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Ford retrospectively adds Siri Eyes Free to 5M older cars, still says CarPlay is on the way

Ford may be taking its time to equip its vehicles with CarPlay, but the manufacturer has good news for owners of older Fords: it has today announced a software update to add Siri Eyes Free support to more than five million vehicles dating back to 2011. The update is for vehicles equipped with Ford’s own infotainment system, SYNC.

Ford today is releasing a new software update for more than 5 million SYNC-equipped vehicles dating back to the 2011 model year, adding more convenience for Apple iPhone users with Siri Eyes-Free capability.

Ford Electronics director Sherif Marakby said: “Siri Eyes-Free is another great voice-activated feature that not only adds convenience but helps our customers keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel.”

While Siri Eyes Free has been rather eclipsed by CarPlay, it’s still a useful halfway house … 

It allows drivers to use a button on the steering wheel to activate Siri and carry out a limited number of functions, while the iPhone screen remains off to avoid the temptation to look at it whilst driving.

Siri Eyes Free allows drivers to call people in their Contacts, dictate and listen to text messages, check & add calendar appointments, check the weather, set reminders and of course play music, all via voice.

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGyT2Xm6nxw]

Via Engadget

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Comments

  1. codemonkey85 - 8 years ago

    I think you mean ‘retroactively’.

    • Ben Lovejoy - 8 years ago

      The two terms are synonymous in this context. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retrospective

      • Scott (@ScooterComputer) - 8 years ago

        Sorry, neither usage is correct in this context. First off, “retrospectively” is rooted in “looking back”, either in examining or taking into account things from before. “Retroactive” deals with actions in the past. Ford is not enabling a feature that had been IN older cars but dormant, they are ADDING new functionality to cars that had previously been sold. That is neither retrospective nor retroactive. Now, it could be said that Ford WAS retrospective during their decision making TO ADD said abilities, or that they will be retroactive in extending free service to those owners under terms of a warranty (if, indeed, they are doing that).
        I think “retrofits” over “adds” is the word you are looking for.

      • Ben Lovejoy - 8 years ago

        “Applying to, or influencing, the past” – which is the case here. Ford is applying an update to past models.

  2. Justin Stanley - 8 years ago

    YES! My 2012 Focus gets this. Thanks for notifying me. :)

  3. shareef777 - 8 years ago

    Wish Honda would get off their ass and provide this for their lineup. I was told my 2013 Accord would get Siri Eyes Free but from everything I’ve read, it’s not going to happen.

  4. Found a typo, I think you mean Car Play and not Apple Play. it’s in the sentence below the statement from Ford. But a great article nonetheless.

  5. monty72 - 8 years ago

    Come on Audi, you Barstewards!

  6. Michael Moreno - 8 years ago

    Do only cars with the MyFord Touch get this? I have a 2013 Focus with only Sync and it won’t let me install a new update on the Ford site.

  7. I wish Honda would honor there original statement with accord. Per “http://owners.honda.com/utility/download?path=/static/pdfs/common/Siri_EFM_Honda.pdf ” and update there accord to support Siri eye free. It was one of the reason I choose accord over fusion.

  8. Jesse Wehner - 8 years ago

    Does anyone know if Siri Eyes Free works on a 2011 Ford Fiesta?

Author

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Ben Lovejoy

Ben Lovejoy is a British technology writer and EU Editor for 9to5Mac. He’s known for his op-eds and diary pieces, exploring his experience of Apple products over time, for a more rounded review. He also writes fiction, with two technothriller novels, a couple of SF shorts and a rom-com!


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