Tech Integration: A Ford Standard

Bluetooth and App Integration To Come Standard In Certain Ford Vehicles

Ford wants drivers to have full access to the best technology while also maintaining the highest degree of safety.  

With that in mind, it's no surprise that Cnet is reporting Ford will make it's Sync system more widely available.  So this means Bluetooth and app integration a standard feature on their 2013 Fusion and Flex vehicles.  

As you know, we're big fans of the Ford Sync and have covered it immensely on here.  

"With this latest generation of Sync, users can control the system without having to learn nearly as many commands or navigate as many menus," said Brigitte Richardson, Ford global voice control technology and speech systems lead engineer.

Now, all those benefits will come standard.  How great is that?

The app integration means you will be able to use voice commands to skip songs on Pandora or change stations on Stitcher when your phone is paired to the system. Other benefits of Sync include 911 Assist and Sync Destinations.

To check out Ford and Ford Sync around Buffalo, visit West Herr Ford in Hamburg or Amherst! 

Beat The Traffic

New App Most Comprehensive Traffic Alert App Yet 

The Beat The Traffic app is about to change the way you drive.

Beat the Traffic was already a great app, but version 2.0 is a step up, by all accounts.  Beat The Traffic is designed to save you time by giving you real-time traffic updates including accidents, traffic congestion and road work delays.  

The new and improved app will offer interactive maps plus even more deeper street details.  It will estimate travel times and check this out:  it even has live camera views.  Very cool!

To get into specifics:  the app will tell you accident severity.  So if it says "high" you might want to plan a different route.  Plus it will show you how fast traffic is moving in certain areas.  

Additional tools, such as personalized traffic reports and saved routes, will be available for a fee.  The first version is now available on Blackberry, Android and iOS.  Version 2.0 will launch on iOS first 

Though Buffalo isn't insane on traffic by any means, this app will still be helpful.  Any other app suggestions? Let us know!  

Night Moves

Mass Market Night Vision Device Coming to Auto Navigation Systems

So we've all driven at night and as we all know it can be a real task sometimes.  Especially in unfamiliar territory.  A new night-vision system may just be the fix for that.  

Safety company Autoliv plans to roll out an upgraded night vision system that will help drivers identify pedestrians and large animals in the road.  So for those of us who have ever hit a deer or come close, this will be a huge addition to your car.  

"Autoliv's night-vision system detects temperature differences among objects in the road. If a pedestrian or animal is detected, the motorist gets a warning 2 to 4 seconds before the vehicle appears likely to hit it," said Cnet.  

As you can see from the picture above, the display will alert the driver on the navigation system of any potential hazards.  It will even be programmed to avoid weather affects and oncoming vehicle lights.  

So far this technology is restricted to luxury cars, but with the way things are going, it could move it's way to other makes and models.  

So what do you think, would you use a night vision system?

The Quietest Ride Of All

Ford Engineers Creating A Nearly Noise-Free Cabin 

We all have different values in a car:  some of us want speed, room, or safety.  Some people value a nice quiet ride.  In certain situations, don't we all value that a little?  

If you're looking for a quiet cabin, then the new Ford Escape could be for you.  Multiple outlets have described it as "exceptionally quiet."  

How are they doing it?  Through a new mirror tool they use in testing..  The elliptical shaped mirror looks like a satellite dish with a microphone, used to improve acoustics and decrease wind noise.  High tech stuff.  

"The mirror identifies 'hot spots' where noise penetrates the interior of the vehicle, allowing drivers to listen to music or conversation inside the car instead of external noises," the company said in a press release.

With the use of this technology, the Escape now sports a new shape designed to be optimally quite. The tuning work on the A-pillar, for example, helps ensure better noise performance in crosswind situations.

See?  As per usual, Ford thought of everything.  If you'd like to check out the Ford Escape, visit West Herr Ford in Hamburg or Amherst!  

A Parent's Dream, A Kid's Nightmare

Ford's My Key Techology Will Help Parents Adjust Teens' Drving 

Here's something a teenage driver won't want to hear:  new technology will allow parents to monitor their drving without even being in the car.  

That's right.  Ford's new MyKey system lets parents pre-program a master key that sets various limits on the vehicle. Top speed settings can be limited, with warnings beeping at 70, 90 or 100kph. Failure to fasten seatbelts can also activate a chime and mute the audio system.

Right now, this technology will only be available in Europe with 2012 Ford Fiestas.  We'll see if it makes its way across the pond.  

"We feel MyKey would allow parents to tailor the vehicles performance to help their children drive more safely and more fuel efficiently without taking away their independence," said Pim van der Jagt, managing director of the company's Aachen research centre.

MyKey also reminds young drivers of low fuel levels sooner than would otherwise be the case.

Interesting stuff.  We'll see if technology like this pops up in the US.  If we hear, we'll let you know.  

