I Miss my Knobs!

[ManUpOrShutUp]

I take it people who do not like the Big Screen still have a flip phone. If that's the case then OK. But if you have a smart phone at some point you embraced the new technology.

I have a smartphone and have for many years, but I haven't embraced the trend towards massive screens. When Apple significantly increased screen sizes I got an SE, SE 2020 and now a 13 Mini. I'll be sticking with the SE/Mini size for as long as Apple makes them.

Changing the AC temp is quick and easy. Why do you need a dedicated knob for the few times you change the temp?

For certain things (e.g. radio volume), the majority - even those that love new tech - prefer knobs. That's why several auto manufacturers bought them back after removing them. Also, FWIW, I change the temp pretty often, especially in the large space of my EL where it's harder for the climate control to keep the temp constant.

Others cite some tactile feel BS keeping the eyes on the road. Total BS as you look at your cup holder, drinks, phone and everything else. You mean to tell me your eyes never leave the road.

Simply because one's eyes leave the road doesn't mean one should and it certainly doesn't mean one should do it more. I use the volume/tuning control on the steering wheel to avoid taking my eyes off the road. I also use my phone GPS not only because Ford's old nav system sucks, but because the screen is located below the windshield where I want my eyes to be. As much as possible, I do want to operate controls by feel when I'm driving and I want to keep at least a partial view of the road ahead in my sightline at all times.

 

[2018ExpyPlatinum]

Especially since my wife changed the temp in the car like every 20 min!!

I guess all wives are the same??? Mine changes the temp constantly. Trust me, I don't know about yours, but if mine had to go thru a level or two to change the temp, I'd never here the end of it. She has NO patience for that crap.

 

[2018ExpyPlatinum]

The other thing is, if I change the temp, or the radio station, or adjust the cooled seats, or the volume, It's a quick look to find said button. Some touch screens it's much more than a quick look. Touch here, touch here, touch here. Way more than a quick look.

I just want buttons for the simple stuff and stuff I use/change often. I'm not screwing with a touch screen for things that I can use a button for. The other issue is safety. If you live in the middle of nowhere where there isn't much traffic, it's probably no big deal. Here, where traffic is crazy, plus the crappy drivers, you can't afford to be going thru layers to raise the temp one degree.

All you tough young guys will see. Wait until you get in your late 50's, 60's and up. Lot's of things change. Now, where the hell is my flip phone?

 

[LazSlate]

All valid comments and I see the point of a lot of people. I think IMO that Ford would knock it out of the park if they added 4 knobs and maybe 4 buttons at the bottom with OLED display on the button or knob (so you know what it is) and you can assigned ANY feature to the knobs and buttons. Instant Rear View Cam. Maybe Instant temp setting to 70. Right Climate on one or radio on the 1st or fan speed on #2.

This would by far merge the old and new into something everyone could enjoy.

 

[Rob6805]

IMO, hands down Chrysler/RAM/JEEP Uconnect 5 is the gold standard of infotainment systems (at least for mass produced vehicles). The 12" portrait display in the RAM pickups has just enough buttons to make it very user friendly and it doesn't look like a tablet glued to the dash. The Jeep Wagoneer w/ the 12" landscape display is the same. I really hope Ford does a better job integrating with the MY25 change.

 

[mdecillis]

I take it people who do not like the Big Screen still have a flip phone. If that's the case then OK. But if you have a smart phone at some point you embraced the new technology.

Has zero to do with that. The small screen has all the same tech in it. It comes down to actually finding a setting without having to look away from the road for very long. Or when you reach for a touch button and hit a bump or dip in the road and totally miss the touch button you wanted and hit something else instead.

 

[mdecillis]

Simply because one's eyes leave the road doesn't mean one should and it certainly doesn't mean one should do it more.

Exactly, and I know for a fact my eyes leave the road longer when trying to find a certain part of the touch screen (change a station, etc) while driving than a physical knob or button.

 

[mdecillis]

All valid comments and I see the point of a lot of people. I think IMO that Ford would knock it out of the park if they added 4 knobs and maybe 4 buttons at the bottom with OLED display on the button or knob (so you know what it is) and you can assigned ANY feature to the knobs and buttons. Instant Rear View Cam. Maybe Instant temp setting to 70. Right Climate on one or radio on the 1st or fan speed on #2.

