Ford shares more details on CarPlay support, will offer close integration with SYNC

Ford was one of the first car manufacturers to announce its intentions to add support for Apple’s CarPlay to its in-dash systems. Questions concerning how Ford plans to integrate Apple’s solution, however, have remained since the initial announcement. In an interview with Re/code today, Ford CEO Mark Fields clarified some of the details regarding the company’s plans to offer CarPlay (and Android Auto) in its vehicles.

Fields first commented that Ford doesn’t want to end up as the handset business, meaning that the company doesn’t want to simply offer hardware with other operating systems. Ford has its own SYNC in-car solution and it will continue to offer it in all its vehicles. Fields feels that offering hardware without custom-built software is a recipe for being unprofitable.

Furthermore, Ford CTO Raj Nair noted that the company’s reasoning for offering CarPlay, Android Auto, and SYNC is to ensure that buyers have a choice. “We want to make sure you are not pushed into a decision on a $40,000 car based on your $200 smartphone,” the executive said. Nair also noted that the company’s SYNC system is a draw for buyers.

Regarding how Ford will manage offering three in-dash systems, Nair explained that SYNC will work very closely with Android Auto and CarPlay. For instance, if a user wants to use Apple Maps but listen to Sirius Radio through SYNC, their car will support that.

Finally, CEO Mark Fields noted that in-car cellular connectivity is an area of interest for the company. Fields expects the feature to be available in more cars gradually. In-car cellular connectivity will of course be instrumental in improving the experience of CarPlay.

CarPlay support will come to Ford vehicles alongside SYNC 3 later this year and will ship in new car models beginning at the end of this year. Read our review of CarPlay here.

Filed under: AAPL Company, iOS Tagged: Android Auto, Apple, CarPlay, Ford, sync, sync 3

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Ford Working With Apple on CarPlay, But Won't Give Up Control of the Dashboard

Ford has promised to bring CarPlay to its vehicles and is listed as one of Apple's CarPlay partners, but Ford executives say the company will also focus on compatibility with Android and its own Ford SYNC in-car infotainment system to give consumers as much choice as possible. In an interview with Re/code, Ford CTO Raj Nair explained that the company doesn't want people making car choices based on their smartphones.

CTO Raj Nair said part of the reason behind that is ensuring that car buyers have choice. "We want to make sure you are not pushed into a decision on a $40,000 car based on your $200 smartphone," Nair said.

Ford, like the other car makers, also sees its infotainment system, known as SYNC, as a key selling point. "The data shows SYNC has been a significant draw in the showroom," Nair said.

Ford's focus is on SYNC, but the company says that it is planning to support Android Auto and CarPlay and will look to integrate SYNC more closely with both systems. According to Nair, a customer who wants to use Google Maps but listen to Sirius radio using SYNC will be able to do so.

Despite not wanting to hand over control of its in-car infotainment systems to Apple and Google, Ford is eager to embrace new technology. At the meeting with Re/code, Nair was wearing an Apple Watch sporting one of the apps that the Ford team built in a week. A MyFord Mobile research app that links the PHEV Fusion Energi, C-MAX Energi, and Focus BEV cars to the Apple Watch was shown off on Twitter earlier today.

Image via Said Deep, Head of Ford North America Product Communications
Ford's upcoming SYNC 3 system is set to debut this summer with support for both CarPlay and Android Auto. Following the launch of the new system, Ford should be releasing vehicles with CarPlay support by the end of 2015.

A Few Apple Watch Users Experiencing Band Locking Issues [iOS Blog]

Less than a week after the release of the Apple Watch, a few issues with the wrist-worn device have been spotted by early adopters. The first issue involves full sleeve tattoos interfering with the Apple Watch's heart rare sensor and skin contact registration, while MacRumors forum member Smickers has shared a new video that shows an Apple Watch with a nonfunctioning band locking mechanism.

"So, I took off my jacket Sunday and out of the sleeve comes my SS Apple Watch and drops on the floor and slides for a bit before stopping. Turns out the locking mechanism wasn't locking the strap," writes MacRumors forum member Smickers. "On closer inspection it requires a number of tries, pulling and pushing the strap to get it to lock. It's just the top strap. One scratched casing, with the glass fine."

The user claims that after he contacted Apple on Monday to have the Apple Watch replaced through AppleCare, the company requested that he ship the device to Ireland for inspection by an engineering team. Three days later, he allegedly received confirmation from Apple that the Apple Watch was indeed faulty, and the company will be expediting him a brand new device in sealed retail packaging within 24 hours.


Fortunately, this issue does not appear widespread and is only affecting a limited number of users. "I had this same problem when I first received my SS Apple Watch with Milanese Loop," said MacRumors forum member Ryxmd. "I had it on my wrist and noticed that the top strap had some movement. I took off the watch and tried to get it to lock in. After 3-4 tries, it finally locked into place."

It is largely unsurprising that the first-generation Apple Watch has a few isolated issues that Apple will inevitably fix, especially given that the wrist-worn device is Apple's first new product category since 2010. Yesterday, it was reported that defective Taptic Engines from one of Apple's suppliers has contributed to Apple Watch supply constraints, but fortunately no faulty devices were shipped to customers.