Rave Reviews For Inflatable Seat belts

Consumers Drive Demand For Ford's Unique Safety Device 

About a year ago, we discussed Ford's inflatable seat belt, which was named "best new technology."  Well it turns out, consumers are taking to it and reviews are overwhelmingly positive.  

The San Francisco Chronicle recently reported  "some 40 percent of new Ford Explorer buyers are ponying up an extra $200 for inflatable rear seat belts. That has encouraged Ford to expand availability of inflatable seat belts to the 2012 Flex."  

Here's a basic rundown of how the device works: The vehicle’s crash sensing system determines when the inflatable belt should deploy.  The unique inflatable rear belts spread impact forces across more than five times the area than conventional seat belts, reducing pressure on the chest while helping to control head and neck motion.

"The inflatable belts are proving to be very successful and take rates are increasing as people become more aware of them after being introduced in the spring," says Ford spokesman Wes Sherwood.

Good stuff.  If you want to see the inflatable seatbelt at work for yourself, stop by West Herr Ford in Amherst or Hamburg and test it out. Be safe! 

Get A Smooth Ride With Trapster

App Adds Social Element To Road Hazard and Patrol Warnings 

Imagine an app where other drivers upload road hazard, traffic and police patrolling data in real time.   If that sounds like something you'd be interested in, then download Trapster. 

Our friends at BuffaloCars.com told us today on Twitter that early versions of the app were good ideas in theory, but the app was slow and lagged.  Well good thing that Cnet reported this morning that Trapster has an update and so far the new version is solid.  

The social element in particular sounds interesting and incredibly useful.  You can report road hazards and patrol areas and other users can then click "thumbs up" to confirm them or "thumbs down" to say the hazards are no longer an issue. This will help data stay up to date.

Hazards can be anything from traffic to red light cameras and where police speed traps are set up.  In addition, the map will display terrain AND street data and can even calculate your speed based on your GPS.  If the speed limit is exceeded, a glowing yellow icon will let you know.

Very cool.  Of course the key here to either mount your phone to your dashboard or have your navigator using it.  Checking the app while driving is not only dangerous but a severe fine and ticket.  So use it wisely, could be very helpful!  

Stay Healthy and Drive

Ford To Take Sync Capabilities Into The Health Realm 

So the Ford Sync has shown it can seamlessly merge hands free calling, audio and other basic functions in a safe manner.   Ford is looking to take Sync's capabilities even further.  

Ford is looking to partner with medical companies to bring medical monitoring to vehicles.  Specifically, they will take aim at diabetes, asthma and hypoglycemia monitoring.  

The diabetes monitoring would happen through a Bluetooth-enabled device that actually connects to the driver.  It would monitor glucose levels and send instant alerts if levels got too extreme.  

The asthma monitoring system is a little more complicated. Ford is launching AppLink, a large system of in-car apps.  The app will gather pollen levels in the area and submit the info to the driver.  There's also talk of another app for real-time solutions to health ailments as well.  

These apps are still being developed and may not see the market for a bit.  Still, it's interesting to see Ford taking in car entertainment in this direction.  Stay tuned for what they come up with next! 

Your Friends' Favorite Drives

New BMW App Crowdsources Driving Routes 

We've covered plenty of apps that will show you the quickest route for a trip or even the most fuel efficient. But what about just the most fun route?  

With BMW's Ultimate Drive app, you'll be able to see just that.  We mentioned Ultimate Driver yesterday, and this is just another awesome feature.  

With this app, drivers can create and search for other drivers' favorite routes.  It almost feels more like a travel guide than a navigation app.  If you aren't on a time crunch, this seems like a fun app to try out on a Sunday afternoon.  

You can search for routes by location or sort them by length, newness, and user rating.  You can also comment on submitted routes, share them through Facebook, or save them to your GPS.  Plus other users can obviously do the same to your routes.   

Cnet reports that users have been good about leaving tips concerning potential road hazards such as closures.  Seems like an app that will be made or broken by it's social use.

Either way we think it's cool, feel free to check it out and let us know what you think! 

Social Media On The Go

New App Makes Facebook and Twitter Even More Mobile

If you love social media, a new app from BMW is just for you.  

BMW's iDrive system recently added a text to speech function that will allow users to have Facebook statuses and Twitter updates read to them as they drive.  

So now, you can know what is going on and connect with your friends no matter where you are.  In 2011, that's an incredibly useful tool.  

To make this happen you first need BMW's iPhone cneected app.  You can then put your phone in the mobile docking station and let the app do the rest of the work.

Of course the question is, how does this read hashtags and online slang?  So far, no one is sure.

However the real issue here is safety.  We know people are probably checking Facebook and Twitter as they drive.  Right or not, it's happening.  Now this is a preventative measure.  For that we say kuds to BMW.