The Ford SYNC Story
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- čas přidán 14. 06. 2019
- If you wanted to have the latest cutting-edge technology in your car in 2007 you wouldn’t buy a BMW 7 series or a Mercedes S-Class. You’d own a 2008 Ford Focus with SYNC. It was the crowning achievement of Microsoft’s Automotive team; a device that plays music from media players and supports hands-free phone calls. It was revolutionary at the time and was included in over 1 million vehicles. But it almost never happened. It was the last roll of the dice from a team that had spent years in the wilderness trying to break into the car market. This is a really personal video for me. I worked in the Microsoft Automotive team for over 10 years (although not during Ford SYNC). So this video is a Microsoft-centric view of SYNC's history, and this is the result of several interviews from key people on the team. It's a more in-depth view than has been seen up until now. To get a sense of Ford's view (with interviews with the people who were in the trenches working on it), see this video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGP9j...
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#bigcar #FordSYNC - Auta a dopravní prostředky
Ford Sync launched in 2007, but FIAT Blue&Me, based on the exact same Microsoft platform, launched in 2006. Microsoft and Fiat designed the platform together starting in 2003. The product was engineered by Magneti Marelli (you can see the logo on the PCB at 6:34), and I was proudly part of its software development team.
I wouldn't be bragging about being involved with this garbage.
@@unclejoe6811 LMAO Ouch, bro. Not cool.
Just because the product ends up being garbage doesn't mean the team you worked with or having that MICROSOFT on your resume isn't still a badge of honor.
i bought my 2008 Taurus Limited specifically because it had Sync. absolutely loved it.
That opening music could have been louder.
“SYNC HAS DETECTED A NEW DEVICE AND IS REMINDING YOU THAT 911 ASSIST IS SET TO OFF.”
I work at a Ford dealership and have heard that way too many times in customer cars
In the UK it says "SYNC HAS CONNECTED TO YOUR DEVICE AND IS REMINDING YOU THAT EMERGENCY ASSISSTANCE IS SET TO OFF"
*FOR YOUR SAFETY PLEASE STAY ALERT TO CHANGING ROAD CONDITIONS, AND USE SYNCS VOICE ACTIVATED FEATURES WHEN YOUR VEHICLE IS IN MOTION*
What a story! I had no idea. How quickly we take all this stuff for granted
This is super interesting!
I remember Fords first getting this in the Focus and then Fusion while I was at Enterprise.
It was such a jaw dropping moment
the first time I connected my cellphone (an Auidovox flip phone I believe lol) to the Focus at that time and making a phone call (to my late father...god I wish I had a recording of that...) and hearing him talking through the car speakers ❤️
It didn’t strike me at the time what a huge impact SYNC would make, or the amazing changes that were to come in cars. At the time it was regular car radios that, other than cassette and CD capability and maybe a few more speakers, hadn’t changed much since the 1970s and 80s, to the expansive infotainment systems cars have nowadays. Ha, it wasn’t all that long ago when a car review usually didn’t even mention the radio, but today nearly a 1/4 of every car review is about just the infotainment system lol
And all this started with Microsoft and SYNC (and the Fiat’s version as well)
I really enjoyed this and look forward to future videos
But other cars already had simular systems several years before this. So I did not think it was jaw dropping at all. It was just another system on the market.
Øystein Sync was the first one one that market that could do all of this, and do it so seamlessly
(He explains all of this in the video lol)
Not Mercedes, not BMW, not Audi, no one had anything even close to as good as Sync when it came out, at any price range
@@dragon81heart Not quite true..
Øystein ok, what was like this before Sync came out?
@@dragon81heart Audi, BMW and others had a system that did the same back in 2001. Mercedes back in 1998. And even earlier than that you could find navigation, basic phone functions and media from USB, SD and DVD..
I have used most of them and trust me.. Nothing special with the "Sync" shit. I liked "sync" the least of all the systems I tried in the early 2000's. So it's wrong to claim Ford was ahead with this when in reality the system was basicly just a restyled copy of what others had made before. I also had less problems with the other systems.
