Sync 3.0 Close to Release

[svjim]

For those of you without a Nav system in your FFH you will be happy to know that it appears that Sync 3.0 is close to release. I saw one news story saying it would be released on May 18th, obviously that did not happen but if you visit SyncMyRide.com you will see that they are making major changes for the internet services that Sync 3.0 will provide - Traffic, Directions, Business Search (14 million businesses) Sports, Weather and News. You get 3 years of 'free' service with your 2010 FFH.

[Mercury Milan]

Thanks for the update. This is good news :)

[peteostro]

its coming out May 26th according to autoblog

 

At the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) Ford announced that three new features would be included on the next iteration of the SYNC system: traffic data, GPS-guided directions and the ability to snag information from the web through the user's data/GPS/Bluetooth-enabled smartphone to display or read weather conditions, sports scores and other information through the stereo.

 

On May 26th, the upgrade will be made available to all current 2010 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury owners (you download the update to your PC, then transfer it to the SYNC system through a thumb drive) and all new 2010 models will be equipped with the upgrade from the factory. But as Ford CEO Alan Mulally promised, there's more on the way.

 

Ford and Microsoft plan to continually update SYNC, and according to Charlotte Fisher from Ford's Design and Technology team, "every six to eight to twelve months we'll be delivering new services." One of the possible features Ford could include on future iterations of SYNC is streaming internet radio, and Fisher confirmed that Ford is currently "talking with Pandora." Can you say XM-killer? Hit the jump to watch a video of the new system in action.

 

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/18/future-...dora-streaming/

[tdjgordon]

My 2010 Fusion SEL AWD will be delivered within the next few days. I was under the impression that 3.0 was pre-loaded (I custom ordered the car). Does the 3 year "free" Sync apply to only Hybrids or all Fusions with Sync?

[svjim]

My 2010 Fusion SEL AWD will be delivered within the next few days. I was under the impression that 3.0 was pre-loaded (I custom ordered the car). Does the 3 year "free" Sync apply to only Hybrids or all Fusions with Sync?

 

The 3 year 'free' sync web apps applies to all 2010 fusions. I am not sure what happens with earlier cars with Sync, but without the GPS chip in it. The GPS chip is needed for the directions and maybe it is used for weather and traffic, but I don't know. For those services which don't use GPS, they may become available in earlier models if there is no technical preventing it???

[Mercury Milan]

Older SYNC versions need to be updated via the dealership. Contact your Ford dealer for pricing.

 

ALL 2010 Fords with SYNC have the 3 year policy, not just Fusions.

 

This was my favorite part:

 

Ford and Microsoft plan to continually update SYNC, and according to Charlotte Fisher from Ford's Design and Technology team, "every six to eight to twelve months we'll be delivering new services." One of the possible features Ford could include on future iterations of SYNC is streaming internet radio, and Fisher confirmed that Ford is currently "talking with Pandora." Can you say XM-killer?

 

This is such a big feature that I think Ford will go out of their way to include it. It would be like giving Ford customers free XM radio for life. For customers who are on the fence about buying a new Ford, this could be the reason why they switch and get the Ford. Ford knows this and I'm sure they will really try hard to include this feature in the future. Getting ready to do the happy dance :happy feet:

[peteostro]

My 2010 Fusion SEL AWD will be delivered within the next few days. I was under the impression that 3.0 was pre-loaded (I custom ordered the car). Does the 3 year "free" Sync apply to only Hybrids or all Fusions with Sync?

 

the 2010 models out now have sync 2.0 (since 3.0 isn't out yet) the 2010 models can be user upgraded by downloading a file from the sync web site, putting it on a thumb drive and inserting it into the usb interface in the car and installing it. Instructions on how to do this are on the sync web site. All 2010 models have the gps built in so there should be no hardware upgrade needed (just software)

[peteostro]

Humm, looking over the sync site there's allot of new info on the Traffic & Services update.

