Ford helps invent the 8 track

[97RangerXLT]

http://jalopnik.com/5639157/how-ford-helped-invent-the-8+track

Sync is quite a step up from these early days

AJ

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Sync is pretty slick... I wish you could buy an aftermarket radio that works as flawlessly with a Zune.

The Bluetooth thing is also freaky neat.

I don't think I have ever even held an 8 track cassette, regular cassettes were king in my lifetime before they themselves became obsolete.

 

[AllanD]

What gets freaky is when some aftermarket head units not only do Bluetooth A2DP
(Audio Streaming from a remoteblue tooth device to a compatible headunit)

but also do "AVRCP" (Audio/Video Remote Control Profile)

So if for example IF I had the spare $225 I could buy a Sony MEX-BT5700U
I could let my Notebook computer sit behind the seat connected to the car charger
and not only play any media on my notebook (Currently ~11,000 audio tracks)
But could play them either randomly or choose by Artist, Album & Track
via the controls on the head unit...

Then again the back panel USB jack will adress "Mass Storage class" devices, and I have an externally powered USB enclosure for a Notebook drive...

Speech control?

Shit, I can se up voice dialing on my cell phone, but I've had this phone for very nearly three years and I haven't bothered yet...



AD

 

[fastpakr]

A2DP and AVRCP are big draws for me on upgrading to a newer Bluetooth motorcycle headset. The newer Scala units can receive an A2DP stream and control compatible devices using the AVRCP profile. Huge step forward from just a few years ago. I may start setting aside some money for them once I have the Silverwing on the road.

 

[GoodOld85BlueBalls]

I wanna know when the I-Trac is comming out from Apple.

 

[Mac]

Boy does that bring back some memories! I worked at a company that supplied the gear drives for them suckers, learned a lot designing gear trains. Go back farther in sound history, they used to make 45 rpm record players that ran on 12 VDC and custom hot rods would have them hidden in the glove box, don't think they worked too good going down the road.
Dave

 

[adsm08]

I like that last paragraph. A similar fate has already befallen Sync. The 2012 models won't have Sync. They will have the next generation of a similar system called "Touch".