Sync Bugs and Enhancements

[UltimateX]

I have a Taurus X with the Nav and Sync, and I have a couple of issues that I would like to see fixed.

 

Bugs:

 

About 1 in 10 times when I start the car, the "User Device" which I alway want on my iPod, will randomly switch to my BT phone which doesn't even have music on it. I then have press the source button to get it back to where I want it. It seems to be a race condition as to which device Sync finds first. My iPod is dedicated to the car and is rarely removed unless I want to update the songs on it.

 

When connecting to the phone at startup, a little popup dialog appears which says something like "connecting to phone". Sometimes that dialog will not go away unless you switch to a different screen (Nav, phone, menu etc.)

 

 

Enhancements:

 

I would like to know which playlist is currently playing.

 

There is a status bar at the top when I am viewing the navigation system etc. It would be nice if it showed current track and artist.

 

When I ask for a single track, I would like it to return to the previous playlist when done.

 

Show me album art and lyrics.

 

Allow me to alias the user device so I could call it iPod or Zune instead. User device is just awkward.

 

Allow me to string together commands. "Phone call home" instead of "Phone" <wait> <bing> "Call Home"

 

Over all it is a very good system, but it does have a some rough edges.

[filmdave]

Totally agree with above post -- would LOVE to be able to set default source for music. I listen to the iPod almost exclusively and would really appreciate being able to make "USB" the default source.

 

I would also love to add the command "Play Podcast." I listen to several different podcasts, such as ABC World News Tonight, 60 Minutes, TWiT, etc. and it's near impossible to get these to load via voice commands. "Play" [track] is hit or miss for some reason (only with podcasts), and the best way to find them is to "Search" [artist], but the artist is not always obvious. Sometimes it's the host or anchor, other times it's the network or production company...

 

If adding Podcast support, it'd be great if the date could be added to the "what's playing" information.

 

One final thing, I'd really like to turn off the "Unable to index entire contents of your device. Please add track and artist information" warning that plays every single time I plug in the device. I get it. Some of my tracks don't have metadata. I don't want to be nagged about it.

 

Overall, though, I love my Sync. It's actually a major reason I bought my Edge SEL (don't get me wrong -- I love the car itself -- but Sync sealed the deal).

[LarryQW]

My only real gripe is that the voice recognition needs to be greatly improved for comprehension and accuracy. This might even require a better microphone with better noise and echo removal, which people say they hear on my cell phone conversations.

 

And yes, I'd also like to be able to concatanate commands like "Phone Call Home" or "Navigation Go Home" without all the major pauses.

[solas989]

I have no issues with the voice recognition - 98% accuracy.

 

I too hate the waiting - but there is the other side of the sword when you string command together, less accuracy in what you want it to do (then you get Did you Say Blah or Bleh). Not saying it is not possible to keep the accuracy, but difficult.

 

I dont do podcasts - cant comment here. But from the description, it sounds annoying to play them.

 

It would be nice to name the device - however, it could be difficult - especially if you have two of the same device (which I do - two of the same phone and two of the same iRiver Clix Gen 2) since you will not be able to rename the device itself (unlike BT modules).

 

Some of my songs dont have data attached either, I do not get this error - it just remains blank. Maybe my rip is different and it is just a blank tag?

 

For those with nav - seeing art would be great - lyrics too (if attached in the tag).

 

Just my $0.01

 

Solas

[LayneHepler]

I would just like mine to work period. We had the ford Nav system installed at dealership before we even took delivery and now we find out only the radio that was installed at the factory will work and even if we put the original back Sync will still not work because it is, get this, out of "sync". I wish I could make up such a great response, however, I have to give credit to the service technician who graced me with such undying wisdom. :angry:

[jpeckinp]

I would just like mine to work period. We had the ford Nav system installed at dealership before we even took delivery and now we find out only the radio that was installed at the factory will work and even if we put the original back Sync will still not work because it is, get this, out of "sync". I wish I could make up such a great response, however, I have to give credit to the service technician who graced me with such undying wisdom. :angry:

 

From what I am told the serial numbers have to match to work. I have a friend that works on the engineering team for the Sync and explained that to change out a unit the new one has to have the same serial # or it won't work. He says that to have the number changed it has to be sent in for service and they can change it.

[Lisad]

I would love to be able to switch to Sirius satellite radio by voice command.

 

I would LOVE a mod to be able to change the canned text message responses.

[LarryQW]

I would love to be able to switch to Sirius satellite radio by voice command.

