Apple's Beats brand in April unveiled the Powerbeats Pro, a redesigned wire-free version of its popular fitness-oriented Powerbeats earbuds.
Ford Launching CarPlay and Android Auto in 2017 Vehicles With SYNC 3
Ford has announced it is adding CarPlay and Android Auto to all 2017 vehicles in North America equipped with BlackBerry's QNX-based SYNC 3 platform, starting with the new Ford Escape. CarPlay and Android Auto will also be available in 2016 vehicles with SYNC 3 as an upgrade later this year.
Ford is also adding new SYNC AppLink apps for AAA/CAA member services, Concur expense report tracking, Eventseeker for nearby events and Cityseeker for nearby restaurants. New 4G LTE SYNC Connect technology will allow drivers to remote start, unlock doors, check fuel levels or locate a parked vehicle via their smartphone.
In December, Ford retroactively added Siri Eyes Free support to 5 million 2011-2016 vehicles through a SYNC 3.8 software update. The U.S. says more than 15 million SYNC-equipped vehicles are on the road worldwide today, although that figure likely includes older SYNC platforms incompatible with CarPlay and Android Auto.
Ford has been added to our list of 2016 U.S. CarPlay vehicles and CarPlay roundup.
Ford is also adding new SYNC AppLink apps for AAA/CAA member services, Concur expense report tracking, Eventseeker for nearby events and Cityseeker for nearby restaurants. New 4G LTE SYNC Connect technology will allow drivers to remote start, unlock doors, check fuel levels or locate a parked vehicle via their smartphone.
In December, Ford retroactively added Siri Eyes Free support to 5 million 2011-2016 vehicles through a SYNC 3.8 software update. The U.S. says more than 15 million SYNC-equipped vehicles are on the road worldwide today, although that figure likely includes older SYNC platforms incompatible with CarPlay and Android Auto.
Ford has been added to our list of 2016 U.S. CarPlay vehicles and CarPlay roundup.
Related Roundup: CarPlay
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47 months ago
Picture say more than words. Carplay and other iPad styled controls in a car is very pretty design but not functional due to no tactile feel. But it will not stop the avalanche, my next car will have it. I just hope the steering wheel and voice controls in all languages will keep up in the development cycle.
47 months ago
Car makers are in a tough position. If they don't add it they'll lose potential buyers—if they do it shows that people want and in most case prefer Google's or Apple's solution. The computer companies going forward over the next 10 years are in a super position to take a huge chunk of the car industry.
47 months ago
Picture say more than words. Carplay and other iPad styled controls in a car is very pretty design but not functional due to no tactile feel. But it will not stop the avalanche, my next car will have it. I just hope the steering wheel and voice controls in all languages will keep up in the development cycle.
The best thing is even if CP/AA are installed, their use is optional. You aren't forced to use it. Personally, I'm happy with the way they're currently implemented. It's basically an app. I hope this will always be the case. The last thing we need is an update interfering with the operation of the car. That means never integrating with the critical functionality of the car. As long as it's like that, the choice of AA/CP is a good one. People can use it when they want to, and ignore it when they don't.
47 months ago
I've been using the Apple CarPlay touch interface for about four months, and it is highly overrated. Here's some real world feedback:
The functionality is great, but forcing me to extend my arm to find a touch target while navigating traffic is not easy to do. Better solution: integrate with the various selector pads (like the big BMW joystick/wheel or the Mercedes touch pad) combined with tactile feedback when you hover over one of the icons would be much better.
Another problem with the interface is bad usage of the screen. The initial array of icons can't be rearranged, forcing me to keep app icons on the home screen I don't want, and relegating a couple of my favorites to a second screen.
Once you enter an app, the only interface option for selecting content is a scrolling list, which can only show three or four items. Instead of a scrolling list, I'd really prefer a grid of icons for the content, which could show many more choices on the screen. At least fifty year old AM radios gave you a row of five or six presets — only one click needed!
The functionality is great, but forcing me to extend my arm to find a touch target while navigating traffic is not easy to do. Better solution: integrate with the various selector pads (like the big BMW joystick/wheel or the Mercedes touch pad) combined with tactile feedback when you hover over one of the icons would be much better.
Another problem with the interface is bad usage of the screen. The initial array of icons can't be rearranged, forcing me to keep app icons on the home screen I don't want, and relegating a couple of my favorites to a second screen.
Once you enter an app, the only interface option for selecting content is a scrolling list, which can only show three or four items. Instead of a scrolling list, I'd really prefer a grid of icons for the content, which could show many more choices on the screen. At least fifty year old AM radios gave you a row of five or six presets — only one click needed!
47 months ago
Great news. I really like the current Ford lineup, and this was holding me back.
47 months ago
Picture say more than words. Carplay and other iPad styled controls in a car is very pretty design but not functional due to no tactile feel. But it will not stop the avalanche, my next car will have it. I just hope the steering wheel and voice controls in all languages will keep up in the development cycle.
Sounds like you've obviously never used it, as I find it extremely functional. What, exactly is the "tactile" feel you require from a system that allows you to control it with your voice?
47 months ago
...will allow drivers to remote start, unlock doors...
Pathetic. Obviously, we demand to DRIVE the car remotely. Apart from all the truly useful stuff we can do with a remotely-operated car, how are we otherwise supposed to drive over the bad'uns from the back seat?
Pathetic. Obviously, we demand to DRIVE the car remotely. Apart from all the truly useful stuff we can do with a remotely-operated car, how are we otherwise supposed to drive over the bad'uns from the back seat?
47 months ago
Well damn. I guess I did. Disregard ! Lol
Your '15 model has MyFord Touch, so this update won't apply to you. (Sync 3 didn't appear in the F-150 till the 2016 MY.) You can, however, thanks to a recent software update, add Siri Eyes Free to your MFT system via USB. It works great. Click here to get that done ('https://owner.ford.com/how-tos/sync-technology/myford-touch/software-updates.html/?sync=my-ford-touch&model=E-350&year=2004').
47 months ago
Picture say more than words. Carplay and other iPad styled controls in a car is very pretty design but not functional due to no tactile feel. But it will not stop the avalanche, my next car will have it. I just hope the steering wheel and voice controls in all languages will keep up in the development cycle.
Then you've missed the point of CarPlay completely - Siri. You're meant to interact with CarPlay almost completely with voice controls...and my current car has a 9" touch screen with virtually no other controls at all, can't tell you how much more efficient that is vs. having to figure out what 50 little buttons with labels made up of nothing more than a single character.
47 months ago
I'm happy enough with proclip mounted iphone til this stuff improves. Carplay looks limited.
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