use USB, it won't be out of date at all.
oh, and your Vista blurb is pointless. For a number of reasons. But I don't want to press the issue any further.
Mallory @ Feb 21st 2008 8:45AM
Wow mk, you're really all over the map on this one. First you say "I want my external devices to work in my car, I don't need more devices IN my car." but that's the whole point of Sync. Don't build a phone into the car, use the one you already have. Don't build an MP3 player into the car, use the one you already have. Or maybe I misunderstood and you're saying you like Sync? Not real clear on that one.
As far as updates go, it updates automatically, and as long as your devices support Bluetooth or USB they'll always work fine. Don't let your fear of Vista bias your opinion on Sync. As the common IT saying goes, I was sad about supporting Windows, until I met the man who had to support Linux.
mk @ Feb 21st 2008 11:17AM
A bluetooth speakerphone or headset has one button. Accept/End. I would even prefer a non-built-in bluetooth speakerphone in my car, with just a provision for the car to power the device. Bluetooth's protocol will likely be upgraded or replaced within a model year 2008 car's operational lifetime.
A music player is no more complicated, and in some cases, less complicated, than the rest of the stereo controls. If you want voice activation, why not build it into the music playing device, or a regular head unit? Why does it need to be some giant display running a modified version of Windows CE?
If the CAR is going to get new tech, why not HUD, so that you don't have to take your eyes off the road?
A bright LCD screen in the dash is just as distracting to the driver as any portable device, especially at night.
And homelink is hardly a problem. You can memorize the button location, and open your garage door, just like with a separate battery-operated garage door opener remote. Hardy a new and negative distraction.
A piece of hardware and a lot of Microsoft software BUILT INTO THE DASH is not going to stay current over the lifetime of a car, which can be more than 10 years, if the car is maintained.
I would rather that the advanced tech functions that SYNC seems to be touting, be built in to my phone, or my music player (or both in one device, like iPhone and others) and have those features outside of the car, or in ANOTHER car just by carrying my device over. I don't want those features built into the dashboard of a car that I will either use for a long period of time, or try to re-sell when the system is no longer current.
Built-in Navigation systems are already starting to negatively effect the value of used cars, because used car buyers see it as being saddled with outdated technology that is hard to upgrade, or remove, without leaving a giant hole in the dashboard.
Ten years ago, we were using Windows 95 and Windows 98, or Mac OS 8. USB2 was not even on the table. USB3 is already being discussed now, and may not be entirely backward compatible over the long term.
In TEN YEARS, music players, phones, and other devices are going to CHANGE. And it is a lot easier to buy those devices every couple of years, than upgrade the computer in your 7-year-old Ford Fusion in 2015.
Keep the car-side of the interface as SIMPLE and REPLACEABLE as possible, and let the portable devices be portable, and replaceable with newer technology, as it arrives, faster than cars get replaced, usually.
I DON'T WANT PLANNED-OBSOLESCENCE COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY IN MY CAR! Cars have enough planned obsolescence as it is, but at least it isn't as fast at turning over as computer standards are.
And my Windows Vista issues are not "fear". They are frustration. I am not afraid of Vista, I am frustrated with it, because so far, it has only made my job harder, not easier. That is experience, not rumor or conjecture.
Will @ Feb 20th 2008 9:48PM
I have heard in an interview of one of the guys that developed SYNC that there will be ways to update and/or upgrade the software at a later date. I think it was on Autoline Detroit.
John Johnson @ Feb 20th 2008 9:56PM
The really nice part is the Health Check that will be in v2 (free upgrade when it's released). Though I don't like to have to update my car's software.
Maybe every Tuesday night my SYNC will update, shut my car off, turn it back on, and reset all my radio presets. Yeah, now we're talking.
bathtub gin @ Feb 20th 2008 11:08PM
If SYNC updates while you are driving, will the car slow down to a crawl, then force you to pull over and restart after the download installs?
Polly Prissy Pants @ Feb 21st 2008 8:30AM
"If SYNC updates while you are driving, will the car slow down to a crawl, then force you to pull over and restart after the download installs?"
Derr, dat wuz a gud won, derr..
TIMMAH! @ Feb 20th 2008 10:27PM
Hmmm... gee... you build something people want and they buy it... wow, what an amazing concept!
MasterCKO @ Feb 21st 2008 5:11AM
oh ho, all the microsoft zingers are out in full force.
*sigh*
ronnie @ Feb 21st 2008 6:07AM
wow! Bill Gates will become richer by that!
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