SYNC v4.4 Breaks USB2
03-21-2015, 10:44 AM
#23
Just Another Member
Thread Starter
I have run into another problem with the new version of SYNC. As I mentioned elsewhere, I can only get USB2 to work if there are no other AUX inputs available. Once I connect to BT Audio or switch to Line In for example, there's no going back to USB2 without turning the truck off and back on.
Here's the new issue. When SYNC finally connected to USB2 and indexed the SSD that I have in the glove box, it said that due to the number of tracks on the device, voice commands are unavailable at the track level. I can say "Play artist..." or "Play album..." but I can't ask for a specific track or song. Saying "Play track..." gives me an error message about having too many tracks. Switching the drive to USB1 produces the same results, so it's not a USB2 issue.
I currently have about 12,000 tracks on the device. I keep almost my entire music collection and all my audio books on the SSD. Ford does not appear to have documented the upper limit on the number of tracks a device can have, so I have no idea what the limit is!!!
Given that an unsigned integer in a 16 bit system can range from 0 to 32767, I just can't understand how Ford's engineers could be so stupid as to impose a limit like this!!!
With the previous Gen1 version of SYNC, I had, at one point, about 30,000 tracks on the SSD and SYNC was easily able to index it (took about 10 min). Now, with less that half that number of tracks, it takes 15 minutes to index and then tells me I have too many tracks to index individually.
What kind of mismanagement allows such a poor "update" to be released to the public? Like Ford didn't lose enough credibility with the original SYNC roll-out. The entire SYNC management team ought to be canned.
This is really inexcusable and the best example of bad software design that I have ever seen. In comparison, Healthcare.gov looks like perfect software. I want to roll back to an earlier version of SYNC but I was told that's not possible. I was in the market for a new truck in the next 3 months or so, and would probably have gone for a new F-150, but I am not even going to consider a Ford if they can't resolve this issue. I don't buy vehicles for the entertainment systems and gadgetry, but what I do buy should work. It's Ford's engineering carelessness and complete disregard of their customers that will prevent me from going back. They just don't give a sh_t about getting it right.
Here's the new issue. When SYNC finally connected to USB2 and indexed the SSD that I have in the glove box, it said that due to the number of tracks on the device, voice commands are unavailable at the track level. I can say "Play artist..." or "Play album..." but I can't ask for a specific track or song. Saying "Play track..." gives me an error message about having too many tracks. Switching the drive to USB1 produces the same results, so it's not a USB2 issue.
I currently have about 12,000 tracks on the device. I keep almost my entire music collection and all my audio books on the SSD. Ford does not appear to have documented the upper limit on the number of tracks a device can have, so I have no idea what the limit is!!!
Given that an unsigned integer in a 16 bit system can range from 0 to 32767, I just can't understand how Ford's engineers could be so stupid as to impose a limit like this!!!
With the previous Gen1 version of SYNC, I had, at one point, about 30,000 tracks on the SSD and SYNC was easily able to index it (took about 10 min). Now, with less that half that number of tracks, it takes 15 minutes to index and then tells me I have too many tracks to index individually.
What kind of mismanagement allows such a poor "update" to be released to the public? Like Ford didn't lose enough credibility with the original SYNC roll-out. The entire SYNC management team ought to be canned.
This is really inexcusable and the best example of bad software design that I have ever seen. In comparison, Healthcare.gov looks like perfect software. I want to roll back to an earlier version of SYNC but I was told that's not possible. I was in the market for a new truck in the next 3 months or so, and would probably have gone for a new F-150, but I am not even going to consider a Ford if they can't resolve this issue. I don't buy vehicles for the entertainment systems and gadgetry, but what I do buy should work. It's Ford's engineering carelessness and complete disregard of their customers that will prevent me from going back. They just don't give a sh_t about getting it right.
Last edited by Theocoog; 03-21-2015 at 11:15 AM.
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1oldtimer (03-25-2015)
03-23-2015, 04:39 PM
#24
Just Another Member
Thread Starter
Yes, you're right about that!
I received confirmation from Ford today that USB2 is "...intended for dealership use only", so they won't be looking into why it might not be addressable anymore.
However, they did say that "Our engineering team confirmed that the [primary] USB port intended for customer use should be fully functional after installing V4.4..." and is is definitely not true.
There is still some unknown maximum number of files that can be indexed by SYNC, after which tracks are not accessible by name (i.e., you can no longer say "Play track...").
I know the BT Audio guys are pleased with this update, but it seems the engineering team spent all their creative resources on the BT Audio input at the expense of USB.
As a heavy USB user, SYNC 4.4 is actually a big downgrade for me: loss of one device port and a new limit in functionality.
Who does that?
I received confirmation from Ford today that USB2 is "...intended for dealership use only", so they won't be looking into why it might not be addressable anymore.
However, they did say that "Our engineering team confirmed that the [primary] USB port intended for customer use should be fully functional after installing V4.4..." and is is definitely not true.
There is still some unknown maximum number of files that can be indexed by SYNC, after which tracks are not accessible by name (i.e., you can no longer say "Play track...").
I know the BT Audio guys are pleased with this update, but it seems the engineering team spent all their creative resources on the BT Audio input at the expense of USB.
As a heavy USB user, SYNC 4.4 is actually a big downgrade for me: loss of one device port and a new limit in functionality.
Who does that?
03-25-2015, 12:05 PM
#26
Senior Member
Hey everybody,
If you've recently updated to V4.4 and have noticed that the USB 2 port is no longer working, I'd like to gather some information from you. Please send me a PM with your name, VIN, phone number, and current mileage. If you have any other feedback about the update, please include that in your message as well.
Kim
If you've recently updated to V4.4 and have noticed that the USB 2 port is no longer working, I'd like to gather some information from you. Please send me a PM with your name, VIN, phone number, and current mileage. If you have any other feedback about the update, please include that in your message as well.
Kim
03-25-2015, 12:34 PM
#28
Same issue here, I thought I did something wrong with the install on my 2010. Ohwell, maybe Ford will fix this down the road but I'm not holding my breath.
I plan on swapping USB1 and USB2. Install my Ipad to USB1 and leave in in the glove box. Keep the USB1 in the front as a charging port only. Should be a simple swap at the sync module.
I plan on swapping USB1 and USB2. Install my Ipad to USB1 and leave in in the glove box. Keep the USB1 in the front as a charging port only. Should be a simple swap at the sync module.
03-25-2015, 04:27 PM
#29
Just Another Member
Thread Starter
Same issue here, I thought I did something wrong with the install on my 2010. Ohwell, maybe Ford will fix this down the road but I'm not holding my breath.
I plan on swapping USB1 and USB2. Install my Ipad to USB1 and leave in in the glove box. Keep the USB1 in the front as a charging port only. Should be a simple swap at the sync module.
I plan on swapping USB1 and USB2. Install my Ipad to USB1 and leave in in the glove box. Keep the USB1 in the front as a charging port only. Should be a simple swap at the sync module.
Using that cable it works fine, except for the indexing limitation I ran into. Apparently that is due to the number of different metadata tags, and not the total number of files. So I am working on simplifying my mp3 tags now.
In my mind, it worked (indexed correctly and completely) before the "upgrade" and does not work after the "upgrade", so it's a loss of functionality and a problem they didn't think through.
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jerparker1 (06-23-2015)
