Archive for the ‘Microsoft Sync’ Category

The dangers of distracted driving are top of mind these days, what with recent studies on the risks, a Department of Transportation summit meeting, and even automakers speaking out against it.

A Congressional bill would cut highway funding to states that do not ban using handheld devices behind the wheel, as 17 already have. Ford now tout hands-free calling as a safety feature, and is rapidly spreading the Sync system that includes it throughout its range of vehicles.

Voice location moves

Now a Stanford University researcher has proposed a way to get drivers engaged in hands-free conversations to pay more attention when needed: Alter the...

Over the past couple of weeks, we've mentioned several systems that bring home computer-like services to automobiles. We've discussed proprietary systems like Ford's Microsoft Sync and its rumored Hyundai rival, and, at the other end of the spectrum, in-car routers that function as "dumb pipes", bringing Wi-Fi to laptops and other web-enabled devices. Just yesterday, we wondered aloud when this technology would merge and simplify, shifting from static systems to something more like the internet computing we know and love: customizable, flexible, and adaptable to the diverse needs of drivers.

We're not there yet, but we're happy to  report...

Rumor has it that Hyundai is working on its own telematics system to rival GM's OnStar and Ford's Microsoft Sync. The news comes via a memo from Hyundai's manager of brand strategy, wherein he asks members of a focus group to help name the new product. Apparently, the system will have four  major focuses, including safety/security, news/entertainment, navigation, and diagnostics. Of the names suggested so far -- including "Fuse" and "Emerge" -- none really stand out, but then, we weren't asked.

If true, this is an intriguing bit of news for Hyundai, which is riding a wave of positive press these days. However, we have to wonder where the...