Automotive

Ford updates Sync in-car comms system

Ford updates Sync in-car comms system
Ford's new Sync 3 system
Ford's new Sync 3 system
View 13 Images
Ford's new Sync 3 system
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Ford's new Sync 3 system
Sync 3 is designed for hands-free control
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Sync 3 is designed for hands-free control
Sync 3 now has a touchscreen interface
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Sync 3 now has a touchscreen interface
The Sync 3 interface has been designed to be more like a smartphone
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The Sync 3 interface has been designed to be more like a smartphone
Ford says it has reduced on-screen complexity, used familiar tile-like icons for menu navigation and included swipe and pinch-to-zoom gesture controls
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Ford says it has reduced on-screen complexity, used familiar tile-like icons for menu navigation and included swipe and pinch-to-zoom gesture controls
The Sync 3 navigation system
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The Sync 3 navigation system
Sync 3 connected to Pandora
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Sync 3 connected to Pandora
Sync 3 connected to Spotify
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Sync 3 connected to Spotify
The Sync 3 menu
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The Sync 3 menu
The AppLink functionality of Sync 3 will automatically connect to compatible smartphone applications
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The AppLink functionality of Sync 3 will automatically connect to compatible smartphone applications
Users can easily swipe through smartphone contacts
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Users can easily swipe through smartphone contacts
Users can connect their smartphone to Sync 3
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Users can connect their smartphone to Sync 3
Users can take calls to their smartphones via Sync 3
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Users can take calls to their smartphones via Sync 3
View gallery - 13 images

Ford has announced an updated version of its Sync in-car communications and entertainment system. The automaker says the new version has an improved smartphone-like interface, along with better performance and speech recognition capabilities.

Sync 3 is designed for hands-free control, with what Ford calls "more conversational voice recognition." For example, users can tell the system to play a certain song, album or artist, and can switch between radio stations with simple voice instructions. The system is also said to have a better understanding of human language and how people refer to certain places, such as shortened names for airports.

In addition to improved speech recognition functions, the Sync 3 interface has been redesigned with a new touchscreen and a more smartphone-like layout. "We considered all the modern smartphones and mobile operating systems and created something familiar but unique," says Ford's global director of human machine interface, Parrish Hanna.

Sync 3 connected to Spotify
Sync 3 connected to Spotify

In doing so, Ford says it has reduced on-screen complexity, used familiar tile-like icons for menu navigation and included swipe and pinch-to-zoom gesture controls. From the home screen, users can select navigation, audio and phone options, whilst a quick access tray is also available.

Sync's AppLink functionality automatically recognizes compatible apps on a user's smartphone, and allows them to be controlled via voice and steering wheel buttons. For iPhone users, Siri Eyes-Free control integration means that Siri can be launched by holding down the "Push to Talk" button on the steering wheel.

Users can easily swipe through smartphone contacts
Users can easily swipe through smartphone contacts

The Sync software can now be updated via a home Wi-Fi network if it will reach the vehicle. As with previous versions of the software, it is also possible for emergency services to be automatically called in the event of an accident, with the car's location and crash information relayed.

Gizmag featured the current Sync system when we test drove the Ford Fiesta ST earlier this year. The video below provides an introduction to Sync 3.

Source: Ford

View gallery - 13 images
2 comments
2 comments
Maximumtwo
It is wonderful that Ford has introduced a new version of their SYNC system. I have a 2013 Ford Fusion and was very excited to update my system. However I could not because you cannot update to the SYNC 3 if you have a SYNC 2 car. The Ford representative said that it is a whole new system based on BlackBerry technology. She gave me more info but I am sorry to say the window closed and I lost it. The new SYNC 3 system will be available on some new Ford and Lincoln cars by the end of 2016. The Ford Representative said it would be like changing an “Orange into an Apple”. In actuality Ford is dumping the poorly designed and hard to use Microsoft system to the new BlackBerry. Keep your fingers crossed that after Apple Inc. kicked BlackBerry’s phone to the history books that they are working hard on making the new SYNC 3 a great system.
Your article is misleading. You wrote "The Sync software can now be updated via a home Wi-Fi network if it will reach the vehicle." The Ford media article you took your story from has this quote “SYNC 3 also features the new ability to update the software via Wi-Fi. Once a vehicle is set up with credentials for a home Wi-Fi network accessible in a customer’s driveway or garage, for example, it can automatically download updates.” They are similar statements with very different meanings. After you go out and spend a lot of money buying a new car that is equipped with the new SYNC 3 system you can set it up to get future updates.
I also found this quote from a USA Today article “Sync 3 will be rolled out on more than half the Ford and Lincoln vehicles in the U.S. by the end of 2016 and then continue to expand globally, said Don Butler, Ford executive director of connected vehicle and services. He would not say on which vehicle it will debut next year.”
Here are my sources. Ford's media department published its article, https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/news/2014/12/11/ford-sync-3-delivers-new--innovative-ways-for-people-to-connect.html,
USA Today’s Article http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2014/12/11/ford-sync-3/20234131/
Nishant Kalbhor
You forgot to mention it is based on Blackberry QNX and they dropped Microsoft for a better and secure OS.