After I wrote my recent article about Bluetooth integration with car audio, Ford contacted me about the Microsoft SYNC  functions built into the Ford Fiesta and asked if I knew about the the AppLink functions. I took it for a test drive (literally) and and surprisingly, I found that a new Ford may just be about the best (and probably most expensive) iPhone accessory out there.

What is SYNC?

SYNC is a Microsoft Windows-based embedded automotive system found in a variety of Ford cars. Go ahead and get the Blue Screen of Death and “crash” jokes out of your system, because SYNC actually worked quite well in my testing, and is smartly integrated with iOS devices.

SYNC is a suite of functions that combines Bluetooth audio and phone functions, USB audio, and extended “services” via a yearly subscription. Pressing a button on the steering column activates voice recognition and allows a driver to issue commands. In select Ford models, AppLink allows software developers to interact with SYNC via APIs and a software development (SDK), allowing for the creation of apps specifically for Ford cars.

For my test drives, I used my iPhone 4 and Ford provided both the vehicles and the complimentary SYNC services account.

Bluetooth phone functions

Similar to many factory or add-on car stereos, SYNC supports standard phone functions such as dialing by name, and answering phone calls via the SYNC button on the steering column. Calls were crisp, clear and understandable, so no complaints in this regard.

Bluetooth audio functions

SYNC supports AD2P audio which allowed me to stream iPod, Pandora and Audible content via Bluetooth from my phone to the stereo. While audio paused when a call came in via the iPhone, when SYNC was announcing directions, the audio did not pause. This is completely consistent with my Bluetooth experiences with other integrated car systems, but still not ideal.

USB audio functions

Now things get interesting. The car comes with a USB port that is treated by the iPhone as a standard dock connector. Using it, you can control your iPhone’s audio functions via the steering wheel controls, and when SYNC gave directions, the audio did not drop out. In fact, when SYNC detected I was playing music, it simply showed the directions as text on the radio display and didn’t interrupt playback.

AppLink

An API for your car? That’s what AppLink is all about. Currently only Pandora and Stitcher for the iPhone support the AppLink APIs (BlackBerry has more). I tested the system with Pandora. When I open the app and instruct SYNC to take control, a Microsoft SYNC logo shows up on my iPhone screen and SYNC assumes control.

There’s nothing to download as the SYNC support is already baked into recent versions of the the Pandora app. Once SYNC’ed, I could then issue voice commands to switch stations, mark items with thumbs up or thumbs down, and skip songs.

The experience is a bit clunky. The app must be open and in the foreground and the iPhone must be directly connected to the car’s USB audio port. Hopefully, changes which occur to what developers can access in iOS in later versions of Apple’s mobile platform should make this process more natural.

The potential of AppLink is amazing. Theoretically any iOS app could be made to use SYNC, it’s just a question of iOS developers adding SYNC functionality to their apps.

SYNC Services vs. Siri

A yearly subscription (three years free are included with a new car purchase) includes access to a “Services” call center that extends the function of SYNC to the realm of a virtual assistant. When you click the SYNC button on the steering column and request services, your phone will dial a special toll free number that recognizes your iPhone and provides you access. This allows you to take your account from vehicle to vehicle, as it’s tied to the phone and not your car.

SYNC services provide a range of information, such as weather forecasts, news, and phone number lookups. These requests, unlike with Apple’s own Siri, had to be issued in a rigid structure as opposed to using natural language. Additionally, you have to wait for Services to dial a phone number, while Siri is more or less instant.

Navigation is where SYNC shined. The first vehicle I used could not determine my current location. Apparently its GPS sensor needed a reboot, but the second vehicle had flawless navigation. Instead of requiring downloaded maps or updates like a standard GPS, Services downloaded the directions directly to the car and provided turn-by-turn instructions via audio and visual signals on the car stereo. This relies on the car’s own GPS sensor, and currently cannot use the iPhone’s built-in location services. The download process took about a minute. If you go “off-route,” SYNC offers to dial and get new directions.

Both Siri and SYNC can search for destinations either by business or category (for example “Computer Repair in Lawrence, Kansas”). SYNC also offers a downloadable app for bookmarking destinations, however. You can use nicknames like “hotel” or “conference venue” and then call services and ask for the destination. This is something Siri can’t do. If you have a set of destinations you’d like navigation for, you can’t easily pre-plan and give it a complete route. Having navigated with only the iPhone, and then having SYNC services grab GPS turn-by-turn directions for comparison, I was extremely impressed. Plus, SYNC services works with any phone.