And don't forget that even Honda had voice control in 2005...
Excellent as always, really appreciate your content. Thank you
Thanks for your great videos and good luck with the new channel
This sold us on a new 2009 F-150 in late 2008 because GM, Toyota and Chrysler had nothing like it in their trucks at the time. And unlike most early automotive voice command systems, it actually worked well!
Excellent. Talented material and I am curious for more!
Fascinating, thanks for covering this!
Wow that was so interesting, thanks for a great upload!
My 3rd car had BT in it. It was a 2011 Mercury Milan. It didn’t have GPS in the car. It was a big upgrade from a 2005 Ford Focus. The vehicle that I have now has Apple Car Play. It is a 2020 Ford Escape SE. It was a big upgrade for me just after driving a 2015 Ford Escape SE. That old one was just liked my Milan.
As more people got cellphones and wanted to use them in their cars, it became clear that some 'hands free' system had to be developed along with laws banning other than hands free use of them due to growing numbers of crashes from their use. I had this in a 2014 Focus I owned 2016-2021and only used the hands free phone function. It was also part of the set ups for the radio, audio system, other minor functions of the car.
I don’t know why you don’t have 1 million+ subscribers!!!!! Your one of the best you tubers!
Our '13 Fiat 500e had Blue & Me. It worked really well! The voice dialing worked much better, and was *much* faster than the system in the similar vintage '14 Cadillac.
The Sync SOS feature makes a lot of sense. I liked it when I discovered it in a rental Fusion I had in 2011.
Those ship certificates are quite pretty. Thank you for making these videos!
I love the photo at 17:38, these quotes add a feeling of humanity to the project
Thanks a lot. Now I'll appreciated the SYNC in my (recently bought secondhand) Ford even more.
I bought a 2015 Focus 1.5tdci in August that has Sync 2 and I've found it a great system, really easy to use
I have the old Sync 3 System in my 2018 Ford Focus ST base model. Besides the screen being small, it’s a highly reliable and simple to use system that’s highly responsive to commands like switching music tracks unlike some newer systems I’ve tried. Plus it doesn’t beat at me annoyingly when I’m parking, praise the Lord haha. But there’s a lack of proper navigation assistance
But Sync 3 had been made on QNX by BlackBerry, its no longer the Microsoft one ;)
@@cytrynowy_melon6604 The OS was QNX - owned by RIM at the time who also made the Blackberry which ironically had not switched to QNX yet. The Sync 3 system (HW & SW) was produced by Panasonic Automotive.
Great job, this was a genuinely interesting video and it earned you a new subscriber. I like learning about how car manufacturers introduced new features and how they came to be. I've never tried Sync, nor have I ever owned a Ford, so I can't judge Sync.
I do own two Mercedes with the Linguatronic voice recognition and it works absolutely perfect. Total disobedience... in English and German... you say "Radio 1", it starts playing a CD. You say "Destination Munich", it calls your mom.
But hey, on long journeys you need entertainment and arguing with my Mercedes is fun so I like the system XD
Thanks. This video was a passion project for me. I interviewed three members of the team and had two more review the script so I could get it right. Memories are fading and I wanted to immortalise this project before it was lost to time.
Megadriver hello,,but this reminds me of NEVER HAVING ANY Voice to text system understand me, and I have tried several for my PC, I do have SYNC, in my 2013 FORD TAURUS, but only use parts of it . while in the past I saw 2 year cars where you could NOT UPDATE THE FACTORY BUILT IN GPS, as being ‘TOO OLD’ what bs, so I for one MUCH PREFER TO USE , MY TOM TOM GPS this one is about my 5th one over the years, it does everything, speed cameras, speed limits, , over 5mph over , a trumpet sounds, , turn by turn, proper lane guidance,,traffic avoidance, , it has NEVER STEERED ME WRONG, , JUST GET WHATEVER IT IS YOU NEED.,,, CHEERS FROM NJ,USA
Great and informative video
Windows CE was during initial roll out a good thing, but with all windows products it never improves but rather degrades over time.
