Apple Delays Ford SYNC iPhone Compatibility For A Year, Android Compatible At Launch

[jpeyton]

Apple Won't Let Ford in App Circle of Trust Until 2011

It's disappointing that while Android and BlackBerry owners will get to be enjoying internet radio and more in their SYNC and MyFord Touch vehicles, Apple is leaving its customers in the dark for some time. When it comes to AppLink there's not an app for that on the iPhone and there won't be one for some time, thanks to Apple's circle of trust.

Chevy Chooses Android For Their "SYNC" Competitor

Google services like Google Voice could be tweaked for a whole new range of product integration. Something Google is already taking baby steps towards. Last year they updated their mobile mapping software for in-car use. Android phones now recognize when they are on a dashboard thereby switching to a voice-activated mode for turn-by-turn directions.

 

[Phobic9]

I was actually looking at buying a 2012 Focus Hatchback. Nice to know Android phones will more than likely work out of the box.

Apple still has more integration options on a few other brands, like my current make/model (VW Golf).

 

[foghorn67]

I'm picturing Robert De Niro reading this statement.

 

[Fox5]

So what does this do that an aftermarket radio with audio input and a usb port doesn't?

Oh well, it's a good reason to look at a Ford if you're more loyal to your phone brand than your car brand.

 

[pm]

I'm curious about Fox5's question too.

If I read it correctly, the sync allows you to use the car's touchscreen controls to control apps on the phone.

Ford's recently announced AppLink initiative, which allows smartphone apps to link to the car and be controlled by the same controls as the primary SYNC platform.

By "primary SYNC platform" I presume they mean the car.

While this could be useful... for example a GPS app with traffic monitoring, I can't see that this would be a big deal for me. But maybe I lack sufficient imagination.

Regardless, Ford is only starting to think about making cars that I'm personally interested in , so presumably by the time that they have a car that I might want to buy, they may have support for the iPhone that I have now but probably won't have by then anyway. On the other hand, it is a bit annoying that Apple's security is denying me this feature - even if I probably don't care about it.

 

[theeedude]

So what does this do that an aftermarket radio with audio input and a usb port doesn't?

Comes with the car and works really well as far as integration with voice recognition, steering wheel controls, etc.

Oh well, it's a good reason to look at a Ford if you're more loyal to your phone brand than your car brand.

More like a good reason to not look at Apple. Again, they are just interested in having car developers choose sides and only use Apple specific standards, just like they are interested in having App developers choose sides and use only Apple specific APIs.