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    American Idol Ruins Johnny Cash Song With Help From A Fake KITT Mustang

    If you thought the GT500KR in the Knight Rider made-for-TV movie was a disgusting piece of product placement, you ain't seen nothin' yet. What could be worse? How about the four remaining contestants in American Idol massacring Johnny Cash's song Ring Of Fire? What makes it extra terrible was the so-called "music video" which involved the Idols bullfighting with a Mustang which was apparently the cousin of KITT. Feel free to watch the clip with your sound turned off— we don't want to scar you.
    [americanidol.com]

    9:20 AM on Thu May 8 2008
    By Mark Arnold
    3,659 views, 67 comments

    Latest by keicar: Doesn't compare to the Frank Zappa version from "The Best Band You Never Heard In Your Life". more »

  • news

    Microsoft Shills Its SYNC To Hyundai, Kia

    Microsoft is again shilling its technology out to the masses, but this time offering up its car infotainment system, better known as SYNC, to the Hyundai-Kia Auto Group. The 2010 models will be the first to include the Microsoft entertainment system that still remains nameless as Ford has the name SYNC locked down by the balls. For the time being, the system used by Hyundai and Kia will be similar to that offered by Ford, FIAT and most recently with Suzuki (who decided on the Suzuki TRIP name), but the group is looking at new capabilities that could be added like navigation and emergency call services. Press release below the jump. More »

    12:30 PM on Tue May 6 2008
    By Travis Hudson
    864 views, 21 comments

    Latest by abgwin: if Ford has a lock on "SYNC" perhaps they could give Lance Bass a couple of grand for "N*SYNC" more »

  • gadgets

    Aftermarket Manufacturers Go Sync, Next-Gen Also On The Way

    We knew that Microsoft was going to look to hawk its Sync system elsewhere—especially with its booming popularity and the soon-to-be expired Ford contract. Now we know who is first to the free market table Alpine and Continental, two aftermarket manufacturers, are already working on integrating the voice command and entertainment system into their own products. Perhaps even more interesting, due to its early popularity, Microsoft is already working on the next generation of Sync and it has a super-exciting codename! More »

    3:20 PM on Fri Apr 4 2008
    By Travis Hudson
    1,885 views, 19 comments

    Latest by vividaurora: I've a new Zune 80 and I love it. Also love the fact that there might finally be some automotive more »

  • industry news

    Microsoft Has A Vision For Automotive Electronics: Advertising

    It's no secret that cars are becoming more connected to the virtual world (as drivers are becoming dangerously divorced from the real one), and the price of all that connection isn't going to be absorbed by automakers or the companies responsible for providing the technology. The current model for in-car services like OnStar and XM/Sirius is based on the cell phone business plan, which can offer the technology at little or no cost to most consumers while charging for the service. Microsoft, for its part, is considering advertising as a possible income source. More »

    5:00 PM on Fri Mar 7 2008
    By Matt Hardigree
    959 views, 32 comments

    Latest by Mazda Eric has his own radio show: @Hyman Decent: oh hai, i can haz cruze control? (sorry, lolcats are a guilty pleasure) more »

  • industry news

    Expect Microsoft To Get Sync-y With Other Automakers

    Ford's exclusive rights to the Microsoft Sync system are set to expire at the end of this year. As a result, Microsoft will be looking to work with more automakers to incorporate its Sync system, which I recently reviewed the hell out of. Martin Thall, general manager of Microsoft's automotive business, told the Freep of Microsoft's plans to extend Sync to the greater automotive world. More »

    4:00 PM on Fri Feb 22 2008
    By Travis Hudson
    734 views, 10 comments

    Latest by FuzzyPlushroom: @Spekkio: Pods Unite. more »

  • gadgets

    Microsoft Sync In The Ford Focus SE, The Roundup

    I spent the better part of a week, tooling around in a 2008 Ford Focus SE, with one task at hand: to determine whether this newfangled Microsoft Sync system is all it's cracked up to be. I laughed, I cried, I made some calls, and in the end found Sync to be basically sweet. Not that me and Sync didn't have a few spats. At first, I approached the system the same way any average Joe would—I jumped in the car and started playing without picking up the manual or having any prior knowledge of how Sync actually works. That didn't go as smoothly as I was hoping, so I hashed through the manual and got Sync set up to my liking, in as much as I could. And for the final test, I took 'er out for a live road test. [Unboxing, Set Up, Road Test]


    4:00 PM on Fri Feb 1 2008
    By Travis Hudson
    2,221 views, 16 comments

    Latest by General Halfshaftery: I think that 'light sand metallic' paint job suits the shape well, and the restyle is growing on me. However more »

  • gadgets

    Microsoft Sync in a 2008 Ford Focus SE Road Test: Part 3


    It's part three of my adventures with the Microsoft Sync. I unboxed the hell out of it, then attempted to set up the entire system and now I am going to take the 2008 Ford Focus SE out on a joy-of-technology ride around the greater Dallas area, try to not kill anyone in the process. Check out the video review above and see some of my final impressions of the system below. More »

    3:30 PM on Wed Jan 30 2008
    By Travis Hudson
    3,597 views, 28 comments

    Latest by the003: Note that in the review, instead of manually dialing the telephone number, you could have said "phone", then "dial" The more »

  • gadgets

    Microsoft Sync Setup in the 2008 Ford Focus SE: Part 2

    The "unboxing" of Sync yesterday didn't go quite as well as I was hoping, but no fear, there's a trusty 80-page manual to guide me through setting up the Sync in-car entertainment system. I was able to connect my Zune to the system pretty easily yesterday, so today's setup revolved mostly around setting up my cellphone, which was quite the task. See some of my frustrations in the video above, and hit the jump for commentary about the Sync system, how I decided to approach it and setting up a cellphone. More »

    2:15 PM on Tue Jan 29 2008
    By Travis Hudson
    3,610 views, 14 comments

    Latest by mikedrawcar: @austinminiman: during christmas shopping this year, I was alerted to the fact that apparently, Zune's (namely the smaller version) were more »

  • gadgets

    Microsoft Sync Gets Unboxed in the 2008 Ford Focus SE: Part 1 of 3

    You've seen the commercials, but really, how easy is the Microsoft Sync in-car entertainment system to use? I decided to give Sync an unboxing, similar to the ones our brethren do. I'll give you a hint how it went: Don't get your hopes up. This is only Part One of a three-part series, in which I'll wrestle with the technological gods and attempt to achieve success with Microsoft Sync. Stay tuned later this week for my attempts to set everything up and provide a full blown review. A correction to the video: Sync DOES work with a wide variety of MP3 players and cellphones, not just the Microsoft-branded Zune. You can consult SyncMyRide.com for a list of all compatible gadgets.

    2:15 PM on Mon Jan 28 2008
    By Travis Hudson
    3,995 views, 30 comments

    Latest by sos10: @Admiral Ackbar: My Ipod doesn't , but then I'm able to ignore incoming text messages when I'm driving.. It's a more »

  • ces

    Tech Explosion: Ford to Begin Including HD Radio in 2009

    Well, the Ford Sync system is in full effect with 911 Assist, Sirius Travel Link and more, but that obviously isn't enough. Ford, Lincoln and Mercury will be including factory-installed HD radio in 2009 as well. Wait, HD radio? Where do you put your eyes? More »

    12:45 PM on Tue Jan 8 2008
    By Travis Hudson
    466 views, 5 comments

    Latest by PocketRadio: HD Radio is a farce: [hdradiofarce.blogspot.com] more »