The best thing Ford has done with SYNC is SYNC3 with RIM OS.
Hello, I really recently ‘discovered’ your series,,and have subscribed, really DO LOVE IT, as I WAS born & lived in a Crown Colony, then left before they became independent & screwed it up, so I am most familiar with the BRITISH CARS, , WELL DONE ! Cheers From NJ....USA
The creative nomad shown in this video came out in 2000, well before USB media in cars. I used to use mine as it was 6 g/b I still have it somewhere.
Yes, but those were the devices used in vehicles (because they were made before).
oh so this is why my mums 2010 fiat 500 had a literal microsoft logo button
I didn't have a car in 2009, but if have to choose one. A Ford with Sync feature would be my top 1.
I had the much Hated My Ford Touch in my 2013 Fusion and It did Work FLAWLESSLY! Never an issue with it. I fully understand where mine might have been an exception but now I enjoy the Sync in my 21 Mustang which has also been Perfection!
Making it so it worked well was many hours work from my team!
VERY INTERESTING. ALWAYS WELL DONE.
Is your caps lock key broken?
The factory head unit in my 2011 f-150 would intermittently shut off the only way to turn in back on was to restart the truck. So I installed a Kenwood head unit that has android auto and disabled sync. Ford announced that it was discontinuing supporting it a week or so after I installed the Kenwood. Good timing I guess.
My Dad has Sync in his 2015 Kuga, He doesn't use it because he doesn't take his Phone outside, didn't even have one till last year. I sometimes use it for bluetooth Music when I am allowed to take his car out. I might have used it once for actually calling someone but I think in that case I still dialed the number manually while being parked. It probably works quite fine if I'd bother to learn to use it.
Very interesting.
I am currently driving the new 2018 Mercedes-Benz A250 with MBUX and it’s amazing how much easier (and fun) life and the driving experience can be with such features.
Cool stuff
We got sync in our 08 Lincoln mkx
i have the first version of sync in my vehicle and i love it, it’s simple!
Sync was a godsend 🙌🏾😌🙌🏾
my 2015 Focus mk3.5 titanium which i got a year ago is my first intro in Sync (had a Seat Ibiza before). Though dated its still pretty useable. Updated the Sync 2 firmware and maps myself. Navigation is a little delayed though and the screen a bit clunky.
Windows CE was also embedded in the Sega Dreamcast
I have a 2016 Ford Mustang with the base interior, and consequently the Ford Sync system. I have had lots of trouble with it. Cold, wet, humid Pacific Northwest weather seems to be the system's enemy. A common occurrence is the dreaded "black screen", where the display on the radio is black, but the system is playing audio from the last source. The telephone Bluetooth functions are dead when the black screen happens. Turning the car off for over 20 minutes is the only fix (unless you wanted to dig through the fuse box and pull the fuse for the head unit!). I upgraded Ford Sync every time an upgrade became available. I still get black screens every once in a while...since I have a Computer Science degree and have some OS design experience, I guess I have a hard time understanding how bringing up the radio display (to show the user error conditions) isn't a primary OS function that should happen no matter what 😢
Interesting thanks
I have a 2014 Fiesta with Sync. Loved the schedules maintenance alerts and the ability to check online. The cut that recently which I feel is stupid. But hey it is what it is. Also it wouldn’t be a Microsoft product if I didn’t have to do a hard restart by pulling a fuse every 6-7k miles because the system doesn’t want to do Bluetooth audio with my phone lol
There's a update available from Ford's owners website. I had the exact same problem as you, but after I installed the update it went away. If my Sync does ever decide to lose Bluetooth, the update includes a "Sync Reboot" option so you don't have to pull any fuses. It's not too hard to do and it's free.
