Must watch: Star Wars retold by someone who never saw Star Wars.

Must watch: Star Wars retold by someone who never saw Star Wars.

Everything Including the Kitchen Sync

Everybody hates Microsoft. I get it. Buy a Mac! Use Linux! Get an iPod! Zunes blow! Now that that’s out of the way…Microsoft Sync in ford automobiles rocks. Here’s what happened: I needed a four-door automobile due to the changing conditions in my life. I sadly and reluctantly traded in my beautiful 1999 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. I got hosed over on the deal, but what else was I going to do with the car? I have to get rid of it, and I did avoid having to make additional expensive repairs to it - and now I have a four-door vehicle, a 2009 Ford Fusion.

The vehicle came with two features that were semi-interesting but did not seal it for me: Sirius satellite radio and Microsoft Sync technology.

I have been enjoying the Sirius satellite radio, but mainly for the variety of channels. Most of the talk radio available is crap and some of the music stations are repetitive. It’s nice having the weather channels available, I just wish I lived in Boston, Philly, Phoenix, or San Fran (etc.) so I could actually benefit from them. The verdict is out on whether or not I will renew the Sirius subscription when the six-month introductory period expires. I will keep y’all posted.

The Microsoft Sync technology? Rock on! I haven’t figured out all the commands just yet, but I also haven’t read the guides. The buttons are intuitive enough that once you figure out how to hit your voice activation, you just sort of figure out what to say and when. The only thing my dealer helped me with was the initial sync to my bluetooth phone on the night I bought my car. All the rest of the commands and buttons I have figured out through trial and error. It has been pretty easy and the only struggles I had were in the beginning when I couldn’t figure out how to exit a menu easily.

All of the buttons you need are right on the steering wheel and to answer the phone you simply hit the picture of a phone on your radio (right next to your tuning knob).

What this technology gives you is hands-free cell phone communication while driving. Not only is it awesome, it should be required for any cell phone owners who wish to talk while driving.

Microsoft hit a home run with this implementation of their sync technology and it doesn’t require you to reboot your car, ever.

And if this weren’t enough, Microsoft is taking it a step further in their F-150s. It’s only a matter of time before our dashboards are merely an extension of our Facebook profiles. Imagine the update, “Bongo is heading south on 35W near exit 233B, Longitude 44.960699, Latitude, -93.269355.” Frightening? Yes, but hopefully there will always be an opt-out clause.