Podcast appearances and mentions of Ford Sync

This video is going to be a little different to my normal ones. I usually need to do lots of research to get the story straight. But not this one – this was basically a brain dump! If you don't know, I once, many moons ago, worked for Microsoft in the Automotive Business Unit or ABU, in fact this is an ABU t-shirt. I started working on the Auto PC – the car stereo you see behind me there – and although I missed ABU's crowning glory, the Ford SYNC system, I was back in the team to witness first-hand the chaos of the infamous MyFord Touch project. Not much is out there about some of the background to what happened, and I've always wanted to tell the real story, what Ford's PR department didn't want you to hear.

If you wanted to have the latest cutting-edge technology in your car in 2007 you wouldn't buy a BMW 7 series or a Mercedes S-Class. You'd own a 2008 Ford Focus with SYNC. It was the crowning achievement of Microsoft's Automotive team; a device that plays music from media players and supports hands-free phone calls. It was revolutionary at the time and was included in over 1 million vehicles. But it almost never happened. It was the last roll of the dice from a team that had spent years in the wilderness trying to break into the car market.

Helping a caller with sound issues after a Windows update, watching Blu-rays on your Mac, using satellite internet out on the seas, TV and sound system suggestions, why you might not be able to log into YouTube through Steam, issues with a caller's DSL service, chatting with Chris Marquardt and Rod Pyle, and more of your calls! Host: Leo Laporte Guests: Chris Marquardt and Rod Pyle Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/the-tech-guy. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit For detailed show notes, visit techguylabs.com. Sponsor: simplisafe.com/twit

Helping a caller with sound issues after a Windows update, watching Blu-rays on your Mac, using satellite internet out on the seas, TV and sound system suggestions, why you might not be able to log into YouTube through Steam, issues with a caller's DSL service, chatting with Chris Marquardt and Rod Pyle, and more of your calls! Host: Leo Laporte Guests: Chris Marquardt and Rod Pyle Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/the-tech-guy. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit For detailed show notes, visit techguylabs.com. Sponsor: simplisafe.com/twit

Helping a caller with sound issues after a Windows update, watching Blu-rays on your Mac, using satellite internet out on the seas, TV and sound system suggestions, why you might not be able to log into YouTube through Steam, issues with a caller's DSL service, chatting with Chris Marquardt and Rod Pyle, and more of your calls! Host: Leo Laporte Guests: Chris Marquardt and Rod Pyle Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/the-tech-guy. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit For detailed show notes, visit techguylabs.com. Sponsor: simplisafe.com/twit

Helping a caller with sound issues after a Windows update, watching Blu-rays on your Mac, using satellite internet out on the seas, TV and sound system suggestions, why you might not be able to log into YouTube through Steam, issues with a caller's DSL service, chatting with Chris Marquardt and Rod Pyle, and more of your calls! Host: Leo Laporte Guests: Chris Marquardt and Rod Pyle Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/the-tech-guy. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit For detailed show notes, visit techguylabs.com. Sponsor: simplisafe.com/twit

Helping a caller with sound issues after a Windows update, watching Blu-rays on your Mac, using satellite internet out on the seas, TV and sound system suggestions, why you might not be able to log into YouTube through Steam, issues with a caller's DSL service, chatting with Chris Marquardt and Rod Pyle, and more of your calls! Host: Leo Laporte Guests: Chris Marquardt and Rod Pyle Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/the-tech-guy. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit For detailed show notes, visit techguylabs.com. Sponsor: simplisafe.com/twit

Helping a caller with sound issues after a Windows update, watching Blu-rays on your Mac, using satellite internet out on the seas, TV and sound system suggestions, why you might not be able to log into YouTube through Steam, issues with a caller's DSL service, chatting with Chris Marquardt and Rod Pyle, and more of your calls! Host: Leo Laporte Guests: Chris Marquardt and Rod Pyle Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/the-tech-guy. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit For detailed show notes, visit techguylabs.com. Sponsor: simplisafe.com/twit

Helping a caller with sound issues after a Windows update, watching Blu-rays on your Mac, using satellite internet out on the seas, TV and sound system suggestions, why you might not be able to log into YouTube through Steam, issues with a caller's DSL service, chatting with Chris Marquardt and Rod Pyle, and more of your calls! Host: Leo Laporte Guests: Chris Marquardt and Rod Pyle Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/the-tech-guy. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit For detailed show notes, visit techguylabs.com. Sponsor: simplisafe.com/twit

Helping a caller with sound issues after a Windows update, watching Blu-rays on your Mac, using satellite internet out on the seas, TV and sound system suggestions, why you might not be able to log into YouTube through Steam, issues with a caller's DSL service, chatting with Chris Marquardt and Rod Pyle, and more of your calls! Host: Leo Laporte Guests: Chris Marquardt and Rod Pyle Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/the-tech-guy. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit For detailed show notes, visit techguylabs.com. Sponsor: simplisafe.com/twit

