Microsoft speculates on ad-supported Sync
By Joshua Topolsky 
posted Mar 2nd 2008 5:38PM
posted Mar 2nd 2008 5:38PM
posted Mar 2nd 2008 5:38PM
Estimated time drivers save by using real-time GPS traffic updates
Drivers that use GPS systems with real-time traffic info spend 18% less time behind the wheel than those who do not.
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Don't worry, I'm sure the first lawsuit that arises because someone got into an accident, too distracted by the advertising will render this service defunct.
Agreed. That's why it won't happen.
But if it does, I'll just download Lavasoft's Auto Ad-Aware. While driving, the car may slow down while scanning for intrusive ads, but I would consider that a small price to pay so I won't get into an accident.
Yup. Ads should be turned off because they are no better than those billboards they put up around the city. On the plus side though, is Microsoft befriending Apple? Or is it reverse? I personally think Apple should be locked out to boost the sales of Zune.
The adds will probably be something akin to Google Adwords, when you search for a POI it shows "sponsored" points of interest that are nearby or when your driving on the freeway it shows if one of the advertising stores nearby has a store at the next offramp. Im sure it wont be full on video or audio advertising.
Gee I can't wait till MS's adware starts slowing down your in-car computer to a crawl. Incoming phone calls that don't ring until just before it goes to VM like on my WM5 phone or something.
Though to be fair, my understanding is iDrive runs MS software, and while it's got it's share of problems, random slowness/hanging is not one of them.
What they seem to not understand is that you don't OWN the airwaves, the rights to the music played on the radio, or the land that the billboards are on. Sure, you're *used* to seeing and hearing ads, but it doesn't mean you like it. Plus, it doesn't take up space on something you own. Why would I want some percentage of my (say) 800x600 display wasted on advertising? When you drop hundreds of dollars on a media system, or thousands on a SatNav system, you expect to be able to USE it.
They should instead compare it with how users would feel about paying for a computer, paying for a monitor, paying for a copy of Windows, and THEN having your hardware wasted to show you ads.
Some product/marketing folks just don't get it.
heh, I can Imagine it now:
"your ads crashed my car!"
"have you tried getting and getting back in?"
whats with the zune and and an ipod.
Sync supports both? That's just a generic Sync press image.
i know, but micrsoft made sync. An ipod would be odd in it's own pic
I still don't follow you here. The iPod is an extremely popular product. It'd be foolish for MS/Ford not to include it in a generic press picture. They are, after all, marketing a product.
I think the Zune looks more out of place than the iPod...
But yeah they would be dumb not to support the iPod.
I totally agree with all of you, but it's MS. It is possible
A Brown Zune 1, no less.
Get you eyes checked, it's black! lol
I had a Halo 3 Edition Zune 30 and I loved it to death. Now that I have a Zune 80 though, I don't know why I carried around a player that thick...
I wish they would make a cool Halo Edition 80GB Zune.
Has anybody noticed that they never say 'Microsoft' Sync when the commercial shows an ipod in the car?
If an iPod is shown in the commercial they will just say 'Sync'
Wondering If it was just me?
@PK they always say Sync by Microsoft.
This is going to be almost as successful as Windows Vista!
zing?
DANG they are going to sell that many? thats a lot for something that expensive!
So it's going to be a success?
So it's going to sell 100 million copies?
Yeah, Vista is such a success! It's like business 101 to drop your software prices across the board due to overwhelming success!
Yea, cause don't you remember that failure the iPhone? Remember when they dropped their prices due to how few phones they were selling? pft.
i don't think it sounds that bad. i don't see anyone complaining about all the ads on the radio, and imagine that ads that sync will have will be nowhere near the level as to what we see on tv and hear on the radio. and as long as its free i'm happy.
Except I don't listen to the radio that much because advertisements drive me nuts. Thanks for the free service and all, but they had better let me opt-out somehow (including paying for it, like you do now).
Seriously? So when I go to use my navigation system or when I want to change a song I'll have to watch a 15-second clip for something I've already paid a $1500 premium. No thanks :)
The radio's commercials are understandable. They have to be paid somehow... and I don't listen to it. I use my iPod in my car.
