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Hey, you said it. not us! JK :P
According to Ford, the Focus posted an 88 percent increase in retail sales for April compared to last year, the highest April sales for the Focus since 2000. I'm sure the Sync is at least one (if not the ONLY) reason for it.
Better to talk to it than take your hands off the wheel and select a disc or track number searching for a particular song though.
Even though the platform is kind of old, if you do a comparison it holds up pretty good on some of the more important aspects....handling, gas mileage, value. Add SYNC and Fords got a real winner all of a sudden.
I would love to have SYNC in my "6". I'm not a young techno(maybe an older one) but I appreciate the features of SYNC. Every review I have read of cars/truck with it in has been good and usually a better experience than the reviewer anticipated.
Back to Sync - we just bought a 2008 Edge with it and it's fantastic. My wife can leave her cell phone in her purse while making and receiving calls. She can make calls using the phone's address book by name (Call Chris) and she can answer phones hands free. If she gets a text message sync will read it to her out loud. It even translates acronyms (if you send "IDK LOL" it will read "I don't know. Laughing out loud." and will even send automated responses.
Add to that the ability to control her ipod by voice - artist, track, playlist, genre PLUS the new 911 feature coming in the fall (available via a USB flash drive software update) and sync is more than just a neat toy. It's downright useful.
The idea of a system like that is a great idea. I bet as years go on, other mfgrs will integrate similar technology. I'm hoping Apple gets on that. Personally, I would not want Microsoft technology in my car. It's just another reason to bring it to the dealer when, not if, it goes wrong.
I have no idea but it wouldn't shock me to find that most cars already do have some Microsoft tech in them.
Nothing personal but it seems that most everyone hates and bad mouths Microsoft but they don't have Apple computers. Don't know if you have an Apple or not(I don't) but they don't cost all that much more anymore. It seems that if all the people that complain so much about Microsoft bought Apple....Apple would be three times the size it is now. Just a thought and sort of drifting off topic a bit.
Sounds kind of like the MyGIG in my Sebring. I bought it last fall and I probably wouldn't have ordered it with a MyGIG. Now that I've played with it for 8 months I think it's the neatest gadget I've ever had in a car. Hands-free voice control of the radio, sat, jukebox, navigation, phone, etc.
Heck, I can even watch a DVD movie while I drive, not that I would ever do that though. It was a passenger enhancement.
Also, Harman Becker makes the MyGIG - I don't know what connections they may have with Microsoft.
I also found that ripping CDs to the HD was worthless, it took forever. The trick is to copy all your MP3s to a USB stick and insert that, MUCH faster. But then if you already have everything on a USB stick, why bother to upload it all to the car?
I did update the Gracenotes library in the MyGig and it recognized a lot more of the files after that. A 200 item list of track 1 track 2 etc isn't so helpful.
The advantage to these systems isn't when you are managing 6 CDs with like 60 songs, they are when you are managing an iPod with 1600 songs. You can also use the steering wheel controls to do that with SYNC to some degree.
I really liked the hands free control in SYNC for the phone and for the iPod. I think that is an advantage over some of the competing systems. I am looking forward to the next gen systems, with Chrysler, Hyundai, and Ford all pumping these up, something cool will be out soon.
Hmm..I've never noticed whether it seemed backwards. I immediately notice things like an inverted mouse on a game, where when I move it forward I want it to look or move down, like on the control yoke of an airplane. If it was like that on yours the reason I can see why they'd do it that way would be that pressing UP goes up to a higher station number, like the UP on the right side button increases the volume.
BTW, if you press the hump in the middle of either button other things will happen. I didn't know that for almost 1/2 year.
The latest Gracenote database is 811. Although I updated it mine still shows a few albums with "track01.WMA" or whatever, instead of the title. Strangely, they are part of the same 9-disc music CD set that found names for the others. :confuse:
You said the CD ripping goes too slow. How long is considered slow? When I was building my playlists I would rip two CDs on my way to work and two more on the way home. They usually took around 10-12 minutes each.
