Do we know of any improvements to Sync software coming?

[Logal727]

EV trip planning in CarPlay. Not sure what else.

Bricks and Tiles, some don’t have full screen CarPlay

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[TheSleepyDad]

I'm just happy the higher trim Lightnings are getting Sync 4A as well. So we should get some trickle-down updates since we know the Lightning is way more important to Ford than the Mach-E.

 

[MachTri]

My understanding is that Ford will replace the QNX OS with and Android OS https://arstechnica.com/cars/2021/0...os-review-under-the-hood-with-googles-car-os/. So, likely new infotainment systems will have the Android Automotive OS systems installed. The question is will they upgrade our Sync QNX based systems with the new Sync Android?
What did they do when they switched Sync from Microsoft to QNX? Was it possible to upgrade the older vehicles? I think this was the days before OTA. But I've seen mention of upgrading via USB stick on here.
My guess is if we don't get Android Automotive OS we'll not see any more Sync updates. Maybe some security fixes.

 

[2021-MMEx-RT1]

which likely will not be adaptable to prior year models.

and prior year models will no longer receive updates as they are 'obsolete'.

 

[Thunderanger]

I've got a Job 2 car and every time they send a new update or whatever, it blows away my XM presets. What a giant pain. Plus the interface is most definitely NOT intuitive.

 

[HuntingPudel]

<SNIP>
What did they do when they switched Sync from Microsoft to QNX? Was it possible to upgrade the older vehicles? <SNIP>
My guess is if we don't get Android Automotive OS we'll not see any more Sync updates. Maybe some security fixes.

In the past, the older software was EOL and unsupported. My MS based Sync system just never got any updates and there was no upgrade path to the QNX based system. ??

Based on that, I would guess that our current Sync 4A will not have an upgrade path to the Android based Sync. It would be a nice surprise to find that there is an upgrade path. ??

 

[dml105]

I had Sync 3 in my 2020 Ford Escape. I agree that for most things, it’s much better. That being said, I had less issues in my Escape connecting to my iPhone and when both my wife and I are in the car (both our phones are connected to the vehicle through our profiles) forget about it ever connecting to CarPlay at all.

it’s just frustrating how difficult it is to connect my phone and things - this is a nearly $60k car, you’d think the software would’ve had more upgrades than it did. Not saying it’s not leagues better than previous versions, but let’s not pretend it’s even close to up to par with industry standards.

Might be easier to understand it as a $32k car with a $28k battery.

yes, the car is expensive but that doesn’t make perfection any more possible unfortunately. With that said, it could be just me, but it does feel like the Sync 4A speed has improved with the new OTAs I received last week.
Good luck!

 

[Blue highway]

and prior year models will no longer receive updates as they are 'obsolete'.

To me that is the big question. I am hopeful but not optimistic. I expect my firmware updatable devices to receive updates for at least 3-4 years. (my phone, PC, tablets, TV, home security, home theater, etc. all do this) If they can't do that, it is a big negative to me. I put my cars in that same category.

I acknowledge that changing any device to an entirely new OS would be a bigger leap especially OTA.

In my mind one of the key reasons Teslas hold their value so well is because of the evergreen software. 5+ year old cars still receive SW updates. They offer similar or identical experience to new cars. I more than hope ford will follow strategy.

One more thought, while my MME was in the shop (and failing) to get the BC update I drove two sync 3 cars... they seemed archaic. They worked fine but they felt really outdated. Lets hope the 21's and 22's can span the gap to the new UI OS when it comes.

 

[RickMachE]

To me that is the big question. I am hopeful but not optimistic. I expect my firmware updatable devices to receive updates for at least 3-4 years. (my phone, PC, tablets, TV, home security, home theater, etc. all do this) If they can't do that, it is a big negative to me. I put my cars in that same category.

I acknowledge that changing any device to an entirely new OS would be a bigger leap especially OTA.

In my mind one of the key reasons Teslas hold their value so well is because of the evergreen software. 5+ year old cars still receive SW updates. They offer similar or identical experience to new cars. I more than hope ford will follow strategy.

One more thought, while my MME was in the shop (and failing) to get the BC update I drove two sync 3 cars... they seemed archaic. They worked fine but they felt really outdated. Lets hope the 21's and 22's can span the gap to the new UI OS when it comes.

Not a chance in hell they will update to the new UI.

 

[TaylorLGodwin]

Not a chance in hell they will update to the new UI.

you may be right, but I wonder if the opposite holds true - ford seems hyper invested in customer loyalty and satisfaction with their EVs and it does seem they recognize the sync platform is dated. Perhaps they will push the new UI with their new direction

 

[RickMachE]

Is this your first Ford? ?

 

[TaylorLGodwin]

Is this your first Ford? ?

Haha it’s my fourth since 2014!
Had a 14 focus, 20 Escape, 20 fusion (bought for my wife), and now the Mach E

 

[generaltso]

I've got a Job 2 car and every time they send a new update or whatever, it blows away my XM presets. What a giant pain.

Every time? There has only been one OTA update for Job 2 cars, and that was just the BlueCruise map.

 

[Thunderanger]

Every time? There has only been one OTA update for Job 2 cars, and that was just the BlueCruise map.

Hmmm. Maybe it's something else then. I have such a hard time digging up which version it's on. I think we're on 4.13 now. We only have one app available and that tiles and something or other. So what else might it be? Any ideas are most welcome.

 

[generaltso]

Hmmm. Maybe it's something else then. I have such a hard time digging up which version it's on. I think we're on 4.13 now. We only have one app available and that tiles and something or other. So what else might it be? Any ideas are most welcome.

Have you tried turning off profiles? I’ve heard reports of profiles doing some weird things with presets, though I haven‘t experienced that problem.

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