Ford Brings New Android and Apple Features to Cars

Cars and Drivers

Published: May 20, 2017 8:35 am

Last Updated: January 12, 2020 11:50 am

Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F), in an attempt to keep up with the competition in the smart car market, has added two new features to its suite. Each is an upgrade to Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOGL) and Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) products that the company already uses.

According to Ford the new features are:

Ford SYNC 3 software update brings support for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay to model-year 2016 vehicles
Customers can update by downloading the software to a USB drive, visiting a dealership or over-the-air via a Wi-Fi connection
This is Ford’s first software update via Wi-Fi and offers a convenient and automated alternative to existing upgrade methods

The Android software covers devices with the 5.0 version or higher. It includes often-used products like Google Maps and Android phone features like voice control. Apple CarPlay works with iPhone 5 or later version phones of with iOS 7.1 or higher. It includes hands-free text, Apple music and connections to many iPhone products.

Ford has had trouble keeping up with competition in sales. It is considered the weakest U.S. car company. Its shares trade near a 52-week low. Ford recently laid off many of its nonunion workers in North America and Asia. Some outsiders wonder if CEO Mark Fields will keep his job.

Virtually all new cars sold in the United States have a number of smart car features. Often among these are navigation with verbal directors, hands-free phones, lane departure and collision warnings, and diagnostics that tell the driver if the engine or other critical car parts have problems.

However, many drivers do not like the features because they are complicated. Research firm J.D. Power found, in a 2012 survey, that people disliked Ford advanced technology that in many cases they say negatively affected quality.

Ford’s new initiative adds some fairly basic software features to some of its cars. None of them have features that are uncommon, so Ford is keeping up with the competition, but not moving ahead.

The Average American Has No Idea How Much Money You Can Make Today ^(Sponsor)

The last few years made people forget how much banks and CD’s can pay. Meanwhile, interest rates have spiked and many can afford to pay you much more, but most are keeping yields low and hoping you won’t notice.

But there is good news. To win qualified customers, some accounts are paying almost 10x the national average! That’s an incredible way to keep your money safe and earn more at the same time. Our top pick for high yield savings accounts includes other benefits as well. You can earn up to 3.80% with a Checking & Savings Account today Sign up and get up to $300 with direct deposit. No account fees. FDIC Insured.

Click here to see how much more you could be earning on your savings today. It takes just a few minutes to open an account to make your money work for you.

Our top pick for high yield savings accounts includes other benefits as well. You can earn up to 4.00% with a Checking & Savings Account from Sofi. Sign up and get up to $300 with direct deposit. No account fees. FDIC Insured.

¹https://www.fdic.gov/national-rates-and-rate-caps