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

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

sos10 — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 18:42:20 EST

@Admiral Ackbar: My Ipod doesn't , but then I'm able to ignore incoming text messages when I'm driving.. It's a cheaper and safer method, tested since 100 years.

sos10

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

Rabbi Dave — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 17:36:15 EST

@Admiral Ackbar: if you have a compatible cell phone, yes.

Rabbi Dave

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

Admiral Ackbar — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 10:27:09 EST

@my favorite car is a motorcycle:

Can your ipod integration read aloud incoming texts from your cell phone so that you aren't distracted and looking at them while driving?

Admiral Ackbar

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

andrewmtu — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 08:46:22 EST

@ Wookie1901: couldn't have said it better!

Have this on an '08 Edge. It slips from time-to-time (especially amusing getting it to play songs in other languages), but otherwise does a damn good job with voice commands on the phone (BlackBerry curve) or iPod. Biggest complaint is the lack of text message compatibility on anything but a RAZR (so it seems.)

We also benefited from a short dealer demo, which would have probably made the process easier for Travis. Plus, if you really want them to hold your hand, when you take delivery they will sync your phone for you.

andrewmtu

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

sos10 — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 00:13:49 EST

But does the Ford sync the Zune or the Zune syncs the Ford?

sos10

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

my favorite car is a motorcycle — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 22:39:08 EST

@admiral ackbar:

Yes. You might have heard of satire?

In Travis' video, it appeared to me that Sync is a $395 option that eliminates your ability to install a good stereo with auxiliary input for your music player. when using with cell phone, a $19.95 headset would clearly work better -- even if only that the mike and speaker are optimally located and don't have Miss Lo-Fi Sync Nanny telling you in a booming voice to watch out on the road. Did we miss any exciting other features? What else did YOU see on the video?

FYI, iPod integration was a $150 kit for my car, which is a bit more expensive than other music player connectivity solutions.

Most of the world also agrees that voice command systems suck, especially when there is any ambient noise whatsoever. iPod's got a better interface than those cheap buttons all over the Ford dash too.

I guess Sync is a "feature" that will please somebody, but i see it as another 5 pounds of electronic trash that would have been better placed in vehicle structural integrity.

my favorite car is a motorcycle

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

wookie1901 — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 22:26:12 EST

So basically what your saying here is that you did not bother to read the instructions, and then you complain about not knowing how it works.

wookie1901

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

DoctorNine makes tires squeal in terror — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 21:02:51 EST

The extra knobs and wiring are to confuse the unwary, and befuddle them into thinking these 'features' are 'added value'.

DoctorNine makes tires squeal in terror

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

dizzle84 — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 20:24:00 EST

lets get real here, it's a focus. What self respecting person would buy that car with those god awful side vents.

dizzle84

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

Admiral Ackbar — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 18:00:37 EST

@my favorite car is a motorcycle:

Did you even bother to watch the video? Its a $395 option that normally is only seen in luxury vehicles... and it does a hell of a lot more than just iPod integration.

Admiral Ackbar

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

my favorite car is a motorcycle — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 17:50:37 EST

I can honestly say i've never wasted my time watching a commercial for Sync.

So can somebody please explain what it is? Another "me-too" product from our Klingon friends from Redmond? Does it "play for sure"?

iPod integration seems to be working just fine for me, even if the wiring cost more than the iPod itself.

my favorite car is a motorcycle

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

Eric Merrill — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 17:46:28 EST

@Admiral Ackbar: IT'S A TRAP!

........I had to

@Travis Hudson: Well that explains it. Hiya.

Eric Merrill

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

Admiral Ackbar — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 17:10:05 EST

And, to add to my comment, once you get it set up and working... then your all set as long as you can remember the voice commands and buttons for the commonly used functions.

Admiral Ackbar

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

Admiral Ackbar — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 17:09:11 EST

I think its pretty impossible for a system which can hook to any phone/usb stick/media player without needing some kind of an instructional manual to at least guide you through set up. There are just to many options during setup.

Admiral Ackbar

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

st3ph3n — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 17:02:57 EST

That is one ugly ugly dash.

And I say that as a Subaru owner with more plastic than the fisher pryce factory.

st3ph3n

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

NovaloadMissesPolar — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 16:35:51 EST

@B: Ha! Good one.

NovaloadMissesPolar

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

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 16:05:49 EST

Wow, that is one ugly box, I can't wait to see what the Sync looks like without it. Oh wait, that's the car? nevermind.

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

A strolling player, now with 100% more Studebaker! — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 15:32:25 EST

@Dr. Spaceman: Gladly!

A strolling player, now with 100% more Studebaker!

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

Comrade Teargaskov — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 15:29:39 EST

Also, the Ford Focus might be the worst packaging ever to contain consumer electronics.

Comrade Teargaskov

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

rlj676-new job, same problems — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 15:29:04 EST

Sync doesn't even need a MP3 player, a USB with MP3's will work as well.

rlj676-new job, same problems

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

Comrade Teargaskov — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 15:28:27 EST

What's a Zune?

Comrade Teargaskov

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

Travis Hudson — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 15:08:12 EST

@EricMerrill: Hi. /wave

Travis Hudson

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

Dr. Spaceman, Esq. — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 15:01:37 EST

@A strolling player: Go back to Germany you Euro-trash.

Dr. Spaceman, Esq.

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

Mad_Science — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 14:56:06 EST

@EricMerrill and myself: Yeah, I'm retarded. I don't watch the videos at work, and I mis-read the sentence that says "not just the Zune" as "just not the Zune."

Comment withdrawn.

Mad_Science

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

A strolling player, now with 100% more Studebaker! — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 14:49:43 EST

It plays Avenged Sevenfold but not Daft Punk?

Ugh. Neither Ford nor Microsoft will be getting my money until they get taste in music.

A strolling player, now with 100% more Studebaker!

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

Eric Merrill — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 14:43:38 EST

@Mad_Science: Eh?

Eric Merrill

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

Mad_Science — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 14:41:21 EST

Sync doesn't work with a Zune?

Not that Zunes have a huge market share or anything, but how ridiculous that MS's two (potentially) biggest forays into the consumer electronics world don't talk to each other.

Not surprising, though.

Mad_Science

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

Eric Merrill — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 14:36:16 EST

Who is Travis?

Why did you allow him to publicly admit listening to both Staind and Avenged Sevenfold? This site was once too cool for Modest Mouse. Lowering the bar, Jalopnik.

Not sure how cool video reviews are, but hey, they work for Gizmodo.

Eric Merrill

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

amblito — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 14:35:14 EST

That dashboard is horrible, how many buttons do you need?

Here's dash from the Focus' better looking European cousin:
[www.autoreview.ru]

amblito

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

Number_Six — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 14:23:58 EST

Please god let Ford of NA sync with Ford of Europe.

Number_Six