Helping a caller with sound issues after a Windows update, watching Blu-rays on your Mac, using satellite internet out on the seas, TV and sound system suggestions, why you might not be able to log into YouTube through Steam, issues with a caller's DSL service, chatting with Chris Marquardt and Rod Pyle, and more of your calls! Host: Leo Laporte Guests: Chris Marquardt and Rod Pyle Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/the-tech-guy. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit For detailed show notes, visit techguylabs.com. Sponsor: simplisafe.com/twit

This week an edition all about Ford's New Sync 4 which will be released in select 2021 Ford Vehicles. Doug and Joel are Joined by Jesse. Jesse is Infotainment.com's Master Ford Tech. The show covers some of the Known updates like wirelesss carplay and android auto, plus cloud enhancements to the Factory Navigation. We learn more about the newest version of Ford's Infotainment client Sync 4. We cover some New Updates and improvements to showcase how Ford Motor Company is truly an Innovative American Company. So open up this episode of Infotainment talk Radio gain insight into the upcoming Sync 4 release.

Der Ford Galaxy - Der Was? audio Autotipp Zugegeben, mit großen Autos hat man es bei der Parkplatzsuche nicht immer leicht, aber dafür hat man reichlich Platz für Passagiere und Gepäck. Beim Ford Galaxy können Sie sich notfalls von sechs Mitfahrern dirigieren lassen, denn der Wagen wird mit bis zu sieben Sitzen geliefert. Und einer der Insassen wird bestimmt eine Parklücke erspähen. Wir sprechen heute über den Galaxy und seine Vorzüge. Darum geht es diesmal!Wer auf der Suche nach einem Fahrzeug mit viel Platz und elegantem Aussehen ist, der landet früher oder später beim Ford Galaxy. Und das zu Recht, denn zum einen ist der Van des Kölner Automobilherstellers ein Raumwunder mit Platz für bis zu sieben Personen, zum anderen bringt er viele intelligente Technologien mit. Wir haben ihn als Ford Galaxy 2.0l EcoBlue mit 140 kW (190 PS) und mit Automatik getestet.       Power und Drive!    Den Galaxy bekommt man mit einem Benzinmotor mit 121 kW (165 PS) sowie mit Dieselaggregaten mit 110 kW (150 PS), 140 kW (190 PS) und 177 kW (240 PS). Den Benziner gibt es nur mit 6-Gang-Schaltgetriebe, den kleinen Diesel wahlweise mit 6-Gang-Schaltgetriebe oder 8-Gang-Automatikgetriebe, den mittleren und den Topdiesel nur mit Automatik, aber das ist durchaus sinnvoll. Mit dem Test des 140 kW (190 PS) Diesels mit Automatik bewegen wir uns preis- und leistungsmäßig im gesunden Mittelfeld. Den gibt es zwar auch mit Allradantrieb, wir schauen uns aber die frontgetriebene Variante näher an. In dieser Kombination wird der Spurt zu Tempo 100 in 9,7 Sekunden erledigt, die Spitze liegt bei 204 km/h. Dafür benötigt der Wagen im kombinierten Meßzyklus zwischen 5,2 und 5,7 Liter Diesel, die Co2 Emissionen liegen in einem Fenster von 136 bis 148 Gramm/Kilometer. Die Innenausstattung!Zur Serienausstattung eines jeden Ford Galaxy gehören mindestens die 2-Zonen-Klimaautomatik mit getrennt regelbar Temperatur für Fahrer- und Beifahrerseite, die Geschwindigkeitsregelanlage mit intelligentem Geschwindigkeitsbegrenzer, FordPass Connect mit eCall, Live-Traffic Verkehrsinformationen und WLAN Hotspot und das Audiosystem mit digitalem Radioempfang DAB/DAB+ (Digital Audio Broadcasting) inkl. Ford SYNC 3 mit AppLink und Touchscreen. Serienmäßig sind beispielsweise auch Berganfahrassistent, Verkehrsschild-Erkennungssystem oder auch Nebelscheinwerfer mit statischem Abbiegelicht. Dazu kommen viele weitere Features, die zu Sicherheit und Komfort beitragen. Die Kosten!Galaxy fahren können Sie generell in einem Preisfenster von 35.000,-- bis 55.350,-- Euro plus Extras, unser Testkandidat liegt je nach Ausstattung zwischen 42.150,-- und 52.850,-- Euro, als Titanium kostet er 46.050,-- Euro. Welche Ausstattungsvariante für Sie ideal ist, zeigt ein simpler Blick in die Preisliste! Alle Fotos: © Ford Werke GmbH   Diesen Beitrag können Sie nachhören oder downloaden unter:

