Ford has dropped Microsoft in favor of Blackberry with its third-gen Sync connected car system and promised smartphone-like performance, conversational voice control and a simpler interface. As had been rumored, the Sync 3 will use Blackberry's QNX and instead of Microsoft's MyFord Touch system. It'll feature a much brighter touchscreen than before and allow pinch-to-zoom and other multi-touch functions. It'll also feature larger onscreen buttons and high contrast fonts to minimize driver futzing. The interface has been completely redesigned with three zone choices on the home screen: navigation, audio and phone. In addition, a "one-box search" gives Google-like simplicity when searching for locations or contact info.
It added that Sync 3-equipped vehicles will have much sharper graphics and be as responsive as a smartphone or tablet for most functions. The system was designed to be used first and foremost with voice control, however, and now accepts much more conversational commands. For example, a driver can just say "Play 'Good Times Bad Times'" to hear the Led Zeppelin song, without having to name the album or genre as before.
SYNC 3 now supports Siri voice commands as well, allowing iPhone users to activate it with a push-to-talk button on the steering wheel. You'll no longer need to say or type an exact name or address, either -- you can now enter "Detroit Airport" to get directions if you don't know the official name, or give a business name like "Starbucks" rather than the address.
Ford has also touched up its AppLink system, making it possible to select apps on either Android or iOS that are work with the Sync 3. Compatible apps like Spotify or Pandora will function in a completely different way on the Sync's driver-oriented interface than on a phone or tablet. After you log into your account, you'll be able control music or perform other functions with voice control or menu buttons, rather than using a fiddly interface. The company told me that it has over 70 compatible apps so far, and expects to bring hundreds more over the next year. To update them, Sync 3 now has a WiFi receiver that can log onto your home network or a smartphone hotspot.
When conceiving its third-gen Sync system, Ford polled customers who told them that the biggest improvement needed was more speed. To get there, it added a much faster OMAP 5 1.7GHz processor and other improved hardware. It told me that it wanted the Sync 3 to have "bench-marked responsiveness, so that the system could be as fast as a tablet or smartphone, especially with touch, gestures and voice."
Whether it succeeded or not remains to be seen, but we'll have a chance to try it out next month at CES 2015 in Last Vegas. The Sync 3 will be available across Ford's US vehicle lineup starting next year, and roll out elsewhere by the end of 2016.
Filed under: Transportation
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