rwolson Posted January 25, 2011 Report Share Posted January 25, 2011 Writing user interfaces or GUIs always prove challenging. You';; find some users like the screens and others hate it. I've seen a lot of high end cars with buttons all over the place and I wonder what CR thinks? I only agreed upon CR's comments re: the close head rests. I'm now used to them, but experienced a lot of initial neck pain until I found my sweet spot. The more I use MFT the more I play games to torment it. You need to experiment and find shortcuts to the various voice commands. Also, I rarely touch the screen anymore. I truly don't think CR gave the car the necessary time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Feirstein Posted January 26, 2011 Report Share Posted January 26, 2011 In response to the CU report Ford is introducing a training program for its dealers since it was found that the sales people did not know how to show customers how the control system worked. There will also be enhanced training for new buyers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin A Posted February 3, 2011 Report Share Posted February 3, 2011 In response to the CU report Ford is introducing a training program for its dealers since it was found that the sales people did not know how to show customers how the control system worked. There will also be enhanced training for new buyers. I agree. the salesperson I spoke with was clueless on some functions. I think they spend zero time studying the product they sell. Shame on the dealership for not training them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clownpuncher Posted February 3, 2011 Report Share Posted February 3, 2011 I like CR and I find their information valuable but it isn't the end all, be all that makes my determination for me. If someone were to only go by their recommendation then they are probably missing out on some great products. I tend to use the reviews they provide as a tool when looking at items. Their reviews are usually fairly un-biased and accurate but just because the writer doesn't like or can't live with a certain function doesn't mean I can't. In the case of the Edge reviewer, you not only have to take his experience into account but you also have to realize they typically only use these cars for a couple of days and with a system that is as in depth as MFT I think you really need longer than that to learn all the functions. So, if you don't want to spend the time then you may agree with him but if you dig new technology and learning that kind of thing you will probably disagree with him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Victor Wolansky Posted February 14, 2011 Report Share Posted February 14, 2011 I always respected CR, but lately I'm feeling like they are a bit dated, technology seems to be going faster than what they can catch. Said that, the current state of the Sync Touch, it is really in a non recommendable state, still need a lot of work and holes to be patched. I understand the "take your eyes out of the road" because when your commands do not work, you need to look to a screen to know where to press, like if your butt is getting burned by the seat heater, there is no "real" button to turn it off, so you need to look at the screen to turn it off. On my old car, I could do that with my eyes closed. Shouting instructions at the car and being ignored is a bit, but I guess it will only get better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Feirstein Posted February 15, 2011 Report Share Posted February 15, 2011 Ford made me proud. It responded almost instantly to the CU report and put into place a training program for its sales force and additional support for its customers. Honda used to be like this back in the day. But, in the end, someone at Ford bet the farm on the hope that the Sync Touch would be ready for prime time before it was let lose on the world. It lost that bet. Who knows if Ford will ever get this to function the way it intended. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Victor Wolansky Posted February 15, 2011 Report Share Posted February 15, 2011 Who knows if Ford will ever get this to function the way it intended. It can't be that difficult. The problem is the people that is "OK" with a super slow CPU on their $40K+ car..... Me, I will make my voice to be heard. I will complain and call the dealer every day if I have to until Ford gives me something that does what they said it does. Only if every Ford owner with a Sync Touch system do this, then may be Ford will be forced to revise those lame slow CPUs and incredibly buggy system. You can't be "OK" with a computer, you must totally love it, as you do with anything new you get. