Jul 14

Google Maps Send-To-Car feature goes live on Ford SYNC systems

Posted in: available, Ford, Google, maps, Microsoft, nav, navigation, now available, NowAvailable, sync, Today's Chili, video

Avid OnStar users received this here functionality a fortnight ago, and BMW owners have been bragging about it for years. But it looks as if the world’s other automakers are finally coming around to one of life’s undeniable facts: Google Maps is top-notch, and in almost every instance, trumps whatever factory mapping system that any given consumer has overpaid for. Today, drivers of Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles in the US enabled with Ford SYNC can send business listings or addresses found on GMaps directly to their cars (from a web browser, naturally). With the new additions, Google’s Send-To-Car feature is now active in 19 countries and across 20 brands, but we’re guessing that your brand isn’t one of them. Or maybe that’s just us moping and looking for company.

Google Maps Send-To-Car feature goes live on Ford SYNC systems originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Jul 2010 12:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jul 09

In a world of automotive cellphone hate, Ford promotes SYNC as the solution

Posted in: Ford, sync, Today's Chili
In an age of automotive cellphone hate, Ford promotes SYNC as the solution

Texting while driving may not be banned where you are yet, but it probably it will be soon, and Ford is pretty okay with that. As we saw at CES this year, the company is promoting SYNC and MyFord as solutions to distracted driving, enabling the car to read text messages to you so that you can keep your eyes on the road. The blue oval is working to get RIM digging Bluetooth MAP, enabling streaming of text messages to cars, functionality said to be coming in “all new BlackBerry smartphones.” Beyond that Ford is touting its new “Do Not Disturb” button to block all incoming calls and text messages while still allowing outgoing calls and use of the phone for providing data to the car. This is in addition to already disabling much of the phone’s functionality whilst in motion, keeping you focused on what you should be doing: shaving, reading the newspaper, and eating breakfast.

Continue reading In a world of automotive cellphone hate, Ford promotes SYNC as the solution

In a world of automotive cellphone hate, Ford promotes SYNC as the solution originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Jul 2010 09:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jun 19

KiFit tells you how many calories you’re not burning, other sad details of your unhealthy existence

Posted in: Ford, medical, Today's Chili

Do we really need another gadget to tell us we’re fat and we sleep badly? Yes, we do. The KiFit armband’s packing some medically developed tech which measures your body temperature, how much you’re sweating, and how much you’re moving. From that info, it calculates your calorie burn rate and how peacefully you’re sleeping. If you’re like us, you’re undoubtedly already aware that your slumber is like a nightly replay of the “Enter Sandman” video, but still, it’s great to see gadgets that encourage a healthier lifestyle, right? The KiFit is available for $300 plus a $20 monthly subscription price — and while it’s a pretty neat little gizmo — we’d suggest you might be better off paying for a gym membership you’re never going to use.

Continue reading KiFit tells you how many calories you’re not burning, other sad details of your unhealthy existence

KiFit tells you how many calories you’re not burning, other sad details of your unhealthy existence originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 19 Jun 2010 23:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jun 04

Ford Adds GPS Tracking to SYNC 911 Assist

Posted in: Ford, gps, sync, Today's Chili
MyLincolnTouch.jpg
Ford has upgraded its SYNC 911 Assist emergency response app with the ability to send a vehicle’s exact GPS coordinates in the event of an accident.
Unlike GM’s OnStar service, Ford 911 Assist is a subscription-free, no-additional-cost service for the life of each vehicle, including models with SYNC, plus all 2011 MyFord and MyLincoln Touch-equipped cars.
The only catch: the system requires a cell phone paired over Bluetooth in order to work. That’s probably a small price to pay, given that the majority of the population now carries a cell phone–though many lower-end and older models still don’t have Bluetooth.
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Jun 04

Coulomb partners with Ford, Chevy, Smart to deliver 4,600 free EV charging stations in US

Posted in: electric car, ElectricCar, ev, Ford, Today's Chili

Looks like Australia and Poland were just the beginning: Coulomb Technologies is looking to roll out nearly 5,000 electric vehicle charging stations in the US, effective immediately. If one of those cherry-red push pins is pointed at your neighborhood, you’ll likely see the stations popping up at local businesses soon, and if you’re looking to purchase a Chevy Volt, Tesla-powered Smart or one of Ford’s two new EVs, you can even qualify to have a free station installed in your home. Partially paid for by a $15 million grant from the Department of Energy, the ChargePoint America program won’t necessarily give you free electricity to go with it — that “charge” in ChargePoint has a double meaning, after all — but we’re happy to see the zero-emissions future is finally on a roll. PR after the break.

