GM's Android Automotive: A bad omen for Ford?

[Highway 11]

So one of the things that held me up from buying a '23 initially was that Sync 4 was on its way out with a new Android Automotive based SYNC system for the Gen 14 refresh. But based on this review, I'm a) Happy I got a 23 and b) Concerned that Ford's implementation of Android Automotive is going to fall flat. Some of the things they talk about in the article are, well, awful.

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/202...ream-a-review-of-gms-new-infotainment-system/

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[Ajzride]

Between Thanksgiving and Christmas I had a Dodge Ram Bighorn rental that the head unit kept crashing and giving Android Auto errors. It was 12 degrees and I couldn't adjust the climate control temperature. Definitely not a good sign moving forwards. Made me glad I was on Sync as well.

 

[Aron]

I don't really want any of the big intrusive tech companies embedding themselves in my vehicle. I don't want Alexa, and I'm glad that I won't have to deal with Android Auto until at least my next vehicle.

 

[Jus Cruisin]

I'll be swapping the F150 for a GMC 1500 Sierra Denali Ultimate this year and I like the GM infotainment system on my Camaro and look forward to the GMC system. Yeah, I'm android phone user.

 

[HammaMan]

I'll be swapping the F150 for a GMC 1500 Sierra Denali Ultimate this year and I like the GM infotainment system on my Camaro and look forward to the GMC system. Yeah, I'm android phone user.

The only thing I like in my 22 GM was the split camera views. I found everything else about it meh. GM milks the hell out of owners with their onstar crap. Ford gives you remote connectivity free, GM charges for it. It won't even unlock your doors if it's on your own wifi without paying them $15/mo. Want data? Pay even more. I can do without all of the $$$ crap they pull.

 

[RickBullotta]

No thanks. I want a platform that supports both the Apple and Android ecosystems. Lack of support for CarPlay would be a "won't buy" blocker for me.

 

[HammaMan]

No thanks. I want a platform that supports both the Apple and Android ecosystems. Lack of support for CarPlay would be a "won't buy" blocker for me.

It supports carplay.

 

[Snakebitten]

I've suffered with Sync for many vehicles and many versions for many years.

I'm finally being rewarded for my loyalty for what I consider an amazing Sync experience with the current Sync4. It's even jumped up another step recently with the addition of extended support of 2 phones. And for ME that's a really nice addition.

Note: I use 1 phone without a SIM as a dedicated device to the truck. It's displayed exactly where I want it (Thank you Proclip) and it's setup for PID monitoring primarily. But it also autoconnects to the trucks WiFi Hotspot, and thus leverages the very underutilized $200 annual data subscription with AT&T.

I can use it for all my media consumption in the truck and thus not have to configure my primary phone in any way that I consider a compromise, just to enjoy the trucks abilities.

The recent 22293 update means I can quickly switch between either phone for which one that I wish to use as Bluetooth source for streaming, or even which one is the source for Android Auto, should I desire to fire that option up.

Sync4 is finally a culmination of a lot of development over many years. I do NOT look forward to starting over with a brand new onboard platform, and one that is sure to lead to a lot of finger-pointing between Ford, Google, and Samsung. ?

 

[GDN]

May not be a popular opinion, but the only infotainment system I really like and trust is Tesla. They cater to no one. It's about the car, the experience and you. Yeah they switch it up from time to time and move things around, but they don't have to be locked into Android's OS, nor Android Auto, nor CarPlay. Pay a simple $10 montly fee and your navigation is included, the apps are included. They don't nickel and dime you as it seems many of the other manufactures are setting up to do.

Tesla puts the compute resources into the system to make it fast, responsive and they keep adding more services (yeah over time they will all need updates, but my 4 year old Tesla was 10 times as fast as my new F150.) Their communication and security is likely the top of the list as well.

I don't want my experience dictated by Apple nor Android and there is nothing about Android that can be considered safe.

 

[HammaMan]

May not be a popular opinion, but the only infotainment system I really like and trust is Tesla. They cater to no one. It's about the car, the experience and you. Yeah they switch it up from time to time and move things around, but they don't have to be locked into Android's OS, nor Android Auto, nor CarPlay. Pay a simple $10 montly fee and your navigation is included, the apps are included. They don't nickel and dime you as it seems many of the other manufactures are setting up to do.