Similar to Siri, SYNC services requires a carrier signal to make a phone call. If you’re lost and can’t make a call, you are out of luck. A standard GPS doesn’t suffer from this flaw, but Siri also needs the ability to access data to complete queries, which SYNC does not.

Another function of SYNC is the ability to contact 911 after an accident. Unlike GM’s OnStar system, SYNC uses your mobile phone to call 911 directly on your behalf and provide your location. This “911 Assist” function relies on your mobile phone not being damaged during the crash.

But how did it drive?

I’m by no means a car reviewer, but having recently test-driven a number of cars, I was impressed. What’s surprising is the Fiesta is a very affordable car, and these type of tech features I’d expect on a higher-end model. When I was on my last car search, built-in navigation, Bluetooth audio and hands-free cost several thousand more as add-ons.

Overall, I was extremely impressed with the iPhone integration via SYNC. If more iOS developers use the SYNC APIs, Siri’s virtual assistant will seem rather limited by comparison, at least when you’re driving. While Siri is stuck inside my iPhone, SYNC has the ability to directly talk and interface with my car itself, which can come in very handy on the road.

Special thanks to Thoroughbred Ford of Kansas City for the initial demo and training.

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Spotify took a big leap towards the connected TV space Thursday by adding its music subscription service to the WD TV media player. This is the first time Spotify has been available on a connected TV device in the U.S., which means that device maker Western Digital beat both industry heavyweights like Apple, Google as well as hipper upstarts like Roku and Boxee to the punch.

Take a first look at Spotify on the WD TV in this video, or continue reading below:

Spotify launched in the U.S. in mid-July with support for various mobile handsets as well as connected audio players from Sonos and Logitech and a home theater receiver from Onkyo. However, only subscribers of the European cable TV operator TeliaSonera have thus far been able to enjoy Spotify on the TV screen.

Spotify’s competitors have been aggressively expanding into the connected TV space, with apps from services like MOG and Grooveshark being available on platforms like Boxee and Roku. Much of this has been spurred on by the success of Pandora in this space. Pandora is already the second-most popular app on platforms like Roku, and the company’s CEO Tom Conrad recently said at GigaOM’s Mobilize conference that he expects connected devices and car stereos to make up the majority of Pandora’s traffic in the near future.

Teaming up with Spotify before any of the other connected device makers is also a little bit of a coup for WD. The company’s media players haven’t been as popular amongst tech folks as their hipper counterparts from Apple, Roku and Boxee, but worldwide sales, a solid retail presence, name recognition and an actively maintained platform have helped the company to compete. Getting Spotify on board should only help to make WD TV more popular.

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Owning a car is never as easy as purchasing one, gassing it up, then driving it around to your heart’s content. There are things such as insurance policies to consider, as well as registration, inspection, and the inescapable repairs. These expenses are often a big surprise when someone has their very first car (whether they select from new cars or used cars), and what astonishes them more is how much it might cost them for upkeep. If you look after your car, the price of the car products you purchase could add up quickly.

A few car products are extras, but some can’t imagine being without them. When looking at used cars, it’s important to bear these in mind. If you have a stereo of any kind in your car, you probably take it for granted. Imagine your hour long commute each day without being able to listen to your favorite music or your favorite talk show. When examining used cars, let the salesmen know the music system is extremely important to you. Long drives get longer without this kind of comfort, so some of the most coveted car products are all kinds of stereos. These could be some of the most expensive too, depending on what you need.

Other car products that many don’t take into account until after they have obtained their car are things for security measures. You might feel silly putting an alarm on your very first car, particularly if it is a beater car, but if you stay where it could get stolen, you may need to do it.

It doesn’t matter how much the car is worth, it matters just how much it would cost you to replace it all. Other car products for this purpose are things such as the Club, and they could be a big help also. You may even wish to get something like AAA in the event you run out of gas, you may need directions, or you have locked your keys in the car.

Make sure you remember about the things that keep your car neat and looking nice. A few car products many new car owners get are meant to keep the interior and also the exterior clean. Things such as Windex are required for the windows, and many like to wax the paint job. Wax is actually a great idea as it makes an older car look newer, and it does its job to shield the paint job in some cases. Other car products might be things particularly made to keep interiors clean, whether they be leather or vinyl. There is also the cost of washing and vacuuming to take into account, though some slack off on those stuff after they have had a car for a while.

