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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday July 23, 2008 - 25 Sync-ronicity Ford and Microsoft revolutionize in-car connectivity By Michael Banovsky OAKVILLE BEAVER Hot Days. Hot Deals. Hot Cars. (You sensing a theme here?) 2008 The downside to rapid progress in electronics means that automakers are constantly on the back foot when it comes to totally embracing new technology. What devices should they support? What devices will people be using in their cars next year? What about six months from now? Spending over $30,000 on a car that doesn't know what an iPod is wouldn't be viewed by techno-savvy buyers as money well spent. To combat and complement the constant crowd of new devices, Ford and Microsoft have teamed up to produce Sync, a new take on automotive connectivity. Both a hardware and software solution, it pairs steering wheel controls and an internal microphone with a sophisticated software platform mounted in the car. The system can interface with most USB-based media players, including the incumbent (iPod) and challengers (Zune, Nomad Zen, etc.). By interface, I mean you can take direct control of the player from the car's controls. Your player will also charge through the USB port. You can also slot in a USB thumb drive -- a small, unpowered memory stick that can be loaded with any content from any computer, including thousands of MP3 files. Sync can access any music contained on a USB thumb drive, provided it isn't a protected format (iTunes store purchases won't work, but AAC and WMA files, among others, will.) It will play protected iTunes store purchases only if they're still on your iPod. Also included is an 1/8-inch auxiliary input jack for devices that can't be, ahem, `sync'd' through USB. As an added party trick, Sync will stream audio from any Bluetooth device. If you're so inclined, music can be served up with voice commands. Simply touch the button on the steering wheel, wait for the prompt, and say: "USB," then, "play," music from your device will start to play. If you're dying to hear your just-downloaded Best Of Prince compilation, say: "play album, Best Of Prince," and turn on your wipers -- you'll be in for some Purple Rain. Commands that work are: album, artist, genre, track name, or play similar -- which will shuffle and grab other similar artists and playlists. I'm a bit of a boffin, so part of my testing during the launch event centered on what it won't play with voice commands. I'm sad to report I couldn't stump it. If it's confused, Sync will read four close matches, and have you pick one of them. It all works very well, and can use one of three languages -- American English, Canadian French, and North American Spanish. If your phone has Bluetooth, you can access just about any aspect of your device from Sync. You can say a number aloud and it'll dial it, or just say the person's name. If they have more than one entry in your phonebook, Sync will ask which number you'd like. Sync can have multiple phones paired with the same vehicle, but will default to the main phone if more than one phone is detected. Sync is a software platform designed for mobile use, called Windows Mobile for Automotive. It was built on Windows CE, the platform Microsoft uses for cell phones and other digital devices. It can be upgraded, and downloadable upgrades can be handled through syncmyride.com, or through your Ford dealer. Even if you're not in the mood to talk to your car, Sync provides a very robust interface for accessing your cell phone and digital music. But, with anything, if you embrace Sync and utilize its full range of voice commands, it will provide a complete experience not yet seen on this side of the ocean. GRAND VITARA 4WD / Power Windows / Power Locks / Power Mirrors / Remote Keyless Entry / Air Conditioning / V6 13.0 L/100km (22 mpg) city 9.5 L/100km (30 mpg) highway NEW CASH PURCHASE PRICE $19,995 OR PURCHASE FINANCING 0% FOR 72 MONTHS PLUS $1000 CASH INCENTIVE 2008 GOLD KEY AWARD BEST NEW COMPACT SUV L'ANNUEL DE L'AUTOMOBILE MSRP $25,595* JLX MODEL SHOWN FINALIST BEST NEW SMALL CAR 2008 THE ALL NEW 2008 SX4 SEDAN PURCHASE FINANCING FOR 48 MONTHS SX4.ca 9.2 L/100km (31 mpg) city 6.5 L/100km (43 mpg) highway Air Conditioning / Power Windows / Power Locks / Power Mirrors / Remote Keyless Entry 0% $ DOWN PAYMENT ON LEASE 0 LEASE FROM $ 205 @ 1.5% FOR 60 MONTHS ** SPORT MODEL SHOWN 2008 MOST FUEL EFFICIENT AWD IN CANADA 8.7 L/100km (32 mpg) city 5.8 L/100km (49 mpg) highway JLX AWD MODEL SHOWN SWIFT+ PURCHASE FINANCING FOR 72 MONTHS Cargo Area Cover / Standard Front & Seat Mounted Side Airbags / AM/FM/CD/MP3 Player (4 speakers) 0% 2008 SX4 S MODEL SHOWN CROSSOVER 9.9 L/100km (29 mpg) city 7.1 