Ford's SYNC Goes Nostradamus, Predicts Best Departure Times

By Nelson Ireson

Nelson Ireson

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Ford SYNC Destinations app

Using navigation just to get to your destination is so 2009. Now your car can tell you when you should leave your origin point to cut transit time as short as possible. You'll need a SYNC-equipped and Traffic, Directions and Information (TDI)-capable Ford car, though.

The new features, announced today, are powered by a smartphone app that uses TDI statistics to give you mobile navigation and traffic data, as well as scanning the route ahead for potential slow-downs, letting you know when it's wiser to just stay put and head out later. Ford envisions the predictive departure time feature as best used for the morning commute, allowing drivers to get to work at the same time, while avoiding the rolling parking lot.

Perhaps the most useful feature, however, is the app's ability to store and manage "Saved Points," destinations and addresses you would otherwise program into your GPS system. By adding them with the app, the new saved locations are available directly in the car, meaning no more tedious re-typing or having to write down directions--just pop them in the app and go. Provided it works as well as it's pitched, of course.

It's exciting to see real functionality and features added with a smarthphone app, as opposed to duplicative or redundant function that overlaps--and doesn't interface with--the onboard systems, as we've seen in the past.

The new SYNC Destinations app is available for free in the Apple App Store and in the Android Market.

[Ford]

Ford SYNC Destinations app

Ford SYNC Destinations app

Ford SYNC Destinations app

Ford SYNC Destinations app