If you’re shopping for a Ford Ranger, you need to hear this episode! In this episode of the Miracle Ford Podcast, host John Haggard talks to Chris Laye, Ford Sales Zone Manager, about the new 2019 Ford Ranger, its exciting features and technology. Other topics discussed include the following: Chris’s Start in the Automotive IndustryChris’s Favorite Travel DestinationWhat Does a Sales Zone Manager Do?The Growth in Ford Market in Gallatin, TNThe Rise of SUVs and TrucksThe New 2019 Ford RangerAwards the 2019 Ford Ranger Has Already GarneredThe Most Exciting Features of the New Ford RangerFord Ranger Technology That Everyone Should Know OfAndroid and Apple Car PlayFord Ranger’s Frequently Asked QuestionsWhy Pick a Ranger over Other Brands and ModelsChris’s Go-to Hometown RestaurantUpcoming Mustang-inspired SUV This November Transcript John Haggard 0:02 Welcome to the Miracle Ford podcast where you will learn the best ways to purchase, lease, service and maintain, accessorize, and sell your vehicle for the highest resale value possible when you’re ready, and also to learn more about the capabilities and fun features of new vehicles. I’m your host, John Haggard, and throughout each month, we’ll also have special guests join us and you’ll also see a transcript of each podcast for quick reference. If you need some additional information, you can just go find it. On this podcast. We’re speaking today with Chris Laye. He’s the Ford Sales Zone Manager for Zone C in the Memphis region. Hey Chris, welcome to the podcast. Chris Laye 0:40 Thanks, John. Thanks for having me. Man. I’m excited to be here and excited to talk about the all-new Ranger and the new products we have coming out. John Haggard 0:47 Good. I think a lot of folks always want to know about the future. We know about the past but hey, what is coming up? So before we dive into the world of Ford, and get an idea as to what is upcoming, tell us how did you get started in the automotive business. There were a lot of professions you could have gone into, why automotive? How did you get there? Chris Laye 1:05 Yeah, absolutely. So if you spend enough time around Ford employees, you’ll probably hear the phrase, “my blood runs blue”. John Haggard 1:12 Yeah. Chris Laye 1:13 And that’s certainly the case for me. So my grandfather’s on both sides of my family worked for Ford Motor Company, as well as my father. So actually, I held the same position that I do now. So kind of following in their footsteps. But when I was growing up, I started out working at a local dealership, washing cars in the summers and high school and helping out with events. From there, I went to college where I had an internship with the marketing sales and service team out of Atlanta. And at the end of my internship, I was fortunate enough to receive a full-time offer, which I accepted and that’s how I got my start in the automotive business. So kind of always been in my blood and Ford has it as well. John Haggard 1:53 Yeah, it was very interesting. Your story parallels that of Jim Galvin, dealer principal from Miracle ord. Because I said hey, how did you get started? He said, Well I, you know, went to work for my dad I started washing cars to get gas money so I could go to school and all this type of thing. So I guess it really does sometimes run in the family. Did you do anything before automotive, like, you know, maybe you were working in a restaurant when you first got your driver’s license or anything like that. Chris Laye 2:18 To go back to Mr. Galvin. Jim Galvin’s father, Jim Galvin SR., actually worked with my grandfather in Ford. So yeah, small world. So I was excited to be covering that story as well. So the only other job actually had that wasn’t automotive-related was I worked at an animal shelter and I think my freshman year of high school, which I really enjoyed giving back to the community and helping those dogs find a home. John Haggard 2:47 So where are you originally from? Chris Laye 2:50 I’m originally from Swanee, Georgia, which is about 30 miles north of Atlanta. John Haggard 2:54 Okay, about 30 miles north. And you’ve lived in… where are you living now, by the way? Chris Laye 3:00 So I currently live in Memphis, which is where our regional headquarters is. To kinda give you a little bit of background of what we are what areas we cover. So our regions actually made up of five different zones. We cover the state of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and then parts of Kentucky and Tennessee. So Memphis is our central location. John Haggard 3:21 And you travel all of those. Is that right? Chris Laye 3:24 I only cover Nashville. And we have there’s four other sales managers, and each one of those managers covers one of those states. John Haggard 3:32 All right, so when you’re not doing Ford 24/7, Chris, what are your passions outside of work? What do you like to do? Chris Laye 3:39 I think my biggest passion is probably traveling. I enjoy going to new places, meeting new people and seeing things from a different perspective. Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in the day to day work of our lives. So traveling is a good way for me to slow things down and enjoy living in the moment and invest in other people. John Haggard 3:56 Any favorite cities or destinations that you have been to that maybe someone has not been to that you would recommend? Chris Laye 4:04 My favorite places I have probably been… Santorini in Greece. It’s a gorgeous gorgeous island. Then the beautiful scenery. So if you know if you get the chance head out to Santorini in Greece. John Haggard 4:16 Alright, so let’s fantasize for a moment. If you could have one superpower, what would it be? Chris Laye 4:22 Oh, that’s a tough one. I’m gonna go with the first one I thought of, and it’s got to be flying. John Haggard 4:26 Okay. So if you could just sort of like jump off the ground and fly? Chris Laye 4:29 Fly. I mean, that would take care of my passion for travel and not a bad superpower to have. John Haggard 4:35 Kind of like Superman? Chris Laye 4:36 Right! John Haggard 4:37 Yeah. You wouldn’t have to stand in any long lines at the airport to go anywhere. You could just jump off the ground and go. That would be kind of fun. Chris Laye 4:44 Right! Yeah, take care of the Atlanta Atlanta airport issue we have going on over here. John Haggard 4:49 You know, I think a lot of people Chris would love to have your job, especially in the world of Ford and on automotive. It’s a fast-moving, fun, exciting industry, always something new to report. What is it about that job that just makes you want to get up every morning and go to work? Chris Laye 5:05 What you’ll hear from myself and probably a lot of people that have been in the business for many years is that no day is the same. And so I enjoy waking up every morning and not really knowing what’s going to happen because it’s going to be a different day. It’s certain incentives that are coming out. There’s customers coming in, new vehicles are being released. And you know, the relationships that you build with your co-workers and the dealer body are absolutely incredible. So you never know what’s going to happen. And I think that’s what makes it so exciting to wake up in the morning and give this job 110% effort. John Haggard 5:39 So tell us about your role specifically, what is it exactly? Chris Laye 5:44 So I think one of the most exciting parts about my job and you know, probably the most valuable asset that we have is Ford Motor Company is our dealer network. So I get the opportunity to work with 13 of the Ford stores each day. Most of them are in the Greater Nashville area but go all the way to Jackson, Tennessee up to Paducah, Kentucky. So a lot of territory to cover, but I get to work with their stores every day. My job is basically to be the liaison between Ford Motor Company and the dealer body that I cover. So I provide business operations consulting, consumer experience support, as well as sales forecasting and metrics to show growth opportunities. But one of the most important pieces of my role is wholesale vehicles. So two weeks out of each month, I go to each store so I’ll start to my stores and we build a sales forecast together to decide how many vehicles they need to purchase from Ford. And this process is extremely important because a dealership