12
Apr
2012
What HiFi: 50 Cent took a swing at the Beats by Dr. Dre range of headphones as he launched his new SYNC by 50 wireless headphones. No stranger to ‘beef’, the hip-hop stars are now set to do battle in the lucrative headphone market. Launching the SYNC by 50 headphones under the SMS Audiobrand, 50 Cent said Beats by Dre headphones “break too easily & sound bass heavy”.
10
Feb
2009
TWICE: Ford said its Sync radios reduce driver distraction compared to using MP3 players and other devices while on the road, according to research conducted by Ford.
The Sync is a voice-controlled car radio that also uses voice commands to call up music on devices that link to the car radio, such as iPods or cellphones. The study participants spent an average of 25 seconds with their eyes off the road to select a song on an MP3 player compared with two seconds to perform the same task via the Sync.
The study included 25 regular Sync users who were tested using a driving simulator. The participants were asked to dial a number on their cellphones and retrieve a name from their cellphones’ phonebooks and other tasks. Ford then measured any deviation in their lane position, speed changes plus eyes-off-the-road time.
Ford said its voice interface reduced distraction. Reading a text message on a handheld phone typically required 11 seconds of eyes off the road compared to 2 seconds with the Sync, which “reads aloud” text messages from a cellphone.
11
Oct
2007
Information Week Digital Life Blog: Microsoft is reported to be looking to acquire Garmin, the navigation system company.
There are a few reasons. Let’s start with the most immediate and obvious: cars. Microsoft has a system called Sync, a $395 (around €280) option that’s going to be offered in Fords, Lincolns, and Mercurys, starting with the 2008 Ford Focus.
The system uses Bluetooth and USB; does hands-free calling and voice-activated music selection; reads text messages aloud; can sync up with iPods, cell phones, and a variety of other devices; has steering wheel controls and a dashboard screen; and may, in later models, allow drivers to create spoken text messages and e-mails.
Garmin already has partnerships with both Microsoft and Ford, offering features such as updated gas prices, weather conditions and forecasts, and dynamic trip routing based on traffic and construction, stemming from a partnership with MSN.
The system offered in Fords includes Bluetooth capability and an MP3 player, reminiscent of Sync.
Despite a recent dip, Garmin’s also seen its stock more than double since the beginning of the year and recently increased annual earnings expectations above than the already higher-than-expected initial estimates. But mobile may be where Microsoft really sees the interest.
Last week, Nokia announced it was buying Navteq for $8.1 billion. InformationWeek’s Richard Martin wrote last week that the Navteq deal might be as much about location-based services in smartphones as it is about any of the more common uses of GPS navigation today.
Microsoft’s been working hard recently to get Windows Mobile onto as many phones as possible, and navigation technology could be important for the future of that strategy.
11
Aug
2007
Slashgear: It is refreshing to see that Ford is paying attention to the consumer electronics market. They have crafted a system for cars to communicate with music players and cell phones.
The new system called Sync will allow the driver to control their music player with either buttons on the steering wheel, or with voice recognition. Also, if you’re one that gets a lot of text messages, the system will also read those aloud for you.
Sync will be available as an option on the Ford Focus this fall for €290. Nine other cars will have it as an option by the end of the year.
31
Jul
2007
Gizmodo: Ford Sync is a new system developed by Ford and Microsoft that aims to fully integrate your MP3 player, cell phone and car computer with a speech recognition system.
You will be able to climb into your car and say, ‘Play artist Cliff Richard’, and the annoying old timer will start blaring out of your speakers.
It can even read out your text messages for you in an old-skool synthesised voice, which even understands lazy abbreviations like GR8.
Jump to see it in action on a video featuring the action movie guy voice over.