Ford and Microsoft would regret this decision.
Zach:
No one said that you would be subjected to an ad when using your navigation system or changing a song. They merely hinted at the possibility of using targeted advertising to pay for additional, yet-to-be announced services. So far, there are no networked services available for Sync. They have only announced two upcoming features (for the Fall of 2008), which are 911 assistance and vehicle health reports.
@Zach: $1500? Sync is $395. Don't lump the nav system into this. The nav system isn't Sync (not to mention, navigation isn't available on all Ford models that have Sync such as the Fusion).
@jbhitter24: are you serious? you never hear anyone complain about how many ads there are on the radio? most commercial stations are nothing BUT ads! it drives me, and many others, totally insane. it's the main reason NPR, car ports for iPods, and satellite radio are all so successful.
I lumped the navigation touch-screen into the mix because otherwise, how do they plan on sticking said advertising in. When I call for 911 Assistance, are they going to force me to listen to 30-second advert before calling dispatch?
If you're NOT going to link the navigation system, and just the current rendition of Sync - then what? When I wanna switch songs on my iPod will I have to listen to an ad? Or between calls will I have to hear about the current town I'm driving in to. I stopped listening to radio and solely to my iPod because of the advertising and song quality. I can pick what I want to listen to and NOT be bombarded with advertising every other song.
Call this FUD for me, but I'm wary about anything smelling of a major corporation ruining a technology that so far has been positive for the Microsoft and ford image.
"When I call for 911 Assistance, are they going to force me to listen to 30-second advert before calling dispatch?"
And with that statement, I'm disregarding anything you're going to say because you're clearly out of your mind.
yes it is bad. ad-supported radio is a totally different concept, and most people don't listen to radio. Seriously, who the hell listens to FM quality crap anymore?
I don't listen to the radio BECAUSE it's full of ads.
@Sam Winter and BigD145:
Just because you don't like FM radio at all, doesn't mean other people don't. I really dislike it when people talk trash about things they don't even use.
Why do people still like use ad-supported radio? Why do they still exist?
Well it's free for starters. I get live news that comes to me instantly. I sometimes get a handy traffic tip if I don't have my navigation device handy. I sometimes enter in radio contests to win tickets and stuff. There's a daily mystery 'whodunit' on of the local stations. I get to hear new music. And did I mention it was free?
"And with that statement, I'm disregarding anything you're going to say because you're clearly out of your mind."
That was the point of the statement - to make an obviously ridiculous statement about how the ads will be implemented. The obvious method is to implement them as Points of Interest - which I'm completely against! I don't need McDonalds and Foot Locker flashing across my navigation just because I'm driving down freeway.
How is this any different than the millions of users of Gmail who have their emails surrounded by targeted Google ads and news feeds? That's how I initially found Engadget.
The difference is I can remove the ads if I want through third-party software (AdBlock, in my case).
Road versus Internet
@BigJohn: And when the silent majority jumps into the ad-block revolution, viable media returns to being wholly subscription based. If something is free, I prefer a happy medium to an all-or-nothing approach that does nothing but forces the losing 51% to rethink and ultimately fight back financially.
a) They are only on the right-hand side.
b) You can just use a mail client like Thunderbird.
c) It's a small price to pay for such a great email service.
@JonnyBongo: You'll see from my other comments that I'm willing to pay for the service to make sure it's ad-free. It's not like I want it all and I want it all for free.
This is quite ridiculous. If I get it for free, and the ads aren't too obnoxious, I'm sold. (pun intended)
Otherwise pay and enjoy ad free!
You'd think this was a choice between life and death.
The main difference is that most people are not driving while using Gmail. And those that are should stop.
Well, the internet is not a dump truck. Whereas there are dump trucks on roads.
The tubes only come into play in urban areas.
Who drives a Ford?
Found On Road Dead
Fix Or Repair Daily
Autoblog is that way -->
Ford F-150 is best selling vehicle of any type in the world.
roach- the wrongest comment ever.
its actually the camry... or accord. not sure which this week
@Roach: Then there must be a lot more idiots in the world than I thought.