needs to have the right quantity and mix of vehicles to better serve the market that they’re in. So I always tell my friends that we know when you drive by a Ford dealership, you’ll see all the new line of Rangers, F150s, Explorers. And those vehicles go through me, so a dealership will earn their wholesale through a Sales Zone Manager. John Haggard 7:09 All right. And as you look at Gallatin, Tennessee for Miracle Ford, just the market as a whole, what do you see there? Chris Laye 7:16 I think the Gallatin market is one of the top 10 fastest growing cities in America. So there’s a huge opportunity for growth throughout that area, which is why you are seeing the pick-up in different OEM moving to the area, as well as Miracle Ford continuing to do a great job in the area. You know, what’s interesting about the Nashville zone and certainly about Gallatin as well is the small utility market. So I think you’ve probably heard a lot from Ford about how we are getting rid of or discontinuing certain car lines. And the industry data all over the zone and in Gallatin show that more and more people are wanting to buy SUV. So whether that’s a small utility, like an Escape, or what we’re going to talk about today, like the new 2019 Ford Ranger, which is a medium-sized pick-up, these customers want to get out of cars move into either a medium or large SUV or truck. John Haggard 8:18 What is causing that trend? Would you say, Chris Laye 8:20 You know, I think it’s the spirit of adventure, the spirit of wanting to have a vehicle that can go off-road. Now maybe you never take that vehicle off-road, but the looks of it, the ability for it to do that. I don’t think you can get that out of a car. So that’s why I think you’ve seen a lot of crossovers and trucks with the ability to have those off-road or aggressive features. John Haggard 8:43 So let’s jump into the new 2019 Ford Ranger. By the way, is that the newest addition to the Ford lineup? Chris Laye 8:50 Yes, it’s kind of a tricky question. You know, the automotive industry. We refresh or come out with our new products every single year similar to how you know somebody might get a new iPhone or an all-new iPhone. And with the Ranger, it’s a nameplate that we’ve had in the past. A lot of customers are aware of our old Rangers that we stopped building in 2011. And so we are bringing back this nameplate and it is the first time we’ve brought back a nameplate in quite a while in an all-new product. John Haggard 9:16 Alright, so it’s been eight years then since there was a Ford Ranger. Chris Laye 9:21 Yes, sir. That’s correct. John Haggard 9:22 All right. And so what do you see right now, you know, Consumer Reports and magazines like that always want to rate cars and trucks and SUVs and whatever it may be, any awards so far that the 2019 Ranger has won a 2019 Chris Laye 9:36 Ranger was actually one of the most awarded medium size pick-ups when it came out. And so two of those really stuck out to me. Both are from JD Power. The first is the best performance and the other is the highest quality, the mid-size pick-up truck segment. And you know, when you think about purchasing a new vehicle, probably two of the most important things are you looking for are performance and quality. So the fact that we can take home both of those awards certainly stands out to me. John Haggard 10:01 All right, and then what would you say are the most exciting features of the new Ford Ranger? Chris Laye 10:06 I have three favorite features that I think are important especially to somebody that’s in maybe a younger generation. The first one being the terrain management system. So we have a normal mode, snow, mud, and sand, which will come in handy if you are taking that off-road. Followed by trail control, which is similar to cruise control, but for load speed for low-speed off-roading. And then one of the safety features that Ford’s done a really good job of not only putting in the Ranger but really cross our lineup is Ford Co-pilot 360, which includes automatic high beam headlamps, bliss, and Lane Keeping system. John Haggard 10:43 All right now so we’re into the technology of the Ranger and people like you were mentioning earlier. You know, every year there’s a refresh and a new iPhone comes out or whatever. Any more about the technology of the Ranger that people are really excited about? Chris Laye 10:57 Yeah, one of the new pieces of technology we’ve really put a lot of innovation and research into and FR to come out with this Ford Pass Connect. So Ford Pass Connect is an app that connects to your vehicle that allows you to lock, unlock, start and stop your vehicle, as well as scheduled maintenance, appointments through your hometown dealership and scheduled times for your vehicle to turn on in the morning. So you can have a warm vehicle in the winter and a cooler vehicle in the summer. I know, often when I take flights or if I’ve been out of my car for a while, I’ll go ahead and start that started from my plane or when I land. And like I said before, Ford Copilot 360 is one of my favorite features. I think anybody that’s buying a new vehicle, this is something that they should look at, because it does have the bliss which is incredibly important. That’s that yellow light that pops up and your mirror to let you know that a vehicle is next to you so as not to get over. And then the lane-keeping system so just stay in the lane. And then the trail control would be exclusive to the Ranger as well. John Haggard 12:04 All right, and we hear a lot about Android and Apple Car Play. Does the Ranger have those available? Chris Laye 12:11 Yes, sir. So the Ranger does have Android and Apple Car Play. So both are available when it comes to choosing which one is really a personal preference. So if you have an Apple phone, use your Apple, if you have Android, you can use Android. Or you can use sync, which is the Ford technology that we have it most Ford customers are used to say. John Haggard 12:31 All right, so really, do you see any advantages over other systems other than Ford SYNC, Android and Apple Car Play? Or are there any other systems out there? Chris Laye 12:39 To me, it really comes down to personal preference. I have friends and I’ve seen customers that have Apple Car Play available that prefer sync. And I’ve seen customers that swear by Apple Car Play. So really, I would try both of them. see which one do you enjoy more, which one’s easier to navigate. And that’s the one that I’ll go with. But all three are available. John Haggard 12:58 What would you say, Chris? Are the top two or maybe three questions that people ask about the Ford Ranger when they are considering Hey, do I get this? Or do I go with another brand? Or what? Chris Laye 13:10 There are quite a few questions that people will ask themselves. And so I kind of wanted to relate that one back to why would somebody pick a Ranger over and F-150. I think when it comes to the Ranger, Ranger customers seek freedom and adventure kind of going back to that transition from cars to SUVs from the mainstream on road to kind of having that adventure feel. And the Ranger customers I think have the need for the freedom of maneuverability, capability, and versatility. And I think that’s what’s going to come into play when you’re looking at a medium-sized pick-up truck. And I think these are kind of the reasons why you would choose the Ranger over an F-150. John Haggard 13:56 All right, you know, there’s a lot of competition out there. Every car brand manufacturer wants to do a deal, of course. So if you were to say, look, here’s why you would want to pick a Ranger over say a Toyota or over a Nissan or a Chevy. Chris Laye 14:11 There are basically three different vehicles that are in these medium-sized pickups that are popular and everybody’s heard of them. So you got the Ford Ranger, the 2019 Chevy Colorado, and the 2019 Toyota Tacoma. When you think about the Chevy Colorado, the Ford Ranger is best in class max payload capacity. Ranger offers more cargo-hauling capacity than the Colorado. The Ranger also offers available technologies not found in the Colorado such as adaptive cruise control, with forward collision warning and intelligent access with push-button start. And it also has a 10-speed automatic transmission with the auto START STOP technology which the