 

I already do that all the time. I believe I say "Media", pause for prompt, "Satellite Radio". Tuning verbally to a SR channel is more challenging. I say Channel 105, for instance, and it goes to something completely different like channel 25. It could be I'm saying "one hundred five". Maybe I need to say "one oh five"?

[LarryQW]

I have no issues with the voice recognition - 98% accuracy.

 

I'm about as native USA as it gets. I was born in Ohio and raised in California. It must not understand my accent???

 

However, I'm still learning SYNC as SYNC's learning me. The voice recognition is getting better. For instance, I'm learning to wait for one full second after the prompt before starting to speak a command or confirmation, and the recognition is much better.

 

Oddly, I'm finding the voice recognition is worse of all on the main menu, where you'd want it to be the best since you always start there. I can get most of the commands like "Navigation", "User Device", and "Tutorial" to work over 90% of the time without a prompt. But it has a bad problem with "Phone", even though I've tried to say "Phone" in many different ways, such speed, volume, emphasis, slight change in the "o" sound,.... About 65% of the time it will need confirmation, "Did you say Phone?", maybe 3% of the time it won't get anything, and only about 25% of the time will it go directly to phone without a confirmation like I'd want. It causes lots of delay when calling and somewhat annoying.

 

Voice recognition improves greatly within the modes of Phone and User Device (such as USB). But voice recognition in Navigation and Display modes are about as bad as the main menu- not as good as desired. (Maybe these three modes use Ford software instead of MS?)

 

In Phone and User Device, SYNC understands the right response without confirmation over 90% of the time. I'm very impressed SYNC can almost always pick out a correct song (or "track") or artist out of a thousand songs I have on my 4GB USB stick. You'd think that would be much harder to pick one of a thousand newly indexed names, rather than the main menu when it only has to pick one of five very different predetermined commands? :rolleyes:

[UltimateX]

I'm about as native USA as it gets. I was born in Ohio and raised in California. It must not understand my accent???

 

However, I'm still learning SYNC as SYNC's learning me. The voice recognition is getting better. For instance, I'm learning to wait for one full second after the prompt before starting to speak a command or confirmation, and the recognition is much better.

 

Oddly, I'm finding the voice recognition is worse of all on the main menu, where you'd want it to be the best since you always start there. I can get most of the commands like "Navigation", "User Device", and "Tutorial" to work over 90% of the time without a prompt. But it has a bad problem with "Phone", even though I've tried to say "Phone" in many different ways, such speed, volume, emphasis, slight change in the "o" sound,.... About 65% of the time it will need confirmation, "Did you say Phone?", maybe 3% of the time it won't get anything, and only about 25% of the time will it go directly to phone without a confirmation like I'd want. It causes lots of delay when calling and somewhat annoying.

 

Voice recognition improves greatly within the modes of Phone and User Device (such as USB). But voice recognition in Navigation and Display modes are about as bad as the main menu- not as good as desired. (Maybe these three modes use Ford software instead of MS?)

 

In Phone and User Device, SYNC understands the right response without confirmation over 90% of the time. I'm very impressed SYNC can almost always pick out a correct song (or "track") or artist out of a thousand songs I have on my 4GB USB stick. You'd think that would be much harder to pick one of a thousand newly indexed names, rather than the main menu when it only has to pick one of five very different predetermined commands? :rolleyes:

 

The navigation system has voice recognition regardless of whether you have Sync or not. Until you verbally select "user device" or "phone" I believe that you are rely on the nav system. After that voice recognition get transfered to the Sync. I have noticed that the voice volume under menu affects only the top level menu and navigation features, so if you turn down volume you get a volume mismatch as you transition from the nav to Sync.

 

A pause of about a half second after the system bings, will improve the voice recognition. There is a slight pause before it is listening so it is hearing "R device" instead of "User device"

[Lisad]

I already do that all the time. I believe I say "Media", pause for prompt, "Satellite Radio". Tuning verbally to a SR channel is more challenging. I say Channel 105, for instance, and it goes to something completely different like channel 25. It could be I'm saying "one hundred five". Maybe I need to say "one oh five"?

 

Ah, I've been trying "Sirius".

 

RTFM, I guess

[LarryQW]

Ah, I've been trying "Sirius".

 

RTFM, I guess

 

Correction on the procedure I gave before: I actually say "Audio System", pause for bing, "Satellite Radio". I can then say "Tune SR1" to go to the SR1 band of presets that allows me to "seek" between them using the steering wheel button. I can also combine the last two commands, "Satellite Radio Tune SR1", but it gets confused more often.