When people are speaking about car stereo systems – or any stereo systems for that matter – they usually miss the big picture. People focus on one specific area of car audio. Typically, it is the loudspeakers. Most individuals who are getting expensive car audio systems are young adults. They want big, loud, and low, even in used cars. The bigger, the louder, and the lower, the better. You may think that when buying used cars, they wouldn’t consider extras like sound systems, only about economy. However, knowledge has shown that even people who buy used cars are very precise about their audio systems.

Although it is easy to get some really terrific booming sound with car sub-woofer loudspeakers, just having the speakers doesn’t offer you a quality car stereo system. If you like really good audio, you can’t ignore any facet of it. The receiver, the speakers, the wiring, and also the car design play some role in it.

I would say that the audio receiver is at least as important as the car speakers. The receiver, you see, is what feeds the signal to the loudspeakers. A good receiver gets you a good clean signal at the right power, impedance, and dynamic levels. This guarantees the sound that you need. The best method to do it this to find a combo system incorporating both the speaker and the receivers that you prefer. Different speakers and receivers have different impedance grades. If the impedance doesn’t match between the receiver and speakers, you won’t get as high-quality sound.

Obviously, where you are getting the audio from matters a great deal. Nowadays, the most high fidelity audio comes from MP3 players, iPods, and other similar digital sources. Be aware, however, that not all digital recordings are of the same quality. If you’re playing MP3s that you downloaded online, they may have poor signal quality. This can make them sound crappy no matter how good the rest of your car sound system is.

Lastly, we get to the part you’ve all been waiting on: the car audio speakers. It is not simply a matter of getting the right speakers, but getting the best speakers for your particular car. If they don’t match right, they won’t sound right. Getting speakers that are too big for the available space is a great way to guarantee lousy sound. Putting them in a place where they will be muffled by your feet, by baggage, or by the car upholstery is another way. Take into account the car design and get speakers that are ideal for it. After all, the car stereo system should work as a whole. Every aspect of the car design should be in tune.

Scosche IU3.5RC 3.5mm Retractable Cable

• Retractable cable for connecting iPod to multimedia speakers and more
• Offers quick and easy way to extend audio player connection
• Includes single 3.5 mm mini-jack male connector on each end
• Self-retracts into slim housing when not in use
• Measures 2.5 feet long fully extended; 90-day warranty

2.5′ 3.5mm Plug Cable to 3.5mm Plug Cable – retractableConnect your iPod to multimedia speakers, car stereos, and a host of other audio products with this retractable cable. The cord, which includes a single 3.5 mm male connector on each end, measures 2.5 feet long when fully extended. More importantly, the cord offers a fast and easy way to extend your audio player connection beyond a few inches. Simply plug one end into your iPod’s 3.5 mm headphone jack and the other into the auxiliary input of your preferred audio device, such as a car stereo or boombox. Once connected, you’ll enjoy a full range of audio options. Plus, when you’re not using the cord, it retracts into its slim housing for storage. The cable is backed by a 90-day warranty.

Rating: (out of 126 reviews)

List Price: $ 9.99

Price: Too low to display

ZHANG: Moving on to Japan, where over 800 companies got to showcase their latest high-tech electronics, gadgets, and robots at an annual show in Tokyo. Let’s take a look at what’s turning heads. STORY: One of the most popular attractions is a robot named “Murata Girl, which is capable of riding a bicycle and a unicycle. With several positioning, motion, and shock control sensors attached to its body, the robot is capable of detecting obstacles while balancing on its own. [Shigeki Fukunaga, Robot Engineer]: “Technology and idea-wise it’s simple because we just had to program the robot to balance back and forth instead sideways like we did with the bicycle-riding robot.” Fukunaga says his company, Murata Manufacturing, hopes to implement the robot’s technology into various electronics and vehicles in the future. They are looking to create a bicycle that never falls down and automobiles that can avoid accidents. Nissan Motors introduced their “Biomimetic Robot 23 Car,” which carries various obstacle-detection and prevention sensors. [Toshiyuki Ando, Nissan Motors]: “Once it detects an obstacle, it automatically avoids it according to its speed, direction and distance, which is something we’ve adapted from bee’s behaviors.” Pioneer, the manufacturer of car stereos, plasma televisions and home theatre systems, also received a lot of attention. Their three-dimensional display called the “3D Floating Vision” is capable of reflecting all kinds of floating images that can be seen …
Video Rating: 4 / 5

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