Sync 4A Update Overview from Ford - Larger Apple CarPlay Android Auto interface, added dial functionality & more

[sotek2345]

They continue to double down on the dial instead of get rid of it. It looks terrible and is a redundant control as a volume control. On top of that it took the place of 2-4 soft buttons. Now they are using it as a way to adjust other things. From what I saw, one has to press a soft button (like a seat heater) and then use the dial to adjust. That's a two step process using two interfaces. Why not just design an improved interface or better yet improve/expand the voice command feature. I like that I can set the AC temp with voice but why not set the fan speed too!

Whoever put the dial there is stuck in the old days and should be removed from the project.

This is why Ford has a hard time hitting all audiences. I love the dial and this is a good use of it. I use the dial for volume all the time and rarely (if ever) use the steering wheel buttons. Tap then dial for temperature is also an improvement vs. tap, then try to hold you hand steady on the slider as you bounce around.

As for voice controls - Hate them! Please make them never necessary for anything! the only good use I have found for them is navigating (using Google maps - Ford nav voice control is horrible) and setting reminders on my phone.

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[generaltso]

I’m sure this has been covered elsewhere - do we expect this update to apply to all MME’s? Job 1 cars?

Yes.

 

[OldBlueMME]

With the way Amazon is slashing the Alexa division budget maybe we'll get lucky and they'll remove it from the MME.

Presumably you'll still need to hit the screen once to get the slider to appear, and then use the knob to adjust the slider.

I activated Alexa last week, just to see how it would work. I will say it will answer questions better than Sync. I asked Sync what time was sunset and it kept giving me the current weather. I asked Alexa and she gave me what I was asking for. By no means will I pay for the subscription. I can just ask google on my android phone the same thing.

 

[Thunderanger]

Does anyone actually use Alexa? I would love to see some usage statistics on that. I would bet below 10% have it set up and actively use it. I have to imagine that Amazon is paying Ford to have it there.

We use it. It's quite handy

 

[Mirak]

Not a dumb question at all -- and the reason why I'm not a huge fan of this update. You have to press one touch tap target on the screen to change the "modality" of the dial, then you have to move your fingers over to the dial. Completely not going to be easier. Want to change the temperature? well press the temperature area, then you can look down again and find the knob, or you could just keep your fingers where they were like you do now and slide the temp slider.

Circle in the middle of the knob needs to be some kind of toggle for the modality of the dial, or else this isn't a less-distracting, more pleasant experience. eg if you long-pressed where the power button is now to change temporarily from volume to HVAC, this UI would make more sense.

It will be a lot easier. You tap the function, and then twist the knob. Way easier to give the knob a twist than trying to manipulate slider with a finger while driving. I expect a quick twist to the left will even turn all the way Off, which addresses another common ask.

If you actually think manipulating sliders on a screen is easier than a quick twist of a physical knob, I don’t know what to tell you.

 

[hbund216]

This is why Ford has a hard time hitting all audiences. I love the dial and this is a good use of it. I use the dial for volume all the time and rarely (if ever) use the steering wheel buttons. Tap then dial for temperature is also an improvement vs. tap, then try to hold you hand steady on the slider as you bounce around.

As for voice controls - Hate them! Please make them never necessary for anything! the only good use I have found for them is navigating (using Google maps - Ford nav voice control is horrible) and setting reminders on my phone.

I hardly ever have an issue with Ford's voice (don't use it for Nav). But I would say setting the temp by pressing a button on the wheel and using voice command (and never taking hands off the wheel) is a lot safer and easier than adjusting it on screen or on screen + dial.

This is the equivalent of reducing the screen size on an iPhone to add a physical keyboard at the bottom of it because typing on a screen is not easy. If they focus on new UI design and voice it will improve and they will end up in a better place. This design is just old and not necessary.

 

[awp0]

If it was simple to add, they'd have done so already.

Maybe so, maybe not. Ford's software decisions are head-scratching, and there's little evidence (IMHO) that they're listening or care what current owners want. Alexa, "Advanced Dual Bluetooth", the Today Show, and a bunch of games that are too dumb for me to even remember. Meanwhile, I can't even see what charging rate is being delivered to my car.

