Ford CEO: We Won’t Take A Back Seat to Google And Apple

Just give me a standard socket/dock so I can plug a head unit or tablet of my choice into the vehicle.

I'm sorry Ford, you aren't a software company. I've used sync. It's in my dad's fusion and one of my good friend's focus. It's a piece of crap. It's slow, the touch screen is unresponsive, poor quality and low resolution display, and the UI looks like they just vomited elements onto the screen.

My tablet already does everything I could ever need, waze, gasbuddy, google music, mlb.tv streams, FM radio, I could even make calls via hangouts on my tablet. Oh, I can also upgrade it without replacing my entire vehicle. Why exactly would I want SYNC again?
 
I personally wish auto makers would design their cars with just basic functions at the steering wheel (audio and basic phone controls). Then all make a 10" hole in the dash. If they want to throw their own system in there for those that want it fine, but have an option to leave it out or be easily swappable with after marker systems. I they want a screen for other car controls, make that separate, or standardize the interface for other systems to plug into.

I know it's all a pipe dream, but paying $2000 for a piece of stereo equipment that's only worth $200 is ridiculous. I've got an older car that has a bunch of these "upgrades" in it. When they go out, it's either pony up the cash (if you can even buy that piece), or get ready to gut and rewire half the system to replace it with standard components. The head unit and the amplifier share components so if you remove one the other won't operate.

I have nightmares about the day that a car won't even start if the radio is broke. :mad:
 
ThisIsTheNewSound said:
Just give me a standard socket/dock so I can plug a head unit or tablet of my choice into the vehicle.

I'm sorry Ford, you aren't a software company. I've used sync. It's in my dad's fusion and one of my good friend's focus. It's a piece of crap. It's slow, the touch screen is unresponsive, poor quality and low resolution display, and the UI looks like they just vomited elements onto the screen.

My tablet already does everything I could ever need, waze, gasbuddy, google music, mlb.tv streams, FM radio, I could even make calls via hangouts on my tablet. Oh, I can also upgrade it without replacing my entire vehicle. Why exactly would I want SYNC again?
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Your uninformed, Sync is not written or maintained by ford, and sounds like your friends focus needs a software update on sync. I have a 2014 mustang with Sync and it works better than any android tablet i have EVER owned in terms of functionality and responsiveness
 
ThisIsTheNewSound said:
Look at my post. No where in it do I say ford wrote sync. The only observation I make is that Ford is not a software company. Which would agree with what you've just said...
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Yes you did, if you werent saying Sync was by Ford you wouldnt have even mentioned ford and software in the same sentence as Sync. That is EXACTLY what you said. And for the record, all the software the various computers including the tuning of the engine, are written by ford software engineers. In other words, your still full of it. And im not even joking, your friends sync software needs to be updated, im guessing he hasnt done so since he purchased the vehicle. My car was brand new with 0 miles on it when bought 5 months ago and theyve released 2 sync software updates since then
 
VladDracule said:
Yes you did, if you werent saying Sync was by Ford you wouldnt have even mentioned ford and software in the same sentence as Sync. That is EXACTLY what you said. And for the record, all the software the various computers including the tuning of the engine, are written by ford software engineers. In other words, your still full of it. And im not even joking, your friends sync software needs to be updated, im guessing he hasnt done so since he purchased the vehicle. My car was brand new with 0 miles on it when bought 5 months ago and theyve released 2 sync software updates since then
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Now you are just putting words into my mouth. You will believe whatever you want to believe.
 
how exactly is directly quoting you putting words into your mouth? Yeah im done with this, use updated software before saying anything negative about it. Or go years without updating windows/linux and see how that works for you if you think software in vehicles doesnt need updates
 
ThisIsTheNewSound said:
Just give me a standard socket/dock so I can plug a head unit or tablet of my choice into the vehicle.

I'm sorry Ford, you aren't a software company. I've used sync. It's in my dad's fusion and one of my good friend's focus. It's a piece of crap. It's slow, the touch screen is unresponsive, poor quality and low resolution display, and the UI looks like they just vomited elements onto the screen.

My tablet already does everything I could ever need, waze, gasbuddy, google music, mlb.tv streams, FM radio, I could even make calls via hangouts on my tablet. Oh, I can also upgrade it without replacing my entire vehicle. Why exactly would I want SYNC again?
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Ha.

VladDracule said:
Your uninformed, Sync is not written or maintained by ford, and sounds like your friends focus needs a software update on sync. I have a 2014 mustang with Sync and it works better than any android tablet i have EVER owned in terms of functionality and responsiveness
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This.

I have sync in my 2013 Fusion Titanium and its tits. I love it.
 
For the record I own a 1996 Subaru 555ra, 2012 Audi S4, 2013 Ford Edge and a 1996 Chev Suburban. I have owned almost every Subaru, M3, M1, M5, Civic, CRV, Accord, Acura TL, MDX, Merc ML, Windstar, Jetta, VW Bus and a probe (couldn't resist the crappy name for a throw away rally car). Mostly used because it would cost a fortune otherwise, but you can sell em within a year and pretty much just pay for some gas and maintenance.