@@OhPhuckYou I tried to update sync from fords website, but the option to download isn't there anymore like it's supposed to be according to fords instructions, it only gives me the option to contact a dealer
Love your channel
Thanks David. This video was very personal as I worked for a long time with the Microsoft team.
Good video, change of topic but still car related. Best thing about fordsync is that when I am in the wife's car it prefers my phone to hers!
This is because I worked with the Microsoft team that created this, and wanted to capture the information about the project before it was all lost to time. At some point I'll also do the MyFord Touch, which I helped to fix!
I've got a 2009 Taurus, the CD player is crap but SYNC works perfectly so I just stream my music, phone calls work as well. Through bluetooth
I have a 09 Taurus. My sync still works great. I use it everyday
Stevie Jo same in my 2009 Ford Edge. I’ll get the occasional Bluetooth connection error, but that’s probably because it’s only Bluetooth 2.1.
@@darrenwoloshyn join the facebook page MACTFORDEDGE group
CANT STOP WONT STOP I’m already following that group. I changed my PTU fluid because of that group.
Pretty revolutionary, common place today.
My Sync 3 has a bricked media system. Only the basic radio functions work. I'm not complaining, though; this actually shows a good failover design.
Dude! The Ford dealer at 13:15 is Jordan Ford in Mishawaka, IN!
I have sync 3 with my fiesta st (1.5 200ps) Dez 2018. My car has a B&O sound system with 675W.
Amazing software in my car, beats the crap out of VW group, KIA, etc etc.
Jorge Nascimento I have a 2016 golf gti but drive a 2017 Ford kuga for work, I find fords sync system to be a little annoying to use compared to my vw infotainment system, I just find in sync you have to go through multiple menus compared to vws, but I suppose it’s all down to preference.
@@garethvw9262 Just use the voice commands? Duh
My mum has it in her 2013 fiesta. Doesn’t used it much though
Great videos! but.. much better software was done by Renault / Philips in 1994 in Safrane (complete infotainment system with big color graphics screen), later adopted by BMW in 7 series in 1995 (had one from Dec 1995, with Renault navigation and rest of the software by BMW). Later updated (3rd gen) in Vel Satis and Avantime with some BT (parrot device ad on) commands from 2001 (had 2), and even better in 2005. In ~1999 I remember also BMW E65 development on CE 2.0 or 3.0. Safrane and E38 (later E39 / S80 and Rover75, Clio II, Scenic I, Laguna I/II) was also possible to update and (somehow) compatible between these cars. First voice command was build into Mercedes W220 in 1998 and in small cars in Citroen C2 in 2004.
Got a 2016 Escape and I always leave my old iPod Touch connected in the car because the compatibility is flawless I can control and navigate content on that player without taking the iPod
Yes!!
Informative and amazing content as always ❤️ also lmfaooo at 13:06 the zune hahaha 🤣 you got to be able to laugh at yourself, because I much much prefer Microsoft to apple ugh apple is such a cult of personality more than anything innovative imo.
Well done to Fiat for taking the leap. Don’t understand why car makers were so against this, but most probably just thought more expense and not how it would improve driver experiences.
Personally, I just leave the radio on! lol Although I only usually do short journeys, 150 miles is a long trip for me.
Rob Val same
More of this please!
I plan on doing the Ford MyTouch video, but there's an ongoing lawsuit about it and my video has a lot of insider stuff. I don't want to be dragged into it!
@@BigCar2 cripes! Yes that’s probably for the best. But now I’m more intrigued :-)
@@jamesweiner Most of the blame for it was put on Microsoft, but it was a big $#@* up by bSquare and Ford together (bSquare wrote it, Ford managed it), and Microsoft came in and fixed it (as best we could). It used Adobe Flash on a 400Mhz processor, so it was never going to be fast.
@@BigCar2 sounds juicy. Personally I am up for any more software/hardware intersections with car stories. Especially into retro computing but little interest in cars... but the stories behind them are fascinating!
