Using Ford Sync AppLink, drivers can also connect with the Wink smart-home platform, which means they could program house lights to turn on when the vehicle is a certain distance from home. The announcement is expected to be made at Ford’s CES presentation, which is set to start at 7:30AM PST. This is part of a broader effort by Amazon to offer Alexa’s features separate from the Echo device.
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And through another partnership the company is working on, your Wink smart home controller could soon connect everything in your life together, meaning you’ll be able to control your home from your vehicle too.
Ford, a Auto manufacturer that really needs no introduction, has revealed that it’s working to integrate its SYNC Connect platform with Amazon Echo.
At this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas Ford boss Mark Fields announced a handful of updates for the third-generation SYNC system.
The redesigned interface is clearer and easier-to-use, according to Ford. Apple CarPlay gives iPhone users access to Apple Maps, Messages, Phone and Music through Siri voice control or the vehicle’s touch-screen.
To begin, the automaker will announce that it is tripling its fleet of autonomous vehicles in 2016, upping its total to 30 test vehicles on the road.
But it’s not just about controlling your vehicle from your couch – Ford also says that you’ll be able to access Alexa through a voice recognition button mounted on the car’s steering wheel.
“SYNC allows customers to bring the smartphone technology they’re comfortable with into a vehicle and use it without hassle”, said Don Butler, Ford executive director for connected vehicle and services.
“Things like remote start, unlocking their doors, checking fuel levels, and even locating a parked vehicle”.
“Using the driver’s smartphone, the F-150 would establish a real-time link between the drone, the truck and the cloud so vehicle data can be shared”, Ford explained.
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The Ford Motor Co. and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) have both announced that it will include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto into its vehicles.