People that complain about american cars are just idiots that have bought into the hype of imports PERIOD.

if you like other vehicles, or a certain manufacturer, but there is not that much difference these days, hell there wasn't actually that much difference in the 90's either because all you have forgotten the $$$ difference between the vehicles. Outside of German cars in the 90's everything was plastic and cheap, and the German car's cost a fortune in comparison.

I loved all my cars, but recently (last 6-7 years) Ford in particular has stepped up their game, while GMC and Chev slid. Audi's where garbage in the 80's and 90's.

BMW's are slipping IMHO, the death knell was changing the M5 from a v10 to a v8.

I am excited to see Ford stepping up, competition is never a bad thing unless your a brand following sheep.
 
Tengis said:
Came in to read about sync and find people talking about terrible interiors like it's 1992. The whole anti american car thing is getting old and no longer valid, especially with Ford.

Worse tech? Handling? Reliability? Where have you been for the last ten years?

Ford Sync is pretty legit. In car infotainment is the future. I can see Sync possibly becoming something that companies license in the future instead of making their own half added setups.
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SYNC is fine. It's MFT that shit the bed. And it's on it's way out starting in 2016.
 
Ford DID write SYNC, it's just based off Microsoft operating system. What's so hard to understand about that?

Come 2016 model year vehicles Ford will be using Blackberry based QNX OS systems in their vehicles. Ford still does the front end programming.
 
S-F said:
I don't think that any American car maker has built an interior that I find aesthetically pleasing since the 70's. Every other aspect of American cars since then is likewise unappealing to me. Tech, performance (handling and road sensitivity), ergonomics, longevity and reliability all seem to be much better in imports from my perspective. I can only imagine what their current technology is like. But I'm not going to try to hard because I have better things to use my precious hours on.
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You probably haven't seen an American car since the 70s if you still think that way. I find they compete head to head quite well with a lot of European and Asian cars.
 
HydroBudz said:
Ford DID write SYNC, it's just based off Microsoft operating system. What's so hard to understand about that?

Come 2016 model year vehicles Ford will be using Blackberry based QNX OS systems in their vehicles. Ford still does the front end programming.
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Then why are the recent iterations and updates of sync so good? seriously people who havent ran the latest software need to stop judging it. Sync is the interconnectivity software and that is microsoft, The front end is my ford touch which is ford.
 
HydroBudz said:
Ford DID write SYNC, it's just based off Microsoft operating system. What's so hard to understand about that?

Come 2016 model year vehicles Ford will be using Blackberry based QNX OS systems in their vehicles. Ford still does the front end programming.
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And the QNX based system will be just as poorly supported as Sync is now. Two years into it's existence it will be outdated.
 
Kueller said:
If only the terrible interiors had been fixed in 1992 we might not have to talk about it. I was driving a new Taurus the other day and there's acres of wasted space in that interior. They have started using slightly nicer looking plastics/finishes in the last 5-7 years, but it still feels chintzy. I think they'll finally get it right one generation before they go to a full glass cockpit self-driving vehicle.
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Last car I drove with an unsatisfactory/underwhelming interior was a Toyota Camry. I drive a Fusion now, I think it's great.
 
Quix said:
You'd be easier to take seriously if you hadn't mentioned you think the 2013 Dodge Avenger's interior is "very nice", it looks like it was designed in the 90's (which it was) and that they didn't have any money to spend on it (because it's all cheap plastic). I will agree the Dodge Dart has a very nice interior for the price, nearly VW nice which is saying a lot. Fiat's done a lot of good work with Chrysler since they bought them out.

I'm actually here to defend Ford's interiors too, I really like their recent economy cars. They have very high-quality interiors for the price and they're extremely modern. I can understand if you're not a fan of the design (they are a bit extreme), but they do have a lot of content there.

P.S. Sync 3 was designed by BlackBerry, after the My Ford Touch fiasco Ford dropped Microsoft.
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Sorry but, I own the 2013 Dodge Avenger, not the 2007 Dodge Avenger. Do your research before making ridiculous claims, the interior of my car is far from cheap plastic. Oh well, I guess that is what I get for commenting on a tech forum and expecting folks to know what they are talking about.
 
ManofGod said:
Sorry but, I own the 2013 Dodge Avenger, not the 2007 Dodge Avenger. Do your research before making ridiculous claims, the interior of my car is far from cheap plastic. Oh well, I guess that is what I get for commenting on a tech forum and expecting folks to know what they are talking about.
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In terms of overall feel, a Dodge Avenger is pretty far down the totem poll on interior quality. And yes I've been in one.
 
ocellaris said:
In terms of overall feel, a Dodge Avenger is pretty far down the totem poll on interior quality. And yes I've been in one.
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Yep, from 2007 but, whatever, ok. Sheez, I drive on everyday and I should know since I own it, it is not far down the totem pool. Of course, it does not look like the Space Shuttle Columbia either so there is that. :D
 
What the fuck are you guys talking about when you say "restricted phone". What restrictions? You can pair any damn phone you want to any damn car nav out there that I know of. If you're talking about screen replication or some shit through dedicated wired ports well of course thats never going to work, because there are like 110934983 phones out there and they cant support them all. This is why car nav systems need to run android/iOS. If your argument is that you want your phone to act as your nav system, then just do it and put your damn phone in a cradle on your dash, throw a strip of velcro on the back if you have to. I seriously dont understand what it is you people want. You want Apple like interfaces but....without apple making it? You want some non-proprietary nav system......made exclusively by Ford/Mercedes?
 
