MyFord receives an update

[Wretched]

MyFord Touch has taken plenty of flack from both consumers and critics since its release last year. The combination of capacitive controls for the climate control system and a cluttered user interface on the center screen were proof that MyFord Touch was a very one-point-oh product. To be fair, it was obvious that Ford's new system was both very advanced and very powerful, but its cool reception suggests that Ford may have attempted to sprint when it should have jogged following the success of SYNC. The first iteration of MyFord Touch was overly complex and occasionally glitchy, triggering a fair amount of bad press around some of the industry's leading quality indexes. Now, the Dearborn automaker is out to rectify some of the issues with its system for 2013 models – and existing Ford drivers will benefit from the updates as well.

To start, Ford has expanded the features of MyFord Touch to now include Apple iPad connectivity and access to Audible.com audiobooks through voice commands or the touchscreen. A range of improvements are also being implemented for better Bluetooth telephone connectivity, an updated map experience from TeleNav and Navteq, along with new Gracenote album cover art and improved voice recognition powered by Nuance technology.

The most obvious and front-facing updates have come in the form of a reworked interface for the central touchscreen. Ford claims to have significantly enhanced or augmented over 1,000 screens in the MyFord Touch system, using larger, bolder fonts, making the designs more consistent and removing low-priority elements while bringing the most frequently used controls closer to the driver. All that, plus improved touchscreen response time – something Ford heard loud and clear from owners – that's up to two times faster than the outgoing system.

These MyFord Touch enhancements are set to debut early next year on the 2013 models, with updates for existing owners going out around the same time (we've been told MyLincoln Touch will get similar upgrades). Overall, it looks like a solid – if not mind-blowing – update and you can see some before and after shots in the gallery above, along with the full details in the press release below the fold.

2013 Ford Escape with updated MyFord Demo

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/07/myford-touch-update/

From what I hear the update is significant. Not only was the old one cumbersome to use but lacked the hardware behind it to run it so it was quite laggy. I am all for this kind of technology to be introduced and hope to see it in the Falcon's soon. I guess over time the technology will improve.
Though from what I understand the Chrysler version known as UConnect Touch is a pretty nifty system.