Tesla puts the compute resources into the system to make it fast, responsive and they keep adding more services (yeah over time they will all need updates, but my 4 year old Tesla was 10 times as fast as my new F150.) Their communication and security is likely the top of the list as well.

I don't want my experience dictated by Apple nor Android and there is nothing about Android that can be considered safe.

Yeah, but they're also continually monitoring your telemetry, but pulling images from your cameras too. It's all a double edged sword. Their entertainment CPU/GPU are made using the latest PC grade silicon that's vastly superior to others. The new go-to processor for the industry however is more than adequate for their entertainment and screen duties. Tesla isn't using their hardware efficiently however -- there's far more parasitic loss to their various systems w/ key off than makes sense.

 

[JHForman812]

I was originally excited for AAOS, after reading that article YEESH!! this looks like a disaster waiting to happen.

 

[Jus Cruisin]

The only thing I like in my 22 GM was the split camera views. I found everything else about it meh. GM milks the hell out of owners with their onstar crap. Ford gives you remote connectivity free, GM charges for it. It won't even unlock your doors if it's on your own wifi without paying them $15/mo. Want data? Pay even more. I can do without all of the $$$ crap they pull.

They have 3 years of OnStar built into the price along with the 3 years of Super Cruise. That and retracting running boards you don't have jump up to get to. I know not that bad but I hate the "new" running boards. Just need 2 options on the Ultimate. Super Cruise, carbon pro bed ($115). I'll add a REV hard folding tonneau and window tint and that's it.

 

[HammaMan]

They have 3 years of OnStar built into the price along with the 3 years of Super Cruise. That and retracting running boards you don't have jump up to get to. I know not that bad but I hate the "new" running boards. Just need 2 options on the Ultimate. Super Cruise, carbon pro bed ($115). I'll add a REV hard folding tonneau and window tint and that's it.

I got a whole 1 month of onstar and "supercruise" only works on pre-mapped interstates. There is zero functionality for anything else. Even their new "update" would work on a random mile or two of supposedly newly mapped roads. No other LKA features whereas both of my fords will follow nearly any road.

 

[Jus Cruisin]

I got a whole 1 month of onstar and "supercruise" only works on pre-mapped interstates. There is zero functionality for anything else. Even their new "update" would work on a random mile or two of supposedly newly mapped roads. No other LKA features whereas both of my fords will follow nearly any road.

My BlueCruise just works on the interstates or freeways up here and as soon as I come up on a tight corner it shuts off. My bil's Escalade works on all the roads mine does up in Michigan, anyway.
My Camaro ZL1 had only 1 month of Onstar, as well. My Corvettes, I think, had 12 months. Never extended it. I don't need remote start.
Now, I've owned plenty of Ford trucks and they are great. I'm just not thrilled with Powerboost and I'm not about to replace it with basically they same truck with zero improvements.

 

[HammaMan]

My BlueCruise just works on the interstates or freeways up here and as soon as I come up on a tight corner it shuts off. My bil's Escalade works on all the roads mine does up in Michigan, anyway.
My Camaro ZL1 had only 1 month of Onstar, as well. My Corvettes, I think, had 12 months. Never extended it. I don't need remote start.
Now, I've owned plenty of Ford trucks and they are great. I'm just not thrilled with Powerboost and I'm not about to replace it with basically they same truck with zero improvements.

I have hand's free BC in the MME, and the LKA in the F150.
The F150's is the better system. I'd originally thought that the hands-free would be the better choice, my how wrong I was. Now it's different in the F150, but in the MME if you drive 1 handed center wheel, it can obscure one of the sensors and it does dumb shit. The F150 on the other hand will drive far more roads than the MME will despite being a larger vehicle, it's less jerky, and with the leg resting against the wheel trick, it's hands free. Both will cancel on tight turns, but the F150 will drive far more of the twisty backroads we've got here.

SC doesn't have most of the state highways mapped and would do nothing, whereas both fords drive the state highways without issue. Might want to take an extended test drive to verify. The ford system will work on anything with a lane that's at least 9.5' wide from what I can tell. Granted the MME wants at least 10' lane widths. I find it amusing that the F150 will auto center more roads than the smaller MME.

This was the 2nd GM I'd ever owned, and had it ~3 months. The only positive thing I had to say about it was I got more than I bought it for off the truck when I sold it.

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