YouSendIt, a cloud collaboration company that got its start long before “cloud” was cool, is today launching new mobile applications for the iPhone, iPad and Android devices, plus new Mac (beta) and PC desktop clients. The suite of apps will allow users to securely sync files across devices, while also offering unlimited storage.
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What’s the first thing you think when you hear the word “focus.” You might respond, “camera,” or “cheap car,” or “concentration,” but definitely not, “fun,” “technological,” or “practical.” This will likely change in a second because those are the words I’d use to tentatively describe this year’s Ford Focus, a small, sporty car for just about everybody. More Americans are ditching their gas-guzzling SUVs and heading straight for the small car market. From a marketing standpoint, Ford’s approach to selling a small car to people is by offering all the features found in their larger vehicles, but in a smaller package. No longer do people have to feel ashamed for “cheaping out” and getting a Focus, instead, it’s simply a lifestyle choice. Why should the choice take out all the fun of owning a car? I got a chance to drive the new 2012 Ford Focus last week in LA. Those in the area know the hills overtop the city feature some of the most entertaining roads in the country. → Read More
It seems not everyone is able to use the new MyFord Touch system. MyFord Touch is Ford’s new interface, displayed over three screens, that is the next generation of SYNC. While many young people, familiar with tech since birth, find the system generally easy to use, many of the older customers aren’t as tech savvy and have been having difficulty using MyFord. Therefore, Ford dealers are taking it up on their own to train their customers. → Read More
You know when an app company is serious when they send out a press release. I’ve gotten more releases about durfy little apps that I know what to do with, but this one is special. Sent to us by Greg, the author of Wi-Fi Sync, it basically says “This is great and new, but to get it you have to hack your iPhone and give money to the Cydia store.”
As far as I can tell, this is the first formal press release for a jailbroken iPhone/iPad app ever. While it’s no big deal to have a press release on PR Newswire – anyone can do it – it’s fascinating to see the Cydia store be given a jolt of authority with Greg’s move. → Read More
Ford’s Sync system is a fantastic application suite capable of a seemingly endless amount of functions. The system currently provides navigation, traffic info, voice commands, Internet radio, and a 911 Assist mode that automatically dials 911 in case of an accident and provides emergency dispatchers with an approximate location from the connected phone’s GPS or through signal triangulation. That’s the old 911 Assist, though. Most of the 2011 Ford and Lincoln models take safety up level.
The new and improved 911 Assist mode improves the accuracy thanks to a dedicated onboard GPS module. Even with the new capabilities, the whole Sync system remains subscription free. You just need to provide the Bluetooth cell phone. → Read More
Want a single valid reason to buy the 2011 Ford Fiesta besides the silky-smooth 6-speed transmition, roomy interior, and confident ride? Sync. It’s that awesome. The Microsoft co-developed system has been in Ford vehicles for a few years, but the Fiesta is the first car to receive the next-gen functions that bring the hands-free control to Android and BlackBerry apps.
This was announced a few days ago along with the API, but I got a chance to try it myself and must say that it deliverers. It works just as advertised and is likely the safest way to control Pandora, get your Tweets, and listen to podcasts off your phone. You must watch the video after the jump to see this sweet system in action. Welcome to the future, everyone. It smells nice here. It smells nice here. → Read More
Ford keeps rolling out updates to its Sync ecosystem, this time giving drivers hands-free control of select BlackBerry and Android apps with AppLink. The system will first be available for the 2011 Ford Fiesta later this year with the upgrade rolling out to all Sync-equipped vehicles next year. While the voice-activated service only works with certain apps, it’s still a welcomed addition. It’s a bit unsafe trying to control Pandora on a 3-inch screen tethered to the car’s radio while navigating I-75. → Read More
Ford is set to announce the next version of SYNC at CES this year, but an interesting feature leaked early. Apparently SYNC 3.0 will play nicely with USB modems and turn the car into a rolling Wi-Fi hotspot. The official announced hasn’t been release just yet so keep in mind a key detail my be missing, but so far we like it. This solution is dramatically more versatile and consumer-friendly than the dedicated Autonet other manufacturers have been turning too. → Read More
Smartphones are great. Ubiquitous data access is great. Mobile computing is great. Unfortunately, each smartphone represents its own little walled garden of convenience. Apple’s iPhone is tied tightly with iTunes and various other Apple services. Android is tied tightly with Google services. Each manufacturer makes a modicum of effort to allow their smartphone to sync with someone else’s services, but as is too often the case, such integration is usually lacking some important functionality. After all, there’s little business incentive to allow your users to use someone else’s services, right? Enter Funambol, and their open source mobile cloud sync. → Read More
Ford and Microsoft have found great success partnering together on Sync and the rest of the automotive industry have finally taken notice. We’ve taken Sync for a ride or two and know that it works as advertised. We even took a 2010 Mustang for a spin over the weekend and even without the full-fledged Nav system with touchscreen, Sync worked great. BTW- Ford kicked some ass on the new Mustang. The interior is plush.
