Cougarpower Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 Ford, the troubled automaker, is taking cues from Apple. In his CES keynote, President and CEO Alan Mulally touted Sync, the company’s in-car information system that is expected to be in one million vehicles this spring. Opening Sync to third-party applications has been key to its success. “Yes, we are a car company,” Mr. Mulally says. “But we’re learning to think like an electronics company.” Ford CEO Alan Mulally delivers the keynote address at the International Consumer Electronics Show. In what was dubbed “Sync 2.0” by Ford developers, the new service will have further personalization and integration between a driver’s cellphone, personal computer and car. Sync is an open platform technology, and Ford has created partnerships with other companies, including Sirius Satellite Radio, Sony and most importantly, Microsoft (CEO Steve Ballmer made a cameo appearance) to create it rather than develop it on its own. New Sync features include the Virttex program for beginning drivers. Virtttex allows parents to program in limits for maximum speed and volume controls for younger drivers. “Parents love it,” says Derrick Kuzak, Ford’s group vice president of global product development. “Kids are okay with it.” The crowd greeted this announcement with resounding applause. Noting that 50% of its trucks are used for work purposes, Ford added Ford Work Solutions to its Sync offerings, which allows drivers to access desktops remotely from their vehicle’s dashboard, print invoices and function as a “mobile office”. Also announced was that in-car 911 services and vehicle health reports would be available to all Sync customers for life at no charge. Vehicle health reports can be sent to drivers via text message in the newer Sync program. continue at the link Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJensen Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 One of the best aspects of Team Taurus was the thoughtful approach that was brought to ergonomics. Pop the hood of any car before the Taurus came out and try and find the dipstick. Now go pop the hood of any car and try and find the dipstick. That's because of Team Taurus. It's great to see that Ford is bringing that same approach to electronics. True, Ford gets Sync from Microsoft and their navigation systems from wherever, but they managed to get them to sound the same and act the same. They didn't have to do it, but they did. Also compare the Lexus & Lincoln self-parking features. I like seeing this because I am a real interface, uh, snob. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theoldwizard Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 ...Pop the hood of any car before the Taurus came out and try and find the dipstick. Now go pop the hood of any car and try and find the dipstick... Don't "gush" too much about Team Taurus. The dipstick on my 1998 E150 (which has a notoriously cramped under hood area) is label with bright yellow lettering on a black background as is the ATF dipstick and other frequent access points. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJensen Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 Don't "gush" too much about Team Taurus. The dipstick on my 1998 E150 (which has a notoriously cramped under hood area) is label with bright yellow lettering on a black background as is the ATF dipstick and other frequent access points. Well, go look at the dipstick on a 1978 E150. Brightly colored access points were a product of Team Taurus. Nobody had them before '86. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SVT_MAN Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 I heard a report on Fox yesterday about this. One of the commentators commented on how Microsoft and Ford should merge. Don't see it happening, but it would be one way for Ford to gain proprietary access to Sync. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark B. Morrow Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 I heard a report on Fox yesterday about this. One of the commentators commented on how Microsoft and Ford should merge. Don't see it happening, but it would be one way for Ford to gain proprietary access to Sync. MicroFord? Fordosoft? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickF1011 Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 MicroFord? Fordosoft? They could replace the Check Engine light with a Blue Screen of Death. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sixt9coug Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 They could replace the Check Engine light with a Blue Screen of Death. :D post of the week my friends Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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