Oh no! Don't tell me that!
I guess the Microsoft / Apple discussion does not belong here, however, they are selling more PC's then they ever have before. I have owned Apple computers all my life. I guess you can say they are the Honda's of the computer industry. You just can kill 'em.
My question: Is this due to actual quality problems or of hard core Honda fans expectations? I am in the market for another midsized car this year and was kind of looking at the Accord but the more I read user reviews, the more I've strayed away from considering it. Looking for other's opinions.
Oh, I don't view it negatively, I'm perfectly content to be an out of touch luddite.
As for quality, that is fast becoming a non-factor in this class IMO, with former stalwarts such as the Camry showing some chinks in the armor and cars like the Altima, Fulan, and Sonata showing very well, and newcomers like the Malibu exhibiting much improved initial quality.
Note also that the 2008 Accord has more rankings than any other car on the list. So it will be interesting to see what happens to the scores of the other cars as more buyers rate them.
Just to get more reviews I looked at the 2007 Altima reviews and 2008, since they are the same car. Total reviewers were 355 and the rating is 9.3 (9.2 '07 and 9.3 '08). I'd say 355 reviews is a pretty good number, as is the 272 for the Accord.
On another note, I just recieved an email from Mazda with a link to configure the new 09 6 the way I liked it including options and colors. Prices were included but noted to be tentative. Here is one configuration I made.
MAZDA6 i Touring
170-hp 2.5L DOHC 16-valve inline 4-cylinder with VVT
Mileage, City/Hwy (mpg) 22/30 AT
i Sport model features plus:
17" alloy wheels
Fog lights
8-way driver's power seat & electroluminescent gauges
Push button ignition start
Leather-trimmed steering wheel & shift knob
Trip computer & welcome mode
Mazda Advanced Keyless Entry System
Anti-theft security alarm
The price on this configuration was $23550 which included destination charge. There was no Special Value packages listed.
The smart money is on the Citizen, though, like the Mazda. A Mazda 3, for instance, is literally within a few millimeters of the Civic in terms of size, space, and so on, inside, and the features are literally less than a dozen that are different. Despite the Civic's different sheet metal, the 3 and it are near carbon clones of each other. I know. My sister was looking at both and I went over every bit of data and poked around in both for a solid day. It was basically a "pick one - makes no difference" at the end.
But Mazdas do cost less, thanks to aggressive financing and rebate offers.
The current Camry is visually and features-wise WAY more appealing than the "hump backed" looking previous generation Camry.
One thing I can say that I like about Toyota over Honda is that you do at least get to pick and choose options on various Camry models unlike Honda where features are based around trim levels. It's a great way for many many folks I'm sure but its kinda a pain for others. But again I understand why Honda does it, and it surely been a good formula that has worked for them over the last 30 plus years.
I wish Honda made bluetooth and XM standard on every Accord above the LX. Same thing with fog lights. Same thing with Nissan (who is even worse than Honda) where you can't get a CD6 without leather or even bluetooth without leather on an Altima, yet the lowly Versa and Sentra allow you to get those combinations.
I wish every midsize car has standard bluetooth. It really shouldn't cost that much to install at assembly especially if done in huge quantity--maybe a $100. I could care less about XM though. I think if you did a survey of 100 people you'd probably get 80% for bluetooth and maybe 40-50% for XM. Out of my circle(it's not a huge circle but big enough) of friends and relatives I only know one person that has XM and I'm not sure if that is what he has or if it is Sirrius.
I would still rather have built in bluetooth for a reasonalble price though. The system that Hyundai is putting in is nothing more than what I have pretty much. It doesn't sync with the radio to my knowledge. It costs a lot more than mine but then again you don't have to charge it.
Since the Blueant gets the job done, I wouldn't sell my car just to buy a car with built-in bluetooth, but if I'm going to buy a new car anyway, I'd rather get one with that feature.