 

[Motomax]

Oh yay, it’s gonna be even more laggy now ?. The trunk button on the home screen would be nice, only because they can’t get the paak proximity to work accurately and I’m tired of hitting the trunk release 20x before it opens lol.
looks like the new placement for the frunk/trunk release will be covered up by the “motion sensor” popup making them even less usable than the current placement. Swing and a miss.

 

[DaveP]

Any improvements/updates are a step in the right direction IMHO. No matter what they do, there will be those who love it, are indifferent, and hate it. Im choosing to be happy about this and see it as an indicator of more things to come to an already fantastic vehicle.

 

[mmap]

I hardly ever have an issue with Ford's voice (don't use it for Nav).

When I am having Andriod Auto connectivity issues I always try to use the built-in nav via voice. EVERY SINGLE TIME, it says "Navigation is still loading, please wait" even if I havee been driving for 5 minutes already. Totally worthless.

I guess I could jump through some menus to find it, but that is hard to do while driving. It's easier to just talk to my phone and use the tiny screen.

 

[scoopman]

It will be a lot easier. You tap the function, and then twist the knob. Way easier to give the knob a twist than trying to manipulate slider with a finger while driving. I expect a quick twist to the left will even turn all the way Off, which addresses another common ask.

If you actually think manipulating sliders on a screen is easier than a quick twist of a physical knob, I don’t know what to tell you.

Sorry but I think you missed my point, but thanks for your condescention.

I was communicating not that a physical knob isn't better than a laggy on-screen slider (it is!) but that Ford has designed multiple touch areas in different places with different mental maps that will randomly change the modality of that physical knob.

It's like if I told you that, in your house, you had one knob stuck to your wall. Want to change how hot your Thanksgiving turkey is cooking? Well, tap on the temp button on your oven, then walk over to the wall and turn that dial. Want to change your house's furnace temperature? Well go to your thermostat, tap that, then walk over to the wall with that same dial on it and turn it. Want to change a light dimmer? okay, well hit that light switch, then go over to that same dial.

This is the Ford UI expressed in your house.

I've only seen the videos, hopefully this may not be as mentally taxing as I think it could turn out to be.

Hope you now understand my criticism of this as someone who's worked in the auto infotainment / driver distraction space in the past, and that you don't decide to leave me another turkey of a reponse.

 

[Keeperofthe7keys]

For a brief moment, I scanned the headline from this post and got very excited, and was about to wheel out Toto (my FDRS cart) to flash this .... until I realized that this was probably yet another Ford department jumping the gun by 6 months and posting press releases and help videos and CEO swagger (I think Farley even called it like a new iOS UI release).

Hopefully the delay means they're doing QA on it -- maybe this will be an FDRS stocking-stuffer, if not a Black Friday special?

Toto, the FDRS cart.

This update, along with Bluecruise 1.2 is supposedly shipping with 23 Mach Es that have already rolled off the line, it shouldn't be that long for the update to appear for the rest of us.

Mine was the last production week of 22 so if I have to wait 6 months for software that shipped with cars built the very next week I'm gonna be kinda mad ?

 

[scoopman]

I'll add that the problem with double-stacking unrelated functions onto physical knobs where you have to look at them to understand what mode they're in can also be seen in the KIA EV6. It's been unanimously crticized for its toggling controls that change the function of the touch/knob area under the screen from HVAC to audio controls.

This whole thing from Ford feels like it could be a similar confusing situation for many drivers.

 

[scoopman]

This update, along with Bluecruise 1.2 is supposedly shipping with 23 Mach Es that have already rolled off the line, it shouldn't be that long for the update to appear for the rest of us.

Mine was the last production week of 22 so if I have to wait 6 months for software that shipped with cars built the very next week I'm gonna be kinda mad ?

I'll keep Toto the cart at the ready!

 

[Fons]

I received this from a friend the other day, similar to what we’ve seen in the previous teaser videos but a communication that should be going out to people shortly I believe. It may be live online or from other sources, but this was the first I saw it!

It details out some of the new functionality and design changes coming to the Mach-E interface. Larger CarPlay screen real estate. Added functionality of the volume knob. Changes to top bar for clarity and ease of use.

I'm ready for this. Current interface is not half bad (compared to Kia/Ioniq and Polestar imho) but this looks like a proper step up. Where do I sign to get this early?

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