My dad used to own a Fiat Croma 2009 with Blue & Me and it was far from snappy. No Android smartphone seemed to properly support it and after I put it through a software update from Fiat, we were stuck with Italian! That vehicle even lacked the (back then) common 3,5mm audio jack, probably because why would you want one? USB and Windows phone are the future after all!
I seem to remember in an earlier video you mentioned you were part of some team that integrated "something" (I can't remember what) was this it?
Err - not sure what you mean. MyFord Touch? We fixed that.
Sounds a bit like Fiat's Blue & Me (edit: have just seen it in the video)
Sorry sir love these videos and have subbed but " dymla " 😂
What you don't say is those early systems were truly awful. Later ones were only just bad
You're right, I don't say that because I don't think it was true! :-)
Big Car in that case, I do not believe you understand the system very well or are giving an accurate picture of it I remember many reviewers complaining about how slow and unresponsive the system was. I knew some people who owned them. I also knew people who made sure they bought a lower trim version which didn't have that system. Also, Ford ditched the system after several years out of frustration.
@@kevinbarry71 I think you're talking about MyFordTouch. That's a very different system. I was part of the team who had to fix it after it was released. MyFordTouch was made by Ford and bSquare, using Microsoft's operating system, and used Flash for the User Interface. It was an awful product that put Ford's JD Power rating in the toilet (and yes, they ditched it and went for a QNX system for SYNC 3).
Big Car in that case, it is my mistake. And if I'm confused, regular consumers would have no idea.
@@BigCar2 Definitely looking forward to hearing more about MFT. Honestly I don't understand all the hate for it. It's not my favorite thing ever, but it's not anything I'm going to lose much sleep over, either. Works adequately in my Escape. That said, Sync 3 in my Ranger is a nice improvement, as everyone knows.
The alleged Ford attitude to Microsoft reminds me of when Tesco is said to have told Warburtons to 'jump' and said supermarket was told where to get off! lol
im curious on the next 2 generations of sync since i work at a ford dealer and we do alot of APIM's lol
Mine failed in my Focus. Utter garbage hardware (APIM) in the MFT system.
@@runforit420 Did you do any of the updates? I was having bad Sync problems with my Fusion, but it was all solved with an update. It was somewhat tedious to do though. The software is available from Ford's owners website. You have to put it on a flashdrive, go to your car and select a few options and let it update. I actually love my Sync now, but before it wouldn't work day to day without pulling the fuse for the Sync module.
I want to know if it’s possible to replace the stereo for the Ford Focus ST 2013… anyone?
I would Iove to know how to get rid of ‘call ended’ after every navigation instruction from my iPhone in my 2015 Mondeo
Can you do a sync 3 video
Meanwhile in 2019, Ford has discontinued the Sync in vehicles from 2008 - 2016. Of course I fall right in the middle.
There in an update to sync 3, if you looked for information on the internet instead of clicking what is pasted in front of you.
I had an old focus ecoboost that has sync, and before i sold it, i went to ford page input my vin, and put the sync 3 into a pen drive, insert in car wait like 40m and pronto!
Jorge Nascimento to upgrade to sync 3 from sync 2, you need all new hardware. Screen, USB hub, apim module, gps antenna. It’s not just a software update.
Thats simply not true bud
Does anyone know if Hyundai used windows CE on there early to mid 2010s infotainment systems? I work in a repair shop, and I saw an error window pop up on a Hyundai infotainment system once, and looked like a windows XP error window.
They did. Windows CE for Automotive. I'm sure it was a subset of devices though. It would definitely NOT be Windows XP.
@@BigCar2 lol yes definitely not windows XP, I had no idea of Microsoft’s involvement with automobiles other than Ford sync, then I saw that windows XP esque error, then a few days later I see this video, and it makes a lot more sense now. And thank you for the reply! You’re awesome! Edit: I just finished the video, and saw that Kia used Microsoft’s general automotive OS, so that explains Hyundai too. I should’ve finished the video before commenting, whoops. But thanks again for the reply.