L/100km (40 mpg) highway Intelligent AWD / Power Windows / Power Locks / Heated Power Mirrors / Cruise Control / Remote Keyless Entry / Air Conditioning LEASE FROM PURCHASE FINANCING FOR 48 MONTHS 0% $ DOWN PAYMENT ON LEASE 0 $ 235 @ 2.28% FOR 60 MONTHS ** Visit suzuki.ca for your nearest dealer. Hearts in `sync' A Toronto couple went to Montreal to put the new 2008 Ford Focus to the test and came away from the weekend engaged to be married. Caryn Schumacher, 25 and Craig Sabine, 27 were invited to be among the first Canadians to experience the redesigned and re-engineered 2008 Ford Focus. Along with three other Ontario couples, they flew to Montreal to take the 2008 Focus for a drive to Mont-Tremblant and back. Up with the birds at 5 a.m. on the first morning of the event, Sabine, an associate at an energy consulting firm, asked Schumacher to be his co-driver for life. "There's nothing like waking up to diamonds," said Schumacher, a human resources coordinator. "We will never forget the Ford Focus Accelerator Challenge weekend -- for a few reasons now," she said. The couples were challenged to learn advanced driving and collision avoidance skills in the Focus -- in a controlled environment with professional instructors -- before driving the sporty small car on public roads. A highlight of the driving experience proved to be the Sync technology powered by Microsoft, an industryfirst for Ford. Sync allows the driver to use a mobile phone, play music, and even send and listen to text messages, all hands-free. Every new SUZUKI comes with 5-year 100,000 kilometre powertrain limited warranty and 5-year unlimited kilometre roadside assistance Suzuki of Oakville 2219 Wyecroft Road, Oakville, ON L6L 5L7 Toll Free 1-877-469-5969 fax 905-469-4562 CONSUMERS SHOULD READ THE FOLLOWING: Vehicles may not be exactly as shown. Limited time offers are subject to change without notice. *As shown: $29,745 MSRP for a new 2008 Grand Vitara JLX model with automatic transmission; $18,995 MSRP for 2008 SX4 sedan sport with manual transmission; $16,295 MSRP for 2008 Swift+ S with manual transmission; $20,695 MSRP for a new 2008 SX4 Crossover JX AWD model with manual transmission. Destination and delivery of $1,395/$1,250/$1,250/$1,250, administration fee, $400/$75/$0/$75 fuel conservation fee (where applicable), other taxes, license, insurance, applicable fees and registration are extra. Cash purchase price for a new 2008 Grand Vitara JA (model LLN81S8) with manual transmission includes $5,000.00 cash incentive available only to cash customers and cannot be combined with subvented lease and finance offers. Destination and delivery of $1,395 administration fee, $400 fuel conservation tax (where applicable), other taxes, license, insurance, applicable fees and registration are extra. **Limited time lease offers available to qualified retail customers on approved credit only on new 2008 SX4 Sedan (MODEL S3L83J8) manual transmission $17,195 MSRP at 1.5% APR and new 2008 SX4 Crossover JX AWD (MODEL H3N80J8) with manual transmission $20,695 MSRP at 2.28% APR (5.56% effective rate) for 60 months. Monthly payment is $205/$235 (including $1,250/$1,250 destination and delivery). $0/$0 down payment or equivalent trade-in, $0 security deposit, $72 PPSA, $350 acquisition fee, administration fee, $75/$75 fuel conservation tax (where applicable) and first monthly payment due at lease inception. Total lease obligation is $12,298.55/$14,099.98 including down payment. Taxes, license, insurance, applicable fees and registration are extra. 20,000 km/year total mileage allowance ($0.10/km for excess mileage). Limited time purchase finance offers available to qualified retail customers on approved credit at 0% for 48 months on new base 2008 SX4 Sedan (MODEL S3L83J8) only; at 0% for 72 months on new base 2008 Swift + (MODEL STR48C8) only; at 0% for 72 months (4.05% effective rate) on new 2008 Grand Vitara JX & JLX; and at 0% for 48 months (4.55% effective rate) on new 2008 SX4 Crossover JX AWD. Finance example: $10,000 at 0% APR for a 48-month term; the monthly payment is $208.33; cost of borrowing is $0.00; total obligation is $10,000.00. Down payment or equivalent trade-in may be required. Administration fee, other taxes, license, insurance, and registration are extra. ¥Based on Fuel Consumption Guide ratings published by Natural Resources Canada Retailers are free to set individual prices. These offers cannot be combined with any other offer except for the Suzuki Graduate Program. With the Suzuki Graduate Program, recent university or college graduates may be eligible for an allowance on the purchase or lease of certain models. Dealers may lease or sell for less. See participating dealers for details. Offers end July 31, 2008.