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CES 2009: SYNC could one day add app development like iPhone
Ford's head of electronics told Autoblog today that the future of SYNC is already in the works, including the possibility of one day opening up the platform to the developer community.
Jim Buczkowski, Ford's director of electronics and electrical systems said he sees SYNC as a platform on which creative innovation could be built. He said if such a developer program were ever to be implemented, it would work much like Apple's program where outside developers build apps that would be evaluated by Ford before being made available to customers. Buczkowski said the first priority in evaluating apps, though, would be to ensure safety for drivers.
There are no definite plans for a "SYNC SDK" anytime soon, but it is an indication that Ford is busy working to keep SYNC ahead of the competition.
Ford's Executive Vice President Mark Fields told us in another CES interview that with SYNC, Ford is now able to behave more like a technology company than an automotive company. New sheet metal takes much longer to design and implement than a software update that would give Ford owners many new features. To keep up the innovative pace, Fields said they seek input from customers in the blogospheres, focus groups and from Ford's SYNC My Ride Web site.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Yaroukh 7:19AM (1/09/2009)
I'm having hard time trying to believe they would open it... That would be just can of worms, too much potential for law-suits for FoMoCo.
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John 8:49AM (1/09/2009)
You and Dave are far too pessimistic. How difficult do you want to imagine it to be for Ford to thoroughly test and protect themselves from other apps? Not very in my opinion.
Yikes 9:54AM (1/09/2009)
I do not want MicroSoft anything in my vehicles, home, computer....
John 7:30AM (1/09/2009)
Good move Ford. It was obvious that this would eventually happen. It's good to see Ford getting ready to deal with it before it becomes a negative or the next user of Sync or it's competitors beat them to it.
The development community is extremely talented and creative. They could easily add to the Ford/Sync buzz and help Ford sell cars.
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Dave 7:48AM (1/09/2009)
Yeah, Yaroukh is probably right. Sync might not ever be "open." All that needs to happen is for someone to release an app that has pretty lights that distract someone, and then that someone runs off a bridge and before you know it, there is a multi-million dollar lawsuit against Ford for making driving unsafe.
But even if updates are limited to thoroughly test, Ford developed applications, this is a great idea!
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adam 8:06AM (1/09/2009)
Yeah, im thinking not likely.
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Phil L. 8:29AM (1/09/2009)
Obvious first SYNC app, in the spirit of the iPhone:
http://dynolicious.com/
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chevelleguy 8:47AM (1/09/2009)
is it just me or is there an update on sync on this website every day? kinda getting old.
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John 10:19AM (1/09/2009)
Not as old as the Chevelle. Keep up please.
ItGuy 8:50AM (1/09/2009)
Microsoft Technology + Open = EPIC FAIL.
Just look at the crapfest that is Windows and Windows Mobile. Not reliable and definitely not something I'd want anywhere near my car.
Heck, I love the Flex and the concept of Sync but don't want MS in my car.....
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Joe 9:14AM (1/09/2009)
@ItGuy...
I'm a Red Hat/Solaris admin, and have been for several years, but I still use XP on my main computer. Why? I don't have to install additional packages to get certain functionality. I don't have to fart around for hours on the internet trying to find fixes for things that Microsoft fixed ten years ago, but Red Hat, Canonical, or Sun are just fixing in their code. As much as it's trendy for people to hate on Microsoft products, especially linux weenies, there's a reason that Microsoft leads all other OS developers, including Apple, in the desktop market. It's simple to use and it works for what 99% of people out there need it to work for.
With that said, the first app for Sync should be iBoob...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7v8QAw_8Rs
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ItGuy 10:02AM (1/09/2009)
Actually MS's market share is at an all time low as people get fed up with the crap coming out of Redmond. I think it was Net App or IDC that released numbers and the marketshare of Windows it at the lowest it's ever been at.
Me? I admin Windows and Linux by day, use a Mac by night. Much more reliable than any version of Windows ever was.
I won't go over why MS has the lead in the Desktop market but if you followed the antitrust case, you'd see tactics that make Tony Soprano look like a saint.
John 10:15AM (1/09/2009)
I love the idea of iBoob for Sync. How fun would it be to have it react to every pothole and sharp corner in the road? Awesome.
Since it will never get past Ford anyway, I won't worry about the distraction thing.
moyoi 12:56PM (1/09/2009)
I too, tire of the "Hate MS" because its trendy people. Plain and simple it works. I haven't had any problems since WinME (though it was horrible) and I will continue to use it. My carputer is simple in design and I code my own apps. using all MS stuff. Why suffer just to be like everyone else.
big1poppa2 1:50PM (1/09/2009)
I wish Ford would make a LCD screen an option for nav on all cars. Not just the "upper level trims" (dam fusion!). Opening the api would allow something like DashDAQ possible. That would be awesome.
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bill jackman 2:05PM (1/09/2009)
The "epic fail" thing is getting old, people.
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Sorin 2:52PM (1/09/2009)
I don't need my dashboard crashing.
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Jeff 12:57PM (1/10/2009)
I'd avoid it like the plague, and not because 'it's trendy', but because I'm tired of poor design and shoddy construction. They have some good products, and they're tenacious, but the daily crap I have to put up due to MSFT means I avoid 'em at all costs.
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