S-F said:
I don't think that any American car maker has built an interior that I find aesthetically pleasing since the 70's. Every other aspect of American cars since then is likewise unappealing to me. Tech, performance (handling and road sensitivity), ergonomics, longevity and reliability all seem to be much better in imports from my perspective. I can only imagine what their current technology is like. But I'm not going to try to hard because I have better things to use my precious hours on.
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Perspective is important, but it is equally important to define what is an American car. A lot of the Chrysler/GM/Ford lineup consists of designs that are either shared with or licensed from their international counterparts and a sizable portion of the vehicles are manufactured outside of the US (which is what most of us in the US assume people mean when they say American). The Teslas are arguably the most-American cars on the market today and from my perspective I find them to be aesthetically/performance appealing. Unfortunately, I can't afford one.
 
Well, Fiat does own FCA Group which is a good thing. (They have made significant improvements in the last 5 years or so.) Still most Chrysler vehicles are built in the USA thankfully. I am not sure if the Renegade is built here yet or not though. This is the reason the Avenger was greatly improved over what it was before they bought Chrysler out.
 
MrCaffeineX said:
Perspective is important, but it is equally important to define what is an American car. A lot of the Chrysler/GM/Ford lineup consists of designs that are either shared with or licensed from their international counterparts and a sizable portion of the vehicles are manufactured outside of the US (which is what most of us in the US assume people mean when they say American). The Teslas are arguably the most-American cars on the market today and from my perspective I find them to be aesthetically/performance appealing. Unfortunately, I can't afford one.
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That's what I find funny. People make a big deal about buying American and the only thing American in their car is the name plate, as the car is built in Mexico, Canada or somewhere else.

Meanwhile you can buy an "import" that's made in the US with mostly US content.
 
VladDracule said:
Then why are the recent iterations and updates of sync so good? seriously people who havent ran the latest software need to stop judging it. Sync is the interconnectivity software and that is microsoft, The front end is my ford touch which is ford.
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You are mistaken, buddy. SYNC is just Ford's branding of their infotainment system. Since you get SYNC without a touchscreen, or have Ford's implementation of a touchscreen called MyFordTouch. It's still using Microsoft Mobile OS for the file system.

Think of it like Samsung does with their phones. It's Android on the back end, but Samsung uses Touchwiz on the front end and calls it a Galaxy. See what I'm saying?
 
jedijeb said:
I like tech, and I like vehicles, but I hate them mixed so much.

I guess I am a contradiction. I enjoy working with my quarter million dollar mass spectrometers at work and playing with tech gadgets at home, but I drive a 96 F150 and an 85 Jeep Cherokee, some of the least tech enabled vehicles around. Give me a vehicle that is simple, durable and easy to work on over these new ones any day. Infotainment belongs at home or in the office, there are far too many distractions during driving already, and any system that has a touch screen to control vehicle functions instead of tactile buttons or knobs is a terrible idea, it causes you to look away to even adjust temperature or fan speed instead of being able to do it by feel.

It is also more fun to take a $500 vehicle thrashing through the mud and trees than a $50,000 one :)
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QFT

Best post in the whole thread, and the only one to make the most sense.
As much as I like tech, it needs to stay out of vehicles, at least in this form.
 
Red Falcon said:
QFT

Best post in the whole thread, and the only one to make the most sense.
As much as I like tech, it needs to stay out of vehicles, at least in this form.
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Although I understand what he is saying, I do not entirely agree with it. At the very least, all new vehicles should come standard with blue tooth enabled systems for the phones. UConnect works great for that and I do not have a touchscreen in my car.
 
EndlessRed said:
Did they forget SYNC is powered by Microsoft?
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Was. SYNC 3 is QNX. The old MS system was behind the times, not really supported by microsoft and was a major reason why their quality rating dropped for a few years.
 
HydroBudz said:
Anyone that follows infotainment software knows that QNX is pretty much the future of it. BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Volvo, Chevy, Toyota, Nissan, etc all use systems based on QNX.

That being said, Chrysler's uConnect system is probably the most reliable, easy to use system on the market with the most frequent software updates.

Ford's SYNC is a decent system, but they're the only ones using it. And from what I understand don't count on them using the Microsoft OS based system much longer. They're already developing a QNX based system.

Simply put QNX is better, but uConnect has the best interface and integration.
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That is total opinion, I have a 2014 2500 Ram Mega Cab with the Cummins and a 2011 M37. Uconnect is clunky unresponsive and just a horrific screen layout. The Infiniti is elegant and easy to use and see. My wife is die hard Mopar and she even agrees that I connect sucks.
 
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