Anyway, BMW and Nuance announced earlier today that they’ve partnered to bring Nuance’s Music Search and One-shot Destination Entry tech to the Bavarian’s 2010 lineup of whips with Professional. Said system launches this month in the US and Europe. The speech recognition technology will go hand-in-hand with BMW’s already overly complicated iDrive system. Have fun with that. → Read More
Now, I can’t say I feel one way or the other about Ford and Sync in particular, but this is a worthwhile milestone. Cars are changing fast, and although I doubt they’ll look like these F-Zero-wannabes any time soon, the coalescing of all those dash controls into a single unit is a serious advance. Ford’s Sync is the poster child for these systems, what with Microsoft’s backing and all that. Now, it may not come standard yet (in fact, it costs a mint to get the whole setup) but getting it into a million vehicles means that it’s no longer a niche add-on but a legit option. → Read More
This ain’t your daddy’s Lincoln Town Car. In fact, it’s completely different than anything you’ve ever seen before. With balls to the wall power and a teeth shattering sound system, the MKS from Lincoln is a whole other beast. And I like it.
Like our other Test Drive features, I won’t get into the gearheadesque details of reviewing a car, but, rather, focus on the technological side of it. I will start with a few notes about how fast it is, though. → Read More
Ford and Microsoft has been hard at work upgrading their lovechild named Sync 3.0. The latest version upgrades simply adds more features but maintains the easy-to-use voice-activated system. Simply press the button on the steering wheel and say one of the pre-recorded commands. That’s it. Simple and easy. Exciting video demo after the break. → Read More
These days, new cars have a truly new feature, which those in the industry call telematics. You and I would probably call it an in-dash computer, but what do we know? Right now Microsoft has Sync in Fords and competes with OnStar and Hughes Telematics in GM cars and Mercedes/Chryslers respectively. They’ve been around for a little bit and are becoming standard. What’s the next step? Microsoft is working with Hyundai on the next version of its in-car information system, which will include all the usual goodies: syncing your phone and media player, GPS and directions, directions, recommendations, and so on. The next step is going to be pretty evolutionary, as the goal now is integrating more info from the car and surroundings: likely escapes from traffic jams for instance, or long-term tracking of fuel efficiency, speed and route and using that as rich data for both feedback and data mining (hopefully opt-in). Not to mention targeting systems for onboard lasers. The article cites research claiming 30 million cars will be sold with telematics in the next five years. That’s quite a lot, making for both a huge new market for software and accessories, and also a rich source of data and controversy. May we live in interesting times. → Read More
Cloud computing (see convoluted diagram above) is slowly warming the hearts of those at Microsoft, especially Ray Ozzie, the man who’s been tasked with filling Bill Gates‘ nerdly shoes. Ozzie came up with an idea for a new Microsoft feature called “Live Mesh,” which will basically allow you to share, synchronize, and access your data from a myriad of internet connected devices including your cell phone and even Apple products, according to Reuters. Such an idea isn’t NEW new in the grand scheme of personal computing but the fact that it’ll be an integrated feature from a software company that’s got its software running on a lot of computers and mobile devices means that, hopefully, it’ll be easy and quick to pull some of your photos out of “the cloud” to share with friends via your cell phone, your computer, their computer, a library computer, your friend’s cousin’s Apple computer, and so on. Live Mesh will be available to about 10,000 at first and then will be opened up into a public beta in the coming months. → Read More
Please see Microsoft’s Surface. via TC → Read More
I’ve found the transition from Sidekick to BlackBerry to be an enjoyable and easy task. RIM devices are just so much better. The Sidekick is still a great device and will have a special place in my heart since it did convert me to QWERTY, but I’ve outgrown it and RIM devices have more features, a better OS, third party software support and better hardware. It does everything I need and I love that Google is releasing so many mobile apps. Mail lets me view my CG e-mail as I would on my desktop (I prefer this over BB e-mail bc I like to star and spam my e-mails), but the only thing missing was the ability to view and edit my Google Calendar. I knew Google had to be working on that, though. Rejoice! For it has finally happened. I can view and edit through my BB calendar and it’s awesome. Life would be complete if Google Talk would work with AIM on a BB, but I’m sure they’re hard at work on that now. Hopefully. → Read More
Some of the folks at AppleTVSource found some strings pertaining to calendar and contacts syncing for the Apple TV which sounds fairly far-fetched. Maybe you can add your calendar entries on the TV? The Apple TV will inform you when you’re late? Who knows. Rumor and innuendo, friends. Contacts and Calendar syncing coming to the Apple TV? [AppleTVSource] → Read More
