Web WonderAll things web related plus a few surprises

Ford Misses on Its 2011 Sync Electronics

Usually, I get to review products that I can’t explain to my family what they do (intrusion detection appliances, anyone?) but having a press loaner car was a nice change of pace. My overall review is that while Sync is better than ever, it is still too pricey and too limited when compared to after-market options.

Ford has four different option packages of tech for its cars: There is the Sync features which allow you to connect your cell phone and music players to the car ($395). There is a navigation package that adds graphical maps to the basic turn-by-turn directions ($795). There is a rearview video camera ($240) which shows you what is going on when you are in reverse, and a touch screen for controlling audio, climate, and other cabin operations ($365). That adds up quickly and is also confusing to sort out. So my suggestion is first, make it all a single priced option.

I test-drove a 2011 Edge that came with three video screens: two four-inch LCDs on either side of the speedometer and an 8 incher in the middle of the dash. This configuration will also be available in the 2011 models of the Lincoln MKX hybrids, and eventually on other cars too. The car retails for $30,000 and in my driving it was very comfortable and got about 22 mpg.

Ford has sold more than two million cars since 2007 with Sync installed: sadly, as you might realize, they are not available for this 2011 upgrade. The best bits are the phone connectivity and how the touch screen and voice-activated controls work, although it will take some getting used to. When I first got the car it spent more time running in my garage than on the street, as I went back and forth between my office’s Internet connection and gathering various bits and pieces of gear to try out in the car.

The car comes with a plethora of ports: two USBs, one three-RCA audio/video jacks and an SD slot for you to plug various stuff in. If you have an iPod or a USB memory stick with MP3 tunes on it, as soon as you attach it to your car it will start playing the music. All the connectors are located in the console between the two front seats, so you can stow all your gear out of sight too.

As soon as you pair your phone with the car via Bluetooth, it will attempt to download your address book so you can set up speed dialing of your most frequently called contacts. These are graphically displayed on the main screen and with a touch of a button or using voice commands you can interrupt your music and dial or answer a call. The sound quality was acceptable according to my listeners. Again, this isn’t anything all that new, with the exception of the graphical display. To play your music you’ll want to use the USB connection rather than Bluetooth.

Some downsides? If you have an iPhone, you will most likely need an upgrade to its firmware to work with your car. You can’t receive text messages (on other phones the system will process them and speak them to you over the car’s audio) on the car’s screen, which depends on a new Bluetooth profile that is as yet unsupported by Apple but is supported for Blackberry users.

The standard navigation package with Sync doesn’t show you a map of your surroundings, unlike all of the GPS’s that cost about $150 that are sold nowadays. I ended up bringing along my own GPS on a couple of trips, just because the Sync’s features were so abysmal. The $795 upcharge buys you a SD card with the maps included, which is probably the highest price you can pay for an SD card of any size these days.

Also built-in to the car is a Wifi radio, and with the addition of a broadband USB modem you can turn your car into a mobile hot spot, in case your laptop-toting passengers want to be online when on the road. Ford uses the Wifi radio to download software updates and actually provision the electronics software on the assembly line while they are making the car. You can watch this brief video about how they do it here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YjqEtknyEc

If your phone supports tethering via Bluetooth, you can share and drive its Internet connectivity this way. I couldn’t get this to work on my Android phone, however.

Ford makes another electronics package for just its pickup truck line called Ford Work Solutions to run Office applications and Web browsing. This is based on a Windows CE in-dash PC, and a Sprint broadband data modem. Ford has stated that we might see some merging of functionality in the future, such as having a Web browser built into Sync so you can surf when not moving. They are also working on other Sync apps including Pandora radio and Twitter clients that will be available next year.

Speaking of Web browsing, each Sync-equipped car comes with a Web reporting system so you can keep track of any mechanical issues from the comfort of your own browser.

This brings up the point of distracted driving, and certainly if you are going to buy this electronics package you should spend several hours understanding what you have before you venture out on the road. The glass cockpit is a bit daunting at first, and even for the geek in me was a bit too much information to deal with on a busy city street, let alone going 65 mph on the freeways. Ford has a “do not disturb” option to block incoming calls and texts, which is a good idea.

While I liked a lot of the features in my Sync-enabled Edge, overall I think it is still has a few rough, well, edges. Maybe if the enhanced navigation card was free I would be more favorably inclined to recommend it. And if you were to collect a GPS, a notebook PC or iPad, and a broadband modem, you can replicate most of this technology for about $600, or about a third of what you would pay for the various Ford Sync options. But you would be missing the integrated voice/touch controls for all these devices.

David Strom is a noted speaker, author, podcaster and consultant who has written two books and thousands of magazine articles for dozens of IT publications such as Computerworld, eWeek, Baseline Magazine, Information Week and Information Security magazine. His blog can be found at http://strominator.com, and he can be reached at david@strom.com.

About the Author

Pioneer Brings Pandora into Your Car

Onkyo UWF-1 Wireless LAN Adapter $39.00 Onkyos mission is to keep you up to date with the latest advances in home entertainment. With wireless audio on the rise, the UWF-1 Wireless LAN adaptor helps you integrate your music life and remove unwanted cables. Connected to the USB port on a compatible Onkyo A/V receiver, the UWF-1 brings audio through a wireless router into your main entertainment system. Now internet radio and audio files …

Creative Labs Sound Blaster Wireless Audio Transmitter and Receiver Bundle $39.98 Simply plug it into a USB port, and stream your iTunes music wirelessly to your powered speakers or home stereo system via the Sound Blaster Wireless Receiver – no cables or network configuration required. Enjoy your music anywhere in your home by adding Sound Blaster Wireless speakers and headphones. The Creative Labs 70SB117000003 Sound Blaster Wireless System upgrades your PC or Mac to a premiu…

Sony SMP-N100 Streaming Player with Wi-Fi $74.99 Enjoy a variety of entertainment with the Sony SMPN100 Network WiFi Media Player. Wirelessly stream movies, TV episodes, videos, and music from Netflix®, YouTube™, Pandora®, Slacker®, and more. Easily access your music, videos and photos in up to Full HD 1080p by connecting a USB drive or wirelessly streaming them over home network using your PC….