Chevy Colorado does not have. And then one of the more popular mid-size pickups is the 2019 Toyota Tacoma. However, we have the best in class max payload the Ranger with its standard 2.3-liter eco boost in line for engine which is an incredible engine. It out tows the Tacoma equipped with either the 2.7 or 3.5 v6. So a smaller engine that able to out tow a vehicle with a bigger engine, which also usually results in better gas mileage. And then the Ranger also offers some technologies that aren’t found in the Tacoma. so smart trailer tow connector, as well as the class-exclusive 10-speed automatic transmission. So several different reasons why you would choose a Ford Ranger over a Colorado or Tacoma John Haggard 15:34 And is a Nissan… Does Nissan have anything in that space that would be something someone would look at to compare? Chris Laye 15:42 Yeah, so Nissan has the frontier which is a vehicle that hasn’t really been updated in the past 10 years. I think most customers are these based off of the market share data that we look at are looking at the Colorado Tacoma, of course, the Ranger. You just don’t see as many customers comparing a Frontier to a Ranger. John Haggard 16:00 Gotcha. Okay, so when you get hungry, Chris, what’s your go-to order at your favorite hometown restaurant? Chris Laye 16:08 Well, I’m hoping that some of the podcast listeners can agree with me on this one. I eat a lot of chain restaurants because I travel pretty often. So if I will go home, it’s been a long week and I need that pick me up. I’m going to Chili’s I’m getting a Triple Dipper. John Haggard 16:22 All right. Does anybody come in second place? Chris Laye 16:29 Second place um, I’d say fast food-wise, Chick Fil A is my hero. So anytime that I need to grab something on the go, I’m always at Chick Fil A grabbing a chicken sandwich. John Haggard 16:40 All right, when you know we all develop in life and there are lots of influences that help us get on our way so to speak. Who would you say is the biggest influence in your life? Chris Laye 16:49 Yes, I think my biggest influence and my role model is my grandfather. I mentioned that I have family members that worked for Ford and that’s why we all kind of bleed blue. And so my grandfather had a significant impact on me when we were young, and he’s still doing really well. So I learned a lot from him. I value his character. He’s taught me many things that are hard to teach, like, compassion, generosity. And so those values that I think he’s instilled in me are priceless, and I think that’s why he’s my hero. Chris Laye 17:24 All right, so is there any book that you would recommend that someone read? John Haggard 17:29 You know, in which as much as I travel, I tend to listen to podcasts. So instead of reading, podcasts are usually my go-to. One of my favorite podcasts out there is it’s called Afford Anything by Paula Pant. It just talks about life and making decisions and how people use their money or save their money and I just find it extremely interesting. John Haggard 17:49 So take a look back if you, something that you wish you had known, is there something that you wish you had known that you do know now that when you first started out in the automotive business, you say gosh, if I’d only know, if only knew today what I knew then? Chris Laye 18:07 Sounds obvious when you think about it, but the relationships that you build and the impacts that they have on your day to day and your, you know your personal life, I just didn’t expect the impact that they’ve had with how much Zone Managers travel. They’re going back and forth, you’re on the road. Now, five days a week, the dealer body and the dealers have truly become not only business assets, but they play a role in your personal life as well. The relationships that you’re able to build not only with the stores, but with customers that you meet and your co-workers is certainly something that I did not expect to be the way that it is. John Haggard 18:44 So you thought it would sort of be kind of all business. Okay, I’m here let’s transact let’s do the market share reports. Let’s see what we can do and off to the next door. Chris Laye 18:52 Correct. John Haggard 18:52 Alright, so is there a story that you could share, just something that we’re a dealer or somewhere down the line has helped you with something or look at something differently or vice versa. Anything like that? Chris Laye 19:01 I think I got a story for you that kind of demonstrate to the relationships that you build with these guys. So my previous zone was New Orleans, which I truly enjoyed. And one of my stores down there had actually won President’s Award. And so in celebrating the partnership and relationship of them winning President’s Award, we actually spent two days out deep sea fishing off the Gulf Coast. Those are the moments or the relationships that you build. You know, I certainly did not take what we’re going to happen in this job. Like you mentioned earlier. I thought it was going to be more transactional. And I’m very, very happy to say that it’s not yeah, you truly enjoy being around all these guys. John Haggard 19:43 So did you reel something in on that deep sea fishing trip? Chris Laye 19:48 I did. Thankfully, because it would have been embarrassing if I did not. I won’t know if I get invited back. I caught a couple of red snappers, and that was good enough for me. I just enjoyed being out there with everybody and I’m just happy I caught something. John Haggard 20:04 What would you say that you are most curious about right now? Chris Laye 20:08 Most curious about? So I guess as it relates to the automotive industry. You see more and more manufacturers coming out with all-electric vehicles, especially Ford so we actually reveal our all-new Mustang-inspired SUV crossover on November 17th. And so I’m most curious about the direction of what we are using as fuel moving forward, and how hybrid and electricity will play into the drivetrains and the engines that we will use in the next, you know, probably a decade or two decades. John Haggard 20:44 One last question, Chris. What would you say the one thing – what is the one thing – that most people don’t know about you but they would be very surprised to learn? Chris Laye 20:56 Oh, man! Going back to what I spoke to about earlier about my passion for travel. About three, four years ago completed a lap around the world. John Haggard 21:07 A lap around the world? Chris Laye 21:09 A lap around the world. So I went to about 15 different countries and did a full circle around the world. John Haggard 21:15 Wow. Okay, so obviously flying into 15 different countries that way. Is that how you’re saying? Chris Laye 21:22 Yes. So one lap around the world. Some of those were flights, some of them were trains. But yes, completed the full lap. John Haggard 21:30 Wow. So what? Just a few of the cities that you landed or took the train to? Chris Laye 21:37 Yes, I went to, I guess, the countries where I went to, Iceland, the Netherlands, Germany, India, Thailand, Belgium. So basically started in Atlanta and then worked my way east. John Haggard 21:52 All right. How long did it take you to do the circle to do the lap? Chris Laye 21:55 60 days? John Haggard 21:56 60? 2 months? Chris Laye 21:58 Two months. So I spent a couple days of each place that I went to and learned a lot and enjoyed meeting new people and having different experiences. John Haggard 22:07 Talking to Chris Laye everybody, the Ford Sales Zone Manager for, they call it, Zone C in the Memphis region on the Miracle Ford podcast. Chris, thanks for joining us here today. Chris Laye 22:18 John, thank you so much for your time. It was an honor to be on the podcast with you. Thank you so much! John Haggard 22:22 You bet. And join us again, folks right here for other topics on the podcast throughout each month. Our goal here is to show you the best ways to purchase, lease, service and maintain, accessorize, and also to sell your vehicle for the highest resale value possible when you’re ready to, and to learn more about specific vehicles that you might be interested in. And don’t forget the transcript of each podcast. Yes, we do have it right here on the website. You can easily refer to it for more information at your fingertips. I’m your host, John Haggard, and we’ll see you next time.

