Ford has revealed its latest SYNC connected car system, promising smartphone-like performance, conversational voice control and a simpler interface. The SYNC 3 will feature a much brighter touchscreen than previous versions with multi-touch capability for pinch-to-zoom and other functions. It’ll also feature larger onscreen buttons and high contrast fonts to avoid any fiddling. The interface help road warriors to futz less as well, with three zone choices on the home screen: navigation, audio and phone. In addition, a “one-box search” is designed to give Google-like simplicity when searching for locations or contact info. The auto giant also said that SYNC 3 will have much sharper graphics and be as responsive as a smartphone or tablet for most functions. That said, the system was designed to be used first and foremost with voice control, and now accepts much more conversational commands. For example, a driver can just say “Play ‘Good Times Bad Times'” to hear the Led Zeppelin song, without having to name the album or genre as before. SYNC 3 now supports Siri voice commands as well, allowing iPhone users to activate it with a push-to-talk button on the steering wheel. You’ll no longer need to say or type an exact name or address, either. For instance, you can now enter “Detroit Airport” to get directions if you don’t know the official name, or give a business name like “Starbucks” rather than the address. Ford has also touched up its AppLink system, making it possible to select apps compatible with the SYNC 3’s vehicle-oriented interface. Compatible apps like Spotify or Pandora will function in a completely different way on SYNC than on a phone or tablet. After you log into your account, you’ll be able to use voice recognition and menu buttons to control music or perform other functions. The company told me that it has over 70 compatible apps so far, and expects to bring hundreds more over the next year. To update apps, SYNC 3 now has a WiFi receiver that can log onto your home network or a smartphone hotspot. The new system will be available across Ford’s US vehicle lineup starting next year, and roll out elsewhere by the end of 2016. Filed under: Transportation Comments

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Ford’s revamped SYNC infotainment system is built for speed