How do I listen to Android app in car?

[howardbc]

Today I found a live college football game I wanted to listen to in my car. The app on my smartphone is named tunein. I could hear it on my Samsung Galaxy S3, but when I attached the smartphone to my car via the USB port (inside the center console), the game would not play on the car's speakers.

 

I hit "Entertainment " on the car's display, and then selected "USB" from the options. Instead of playing the game from tunein, it played an old podcast from an ESPN radio show. I don't even save podcasts so don't understand how/why it is playing that old one from many months ago.

 

What was I doing wrong? Or is tunein not compatible with Sync? Or can anyone suggest another app for listening to live sports play-by-play games?

 

I often get an error code on my display that the USB connection is not acceptable for some reason, but usually it does eventually play what is on my smartphone. I have tried switching between the USB ports in the center console in my car. Is there something I need to do to tell the car to play what's on my smartphone?

 

Thanks.

 

[meyersnole]

Interesting... I have an iPhone, and using the USB works, but I also have good luck with the bluetooth connection. Try setting that up then playing the tunein app. I have used tunein before, so I know it works.

[howardbc]

Thanks, meyersnole. I had the Bluetooth connected but I've noticed sometimes it's a little "squirrely." Maybe next time I'll try shutting down the Blue tooth and then starting it up again. 

[howardbc]

I am wondering if I can use the "Maps" app on my Samsung Galaxy S3 to give me voice turn-by-turn directions through Ford's system.

 

In other words, I'd turn on the GPS on my smartphone, connect the phone to the USB port inside the armrest box, then go to "Maps" on my phone and select a destination. But I want the voice to tell me the directions, not just show on the display. 

 

I have Navigation on the car but have noticed that some things are already not current. I checked for an update on www.navigation.com/ford but it says I have the most current SD card. I looked all through the car's manual but didn't see any mention of the possibility of using one's cell phone to have directions played back to me. It would be nice to get traffic reports using my smartphone, too, but again I'd like them to be spoken. Evidently I have used up my trial for Traffic. I bought the car almost a year ago. 

 

I don't want to subscribe to Sirius and that's the only option we have, right? If my idea is possible, what options would I select on the Display after plugging the phone into the USB port? Thanks. 

[Gigi]

To hear turn-by-turn audio from Google Maps, simply select Bluetooth Audio Device.  You do not need to plug in the USB unless you want to use it to charge your phone.  Selecting Bluetooth Audio means that you won't be able to listen to another audio source while you are listening to directions unless it is playing in the background from your phone.

 

In my F-150, which doesn't have navigation, I regularly listen to Pandora from my phone.  When I use Google Maps navigation, that program automatically mutes Pandora when directions are given.

 

You have made me curious to see how it might work to run the MFT navigation on mute with the Google Maps directions playing on audio or to simply put the MFT map on the screen while driving following the Google directions.

[howardbc]

Thanks, Gigi. I followed your instructions (I think) and I was able to hear the turn-by-turn directions using my SG3 phone, but the sound comes out of the phone's puny little speaker. Is that the way it's supposed to work? 

 

If the sound isn't coming out of the car's display/speaker, why am I turning on Bluetooth on my phone? Or are you saying I should be somehow turning Bluetooth on via the Sync display? I looked at the Entertainment options on the Sync display, but didn't see something for Bluetooth. 

 

Appreciate your patience with me on this. 

[Gigi]

Not a problem.

 

You will need to follow instructions for pairing your phone with Sync as a bluetooth audio device.  See pages 314 and 324 of the owners manual.  Or look here http://support.ford.com/sync-technology/pair-your-phone-sync-myford-touch

 

After turning on your audio and selecting Bluetooth Audio Device, you may need to click "options" or "settings" to be sure that Sync is recognizing and connecting with your phone as an audio device.  Sometimes if you have more than one phone paired with Sync, you will need to select the one you want to use and click "connect."

 

When properly paired and connected, everything that would normally be coming out of the speaker of your phone will come out of the audio speakers of the car when Bluetooth Audio Device is selected.

 

In order for this to work easily, it is best to leave Bluetooth enabled on your phone continuously.

[howardbc]

Thanks, Gigi. I've printed up your last response and will try it again in a few days.

 

I have had a problem with the sync to my phone not automatically reconnecting after I park the car and then come back to it. I turn the Bluetooth on on my phone before I try. I emailed a Sync expert at the dealer and he said there have been reports of problems with an Android update. He suggested deleting Sync and some other things but I am afraid to try that. 

 

If I can't get it to work, I'll go by the dealer and ask someone to show me how to set it up. Not a big deal. It just would be nice to have. 

 

Thanks again. 

[FordIVTteam]

Thanks, Gigi. I've printed up your last response and will try it again in a few days.

 

I have had a problem with the sync to my phone not automatically reconnecting after I park the car and then come back to it. I turn the Bluetooth on on my phone before I try. I emailed a Sync expert at the dealer and he said there have been reports of problems with an Android update. He suggested deleting Sync and some other things but I am afraid to try that. 

 

If I can't get it to work, I'll go by the dealer and ask someone to show me how to set it up. Not a big deal. It just would be nice to have. 

 

Thanks again. 

 

howardbc, 

 

Before you delete anything, try removing the battery from your phone and replacing it. When it boots back up, make sure the Bluetooth is turned ON and see if it connects automatically the next time you start up your vehicle. This can improve the phone's connection with SYNC. 

 

Here are some other tips: http://support.ford.com/sync-technology/troubleshooting-sync-myford-touch

 

Kim

[Laura Cain]

Anyone had any luck sending directions from Google Maps to the car navigation?

[murphy]

Anyone had any luck sending directions from Google Maps to the car navigation?

Google and Ford parted company somewhere around 2011.

I think they now use Mapquest but I've never tried it.

[Russael]

They do use Mapquest.  Assuming you set up Sync Services with your cell phone number, you can tell Mapquest to send directions to that number.  Once you do that, go to your car, say "Sync Services" with voice command and it'll place a call from your phone to their system and will ask you if you want to download said directions.  The directions don't download via the built in data radio (that had me confused for the longest time) and instead downloads like an old fashioned modem through your cell phone.

[meyersnole]

They do use Mapquest.  Assuming you set up Sync Services with your cell phone number, you can tell Mapquest to send directions to that number.  Once you do that, go to your car, say "Sync Services" with voice command and it'll place a call from your phone to their system and will ask you if you want to download said directions.  The directions don't download via the built in data radio (that had me confused for the longest time) and instead downloads like an old fashioned modem through your cell phone.

 

I would love to understand some of the choices made on the various systems in this car. It is very obvious that multiple teams were used to develop the software in this car and there was no overall software architect in place, except at the end when a team was put in place to "glue" it all together.

[murphy]

The Sync Services method works on all cars to provide turn by turn directions.  Having the navigation system is not required.  I tried it a few times on my 2010 Fusion Hybrid which did not have navigation when they were still linked to Google.  The directions that I got were very strange.  It chose to go through a residential neighborhood instead of the parallel state route.  I went back to my Garmin very quickly.  With Google you could only send the destination.  There was no provision to send a pre-planned route.  I don't know if that is still the case with MapQuest.

[FordIVTteam]

The Sync Services method works on all cars to provide turn by turn directions.  Having the navigation system is not required. ...  There was no provision to send a pre-planned route.  I don't know if that is still the case with MapQuest.

 

Hi murphy, 

 

You're absolutely right; a navigation system isn't required to get directions through SYNC Services. Your vehicle just needs to have an active subscription to SYNC Services. When directions are sent from Mapquest, you will not have the option to edit the route. 

 

Kim