Today's download: Nissan 370Z-based mule spied, 2021 Mercedes-Benz EQS spied, Ford Sync 4 and over-the-air update systems revealed, 2020 Toyota Corolla sedan pricing and specs, 2020 BMW M8 Competition pricing and specs, Nobel chemistry winner discusses EV battery development, Mazda taken to court by ACCC for “unconscionable conduct” and “false or misleading representations”, 2020 Ford Puma ST spied again, Ssangyong Korando EV to offer 420km range, and 2020 Mercedes-Benz V-Class pricing and specs.

Cathy Pearl is best known as the author of Designing Voice User Interfaces published by O'Reilly Media. She is currently Vice President of User Experience at Sensely, worked previously at Nuance, was on the Ford Sync team and holds degrees in both Computer Science and Cognitive Science. Cathy even worked at NASA early in her career where she designed user controls that reduced cognitive load for pilots. She has a lot of hands-on voice design experience, is viewed as an authority in the field and has some insights on using avatars and multiple input methods to complement voice interfaces.

It might seem surprising to find a car manufacturer like Ford at CES, as the convention is primarily focused on gadgets and consumer technology. But Ford has been present at CES for several years now, focusing on its Ford SYNC in-dash system. Todd met up with Stefan from Ford where Stefan showed off some of … Continue reading Ford SYNC Brings Multiple Apps to the Dashboard at CES → The post Ford SYNC Brings Multiple Apps to the Dashboard at CES appeared first on Geek News Central.

