Ford Sync
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© Ford
The Basics
- Price: Model-dependent
- Official Site: SYNC homepage
- Specs: 400 MHz processor; 256 MB DDR SDRAM; 2GB flash memory; Microsoft Auto OS; 2 USB 2.0, SD Card, RCA A/V inputs; Wi-Fi; Bluetooth; AM/FM/CD; SIRIUS/XM Satellite Radio; HD Radio; text-to-voice; voice recognition
- Company: Ford
89 The HowToDoEverything1 Take
Automobile manufacturers have always been a little slow on the uptake with in-car tech. Sure, we’d get an iPod connector here and voice recognition there, but in-car entertainment always seemed to be an afterthought. Ford’s SYNC takes aim at the limited and confusing nature of previous systems and blows them out of the water. Now integrated in over 3 million vehicles, it’s an option on 15 different Ford models, from the workhorse Super Duty to the city mouse Fiesta. For men on the hunt for a new ride, consider this the benchmark for in-car tech.
88 Uniqueness
Built on a Microsoft backbone, SYNC technology was completely engineered in-house at Ford. And instead of choosing one or two solid features to build into SYNC, Ford figured it’d swing for the fences and incorporate almost every connectivity standard it could think of. Beyond the standard iPod connectors and voice recognition (in 19 languages, by the way), Ford included two USB slots, inputs for RCA A/V cables and an SD card slot. This means that you could, if you were so inclined, race a Ford Focus rally edition on your favorite console game in your Ford Focus. Take that, Xzibit.
But what really sets SYNC apart is its ability to integrate your iPod, phone or other mobile device with the car. Bluetooth connectivity means you can browse your favorite music on-screen using your voice instead of clicking around on your MP3 player. SYNC will personalize and display news, horoscopes, weather, and even movie preferences on-screen. Other, more ubiquitous features are there, like voice-activated, hands-free dialing. But Ford ups the ante with a text-to-voice feature that will read your text messages to you while you drive. And if you’re in an accident when the airbag deploys, the car will dial 911 for you automatically through your Bluetooth-connected phone.
An entertaining and novel feature is the ability to turn the car into a Wi-Fi hot spot. Using a USB broadband modem, you can connect to the internet on your iPad 2 or laptop, or surf the internet on the built-in browser. Your car will even function as a wireless router. (Put it in park first, please.)
But what really sets SYNC apart is its ability to integrate your iPod, phone or other mobile device with the car. Bluetooth connectivity means you can browse your favorite music on-screen using your voice instead of clicking around on your MP3 player. SYNC will personalize and display news, horoscopes, weather, and even movie preferences on-screen. Other, more ubiquitous features are there, like voice-activated, hands-free dialing. But Ford ups the ante with a text-to-voice feature that will read your text messages to you while you drive. And if you’re in an accident when the airbag deploys, the car will dial 911 for you automatically through your Bluetooth-connected phone.
An entertaining and novel feature is the ability to turn the car into a Wi-Fi hot spot. Using a USB broadband modem, you can connect to the internet on your iPad 2 or laptop, or surf the internet on the built-in browser. Your car will even function as a wireless router. (Put it in park first, please.)
90 Shelf Life
BMW’s iDrive led the charge against the Luddite car interiors of yesteryear. Its initial foray was met with scorn, mostly due to its system’s steep learning curve. Perhaps learning from those mistakes, Ford’s SYNC hit the ground running on its launch, with its innumerable features and ease of use. And while iDrive had to undergo complete hardware overhauls in subsequent generations, Ford planned for SYNC’s evolution by integrating a plan for USB or SD software upgrades. With its broad availability and upgradability, SYNC should remain a viable option for many years to come. And when cars start driving themselves, you’ll at least still be driving in your car -- in Gran Turismo, of course.
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