There is a new, better version of the Blueant Supertooth coming out that has text to speech Caller-ID and a vibration sensor that will turn itself on based when it senses the vibration of your car door slamming shut. You can also answer calls by voice and not even have to take your hand off the wheel to press any buttons.
http://www.mycellphoneblog.com/blueant-supertooth-3-bluetooth-speaker/
I can't get myself to pay for the content they have on satellite radio. I don't understand the allure or the value there. I like local news and traffic in the morning, and I like the local classic rock or 80s stations during the rest of the commute. I just can't see paying $120/yr for something that is already free. HD radio has better sound quality than most satellite radio systems, and its free as well.
I am glad someone has a revenue stream though, the XM revenue stream might help offset the OnStar stuff.
But my younger brother works for a Saturn retailer in the Carolinas and he told me that Saturn had a big dealer meeting and explained that the BT system used on the Aura and Malibu would not be compatible with many of today's phones.
Different phone manufacturers (and service providers) define the bluetooth vehicle interface protocol differently. Some phones offer more features and connectivity than others based on that interface. Most of the newer systems (SYNC, MyGig) have someway to update the firmware in the HU as more phones come out, and most phones are being tested with these devices. It should keep getting better as they hammer out a specification for the bluetooth vehicle interface.
I can't get myself to pay for the content they have on satellite radio. I don't understand the allure or the value there.I like local news and traffic in the morning, and I like the local classic rock or 80s stations during the rest of the commute. I just can't see paying $120/yr for something that is already free. HD radio has better sound quality than most satellite radio systems, and its free as well.
I used to feel the same way, until I bought an 08 Altima with XM radio. Its quite addicting, especially if you spend much time on the road. There are so many choices, from music to talk to comedy, and virtually commercial free. Personally, I see the value, but I understand why others may not view it as worthwhile...
I am glad someone has a revenue stream though, the XM revenue stream might help offset the OnStar stuff.
But my younger brother works for a Saturn retailer in the Carolinas and he told me that Saturn had a big dealer meeting and explained that the BT system used on the Aura and Malibu would not be compatible with many of today's phones.
That's true across the board, but some manufacturers support many more phones than others, and each model may be different within an individual manufacturer.
For example, my 07 BMW Z4 only supports 4 or 5 phones, all but one Motorola. However, my 08 Altima supports a boatload of Bluetooth phones from many manufacturers.
I don't know about other manufacturers, but both BMW and Nissan list the compatible phones on their respective web-sites...
Different phone manufacturers (and service providers) define the bluetooth vehicle interface protocol differently. Some phones offer more features and connectivity than others based on that interface. Most of the newer systems (SYNC, MyGig) have someway to update the firmware in the HU as more phones come out, and most phones are being tested with these devices. It should keep getting better as they hammer out a specification for the bluetooth vehicle interface.
I absolutely agree with that statement.
We got an Edge last Saturday - my wife paired her phone in just a few minutes, including downloading the entire address book. She then hit the phone button and said "call Chris" - and it did. I sent her a text message and Sync read the message out loud, including translating "LOL" to "laughing out loud". Not to mention voice control of her iPod. What a great product!
Come on Mazda, press Ford to let you put SYNC in the new 6.
We got an Edge last Saturday ...
Congratulations Allen. What did you trade? Did you keep the Fusion or is it an MKZ you have (had)? Tell us more.
Of course, I am no indicator, or maybe I am a contrary indicator. But I could not care less about either of those features.
What is he - Amish?
I agree. It seems smarter to download whatever songs you want on your MP3 player, which plugs into most modern car audio systems. That way, we Generation X'ers can listen to our favorite '80s songs whenever we want!
Here is the website with a demo
http://www.supertooth.net/HelpService/interactive_voice_demo.html
Looks like the changed the name to "Supertooth Voice" instead of Supertooth 3.
Neither of us likes to use the telephone much, cellular or otherwise. Our last long distance bill had one call for 2 cents and last local bill shows 19 calls for the month.
Like I said before, I know I am an out of touch luddite, which is why I don't understand how you-all have so much need to talk on the phone constantly.