In our previous post, we touched briefly on the latest version of Ford SYNC, and how the platform will integrate with Amazon’s Echo (Alexa) service. In this video, Todd spoke with Jack from Ford who gave some more detailed information on how SYNC will be able to integrate with Echo: Voice recognition allows drivers to … Continue reading Ford SYNC Integrates with Amazon Echo at CES → The post Ford SYNC Integrates with Amazon Echo at CES appeared first on Geek News Central.

Esta semana, en directo desde el stand de EuskaDigital en la Euskal Encounter, un episodio muy especial en el que contamos hasta con público en directo. Este episodio 59 trae, cómo no, todas las novedades de nuestro querido Elon Musk, junto con otras noticias, atentos al ambiente más que recomendable de esta LAN party, ¡esperamos que os guste! Euskal La mayor party informática de España y la segunda de EuropaAcogerá 4.608 ordenadores, con lo que supera el récord de las ediciones anteriores4 días40 GbpLa organización corre a cargo de la fundación Euskaltel Konekta13% mujeres 87% hombresMedia de edad 28 años. Noticias Puesta en órbita la nave de carga Dragon SpX-9 y aterrizaje de la primera etapa (Falcon 9 1.2) – http://danielmarin.naukas.com/2016/07/18/puesta-en-orbita-la-nave-de-carga-dragon-spx-9-y-aterrizaje-de-la-primera-etapa/Las nuevas ruedas y los micrófonos del rover Mars 2020 – http://danielmarin.naukas.com/2016/07/19/las-nuevas-ruedas-y-los-microfonos-del-rover-mars-2020/SoftBank revoluciona el mercado comprando ARM – https://hipertextual.com/2016/07/softbank-revoluciona-mercado-comprando-armFrancia exige a Microsoft que abandone la excesiva recopilación de datos personales – https://www.genbeta.com/seguridad/francia-exige-a-microsoft-que-abandone-la-excesiva-recopilacion-de-datos-personalesLlega el emulador oficial para desarrollar aplicaciones para Ford SYNC 3 – https://hipertextual.com/2016/07/sync-3-ford-emuladorCómo el supuesto dueño de KickassTorrents se puso él mismo la soga al cuello – https://hipertextual.com/2016/07/kickass-torrents-artem-vaulimBrasil vuelve a bloquear el uso de WhatsApp – https://hipertextual.com/2016/07/whatsapp-en-brasilElon Musk finalmente revela la segunda parte del Plan Maestro de Tesla – https://forococheselectricos.com/2016/07/segunda-parte-del-plan-maestro-de-tesla.htmlEl Tesla Model 3 podría ser el Tesla más económico. Adiós Model 4 – https://forococheselectricos.com/2016/07/el-tesla-model-3-podria-ser-el-tesla-mas-economico-adios-tesla-model-4.htmlAmazon Video llegará a España antes de finales de año – https://hipertextual.com/2016/07/amazon-video-espana Podéis encontrarnos en Twitter y en Facebook!

