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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I think you mean ‘retroactively’.
The two terms are synonymous in this context. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retrospective
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.
“Applying to, or influencing, the past” – which is the case here. Ford is applying an update to past models.
YES! My 2012 Focus gets this. Thanks for notifying me. :)
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.
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.
Come on Audi, you Barstewards!
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.
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.
Does anyone know if Siri Eyes Free works on a 2011 Ford Fiesta?
Go to owner.ford.com and register your account to see if your car gets the update.