Yamaha RX-V671 7.1-Channel Network AV Receiver $419.95 The RX-V671 A/V Receiver adds networking capabilities for countless hours of internet music streaming enjoyment along with iPhone AV controller App compatibility. Featuring HD Audio decoding, 1080p-compatible HDMI (6 inputs including one on front panel/1 output) with 3D and Audio Return Channel, front panel USB input, on-screen GUI, Cinema DSP 3D surround without Front Presence Speakers, yAired / …

Logitech Squeezebox Touch $229.99 The digital music revolution has given you a wealth of ways to enjoy music. Digital music files allow you to easily store thousands of songs. Online music services can tailor tunes to your taste. Internet radio lets you discover new genres from all over the world.Now, your Logitech Squeezebox Touch brings it all together in a powerfully simple little package that uses your Wi-Fi or Ethernet networ…

Pioneer VSX-33 Elite Audio/Video Multi-Channel Receiver $1,000.00 Elite receivers have always represented the utmost commitment to the artist’s original vision. Combining audio and video processing technologies found nowhere else in their class with multiple professional-level control options, all Elite receivers possess the capability to elevate your entertainment experience beyond what you’ve ever expected. And with an eye towards total home theater integratio…

Pioneer AVH-P2400BT Car DVD Player – 5.8 Touchscreen LCD Display – 16:9 – 480 x 240 – 200 W RMS – iPod/iPhone Compatible – Double DIN $262.50 ENTERTAINMENT AT YOUR FINGERTIPS The AVH-P2400BT DVD multimedia receiver features a 5.8″ touchscreen display and built-in Bluetooth for hands-free calling and audio streaming.. The newly updated and innovative user interface makes direct operation of the unit stress-free by eliminating complicated layered selection displays, so access to desired functions is smoother and simpler than ever. A varie…

0.5 W Fail-Safe Long Range FM Transmitter – CZH-05B – WITH NEW HI (0.5W) LO (0.1W) $45.99 F-S Electronics is proud to bring the 0.5 W FM Transmitter EXCLUSIVELY to Amazon–NEVER ACCEPT OVERSEAS IMITATORS AS A RELIABLE SOURCE! Beware there is only 1 Fail-Safe Transmitter Company – we do not have US-based distributors! This 0.5 W Fail-Safe Dual Mode Stereo FM Transmitter (CZH-05B) broadcasts wirelessly in both High and Low Power Output Modes (0.5 Watt or 0.1 Watt). F-S Electronics wants…

Pioneer AVH-P4400BH 2-DIN Multimedia DVD Receiver with 7 Widescreen Touch Panel Display, Built-In Bluetooth, and HD Radio™ Tuner $401.56 ENTERTAINMENT AT YOUR FINGERTIPS The AVH-P4400BH DVD multimedia receiver features a 7″ motorized touchscreen display, built-in Bluetooth for hands-free calling and audio streaming, and an HD Radio tuner. The newly updated and innovative user interface makes direct operation of the unit stress-free by eliminating complicated layered selection displays, so access to desired functions is smoother and…

Pioneer Appradio 6.1 Inch In-Dash Double Din Digital Multimedia A V Receiver For Iphone 4 $1,165.68 For the iPhone or iPod Touch Enthusiast – Love your iPhone or iPod Touch? The newly designed Pioneer AppRadio SPH-DA01 is the perfect In-Dash Receiver solution for you! This In-Dash Multimedia receiver was designed specifically to integrate iPhone and iPod Touch applications. This means that with specific Compatible Apps on your iPhone or iPod Touch you can control them directly with this innovati…

RM50 Internet Radio $89.99 Smartradio – listen to the world in style HD Sound 13,000 Internet Radio Stations Worldwide FM Radio with RDS Easy to use & install Access to content stored on a computer or hard drive Display: Full graphic 128 x 64; 35 x 75mm Wifi Connection: 2.4GHz Automatic network seekingSupported formats: MP3, WMA For further specifications please click here.

Super Receiver For Radio Fence For Dogs – We/Black $69.4 The Super Radio Fence Receiver is More Powerful Than the Standard Receiver. It Provides A Stronger Static Correction. It is a Replacement For the Stubborn Dog Receiver. Product is For Use with Petsafe Containment Systems.Color: We/BlackSize:  6 x 2.75 x 8

Programming For TV, Radio And The Internet $57.9 This book is in New – Excellent condition

Pandora $6 Pandora

Extra Receiver With Collar For Use With Radio Fence Transmitter For Dogs – Red/Black $62.8 This Extra Receiver Goes with Item # 144926, the indoor radio fence transmitter.Color: Red/Black

Call Me (Radio Edit) $6 Call Me (Radio Edit) – Deejay Jay/Pandora

22 Radio and Receiver Projects for the Evil Genius $18.71 This book is in New – Excellent condition

PetSafe Super Receiver $89.99 PetSafe Super Receiver is made specifically for hard to train dogs. PetSafe Super Receiver is for use with Radio Fence Pet Containment System. 4 adjustable levels of correction plus beep-only mode with vibration Uses 9-volt alkaline battery (not included) Waterproof Lifetime Limited Warranty Adjustable stimulation levels Low battery light Click here to download operating and training guide in pdf format.

Radio $149 Radio