In their second annual special (and sporadic) holiday edition of Technically Correct, Ryan and Carlos discuss the Warriors, Apple’s “Smart” Battery Case, thinness vs. battery life, the Apple Watch (wearing it upside down, the fitness app, and whether it should be an annualized product), 4 inch iPhone rumors, Apple’s increasing complicated product line, the iOS Remote app on the new Apple TV, TiVO Quickmode, Ford retroactively adding Siri Eyes Free to older versions of Ford SYNC, reducing your Comcast bill, Spotify reportedly testing subscription-only tracks, an update on Carlos’s QC25s, RSA hardware tokens, Dropbox shutting down its Mailbox and Carousel apps, football, and being healthier.

This week Matt and I sit down and attempt to escape our hectic schedules and catch up a bit. Matt got some seat time in a GT350 he also had a Lexus RC F (which we've both become big fans of) I've been hacking away at Ford Sync 3, and I may have uncovered what looks to be a proper dual clutch for the C7 manufactured by Tremec.

Noah Shanok is Adam's guest for this edition of The Wolf Den. He is the co-founder and former CEO of Stitcher, the popular on-demand podcast and Internet radio service. Stitcher was an early innovator in podcasting, coming on the scene when Blackberrys were the predominant mobile device, and most people still had to sync their iPods in order to listen on the go. Noah lays out the company's history and evolution from an iTunes plug-in, to a web app, and then to a true mobile platform.  He shares his experience with venture capital funding, weighing some of its advantages and disadvantages, along with details about Stitcher's recent acquisition by the Deezer streaming music service. Stitcher is also an early innovator in the automotive space, so Noah tells the story of how the service came to be integrated in the first generation of the Ford Sync smart dashboard platform, leading to integration with other major brands like GM, Subaru, and Jaguar.  Finally, he tells Adam his predictions for when on-demand audio will take over the car, and what lies ahead for the future of audience metrics.

On this episode, Ryan and Rob discuss Star Wars (again), Dark Matter, Johnny Manziel, Ford SYNC, Hacking and the Sony E-mail scandal. Plus an exclusive phone interview with Taylor Lautner! A new TRQOTW is posed and Shout-Outs go to Taylor Marie and Caitlin Evanson.

Many operators in the US and Europe report online sales account for between 20-40 percent of delivery transactions, therefore operators are continually seeking innovation in the digital space. For example, Pizza Hut recently reported its branded app for the Xbox 360 gaming console generated USD$1,000,000 in the four months since its launch. At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Domino’s Pizza announced a partnership with Ford Motor Company, introducing an app for the Ford SYNC that enables a driver to order Domino’s through voice command in the car. The success of the Pizza Hut app means other foodservice companies will be looking to establish a digital presence in smartphones, tablets and gaming devices.

Highlights include Samsung Galaxy Note II and Galaxy Camera, shopping at the bus stop, Quickflix update, LG 84" Ultra HD TV, Telecom NZ launches Windows Phone 8 with Nokia Lumia 920, ‘killer robots', Panasonic AE8000 projector and Ford Sync technology. Running time : 1:12:06

Da Autolink News, primo quotidiano sull’industria dell’auto, le pillole della settimana: - Mercedes AMG Driving Academy Italia - Volvo inizierà le vendite di V60 Plug-in hybrid dal 2012 - Lancia Voyager - Michelin Primacy 3 - Ford Sync

Coming live from Los Angeles we visit the Microsoft, Apple and Sony stores along with tech supermarket Frys. Ford Sync gets a test drive and we discuss how Google, Bing and WP7 light up in US. We shop for the Sony Bloggie, Roku box and more. Running time : 0:52:14

UAW President, Bob King says union workers deserve to share in the increases in profitability that GM, Ford and Chrysler are enjoying right now. Toyota showcased its infotainment system that will compete with the Ford SYNC at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Hyundai released a teaser shot of its new Veloster which will likely debut at the Detroit Auto Show next week. All that and more, plus we’ll tell you who the winners and losers were in last month’s sales war.

In this episode, Brian and Justin discuss the "war" with the hosts of TWiF, Martin Sargent and Sarah Lane, which began during The GTFO Awards episode of NSFW. The apparent war began when Justin tweeted "#NSFWshow is better than every other show sponsored by #syncmyridepodcast". Brian retweeted it. Martin retweeted it. Then retweeted it again adding, "Meant to say, this is horseshit".

In this episode, Brian and Justin discuss the "war" with the hosts of TWiF, Martin Sargent and Sarah Lane, which began during The GTFO Awards episode of NSFW. The apparent war began when Justin tweeted "#NSFWshow is better than every other show sponsored by #syncmyridepodcast". Brian retweeted it. Martin retweeted it. Then retweeted it again adding, "Meant to say, this is horseshit".