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Ford Drops MyFord Touch -- Now SYNC

10946 Views 24 Replies 11 Participants Last post by  woodgeek
Just when you thought it was safe to relax about orders already placed!

Ford is dropping the MyFord Touch radio etc. for a new system called SYNC 3, partnering with Panasonic.

Ford Drops MyFord Touch for All-New System » AutoGuide.com News

https://media.ford.com/content/ford...w--innovative-ways-for-people-to-connect.html

I have called my sales rep..
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I wonder if it has anything to do with this announcement from Apple about CarPlay:

http://9to5mac.com/2014/12/11/apple-carplay-mfi-standards/

Ford was late jumping on the CarPlay wagon, and might be looking to use a system that will already meet the standards.
It does not look like the MyFordTouch demo'd in this video of a Transit (only one I've seen showing MyFordTouch and I believe the Transit was a demo for dealers to see).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWpDfRQXxeU
Rick, you got the "Sirius/Sync radio" I believe? Is this part of the MyFord Touch, or are they different? My order sheet has Option 584 for the MFT -- what was your Option Number? [Edit -- 58X or 58Y maybe?]

And how is your radio working including the Sync aspect?

Thanks
I'm annoyed with two things that I skimmed from those article, but pleased by another.

One, I really wish that HVAC controls were not a touchscreen item off on some separate menu somewhere. I should be able to reach over with my hand, eyes on the ROAD, and adjust by feel of buttons or knobs. Seems a blurry line between eyes off the road to read a text message and eyes off the road to navigate a touchscreen just to turn the fan down a bit.

Two, there was mention of Siri. Bleah. I'm a Google/Android guy, and while I don't mind Apple, I really don't like getting locked out of options.


But then, there was a comment by the lead guy that they intend to work with both Apple and Google; that they "don't want the purchase of a $30,000 car to be determined/limited by a $200 phone". That's good to hear.


Still... touchscreen controls for HVAC? Arghh!!!
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I'm annoyed with two things that I skimmed from those article, but pleased by another.

One, I really wish that HVAC controls were not a touchscreen item off on some separate menu somewhere. I should be able to reach over with my hand, eyes on the ROAD, and adjust by feel of buttons or knobs. Seems a blurry line between eyes off the road to read a text message and eyes off the road to navigate a touchscreen just to turn the fan down a bit.

Two, there was mention of Siri. Bleah. I'm a Google/Android guy, and while I don't mind Apple, I really don't like getting locked out of options.


But then, there was a comment by the lead guy that they intend to work with both Apple and Google; that they "don't want the purchase of a $30,000 car to be determined/limited by a $200 phone". That's good to hear.


Still... touchscreen controls for HVAC? Arghh!!!
Totally agree with you there. Round knobs for temp and fan speeds please.

The other problem with HVAC via the touch screen is that it effectively locks you out from aftermarket radio options. That's the primary reason I did not go with MFT.

JP
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Rick, you got the "Sirius/Sync radio" I believe? Is this part of the MyFord Touch, or are they different? My order sheet has Option 584 for the MFT -- what was your Option Number? [Edit -- 58X or 58Y maybe?]

And how is your radio working including the Sync aspect?

Thanks
Hi Peter,

I have the Sirius/Sync/HD radio ($540 option), which is not part of the MyFordTouch. I had mistakenly thought the MyFordTouch option was going to be the new system that allowed Apple's CarPlay (now known as the Sync 3), but now I believe it is the same old Microsoft based system used in previous Ford models. So I think people who ordered MyFordTouch will get one (it's been in other Ford cars). They will change the ordering system to select a Sync 3 radio once they are available.

After reviewing videos of the CarPlay system in action, I realized I would be much more satisfied using my iPhone 6 Plus on a dashboard mount, just as I had on the F-150, and syncing audio/music via Bluetooth.

The Bluetooth on my Transit works better than on the F-150, music automatically resumes when I restart the van, unless I've done something else on the iPhone during the interim, such as watch a youTube video or something. I can just tap the audio control on the steering wheel and say "Bluetooth Audio", and it will again sync with the phone and resume playing music. I can advance to the next song and control volume with the steering wheel controls. I cannot see info about the song on the Ford radio display, but could just as easily keep the iPhone display on, with the music app open if I want to see it. When jumping in the Transit for short trips, I don't even pull the iPhone out. It stays out of sight on my person, and I use Bluetooth Audio via Sync to listen to music on the phone, played thru the Transit's stereo.