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hockey87 Posted February 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2011 Who knows if Ford will ever get this to function the way it intended. FWIW, I picked mine up the weekend (2011 Limited, with Vista Roof, BAMR, Navi, intelligent access package, cargo system, BLIS, dealer-installed DVD's, and, of course, the Touch. After three days of driving, ZERO complaints. The Touch is responsive and much better than experienced by others. True, it came installed with the latest updates. But, I have had no problems at all and it's been a total joy. So either the software updates have helped tremendously or Ford has an issue with consistency in production, but I'm totally satisfied. Of course, I bought this knowing that as one of the early (but not too early) adopters, I am one of the guinea pigs so while Ford has a responsibility for making sure that it is functional upon release, there is also a risk of being an early adopter. That said, there is certainly a responsibility of Ford's to make sure all things work upon release or to make things right as quickly as possible. Which in my case (and some others), they have. But again, we early adopters have to know we are taking risks that crap can go wrong and, too often, will (I am involved in product launches so I know that unexpected shite happens). Otherwise, I woulda bought a Civic and life would have been hassle-free. Not that I'm not a savvy user either or have a low satisfaction point as I have had factory-installed NAVI systems before and this is a step beyond. BTW, I'm no Ford apologist because I am a first time Ford owner and took my sweet, g.d.'ed time before Committing (whole process of research and thinking took over eight months, in large part because I had to get over my Ford/North Amercian car psychological hump) but am totally pleased thus far. Now, that said, we can be all assured that when I start the car this morning, all hell will break loose. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Victor Wolansky Posted February 15, 2011 Report Share Posted February 15, 2011 After three days of driving, ZERO complaints. The Touch is responsive and much better than experienced by others. True, it came installed with the latest updates. But, I have had no problems at all and it's been a total joy. Not that I'm not a savvy user either or have a low satisfaction point as I have had factory-installed NAVI systems before and this is a step beyond. Good to hear you have a good experience. Do you mean you touch the screen to let's say write a street address and the thing respond in a way that you can write let's say at the speed you type on any phone? Not have to wait about a second per letter? Or hit the home button and takes about 4 seconds to react? I'm curious because this difference makes me wonder if Ford is using different hardware on more recent 2011 Edges. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
choff1138 Posted February 15, 2011 Report Share Posted February 15, 2011 Good to hear you have a good experience. Do you mean you touch the screen to let's say write a street address and the thing respond in a way that you can write let's say at the speed you type on any phone? Not have to wait about a second per letter? Or hit the home button and takes about 4 seconds to react? I'm curious because this difference makes me wonder if Ford is using different hardware on more recent 2011 Edges. Victor - I really think that it all depends on the quality of your download of software. I have a limited built in August without the upgrade - and my system works better than what you describe. I hope they are able to get yours set up correctly so you can truly enjoy. (I have not pulled a fuse once for the record) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waldo Posted February 15, 2011 Report Share Posted February 15, 2011 I'm curious because this difference makes me wonder if Ford is using different hardware on more recent 2011 Edges. There is nothing wrong with the hardware in the MyFordTouch system. The issues - including the slowness - are 100% software related. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Victor Wolansky Posted February 15, 2011 Report Share Posted February 15, 2011 There is nothing wrong with the hardware in the MyFordTouch system. The issues - including the slowness - are 100% software related. And you know this because??... Do you have any insight I dont? I have not being able to find any specification on the hardware they are using. Neither I've seen one running at a better speed than mine, and tried in a few Edges at the Washington Auto Expo and the dealer. Just to do a comparison to what I feel, and old iPhone 3G feels like a super computer in comparison to the Edge hardware... for what I've seen so far... may be I'm too exigent? Or have the bad luck that every vehicle I tried have the bad software installed?? Time will tell I guess. I hope I'm proved wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted February 15, 2011 Report Share Posted February 15, 2011 And you know this because??... Do you have any insight I dont? Yes he does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Victor Wolansky Posted February 15, 2011 Report Share Posted February 15, 2011 Yes he does. Does he works for Ford? I always wondered if Ford people read this forum and take notes of suggestions and problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted February 16, 2011 Report Share Posted February 16, 2011 Does he works for Ford? I always wondered if Ford people read this forum and take notes of suggestions and problems. I didn't say that. I just said that he knows what he's talking about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Victor Wolansky Posted February 16, 2011 Report Share Posted February 16, 2011 I didn't say that. I just said that he knows what he's talking about. I just wonder how he knows or sustain that, without knowing the specs of the hardware, pure curiosity, not to put in doubt what he say, but I do like facts, not "I know because I know" Same reason why I do not always buy CR reports until I see with my own eyes and try with my own hands :-). Like I said before, I would totally love to be 200% wrong. I'll let you know if my experience change this Friday after the dealer service. