Ford SYNC 4 is More Powerful, Adapts to Screen Size
Right before All Hallows Eve, Ford announced a treat of its own: the next generation of SYNC infotainment. Ford SYNC 4 improves over its predecessor with twice the power, available screen-splitting capabilities, and cloud connectivity.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of Ford SYNC 4 is its application across multiple screen sizes. Ford is tailoring the system to run on touchscreen displays ranging from 8 inches to 15.5 inches, and the intent is for all versions to allow for multitasking.
For example, when SYNC 4 runs on an all-new 12-inch touchscreen, tasks can be split into larger and smaller windows so that navigation is not minimized when changing songs. With the massive 15.5-inch screen, SYNC 4 leverages a new feature called Adaptive Dash Cards, which lists recently used and most popular features beneath the main screen for easy, quick access. These dash cards include turn-by-turn navigation, phone status, and current music selection.
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“No matter what size screen Ford customers choose, they will be getting an experience tailor-made for their vehicle,” said Gary Jablonski, chief engineer for SYNC technology, Ford Motor Company. “SYNC 4 puts these high-definition screens to work not only by offering even crisper displays, but also by making driving easier with new multi-tasking capabilities.”
Because all Ford vehicles will now feature standard FordPass Connect with 4G LTE Wi-Fi Hotspot, Ford SYNC 4 includes standard cloud connectivity. This ensures up-to-date information when navigating, including current available parking and prices, and adaptive natural speech recognition that allows for conversational requests.
SYNC 4-equipped Ford vehicles will also be the first to leverage wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Waze, and Ford+Alexa. SiriusXM with 360L also becomes available for the first time in Ford vehicles.
Ford did not reveal which vehicles will be among the first to receive SYNC 4 but notes that the technology will be offered on select vehicles beginning next year.
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