I have my choice of GPS apps on the iPhone, and can actually have more than one running and will hear audio prompts from both, such as warnings of Police or traffic conditions. And I prefer the Portrait view using the GPS, giving me more a view of the road ahead. Music still plays in the background, and phone calls will mute all audio and be initiated or answered via the Ford Sync radio and steering wheel controls (all of this is played thru the Transit's stereo speakers).

iOS 8 on the iPhone now allows a voice command to be recognized without touching the phone if it is plugged into a power source. So I plug it into the 12V socket and am able to say "Hey Siri", wait for it to respond and give it any normal Siri command (the iPhone hears the command via it's own mic, you don't use the steering wheel control). This allows my girlfriend to choose or change music from the iPhone without touching it, we can ask for directions, make phone calls, open apps, send text messages, have it search for info on the internet, and many other things without having to touch anything. I was already doing all this in the F-150.

Using the iPhone this way, I never have to worry about getting software updates, or GPS map updates on a dashboard receiver. I can continue to utilize any new stuff Apple brings out. I think you saw the dashboard mount in my other thread, the iPhone 6 Plus has a 5.5" display, 128GB of memory (almost half of that contains my music), can rotate to the landscape position to shoot a dash cam video if I want.

After thinking all this through I realized I didn't want the expensive MyFordTouch (nor the new Sync 3 radio). My iPhone does much more and I always have it with me.
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Two, there was mention of Siri. Bleah. I'm a Google/Android guy, and while I don't mind Apple, I really don't like getting locked out of options.


But then, there was a comment by the lead guy that they intend to work with both Apple and Google; that they "don't want the purchase of a $30,000 car to be determined/limited by a $200 phone". That's good to hear.
The Blackberry QNX based system is used by both Apple's CarPlay and Google's Android Auto. Once plugged in via USB, the cell phone's OS overlays it. Everybody will switch to this since it is OS neutral, and is probably the only thing keeping Blackberry afloat. There are already aftermarket radios using QNX, some still have the Bluetooth sync option, at least one does not (which would be severely limiting). I don't know if Ford's Sync 3 will still have Bluetooth, it would be stupid to remove it because it would rule out any other cell phone other than Android or iPhones.

That was another thing I didn't like about this new QNX system. You have to connect the phone via USB to use any of the CarPlay or Android Auto stuff. If not plugged in via USB, you will use the native QNX operating system - which should still have GPS Navigation.

I'd just as soon do everything wirelessly via Bluetooth using my iPhone's display as described in my last post.
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What Rick said about the iPhone 6 Plus...

I've had one for a month or so, also w/128 GB, and am planning on using just like he is. It's a superb GPS unit with several excellent choices for mapping software, all with frequent updates. Add my music library, digital radio options, podcasts, and Siri integration (with other apps, like note-taking) and a great screen, making it a winner. It's also a pretty good always-have-it-with-you still and video camera when needed. In fact, a couple years ago I put down my expensive dSLR body and lens and shot with a previous generation iPhone exclusively for a year.

Edit:
The only thing that could be better is integrating my iPad Air 2. Still not out of the question as the larger screen would be even nicer...
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My sales rep. says that his feedback from Ford is that the new SYNC 3 will come only with 2016 model year vehicles, and that 2015 Transits (which have not been built yet) will contain what was ordered.
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If that is correct than the MFT on the '15 Transits will be real orphans. Unless they are just putting in the old style MFT that in that case could have easily been part of job 1.
My guess is the only "new" MFT will be the Panasonic/Blackberry and the '15 Transits will either not have it or have the MFT system that was in '14 Fords.
I surely hope it's the MFT system that was in '14 Fords. If I really dodn't want the lane warning system and the 6" screen I would try to cancel the MFT.

Epps
I surely hope it's the MFT system that was in '14 Fords. If I really dodn't want the lane warning system and the 6" screen I would try to cancel the MFT.

Epps
I am thinking things over. Doesn't the back-up camera's image appear on this screen? That is one of the main reasons I went for the larger 6.5" screen. My last two cars have had back-up cameras and I find them invaluable, especially for the larger Wagon I am getting once again. [Edit -- comments elsewhere indicated that the 4" screen was not up to the task of showing the rear view well.]
Yes, the video I posted above shows the backup camera viewed on the MFT display.

I don't mind the small display on mine, it's clear enough.


--Rick
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Yes, the video I posted above shows the backup camera viewed on the MFT display.

I don't mind the small display on mine, it's clear enough.


--Rick
Thanks for this heads up Rick.

Another question if you have time -- Does your radio have any HVAC controls built in to its touch screen, like the new SYNC 3 will have in full, apparently?

I am not sure whether the MFT radio I have ordered has any HVAC controls in its touch screen, but hearing from you would help me make a decision to downgrade my radio, as I agree with others on other threads, that having the touch screen do the HVAC controls is not good. Perhaps some will remain on the steering wheel, but no one seems to know the exact details, including my salesman.

Given the state of flux for all this information, I do not trust looking in the owner's manual . . .

Thanks
Didn't order the MFT and other options available with it, as I am going to replace with after market system and large screen. The rearview camera can be integrated with any of the newer systems. That, and I am going to have the tadi-brothers 3 camera rv setup installed.

Semper Fi
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