 

While within Satellite Radio VR mode (the Satellite mode is showing under the LCD VR icon), I've tried different ways of tuning channels. The "SR1" band request always works easily. The command such as "Tune Channel One Zero Five" also works and it responds "Tuning channel one hundred five". The channel number that doesn't work is "Tune Channel Five". It always wants to go to channel 105 or 25. I even tried "Tune Channel Zero Five" and it's even worse. I never got VR to work with a single digit channel number.

[Lisad]

Correction on the procedure I gave before: I actually say "Audio System", pause for bing, "Satellite Radio". I can then say "Tune SR1" to go to the SR1 band of presets that allows me to "seek" between them using the steering wheel button. I can also combine the last two commands, "Satellite Radio Tune SR1", but it gets confused more often.

 

While within Satellite Radio VR mode (the Satellite mode is showing under the LCD VR icon), I've tried different ways of tuning channels. The "SR1" band request always works easily. The command such as "Tune Channel One Zero Five" also works and it responds "Tuning channel one hundred five". The channel number that doesn't work is "Tune Channel Five". It always wants to go to channel 105 or 25. I even tried "Tune Channel Zero Five" and it's even worse. I never got VR to work with a single digit channel number.

 

I was gonna say - I tried Satellite Radio today and it didn't work. I'll try Audio System first next time.

[dougieINFJ]

I would love to be able to switch to Sirius satellite radio by voice command.

 

I would LOVE a mod to be able to change the canned text message responses.

 

 

Correction on the procedure I gave before: I actually say "Audio System", pause for bing, "Satellite Radio". I can then say "Tune SR1" to go to the SR1 band of presets that allows me to "seek" between them using the steering wheel button. I can also combine the last two commands, "Satellite Radio Tune SR1", but it gets confused more often.

 

While within Satellite Radio VR mode (the Satellite mode is showing under the LCD VR icon), I've tried different ways of tuning channels. The "SR1" band request always works easily. The command such as "Tune Channel One Zero Five" also works and it responds "Tuning channel one hundred five". The channel number that doesn't work is "Tune Channel Five". It always wants to go to channel 105 or 25. I even tried "Tune Channel Zero Five" and it's even worse. I never got VR to work with a single digit channel number.

 

So you can have SIRIUS built in and still have SYNC? The Customer Relationship Center tried to tell me that the two systems are not compatible. I didn't get SIRIUS factory installed because I have an aftermarket radio that I would normally mount in the windshield, but now that I have the car I find I would much rather have SIRIUS built in. LoL Tho, I have heard it costs upwards of $325 for the part, plus install fees. Maybe I'll see what they can work out since I've not had the car 7 days and it will have been into the service department twice for the SYNC system and iPod not working. LoL

[LarryQW]

So you can have SIRIUS built in and still have SYNC? The Customer Relationship Center tried to tell me that the two systems are not compatible. I didn't get SIRIUS factory installed because I have an aftermarket radio that I would normally mount in the windshield, but now that I have the car I find I would much rather have SIRIUS built in. LoL Tho, I have heard it costs upwards of $325 for the part, plus install fees. Maybe I'll see what they can work out since I've not had the car 7 days and it will have been into the service department twice for the SYNC system and iPod not working. LoL

 

For sure. My Taurus X has SYNC, Navigation, Satellite Radio, DVD Family Entertainment System, Bluetooth phones,... - every possible option. And they all work together beautifully with nice controls on the Nav LCD.

 

The addition of Satellite Radio only cost me another $170 ($25 off list) and includes 6 months subscription, as well as being fully integrated and transparent to the car. I love the SR and listen to it over half the time, even though I got lots of other options with the FM, and USB, and bluetooth, and...

[dougieINFJ]

For sure. My Taurus X has SYNC, Navigation, Satellite Radio, DVD Family Entertainment System, Bluetooth phones,... - every possible option. And they all work together beautifully with nice controls on the Nav LCD.

 

The addition of Satellite Radio only cost me another $170 ($25 off list) and includes 6 months subscription, as well as being fully integrated and transparent to the car. I love the SR and listen to it over half the time, even though I got lots of other options with the FM, and USB, and bluetooth, and...

 

Yeah, I love SR, I have an "external" Sirius Radio that have mounted to my windsheild right now, and wires running all over the place. The $170 price you mentioned was that factory installed?? I didn't opt for factory installed SIRIUS radio as I figured I would use my "external" radio, however thats proven to be more of a pain and it would be so much easier and nicer to have it built in.

