2011 Ford Focus Receives MyFord Touch

Detroit has long been the motor capitol of the country and the 2010 Detroit Auto show has just kicked off showcasing the newest advancements in automotive technology as well as the latest models of some of our favorite cars, trucks and SUVs. Automotive manufacturers from all over the world arrive at the Detroit Auto Show to put their latest and greatest on display but it is Detroit's local comapany Ford that has been making headlines recently.

Ford's plans for their 2011 Focus have already been made official and there are a lot of new additions to the Focus that have already made people start talking. While the Focus' new six-speed dual-clutch transmission or 155bhp is higher on some people's excitement list, one thing that should definitely be on there is the inclusion of the MyFord touch control system which was designed to push the modern dashboard into the touchscreen age we are currently living in.

The tech involved in the MyFord Touch is impressive. MyFord Touch is powered by the second generation Ford Sync which is essentially built on Microsoft Auto 4.0. MyFord Touch does its very best to replace every single knob and button on your typical dashboard with improved voice recognition, touch screens, touch-sensitive buttons and thumb-wheel controls. All your information is displayed on two 4.2" full-color LCD screens on located on both sides of an analog speedometer with 5-way navigation buttons on both sides of the steering wheel which gives the driver complete control over data on the corresponding left/right display (left buttons for the left display, right buttons for the right display).

The left side screen displays information like fuel economy, mechanical status and safety features as the right screen displays comfort and entertainment settings like audio settings, climate controls, phone communications and navigation menus. At the top of the center console rests and 8" touchscreen LCD. This screen acts as your hub for your phone, navigation, climate, audio/entertainment functions and also features fingertip slider controls for the adjustment of your radio's volume and your climate fan speed and if using your hands is "so last year" for you then voice commands can be used in most cases as well.

A new feature that is going to be made standard on all MyFord and sync-equipped cars is Ford's existing Traffic, Directions and Information application. With the help of an SD card slot and Upgradeable SD cards containing certain information, like the map database and voice data, you can get enhanced 3D map-based navigation. There are also a bunch of apps that will be available for MyFord as well.

Ford's App Ecosystem is exposing software that will hopefully allow any and all Bluetooth devices to communicate with your vehicle. This basically means that Android, Windows Mobile, Palm, iPhone, Blackberry and any other device like these are good to go. Your apps will be able to write to the sync display, receive voice commands, have the car read text to speech and even receive some data from the car. Any existing apps can be added with Sync Support and apps appear to connect to the car quickly.

With the MyFord Touch, the 2011 Focus' screen will also double as a web browser while the car is parked. Connectivity is provided by either 3G or 4G modem which has to be plugged into one of two USB ports that are tucked under the arm rest. After the connection is made presto! You're car becomes a WiFi hotspot. With the SD card reader and the RCA inputs you can input video into the 8" display as well.

Overall the MyFord Touch feature in the 2011 Ford Focus seems pretty awesome. Touch screen capabilities is a growing trend on all of today's technology and it only makes sense that it would branch out into car dashboards. Ford, with all of the new technologies it is adding in its new models, is making the technological jump into the future fast and doesn't show any signs of stopping.

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Ford Offers HD Radio With iTunes Tagging

Recently I posted a story about Ford installing in-car WiFi on their new cars in 2010 and now, it seems, the company has added even more to what they are going to offer customers. Ford is now calling themselves the first car company to have factory-installed HD Radio that comes with the ability of iTunes tagging. In a statement from Ford President Mark Fields, "iTunes tagging and HD Radio technology are strong new additions to the growing collection of Ford convenience features and technology we're offering customers to make driving even more enjoyable."

If you don't know what iTunes tagging is or how it will work, it's simple. iTunes tagging will allow drivers listening to HD Radio to tag songs on the radio they like by pushing a button. After that, the song and all its information will be saved in the radio's memory until an iPod is connected at which point the saved songs will transferred to the iPod. The iPod doesn't get the actual song however. Users are given the song's information and given the option of previewing the song or purchasing it. Drivers can save up to 100 songs at a time and transfer them to there iPod whenever they feel like it.

Fields went on to say that "this is another example of Ford's commitment to bring the widest variety of factory-installed customer-focused technology, features and conveniences to millions of people." People were beginning to think that CES 2010 was going to be dominated by TV and PMP makers but that isn't going to be the case if Ford keeps up productivity like they are now. It seems that Ford is going the way of technology on a level that not many other car manufacturers are with their built-in WiFi and now the HD Radio with iTunes tagging. No word on exact pricing has been released yet as it is being saved for CES 2010 but customers should expect to pay a premium price for the added features.

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Ford SYNC Turns Your Car into Mobile WiFi Hotspot

Are you serious about your on-the-road wireless broadband? If so then you will be pleased to hear that Ford's next generation of Sync systems will come equipped with built-in WiFi as well as the ability to share a 3G connection with a driver-defined list of approved devices. Ford is working on making your car a mobile WiFi hotspot.

The process is simple. By inserting a USB mobile broadband modem, otherwise known as an air card, into SYNC's USB port you will produce a secure wireless connection that broadcasts throughout the entire vehicle. This will allow passengers in the car with WiFi enabled devices, like laptops, cell phones, iPods or handheld gaming devices to access the internet anywhere the broadband modem receives a connection.

According to Mark Fields, Ford President of the Americas, "While you're driving to grandma's house, your spouse can be finishing the holiday shopping and the kids can be chatting with friends and updating their Facebook profiles. And you're not paying for yet another mobile subscription or piece of hardware because Ford will let you use technology you already have."

According to some recent studies conducted by the Consumer Electronics Association, as many as 77 million adults comprise the "technology enthusiasts drivers" population. It also showed that more than half of these people show the desire for a connected communications and information system in their vehicles.

The handy USB port will allow owners to not only plug in the broadband air card but also a variety of other devices as well. But the question arises to many whether or not new technology will be able to work. Well the answer is yes, thanks to an upgrade system, SYNC has installed. Through simple software updates, SYNC can be formatted to work with even the newest of technologies.

"The speeds with which technology is evolving, particularly on the wireless front, makes obsolescence a real problem." said director of Ford's Connected Services Solutions Organization Doug VanDagens. VanDagens goes on to say "We've solved that problem by making SYNC work with just about any technology you plug into it. By leveraging a user's existing hardware, which can be upgraded independent of SYNC, we've helped ensure 'forward compatibility' with whatever connectivity technology comes next."

The fact that the SYNC hardware is factory installed makes it that much more convenient for the user. There is no bulky device installed by the dealer that takes up valuable cabin space. Another benefit with Ford's system is that other systems bought separately can run as much as $500 for just the equipment and installation and then you have a monthly subscription fee on top of that. 'Using SYNC with existing mobile devices helps Ford provide the most value, the most flexibility and the most convenience for owners," said Fields. "Constant connectivity is becoming a routine par of our customers' lives, and we're making existing technology more accessible without adding costs."

With the SYNC system, a WiFi signal will be broadcast throughout the entire vehicle. The default security will be set to WiFi protected Access 2 (WPA2), which requires users to enter a randomly chosen password to connect to the internet. When SYNC sees a new WiFi device for the first time, the driver has to allow that device to connect. This prevents unauthorized users from stealing the car's signal.

This new generation of SYNC systems is supposed to launch next year and considering Ford's CEO is the keynote speaker of CES 2010, I'm sure we will be seeing a lot more of this new mobile WiFi hotspot then.

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Looking for a short term mobile technology rental to to make your next trip a success? Call 800-736-8772 today and ask about our Nextel Rentals, Two Way Radio Rentals, or even our Aircard Rentals!