Looks like you can only have 1 primary phone activated to to this service. If you have 2 or more phones you can add them, but you will need to go to the web site and activate one that you want to use. You can have additional phones active at the same time but it cost $95 a year for each additional phone.

 

This is a bummer, since my wife and I both use the car.

The customer service rep I talked to said to look for the update early June. So I'm not sure how accurate the may 26th date is but it looks like its not to long now

[svjim]

Humm, looking over the sync site there's allot of new info on the Traffic & Services update.

Looks like you can only have 1 primary phone activated to to this service. If you have 2 or more phones you can add them, but you will need to go to the web site and activate one that you want to use. You can have additional phones active at the same time but it cost $95 a year for each additional phone.

 

This is a bummer, since my wife and I both use the car.

The customer service rep I talked to said to look for the update early June. So I'm not sure how accurate the may 26th date is but it looks like its not to long now

 

The per phone charge is kind of interesting. I remember seeing some earlier promotional videos from back in January where the Ford person demoing sync was saying that the services were tied to the phone and that you could use them from any sync equipped Ford and sync would remember your preferences.

 

Jim

[akirby]

The per phone charge is kind of interesting. I remember seeing some earlier promotional videos from back in January where the Ford person demoing sync was saying that the services were tied to the phone and that you could use them from any sync equipped Ford and sync would remember your preferences.

 

Jim

 

Since your cell phone is the interface I presume they're using caller id to determine eligibility. They can't tell which car your cell phone is connected to. I assume if they allow more than one phone then it might somehow allow unauthorized access, thus the extra charge for more than one phone. Just a guess.

[peteostro]

Since your cell phone is the interface I presume they're using caller id to determine eligibility. They can't tell which car your cell phone is connected to. I assume if they allow more than one phone then it might somehow allow unauthorized access, thus the extra charge for more than one phone. Just a guess.

 

Im sure the sync system in the car has a Unique Identifier that it sends to the sync servers. Really it makes no sense, since its all tied to the one car, and can only be used in that car. iI the phone is not activated to the car it will not work. No reason to charge for a second phone.

[svjim]

Im sure the sync system in the car has a Unique Identifier that it sends to the sync servers. Really it makes no sense, since its all tied to the one car, and can only be used in that car. iI the phone is not activated to the car it will not work. No reason to charge for a second phone.

 

 

That is just it, in the promo demos that I saw the Ford techie clearly stated that with the advance services they went with the phone. That is your preferences were remembered. So for instance, if I got into your car with my phone and connected thru Sync, Sync would know my preferences for say Sports was or where my home was. I could be wrong on this, but I don't think so. It also explains a bit on why a $95 a year extra charge for extra phones. Again this only applies to the new Sync services that are just about to become available.

[Mercury Milan]

So for instance, if I got into your car with my phone and connected thru Sync, Sync would know my preferences for say Sports was or where my home was.

Something about this doesn't sound right. Ford would be opening themselves up to legal issues if it worked that way. For instance, if someone stole your phone, or even had access to using your phone they would then have access to everything on your phone, including where you live.

[akirby]

Something about this doesn't sound right. Ford would be opening themselves up to legal issues if it worked that way. For instance, if someone stole your phone, or even had access to using your phone they would then have access to everything on your phone, including where you live.

 

No, it means that if someone stole your phone and used it to connect to sync then sync would provide customized data and content based on your phone. It won't tell someone where you live.

[peteostro]

That is just it, in the promo demos that I saw the Ford techie clearly stated that with the advance services they went with the phone. That is your preferences were remembered. So for instance, if I got into your car with my phone and connected thru Sync, Sync would know my preferences for say Sports was or where my home was. I could be wrong on this, but I don't think so. It also explains a bit on why a $95 a year extra charge for extra phones. Again this only applies to the new Sync services that are just about to become available.

You cant just walk into any ones sync system and start using it (for directions that is). The phone has to be activate online to a CAR. I.E. I could own 50 fords. Online I have to add each car to the sync site. Then I have to add my phone to each car.