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted February 16, 2011 Report Share Posted February 16, 2011 I just wonder how he knows or sustain that, without knowing the specs of the hardware He's clairvoyant......... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waldo Posted February 16, 2011 Report Share Posted February 16, 2011 I can tell you what I know, or I can tell you how I know it, but not both... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grey Posted February 16, 2011 Report Share Posted February 16, 2011 I can tell you what I know, or I can tell you how I know it, but not both... Waldo, you are the man. Say Hi to the gang for us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Victor Wolansky Posted February 16, 2011 Report Share Posted February 16, 2011 I can tell you what I know, or I can tell you how I know it, but not both... I'm just interested on the facts, what the hardware is, where you got it from, if you can't say, I can imagine. But what I can imagine of the specs, is that my very first iPhone was a super computer compared to this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
choff1138 Posted February 16, 2011 Report Share Posted February 16, 2011 (edited) He's clairvoyant......... Slightly snarky - but well worded and totally deserved. Thanks Waldo and Grey for hanging out and giving info when you can. Edited February 16, 2011 by choff1138 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Victor Wolansky Posted February 17, 2011 Report Share Posted February 17, 2011 I have never seen such a level of frustration among users, part of my job is to test software, every day, I do it for several companies, from cheap $500 software to $300K one user license software, and I have never received a piece of beta software so beta as Sync Touch. Be honest, of you buy a computer or gadget or GPS with so much trouble? Do you keep it? Or you get your money back next week? This thing is the core of the car, and cause so much distraction to the driver that is actually unsafe. I'm surprised Ford has not recalled it yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted February 17, 2011 Report Share Posted February 17, 2011 Of course if you are an embedded application software engineer with close ties to Ford, I'll take your word for it. Not even close, but you can take his word for it regardless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted February 17, 2011 Report Share Posted February 17, 2011 I have never seen such a level of frustration among users, part of my job is to test software, every day, I do it for several companies, from cheap $500 software to $300K one user license software, and I have never received a piece of beta software so beta as Sync Touch. Be honest, of you buy a computer or gadget or GPS with so much trouble? Do you keep it? Or you get your money back next week? This thing is the core of the car, and cause so much distraction to the driver that is actually unsafe. I'm surprised Ford has not recalled it yet. I think you're overestimating the number of people having issues and the degree of frustration of the average user. There are a handfull of folks here with serious problems and concerns. There are tens of thousands of happy Edge owners (many here also) with no big issues. At one point a dealer had sold 200 Edges and only had one complaint. It's easy to look at an internet forum and assume the worst but the sample size is way too small and way too biased towards reporting problems. This is Ford's first foray into this type of complicated user interface software. It's obvious they chose a poor platform (flash) and have way too many bugs, but it's a learning curve and it will most certainly get better over time. To put it into perspective - how many other car companies offer software this complicated in a vehicle? It's a lot different than developing a web page. The fact that it's a software issue is good news since it can be easily fixed. Hardware would be much tougher. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waldo Posted February 17, 2011 Report Share Posted February 17, 2011 I oh so hope you are wrong about this. Because with the level of expertise I've seen thus far from Ford's software engineers, the odds of ever fixing this mess are very poor indeed. (Could they perhaps be some of the same people responsible for the syncmyride.com website? Because that is probably the worst support websites in terms of design and execution that I have ever encountered.) Do you mean the same Ford software engineers who designed the engine controls that give you such great performance and fuel economy? Do you mean the same Ford software engineers who designed the stability control and AWD systems that areamong the best in the business. Do you mean the same Ford software engineers who designed the auto wiper, adaptive cruise, BLIS and other leading edge technologies? Actually the truth is none of those things are really done by Ford software engineers. Almost every piece of software in the vehicle, including MyFordTouch, is lead by outside suppliers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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