Continue reading Coulomb partners with Ford, Chevy, Smart to deliver 4,600 free EV charging stations in US

Coulomb partners with Ford, Chevy, Smart to deliver 4,600 free EV charging stations in US originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Jun 2010 18:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 26

Ford SYNC owners to get stock quotes, horoscopes and movie listings shouted at them

Posted in: cloud, Ford, Microsoft, sync, Today's Chili, video

Hooray for voice command systems… that no one uses. Okay, so maybe someone uses ’em, but until voice recognition software improves drastically and / or our own memory banks swell dramatically, we still see most motorists reaching for buttons, toggles and wheels when it comes time to interact with their vehicle. That said, existing Ford owners with SYNC’d rides can soon do a lot more talking with their system thanks to a few complimentary updates hitting the Traffic, Directions & Information (TDI) sector. The cloud-based service will allow drivers to demand that a given stock quote, horoscope, movie time or travel inquiry be sorted and shouted, and just in case you glossed that last sentence over, we’re going to reiterate once more that your SYNC system will now read back your horoscope. And guess what? These updates should be taking effect immediately, so feel free to make a mad dash for your garage and try ‘er out.

Continue reading Ford SYNC owners to get stock quotes, horoscopes and movie listings shouted at them

Ford SYNC owners to get stock quotes, horoscopes and movie listings shouted at them originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 May 2010 00:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 20

SantosHuman’s Virtual Soldier recruited by Ford for assembly line detail

Posted in: Ford, Today's Chili, wargadget
Future Combat Systems has given us plenty of fun over the years, from Land Warrior high-tech uniforms to field ready Xbox 360 controllers, and while the program was scuttled early last year, the technology keeps popping up all over the place. For instance, Ford’s just announced that it’ll be using SantosHuman’s virtual soldier, a biofidelic (true to the human body) computer simulation, to predict long-term ergonomics and safety concerns on assembly lines. Developed at the University of Iowa for the DoD, this guy has a complete biomechanical muscular system and physics engine capable of registering body strength, fatigue, motion, and strain. From easing the physical strain of soldiers to helping our beleaguered auto workers — that’s what we call progress. Now how about a little help for all of us long-suffering tech bloggers? PR after the break.

Continue reading SantosHuman’s Virtual Soldier recruited by Ford for assembly line detail

SantosHuman’s Virtual Soldier recruited by Ford for assembly line detail originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 May 2010 01:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 14

Ford, U-M students send socially-connected Fiestas on cross-country roadtrip, aim to become Mayor of the USA

Posted in: Ford, social networking, SocialNetworking, Today's Chili
Ford is certainly no stranger to internet-connected cars, but it looks like it’s now truly stepped up its game with a little help from some University of Michigan students, who have teamed up to send two Fiestas on a socially-networked, cross-country road trip. The two cars (part of the American Journey 2.0 project) apparently each pack a similar trunk-full of gear — including both WiMAX and EV-DO modems, and a 2.6 GHz PC with an 80GB SSD hard drive — and they’ll each be testing out a number of different applications developed by Ford and the students. Those include the UMich-developed Caravan app, which allows the two cars to communicate with each other during the trip, and three different Ford-developed social networking apps, which will let the cars blog and tweet their progress and, yes, even check in on Foursquare each time they make a stop. Head on past the break for the complete press release, and be sure to hit up the Autoblog link below for a closer look at the cars themselves.

Continue reading Ford, U-M students send socially-connected Fiestas on cross-country roadtrip, aim to become Mayor of the USA

Ford, U-M students send socially-connected Fiestas on cross-country roadtrip, aim to become Mayor of the USA originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 14 May 2010 14:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 13

GM, Google Planning Android-Powered OnStar

Posted in: Android, Ford, Google, sync, Today's Chili
OnStar_Chevy_Volt_Mobile_App.jpg
GM and Google are currently in negotiations to develop in-car telematics that could compete with Microsoft and Ford Sync, Motor Trend reports.
Unnamed sources were quoted as saying that Google could sell its Android OS for in-car use; the system would let GM customers pair vehicles with smartphones, and could also let vehicle owners open, start, and adjust their cars and trucks.
The report said that Google’s OS “would render useless GM-owned OnStar‘s turn-by-turn navigation system,” since Android has its own GPS software–something that could be a sticking point in negotiations with GM.
There’s already an Android version of GM’s Chevy Volt app available (pictured), so bringing Android into the car would be a natural progression for the two companies–if they can work out the particulars, that is.
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Apr 26

Sign of the Apocalypse? Ford Sync Now Reads Your Tweets

Posted in: Ford, sync, Today's Chili, twitter

Ford Sync montage IMG_8283.jpg

You’re stuck in rush-hour traffic and your state’s draconian hands-free laws mean you’re legally unable to get vital information riding in your old junker. That was then. Now: The newest iteration of Ford Sync accesses and reads aloud your Twitter feed and – OMG, you learn Kim Kardashian painted her toenails today. You’re the first to know. That’s just one facet of the new Ford Sync, which also offers turn-by-turn navigation and hands-free control of smartphone features beyond phone calls. It’s appear on Fords such as the 2011 Ford Fiesta (see Gearlog review) when it arrives this summer.

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