Nothing is saved to the phone. You must pair your phone to the sync system, it stores the data to the sync system and uses your Car ID and phone # as identifiers. when it dials in it uses caller id, plus a car ID to make sure your phone is allowed to work with this car.

at least that's how I read it works

[peteostro]

another 3.0 article

 

http://www.twice.com/article/CA6658004.html

 

Dearborn, Mich. — The new Sync radios featuring audio traffic updates and directions as you drive will launch May 18 in some vehicles and early June in several others, as Ford converts the popular radio to the traffic/information appliance it announced in January.

 

On May 18, owners of a 2010 Fusion, Mustang, Milan and MKZ will be able to download an upgrade to their Sync radios that will convert them to traffic/information appliances via the SyncMyRide Web site. Then starting in June, the upgraded radios will roll out in 2010 Ford Edge, Taurus, and Super Duty trucks preloaded, with no download necessary. The new Sync will then continue to appear in almost all new Ford models as they debut throughout the year, the company said.

 

The original Sync radio took the industry by storm when it was released in late 2007 because it allowed voice activation and control of a wide range of devices including iPods. It remains one of the most feature-rich car radios in OEM and retail electronics.

 

Ford said it has now produced its 1 millionth vehicle offering a Sync radio, and it expects to ship its 1 millionth vehicle with Sync shortly, according to a spokeswoman.

 

This month, the radio receives the upgrade shown first at International CES in January, which lets it deliver voice-in, voice-out traffic updates and navigation cues plus weather, stock and news reports similar in some ways to OnStar.

 

Ford is again throwing a curve to the industry by offering this service for free for the first three years.

 

There’s no map screen, just voice cues. Users receive traffic updates along their route, they can ask for directions as they drive. They can also receive weather and stock updates and some news updates. The link for the service is the user’s Bluetooth phone and the information is sent over the phone’s voice channel so no data plan is required from the carrier.

 

Ford is not stopping there. The next version of Sync, which might debut in nine to 12 months, may take advantage of Internet capabilities on a smartphone, allowing Pandora to play through the car’s sound system, Ford said.

 

“We’ll be able to link you to your Internet in the car. If you brought an iPhone into the vehicle, you could interact with that through voice. You could then read your email by voice,” said Joe Berry, Ford business and product development director for Sync, referring to a future version of Sync.

 

The company is currently working with Pandora and is also targeting other Web applications.

 

“Pandora is sort of dipping our feet in the water … We’ll be doing that with a lot more applications,” Berry said.

 

The updated Sync uses Inrix traffic data and TellMe voice technology as well as Airbiquity and TeleNav technology. Best Buy is slated to provide technical support to Sync customers who have trouble pairing their phones with the new Sync. The Sync was developed with Microsoft.

[svjim]

You cant just walk into any ones sync system and start using it (for directions that is). The phone has to be activate online to a CAR. I.E. I could own 50 fords. Online I have to add each car to the sync site. Then I have to add my phone to each car.

Nothing is saved to the phone. You must pair your phone to the sync system, it stores the data to the sync system and uses your Car ID and phone # as identifiers. when it dials in it uses caller id, plus a car ID to make sure your phone is allowed to work with this car.

at least that's how I read it works

 

You are probably right on that. There also is another little glitch in that to use the services it appears the phone that uses them needs to be declared the "active" phone. I guess you can declare up to 12 phones on your sync account, but only one can be active at any one time unless you pay a $95 yearly charge. You can switch the active phone on syncmyride.com. It is not clear to me if "active" and "primary" are the same? If they are the same and if there is a voice or radio command to change the primary phone in the car, then you would not need to pay the $95 for an extra phone(s), just register them and switch them when you get into the car. For those of us that share the car, this would be very nice.

 

Anyone know if the acitive and primary phone are one and the same and what the command to make a phone primary is?

 

Jim

[Mercury Milan]

Anyone know if the acitive and primary phone are one and the same and what the command to make a phone primary is?

