Category: General

Microsoft SYNC phone integration

Surprise surprise. Microsoft SYNC doesn’t suck. It is far from perfect, but it is one of my favorite Fusion features.

It did not start out that way. I became acquainted with SYNC when the car salesman tried to show me how easy it is to sync with my Bluetooth equipped phone. When he resorted to the manual, I politely steered the conversation elsewhere. When he got busy filling out paperwork, I skimmed the 78 page manual and paired my iPhone and uploaded all my contacts.

Then I tried to use the voice activated calling feature. “Call Jennifer Simerson,” I would say. And it would pick some other person from my 548 contacts and start calling them. Grrrrrrr. Finally I figured out that the sync process was a bit retarded. Microsoft’s NIH syndrome keeps them using reference implementations of  standards like OBEX and SyncML. They write their own, get it badly wrong, make some fixes, and eventually arrive at something usable. They weren’t there yet when my car left the factory.

After calling the wrong party a couple dozen times, I finally deduced that when it imported my contacts, it mapped them all last name first. And it also included middle names. If a contact had a middle name, I could not call them without saying their middle name in the voice command. After a few days, I figured out how to call home, “Call Simerson R**** Jennifer.” 

Then I discovered the version 1.2 update. Duh, it’s from Microsoft. Of course. It needs an update! I downloaded the update and installed it but it didn’t help. Days later, insight struck. It’s from Microsoft. You can’t just install it the update. You also have to reboot! So I performed a “Master Reset” of the SYNC system. Then I re-paired my phone to it and had it sync all my contacts. Voila! All my contacts synced properly. I can call home by saying, “Call Jennifer Simerson.” 

The handsfree functionality works superbly. Talking while driving is now fun and much safer. I predict that in another decade, every car will have this functionality. My kids will be hard pressed to remember a car that didn’t have phone integration built-in.

SYNC also supports text messaging via Bluetooth, but it doesn’t work with the iPhone. Yet.

Fusion features

“The Fusion rides and handles very well, again thanks to the sound Mazda platform. Steering feel is fine, brakes are excellent, handling is good, but limited by the 16-inch tires.”– Orlando Sentinel

I took a test Fusion from the dealership over to a nice wet freeway ramp with a 90 degree entrance. I aimed for the inside of the curve under wide open throttle, trying to bust the tires loose and drift across the lane. The Fusion grabbed hard and true and we launched out onto the freeway without a hint of tire slippage. Inside, Jen let out her ‘there he goes again’ sigh while I and the car salesman wore big wide grins.

The traction control system worked so perfectly that I didn’t even notice it. Except that the tires never broke loose. I briefly considered turning off the traction control so I could  have a little oversteering fun. But it was so unobtrusive and effective that I left it in control. 

Having driven my Fusion for a week, I still love how it handles. It brings back fond memories of driving a Miata. Minus the wind and road noise.

“Overall, the Fusion is engaging.  It tracks steady and true on twisty roads and flatters the driver in a way that the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry can’t.”  — Road and Track.

Where my SHO and Jetta both had very predictable oversteer, the Fusion is wonderfully balanced. There is no tendency towards over or understeer. I suspect I’d have to turn off the traction control to achieve either. The steering wheel is incredibly responsive. There’s no slosh and no twitchiness, just a subtle anxiety to act upon my intentions. The car holds straight and true through the curves without even a hint of body roll. The Fusion longs for that next twisty stretch of road.

“The Ford Fusion we recently tested didn’t rocket to 60 mph with any urgency, and didn’t have the most dramatic styling, but the Fusion still left everyone who drove it thoroughly impressed.” — Motor Trend

Unlike Motor  Trend, I got the V6. Unlike the Sentinel, I got the 17″ wheels.  The Fusion doesn’t have the catchy appearance of some cars so there was no love at first sight. But it didn’t take long for us to be “thoroughly impressed.”

Is a trillion enough?

In the last 4 months, the U.S. job market has shed nearly 2 million jobs. As of 2005, there were 125 million people employed. Our economy has shed 1.6% of it’s work force and the numbers grow weekly.

Obama’s trillion dollar recovery plan aims to create 3 to 4 million jobs. At the current rate of job losses, will it be enough?

Sold!

As 2008 draws to a close, I’m thrilled to report that our home in Dallas is not just sold, but closed. The funds were wired into our account earlier today. We could not have ended the year on a better note.

Mega-storm hits Seattle

Actual press clippings:

  • prepare now for the “mega-storm”
  • storm that will be “life threatening…”
  • consumers clear storm shelves as ‘storm bears down’
  • “Second worst storm in 16 years”

Actual storm details:

  • snow up to 4″ deep!
  • winds gusting up to 30mph!
  • 47 flights cancelled.

I’m posting because my friends in Michigan, who have been getting feet of snow dumped on them, needed a good laugh. 

In all seriousness, the weather did change last week. We got a little bit of ice and snow. Enough that I drove to work instead of riding my bicycle. Here’s a photo taken during the worst of the “storm.”

1098

Car deals, and car value

My Jetta is getting long in the tooth. We have been considering a replacement for a while and have saved up the cash to pay for a new car. Macro-economic forces have caused the bottom to drop out of the US new car market, meaning lots of dealers have cars on their lots. It is not unheard of to score deals for $5-7,000 below market value on new cars. We are on the prowl.

After hearing that the U.S. Treasury sold $32 billion worth of T-bills at a yield of 0%, Warren Buffett emailed this note to the directors of his company, Berkshire Hathaway:

“This should be bullish for Berkshire. With great foresight, I long ago entered the mattress business in a big way through our furniture operation. Now mattresses have become fully competitive as a place to put your money, and sales will soon take off.”