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Ford Launching CarPlay and Android Auto in 2017 Vehicles With SYNC 3

Frosties said:
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.
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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.
 
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for anyone who has 2 byte language on their music library, song titles and artist tag info, Carplay and Android auto will do at least good enough job at language support on music play screen. I'm tired of either having blank screen for title/artist or bunch of boxes for them.
 
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CarPlay is finally gaining momentum with VW, GM, Honda and now Ford. Interesting how the technology is showing up faster in non-luxury brands, I would have guessed the opposite.
 
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!
carplay-4.0.jpg
 
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scapegoat81 said:
Well damn. I guess I did. Disregard ! Lol
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Be careful here. What I've read is that you have to have Sync 3 system in your vehicle in order to either (a) have CarPlay or (b) upgrade the Sync 3 software to enable CarPlay. My understanding is that the 2015 MY Ford cars still had the old system (e.g., MyFordTouch or MyLincolnTouch) running Sync 2, and that this system cannot be upgraded to Sync 3 due to different hardware.

On the other hand, your 2015 truck should be upgradeable to the Siri Eyes Free system. I installed this upgrade in my 2015 Lincoln MKZ the other day and it's working great.
 
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rockaw said:
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!
carplay-4.0.jpg
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I agree with all of that but I don't find it overrated. I find it much safer to use especially with Siri. I can leave my phone in the center console and not be tempted to look at anything else while driving. I love it.
 
I'm going to be buying a car in the USA, this autumn. I want to buy a hybrid vehicle with CarPlay. Anyone got any tips?
 
I have been using CarPlay for about a year with my Pioneer AVIC system and I like it better with iOS 9 than I did before. I am not sure why but something about it seems more polished. It is less buggy and generally works great. Getting notified of new messages is a great feature. I wish it would be expanded to more developers. I can see other uses for it...like getting messages from FB messenger or Skype messages/calls read to me as well.
Also what if they added support for Apple Watch like complications to the black status bar on the side?
 
As a 2013 Ford Explorer owner, I welcome this (tho I'll not be able to reap the benefits).
MS-powered Sync is less than enjoyable.
 
The problem I have with the Auto Industry is bundling. Like the cable companies, only a few bundles which adds a good deal to the cost of the car, and in my case I am purchasing add ons that are not necessary for me. Just like the 140 channels. If you want CarPlay (others) you need bundle X and that is the only way you can have CarPlay (others). Good gig for them as they make a profit on each and every item in the bundle. Annoying and expensive.
 
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Here something good news -
Toyota just signed up. And Honda, Mazda, Peugeot Citroën, and Subaru are considering adding the software too.

Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Co. will use software developed by Ford Motor Co. in its cars to give drivers command and control of smartphone apps through dashboard buttons, display screens and voice recognition tech. Automotive suppliers QNX Software Systems and UIEvolution also are adopting the technology and plan to integrate it into their products, Ford says. And more automakers, including Honda, Mazda, PSA Peugeot Citroën, and Subaru, may follow. Automakers are scrambling to offer connectivity to their increasingly tech-savvy consumer base. In the past, infotainment systems developed by automakers had a bad rap for being difficult to use or becoming quickly out of date.
 
iArch said:
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.
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I actually did this a month or so ago. Not much better IMO. I usually invoke Siri on my device & go from there. It seems much faster & accurate. No sense in routing it through Ford's Sync.
 
OldSchoolMacGuy said:
Did you ignore the part about older 2015 vehicles getting a software upgrade to add support?
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No, he correctly read the story about the upgrade being available to Ford 2016 vehicles (with Sync 3).

"CarPlay and Android Auto will also be available in 2016 vehicles with SYNC 3 as an upgrade later this year."
 
OldSchoolMacGuy said:
Did you ignore the part about older 2015 vehicles getting a software upgrade to add support?
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I must have missed it as I didn't see it in the article. They confirmed it will be available as an upgrade for all 2015 models or just some? I just purchased a 2015 Mustang GT and would like to upgrade. Any info is appreciated.
 
Frosties said:
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.
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What could go wrong?

And considering the transmission problems in many Ford vehicles, and what a disaster MyFordTouch was, people wouldn't feel abnormal vibrations if they were using remote controls instead of using a real car...
 
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