The manuals don't use the term 'primary'. They use the term favorite. When you first pair a phone with SYNC you have to choose if it's going to be the main phone (read favorite phone) or not. That said I doubt if active and favorite are the same, but I am looking further into it for you :)

[fsb99]

The manuals don't use the term 'primary'. They use the term favorite. When you first pair a phone with SYNC you have to choose if it's going to be the main phone (read favorite phone) or not. That said I doubt if active and favorite are the same, but I am looking further into it for you :)

My stab in the dark: Active = one you are currently using. Favorite = one you use most often. Therefore Active can equal Favorite.

[svjim]

its coming out May 26th according to autoblog

 

Well May 26th has come and will fast disappear. The CSR on syncmyride.com that I messaged with today said that the 'offical' word he had was that it would come out in the first week in June. I don't quite understand why they are so secretive about a release date. I suspect they will have a lot of people who have older cars upset that they cannot get the new services and if the rumors of sync 3.0 not being compatible with Nav system are true, 2010 owners may be upset too.

[Oman]

I wonder how many people are going to be PI**ED off to see that if you pay extra for the nav system you don't get three years of free service, you don't get sync 3.0, and you don't get some of the new features. None of the marketing materials mention that.

 

There are two completely separate feature sets for the Nav system sync and regular sync. Sirius won't allow the data services without the radio services, so no matter what you have to pay somewhere around $275.00 per year to keep the traffic info. I just might have to keep my Garmin in my car, the free FM based traffic works great and the UI is so much better.

 

Maybe if enough people complain about the misleading literature we can get Ford to actually throw in 3 years of service, like promised.

 

(Yes, the nav system brochure says 6 months of free Sirius service, but the overall literature says Sync with 3 years of service. No mention that one excludes the other)

 

 

Jon

 

 

Well May 26th has come and will fast disappear. The CSR on syncmyride.com that I messaged with today said that the 'offical' word he had was that it would come out in the first week in June. I don't quite understand why they are so secretive about a release date. I suspect they will have a lot of people who have older cars upset that they cannot get the new services and if the rumors of sync 3.0 not being compatible with Nav system are true, 2010 owners may be upset too.

[peteostro]

Its out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dam I'm going to have to wait until after work to install this.

 

Have fun kids!

 

 

SYNC Traffic, Directions & Information—Update Version 3.0

 

The Traffic, Directions & Information* software update enables your SYNC to deliver: turn-by-turn driving directions, traffic reports, business searches and your favorite news, sports and weather—all with simple voice commands. A complimentary 3-year subscription is available to new vehicle owners.

 

*Traffic, Directions & Information is not available on Navigation System radios or outside the United States. Mobile phone charges may apply.

 

Please Read—This update will take up to 10 minutes to complete.

Approximately 60 seconds after you begin the installation, you will receive an Installation Complete message. DO NOT REMOVE YOUR USB DRIVE OR TURN OFF YOUR VEHICLE. You must wait an additional 5-10 minutes until you hear a second Installation Complete message before you can remove your thumb drive. During this interval, while the update is loading, SYNC will not recognize your mobile phone or media device. Be sure to have your vehicle engine running throughout the entire installation process.

 

After Installation—Bring your USB drive back to your computer.

After installing the Traffic, Directions and Information update, please bring your USB drive back to your computer to report the successful installation. Once the installation has been confirmed you'll then be able to activate the service in your SYNC account and connect to the service in your vehicle.

 

NOTE: You will need to pair your mobile phone again with SYNC and re-download your contacts from your mobile phonebook. We also recommend that before re-pairing your mobile phone, you delete the previous Bluetooth-SYNC connection that was on your mobile phone

 

 

You might want to use Internet Explored to download the update, fire fox seems to be having some trouble (figures its an MS product)

[svjim]

Its out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dam I'm going to have to wait until after work to install this.

 

Have fun kids!

 

 

SYNC Traffic, Directions & Information—Update Version 3.0

 

Right now, no smiles in Mudville. My install failed with "Possibly not enough space or wrong version." I did a factory resync and got the same results. Now to bug Sync support. I think this should be pretty straight forward for a car just out of the factory.