[LarryQW]

Yeah, I love SR, I have an "external" Sirius Radio that have mounted to my windsheild right now, and wires running all over the place. The $170 price you mentioned was that factory installed?? I didn't opt for factory installed SIRIUS radio as I figured I would use my "external" radio, however thats proven to be more of a pain and it would be so much easier and nicer to have it built in.

 

Yes, factory installed, which includes the six month subscription that's probably worth around $70. So it's really only $100 more.

 

The integration with the rest of the audio system and SYNC is a real delight, easily worth the price even if you've got to pay more for it as a dealer install.

[Lisad]

Yes, factory installed, which includes the six month subscription that's probably worth around $70. So it's really only $100 more.

 

The integration with the rest of the audio system and SYNC is a real delight, easily worth the price even if you've got to pay more for it as a dealer install.

 

I'll second that. The Sirius has been getting me through this Sync+iPod=NoLove business for the past week. Now to sit down with the manual and program my favorite Sirius stations...

[LarryQW]

I'll second that. The Sirius has been getting me through this Sync+iPod=NoLove business for the past week. Now to sit down with the manual and program my favorite Sirius stations...

 

Make it easy for yourself to program your car to received satellite radio by using the web!

 

Go to http://www.sirius.com/channelguide and search the channels. On the upper right is a downloadable PDF file that you can print to take with you for reference in your car.

 

As for programing SR presets, it's like normal radio. Go to a channel and then hold down the preset and it will be programmed to that channel. On my LCD screen, the button turns to the programmed channel number rather than a preset number.

[Lisad]

Make it easy for yourself to program your car to received satellite radio by using the web!

 

Go to http://www.sirius.com/channelguide and search the channels. On the upper right is a downloadable PDF file that you can print to take with you for reference in your car.

 

As for programing SR presets, it's like normal radio. Go to a channel and then hold down the preset and it will be programmed to that channel. On my LCD screen, the button turns to the programmed channel number rather than a preset number.

Nice! Thanks!

[uniquename]

Correction on the procedure I gave before: I actually say "Audio System", pause for bing, "Satellite Radio". I can then say "Tune SR1" to go to the SR1 band of presets that allows me to "seek" between them using the steering wheel button. I can also combine the last two commands, "Satellite Radio Tune SR1", but it gets confused more often.

 

 

Mine does not do that. Wonder if it is because I don't have NAV.

[LarryQW]

Mine does not do that. Wonder if it is because I don't have NAV.

 

That's right. Only the Nav systems can control the radio and satellite radio, from what I hear.

 

It's not part of SYNC, but Ford's previous voice system (from Pioneer?). It's way inferior in voice recognition to SYNC, but nice to have on occasion.

[uniquename]

That's right. Only the Nav systems can control the radio and satellite radio, from what I hear.

 

It's not part of SYNC, but Ford's previous voice system (from Pioneer?). It's way inferior in voice recognition to SYNC, but nice to have on occasion.

 

 

Crap. Now I want NAV....but for the cost I could put a carpc in...

[JLeedhamNV]

I would also love to add the command "Play Podcast." I listen to several different podcasts, such as ABC World News Tonight, 60 Minutes, TWiT, etc. and it's near impossible to get these to load via voice commands. "Play" [track] is hit or miss for some reason (only with podcasts), and the best way to find them is to "Search" [artist], but the artist is not always obvious. Sometimes it's the host or anchor, other times it's the network or production company...

 

If adding Podcast support, it'd be great if the date could be added to the "what's playing" information.

 

One final thing, I'd really like to turn off the "Unable to index entire contents of your device. Please add track and artist information" warning that plays every single time I plug in the device. I get it. Some of my tracks don't have metadata. I don't want to be nagged about it.

 

You can add podcasts to "smart playlists" in iTunes, and you really need to use iTunes I am afraid because in your second comment, Sync my iTunes will fix that all up for you and get rid of the annoying message.

 

If you create a playlist for your favorite podcasts then you "Play Playlist..."

[bonefizz]

I would like to see better communication with my Microsoft Zune. I originally had an ipod in my Flex for all my music needs, but SYNC treats it like a dumb hard drive. I thought that a Zune, being a Microsoft product, would interface better with SYNC, also a Microsoft product, giving me Zune like usability. I was disappointed to find that SYNC treats the Zune like a dumb hard drive as well. I think Microsoft would sell more Zunes if the two devices communicated like they were made by the same manufacturer. Just a thought!