Top 6 essential smart home accessories (Video)

There’s no denying that connected smart home accessories are on the rise. Apple’s HomeKit is slowly making an entrance into this space, but for the moment there are a wide variety of accessories available that can make your house a lot cooler. Today we’re taking a look at some of the options that have been around for a little while, but are definitely must-haves if you’re into the smart home scene. These devices may not be necessary, but they make things around the house more convenient…

Withings Home

First up we’re taking a look at Withings Home. This is one of the easiest ways to keep an eye on the house while away. Withings Home is a connected security camera that even has Apple Watch integration. Withings Home features a 5MP sensor, wide angle lens, shoots 1080p video, and actually has night vision. You can check in on the camera at any time, anywhere in the world, using its app. As mentioned, you can even pull up a live video feed on Apple Watch. There’s also motion detection, an air quality sensor, and 2-way communication using its microphone and speaker. Withings Home is available for $199.

Philips Hue

Next up: Philips Hue. This is one of my favorite smart home accessories, but it is a bit overpriced. That being said, you’re paying for the quality of product. If you’re not familiar with it, Philips Hue is a system of connected color changing LED bulbs that can be controlled with your smartphone. Philips backs up their bulbs with a two year warranty. I’ve actually had a bulb replaced with Philips and the process was simple. There’s also a good amount of third party integration with Philips Hue. The Philips Hue starter kit is available for $199 and if you’d like to find out more, check out the video.

Watch our smart home tech video below:

Pronto

Next up, we’re taking a look at Pronto. This thing will actually turn your smartphone into a universal remote. Pronto is a single unit that’s powered by four AA batteries (which last up to a year) and connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth. This little device has the ability to control virtually any device with an IR receiver such as TVs, set-top boxes, Blu-Ray players, and others. Just set it on a shelf with line of sight to your A/V equipment or use the included IR extension cable to tuck it away.

Pronto works with the free Peel Smart Remote app and will provide customized TV listings, a full guide, and access to multiple remotes within the app. Pronto connects via Bluetooth, but it will allow multiple device connections so everyone in your house can have their own remote with personalized suggestions and favorites. Pronto is available for around $50 and I highly recommend it.

Nest Learning Thermostat

Nest has been around for quite some time now. I’ve had my Nest 2.0 for about 2 years and it has been working flawlessly. With Nest you gain remote smartphone access to the temperature in your house, customized schedules, energy reports, and more. It’s certainly a classic piece of smart home tech in my book. This thermostat will learn your schedule and temperature preferences and automatically come up with an energy efficient schedule to help save you money on electricity. Nest also has an “away mode” which it will kick into when its sensor detects a lack of motion in the house and set the temperature to a customized range. Nest is available for $250, but it will definitely pay for itself over time.

August Smart Lock and Ring Video Doorbell

The last items in this list are August Smart Lock and Ring Video Doorbell. I’ve decided to combine these two because their combination is very useful. Simply having any video doorbell and a smart lock can be handy. We detailed August Smart Lock and Ring Video Doorbell in separate reviews if you’d like to find out more. First off, August integrates with Nest, so when I leave the house, August’s app will suggest setting the A/C to away mode.

Having a smart lock and a video doorbell will easily allow you to identify the person at the door and unlock it to let them in without taking a step. When someone rings the doorbell, a notification will pop up on your smartphone and allow you to see/communicate with the person on the other end. Once identified, you can launch the August app and unlock the door if necessary. Currently, you can pickup the August Smart Lock for $250, while Ring Video Doorbell is available for $199.

Smart home tech may not be the most affordable accessories, but they are super convenient and some of them will even save you time and money. Check out the video above for a closer look at all of these devices. What kind of smart home tech do you have in your house?

Filed under: Tech Industry Tagged: Accessories, iOS, iPhone, smart home, Technology, top accessories, video

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Apple opens sign-ups for developers to test upcoming App Analytics feature

Apple has started offering registered developers the chance to sign-up and test its upcoming App Analytics feature first announced last year at WWDC. Developers have been awaiting the service since it was announced following Apple’s acquisition of TestFlight (and FlightPath), a service which offered its own analytics features.

Apple says developers will gain access to the new feature on a first-come, first-served basis while requests can now be made through iTunes Connect.

For developers, App Analytics should fill a void for how users discover and interact with their software, helping to market and improve apps on the App Store. Users have been asked to grant developers permission for viewing analytic data since iOS 8 was introduced last fall.

Existing analytics services have long existed (including the TestFlight version before Apple bought the service), but Apple will be able to offer developers more information as it operates the App Store and doesn’t open backend data to third parties.

App Analytics will begin rolling out as a service labeled beta once developers gain access. We’ll likely hear more about the upcoming feature at WWDC 2015 in early June.

Filed under: Developers, iOS Tagged: analytics, App Analytics, App Store, Apps, Data, developers, TestFlight, WWDC

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