First the Denso satnav was placed in Ford and Jaguar cars. Before the Sync system was developt.
Well my grandparents didn't use it anyway.... Unless the Bluetooth feature counts.
It's crazy to me how ford sync still is one of the best systems avaliable. Uconnect is miserable if you don't have a higher end package, up until recently hondas have all been running on a reskined, old version of android that had glitched galore, and from what i've heard GM's stuff is pretty good, but in my experience it was just meh. That's just the american market though, i have no idea what cars like citroen or renault have.
11:20 Well they've forgotten that lesson since then.
Don't think we had Sync in UK as my 2010 Mk2.5 Focus ST has the Ford NX sat-nav. I used the voice control a few times in 6 years, didn't like it so I don't bother with it. It's quicker to press the buttons you want yourself. Dad's Mk3.5 Focus ST had Sync2. The Focus in UK is totally different to USA until the Mk3.
The UK got SYNC, but probably not that model or year.
My 2006 Opel astra had speech orders to control the cellphone
This worked well on 2015 ford focus until the amps keeps popping the speakers no recalls yet.
in comes QNX and BlackBerry
RIM only provided the base OS.
I had a client come in with a new Lincoln that the dealership that he bought it from didn't know how to synch/pair his phone with. I told him to give me the keys and phone and take a seat to read the paper. It took me 40 minutes to figure it out and I gave him his keys/phone back. He thanked me and asked what he owed me...Nothing, b/c I had learned something. Ford Synch was a P.O.S.
if the Ford SYNC had an ATARI 2600 port things would be a little diffrent.
What a Marvel
Tag your it
This is funny to me because I just use the aux cord in my focus
Same, The Sync in my 2010 ford focus always gave me a hard time to connect, so I just use a Aux cord for music streaming, due to constant Propaganda radio commercials gets annoying lol. Cheers
I have sync 1 in my 2009 Ford Edge
so sorry for you. i would be annoyed personally.
i got a 2018 ecosport inline-three turbo titanium model. very easy to buy vehicle they give em away to everyone!
Andrew Rattle I thought about getting an aftermarket CarPlay head unit, but I’ll deal with sync 1. I’m planning on getting a truck in a few years.
the last version of sync for non-touchscreen cars broke siri support which is super not cool
Didn't you work on this?
I didn't, but I worked with the Microsoft team who made it both before and after, so I know many of them. This was something I felt I wanted to do, to ensure this project history was captured.
"Revolutionary" ? We had simular systems like that before the "sync" system. Even better ones actually. But mostly in more expencive cars. Playing media, navigation, bluetooth handsfree, voice control and more has been around since atleast the early 2000's (Navigation etc came in many premium cars the late 90's but there actually was a kind of navigation system from Honda in 1981)
First car was Renault Safrane in 1994 (had one but with second, updated version of hardware "1996"), second BMW E38 in 1995 (had one 750i - Dec 1995), first working voice command system was W220 S600 in 1998, and in small cars in 2004 (Citroen C2 1.6 with big color screen and voice commands).
@@michaltatka Not quite right
7:57
11:52
My 05’ Lexus ES 350 could do all of that...
Infotainment killed in-car audio.
Bill Gates wants to install microchips in my car!
Ford ranger also.
"WinCE" - and most people who used it, did.
10:30
And the blues&me by fiat?
I wish it never happened
Sync has detected dealership fraud!
Long live Apple CarPlay 👍🏽
Both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto deserve to be better products than they are. Neither company is really investing in them like they should be and making them actually really good systems. It's too bad because even though both systems are less than great, they're still better than on-board systems developed by the car manufacturers.
BMW has the best one I seen. GM is crap. They just want to charge you a fee to use what they sold you...
"Bluetooth audio, please say a command. (Beep)
Funny what Microsoft started then left just when there's big bucks to be had. If they wanted to they could do like Sony and link what an automaker to make their own car, which I understand they'll probably never do.
There's never been much money to be made out of in car entertainment systems, especially today where most are just screens for smartphones.