Sync 3 - Changing the background
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 871
Likes: 180
From: Berks County, PA
Mine goes to black at night too - but even so, does anyone find the screen a little too bright at night? I have the screen brightness set all the way down from the touch screen menu and I still find it distracting.
It's even worse with CarPlay.
Dimming the dash via physical buttons by my left knee helps - but then the gauges / dash lights are too dark.
It's even worse with CarPlay.
Dimming the dash via physical buttons by my left knee helps - but then the gauges / dash lights are too dark.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 521
Likes: 115
Blackberry does the sync3 software, before it was Microsoft in sync2.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/...c-3/20234131/#
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/...c-3/20234131/#
Ford uses Blackberry's embedded platform called QNX..... Blackberry does NOT make SYNC, Ford makes its own software on top of QNX.
The reason why Ford switched has nothing to do with colors or fonts as your link suggests, it was due to licensing of Microsoft's embedded software and being tied to Microsoft services, and also having to rely on Microsoft for updates.
Blackberry's QNX platform allows Ford to take full control of the software because QNX is open source based on UNIX. This is the same reason why OEMs chose Android over Windows Phone. Microsoft's software model is stuck in the 90s and they're paying heavily for it.
So basically, everything you see in the interface is designed by Ford, no one else.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 3,534
Likes: 2,585
From: Livonia, MI
You can't change the background because of newer laws in drive distraction. That's also why Sync 3 looks the way it does and uses the colors it does. It's to keep in compliance with new driver distraction laws being put in place in many states. Font sizes, colors, button sizes, etc, are all being regulated and weren't in the mean old day of MFT.
There is definite polish that can be done with Sync 3 and I imagine they will get there. But a lot of the customization limitations are more around driver distraction.
There is definite polish that can be done with Sync 3 and I imagine they will get there. But a lot of the customization limitations are more around driver distraction.
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 871
Likes: 180
From: Berks County, PA
Interesting - is it just the splash screen that's changed or is the color schema different too?
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 22
Likes: 4
From: Middle Georgia
The splash screen changes, but all the screens have a more appealing look vs. the stock. Definitely worth a look until someone hacks it for us. Wished I knew more about how the system works and had the time, to me Ford Sync misses the mark.
There may be some validity to what vulnox says, but why would so many other makers and aftermarket be allowed to develop robust screen designs. I say Ford was in a hurry and cut corners to say they had something. JMTC
There may be some validity to what vulnox says, but why would so many other makers and aftermarket be allowed to develop robust screen designs. I say Ford was in a hurry and cut corners to say they had something. JMTC
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 459
Likes: 101
From: Norfolk, VA /Middleburg, FL