The Slow Death of Sync 4A

[SonicBlue]

What would you hope Ford does with Sync 4A? They've done an OK job of providing bug fixes and issuing a couple of major updates since the Mach-E was launched. I don't think there is any glaring missing feature that we hope to be added in a future update.

Here is a list of things Ford could start with…

https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/2024-america-decides-a-new-super-poll.32804/

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[SonicBlue]

Oddly, a lot of folks that think it's long in the tooth use CarPlay/AndroidAuto anyway.

The enhancements a lot of us want have nothing to do with what CP/AA replaces. There is a lot more to the interface than just the portion of the infotainment screen used for CP/AA.

(Which is why it’ll be awesome if CP ever fully replaced the interface in future cars).

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

They have already said that updates will essentially stop after the first couple 10.x updates.

Source please.

 

[sean7512]

Source please.

https://www.macheforum.com/site/thr...ise-public-charging-updates.39030/post-853971

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

https://www.macheforum.com/site/thr...ise-public-charging-updates.39030/post-853971

Thank you. That’s what I thought you might be referring to. Suffice it to say that not everyone in that forum read the list he’s referring to in that manner. Doesn’t mean they’re mistaken though either.

The reality is that at some point the following things can and will happen.

1. OTA slowdown. At this point most foreseeable feature enhancements and UI improvements have been done. There will simply be less to do and the few remaining planned improvements may be much more complex and take far longer to implement. Continued bug fix updates and minor tweaking. This is still active support.

2. Stable OS Platform. At some point in the future the various model years will be pushed to a stable OS and put in maintenance mode. No further OS enhancements will be pushed. Bug fixes will occur. Still active support.

3. Platform abandoned. No further updates unless legally mandated (safety recalls).

Just by the passage of time (4 years now since the earliest Mach-e’s rolled out the factory door) we’re closer to 1 than 2 or 3. But all of them are going to happen at some point. I mean, just how many new features can we realistically dream up for the car?

Personally I’m quite happy with the state of software and firm ware on my early build 21. I don’t use BCHF so 1.3 is of marginal interest and I don’t spend any time to speak of at DCFC stations to want Netflix.

 

[sean7512]

Thank you. That’s what I thought you might be referring to. Suffice it to say that not everyone in that forum read the list he’s referring to in that manner. Doesn’t mean they’re mistaken though either.

The reality is that at some point the following things can and will happen.

1. OTA slowdown. At this point most foreseeable feature enhancements and UI improvements have been done. There will simply be less to do and the few remaining planned improvements may be much more complex and take far longer to implement. Continued bug fix updates and minor tweaking. This is still active support.

2. Stable OS Platform. At some point in the future the various model years will be pushed to a stable OS and put in maintenance mode. No further OS enhancements will be pushed. Bug fixes will occur. Still active support.

3. Platform abandoned. No further updates unless legally mandated (safety recalls).

Just by the passage of time (4 years now since the earliest Mach-e’s rolled out the factory door) we’re closer to 1 than 2 or 3. But all of them are going to happen at some point. I mean, just how many new features can we realistically dream up for the car?

Personally I’m quite happy with the state of software and firm ware on my early build 21. I don’t use BCHF so 1.3 is of marginal interest and I don’t spend any time to speak of at DCFC stations to want Netflix.

Yep, 100%. I am a software engineer of over 15 years, I get it. I am not complaining that our current systems are slowing down. My point is more that it seems crazy they will keep selling this system as new for another couple years or so. I feel like buying a 24 today is similar to buying a 3 year old junk Android phone that will never get updated. Given that, I was wondering if they may update to the new system sooner than a model refresh.

 

[ChasingCoral]

It was mentioned in the 10.1 post that after the first couple 10.x updates, that no more (or very little) updates will be coming. Does this mean we may see the new Ford Digital Experience in the 20025 MachE/Lightning? Seems crazy to keep using Sync 4A in 2025 if there are no updates planned. I know thats how cars used to work (you buy what it has and thats it), but obviously the software defined car is upon us now.

That comment expecting few updates after the first few in 10.x is strictly a rumor. I trust it as much as the one about dogs and cats being eaten in Springfield.

 

[ChasingCoral]

Yep, 100%. I am a software engineer of over 15 years, I get it. I am not complaining that our current systems are slowing down. My point is more that it seems crazy they will keep selling this system as new for another couple years or so. I feel like buying a 24 today is similar to buying a 3 year old junk Android phone that will never get updated. Given that, I was wondering if they may update to the new system sooner than a model refresh.

Sync 3 is still sold in the following 2024 Bronco Sport, Explorer, and Maverick

 

[sean7512]

Sync 3 is still sold in the following 2024 Bronco Sport, Explorer, and Maverick

That is very unfortunate, IMO; however neither of those are marketed as being some of the best tech Ford has to offer.

For the Mach-E, Ford's site says:
"You can’t move confidently into the all-electric future weighed down by technology anchored in the past."

For the Lightning, Ford's site says:
"It’s safe to say that one of the most powerful F-150® trucks ever made is also one of the most technologically advanced vehicles Ford has ever designed."


Obviously this is just marketing mumbo-jumbo and doesn't mean much, but it is hard to make these claims when other Ford vehicles have more modern tech with more features.

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