Tag Archive for 'bluetooth'

Test Drives in the 21st Century

Published on May 3, 2010 in Buying a Car. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , .
SYNC Home Screen

SYNC Home Screen

When asked for advice on test driving a new car, most people will reply that you should take it on the highway, sit in some traffic, drive over some bumps, and of course play with the radio.  They’re basically telling you to test the car out on a variety of road surfaces and traffic conditions, to make sure it’s comfortable and drives the way you want it to.  Given the sophisticated electronics in today’s automobiles, let’s add another few things to the list:

  • Review the window sticker, looking for any tech-related items
  • Go through each of those items and test them as much as you can
  • Make sure to ask the salesperson about each of the tech features on the car, and make sure he or she shows you how they work

Click past the jump for the why and the how.

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Video: iPad / Ford SYNC

Published on April 12, 2010 in Fun Stuff. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

While we already know of an iPad integrated into a car stereo, the enterprising gentlemen in the video after the jump got an iPad to work with a stock Ford SYNC system.  While it doesn’t work with the Ford’s built-in USB connector, it does work over bluetooth audio, the same as an iPhone would.  Voice commands don’t work in that mode, but the guys in the video say that that feature is coming.  Click here to read my review of the SYNC system.

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Car Tech: Ford/Microsoft SYNC

Published on November 5, 2009 in Under the Hood (In Depth). 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

SYNC Logo (Small)

To some, the names Ford and Microsoft make people cringe.  Those of you who remember the Pinto, and more recently the Explorer/Firestone fiasco, may not trust Ford.  Windows Vista was enough to give Apple an almost 10% market share in the world of personal computers.  In the past few years though, Ford has spent a lot of time, money and energy in order to make its cars competitive with domestic and foreign rivals.  One of the things they needed to accomplish was increasing the amount of technology in the vehicles they manufactured.  Starting in 2008, Ford offered a technology called SYNC, which they developed in cooperation with Microsoft.  SYNC is a voice-activated in-car communications system.  It integrates into the radio, phone, climate control and optional navigation systems.  It allows the driver to control most in-car features, which normally would require looking away from the road.  After the jump, we’ll jump in and take a look at its features.

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