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Ford Tests DIY Firmware Updates

Posted by Soulskill on from the what-could-possibly-go-wrong dept.

wiredmikey writes "This month, Ford is borrowing something from the software industry: updates. With a fleet of new cars using the sophisticated infotainment system they developed with Microsoft called SYNC, Ford has the need to update those vehicles — for both features and security reasons. But how do you update the software in thousands of cars? Traditionally, the automotive industry has resorted to automotive recalls. But now, Ford will be releasing thirty thousand USB sticks to Ford owners with the new SYNC infotainment system, although the update will also be available for online download. In preparing to update your car, Ford encourages users to have a unique USB for each Ford they own, and to have the USB drive empty and not password protected. In the future, updating our gadgets, large and small, will become routine. But for now, it's going to be really cumbersome and a little weird. Play this forward a bit. Image taking Patch Tuesday to a logical extreme, where you walk around your house or office to apply patches to many of the offline gadgets you own."

9 of 164 comments (clear)

  1. Don't worry guys! by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · · Score: 5, Funny

    Just leave at least one wireless interface active and I'll handle all the updates for you!

    Sincerely, B. Hat,
    Honest Gentleman

  2. Patch Tuesday... by LoudNoiseElitist · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Play this forward a bit. Image taking Patch Tuesday to a logical extreme, where you walk around your house or office to apply patches to many of the offline gadgets you own."

    I'm assuming by the time we need to upgrade firmware or software on our refrigerators, toasters, coffee makers, and toilets that they'll all be sentient and just do it themselves.

  3. Wait a minute there... by 14erCleaner · · Score: 5, Funny

    Since when does an automobile entertainment system need security updates? Oh, the wonders of Microsoft...

    --
    Have you read my blog lately?
    1. Re:Wait a minute there... by mrquagmire · · Score: 5, Interesting

      It's not a security update. This update is more like a complete rewrite and has very little to do with Microsoft. You see, for their first attempt Ford decided to outsource the project to a company called BSQUARE who put the UI together using Adobe Flash Lite. For some reason, the results were slightly less than stellar.

      Anyway, the preliminary reviews of the new version sound promising so I am at least a little hopeful. I am still quite frustrated, however, that I've had to deal with such awful software for well over a year on a brand new vehicle that cost almost $40k.

      --
      giggity
  4. Re:Wi-Fi? by SirGarlon · · Score: 5, Insightful

    What could possibly go wrong with a capability to wirelessly update your car's firmware?

    --
    [Sir Garlon] is the marvellest knight that is now living, for he destroyeth many good knights, for he goeth invisible.
  5. But wait: How to drop from 5th to 23rd place... by phonewebcam · · Score: 5, Interesting

    ...in the JD Power IQS Customer Satisfaction Rankings:
    "Ford went from a fifth place ranking in the 2011 J.D. Power Initial Quality Study to a mediocre 23rd place showing this year. Sister-brand Lincoln took a similar nosedive, falling from eighth place all the way down to 17th place this year. ... Not surprisingly, MyFord Touch was the biggest contributor to Ford's fall from grace. "
    And who designed the MyFord touch? Give you one guess.

    1. Re:But wait: How to drop from 5th to 23rd place... by UberOogie · · Score: 5, Interesting
      Holy crap. I made a joke in my head about rebooting a car, but MS has again found a way to make truth stranger than fiction (from the wiki):

      "For new car owners whose MyFord Touch systems crash, both Ford dealerships and Ford-sponsored websites have been recommending that owners disconnect the black (negative) lead to the battery for several minutes, reconnect, then run the car for at least five minutes to reboot the MyFord Touch system. Owners have complained that this is extremely inconvenient, even dangerous in many situations, and should not be required of owners who have paid tens-of-thousands of dollars for their new cars."

      --
      "Enough of this wretched, whining monkey life." -- Marcus Aurelius, _Meditations_, Book 9, 37
  6. No way! by miffo.swe · · Score: 4, Insightful

    There is no friggin way i would let Microsoft anywhere near my car. They have a much too bad track record for that. This is something that makes me take two large steps away from any Ford car. I was entertaining getting a Ford but after having read this, no way in hell.

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    HTTP/1.1 400
  7. Horrible Summary is Horrible by Thelasko · · Score: 4, Informative

    Whoa guys! Ford has been allowing end user firmware upgrades since the SYNC system was rolled out. The salesman even told me how to do it when we bought my wife's car two years ago. I've even done it myself through the Ford website. Also note, that this upgrade does not change the ECU, only the SYNC system. Also note, that this mass USB stick mailing is for MyFordTouch, not SYNC (MyFordTouch is built on top of the SYNC system, but includes a touchscreen, and are commonly confused).

    In summary:
    User firmware upgrades !new
    User firmware upgrades !experimental
    Mass USB mailings !SYNC
    The only thing experimental is the mass mailing of USB sticks.

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