This would by far merge the old and new into something everyone could enjoy.

This is why the 12" screen is perfect with pretty much the same tech as the 15" screen. It looks nicer AND has just the right amount of important buttons under it.

 

[maxlim2022]

Yup...that's why I stayed with the 12" screen and buttons rather than the Mach-E stupid screen. Nothing but issues and annoyances.

exactly! 12inch is more than adequate for the map and the digital interface. the knobs are a big relief.

 

[nationalgallery]

Just because a human-device interface (e.g., touchscreen) is well-suited or optimal for all functionalities of one device doesn't mean that same interface should, or eventually will, propagate to every functionality of other devices. A smartphone is a completely different use case from a vehicle — especially a 6,000 lb. truck hurtling down the road at 70 mph where driver error can cause the deaths of its occupants as well as those in other vehicles, cyclists, or pedestrians.

I don't foresee a touchscreen ever being used for steering, accelerating, or braking, for example. If Ford had done proper (or any?) UX (User Experience) studies and testing, they would have observed the dangers of a driver's attention diverted trying to hit the tiny 'Off' button on the screen for the fan (the only way to actually turn the fan off), or getting the amount of seat heating or cooling they want. The upcoming Sync4a update allowing the dial to control those functions (and possibly adding them to the voice command menu) should solve that problem.

But for touchscreen + knobs vs. only touchscreen, people have, and are certainly entitled to, different preferences. Especially if you're paying $90K for a car (which is a fair amount more than the cost of the priciest smartphone, last time I checked....).

 

[LazSlate]

exactly! 12inch is more than adequate for the map and the digital interface. the knobs are a big relief.

Problem is the Sync 4 15" navigation is on another level compared to the Sync 3 12". Using Google maps with Car Play IMO is OK but would rather not have to be tethered to my phone. The sync 4 navigation is better than Google or Apple Maps. Never thought a Car Manufacturer could do this but Ford did.

 

[LazSlate]

Just because a human-device interface (e.g., touchscreen) is well-suited or optimal for all functionalities of one device doesn't mean that same interface should, or eventually will, propagate to every functionality of other devices. A smartphone is a completely different use case from a vehicle — especially a 6,000 lb. truck hurtling down the road at 70 mph where driver error can cause the deaths of its occupants as well as those in other vehicles, cyclists, or pedestrians.

I don't foresee a touchscreen ever being used for steering, accelerating, or braking, for example. If Ford had done proper (or any?) UX (User Experience) studies and testing, they would have observed the dangers of a driver's attention diverted trying to hit the tiny 'Off' button on the screen for the fan (the only way to actually turn the fan off), or getting the amount of seat heating or cooling they want. The upcoming Sync4a update allowing the dial to control those functions (and possibly adding them to the voice command menu) should solve that problem.

But for touchscreen + knobs vs. only touchscreen, people have, and are certainly entitled to, different preferences. Especially if you're paying $90K for a car (which is a fair amount more than the cost of the priciest smartphone, last time I checked....).

Distracted drivers using SmartPhones kill more people in 1 day that a 15" Sync screen could ever in 100 years. Ford has the capability to limit what a user can do while driving to prevent this. If someone cannot change the AC setting by pressing 2 clicks on a screen without taking out pedestrians or crashing then they have bigger driving issues than a 15" screen.

 

[nationalgallery]

Distracted drivers using SmartPhones kill more people in 1 day that a 15" Sync screen could ever in 100 years. Ford has the capability to limit what a user can do while driving to prevent this. If someone cannot change the AC setting by pressing 2 clicks on a screen without taking out pedestrians or crashing then they have bigger driving issues than a 15" screen.

Just as everyone is entitled to their preferences, everyone is entitled to their opinion.....

 

[rd618]

For all the complaining, just don't get the 15.5" screen. There are options to get one with buttons.
No one is mandating you buy an 80k truck. You can option a limited up to the gills and then select to keep the 12" screen.
Or if you want all the buttons and really like the "platinum experience" get a base Nav, it's very similar and roughly consistent price point.

 

[LokiWolf]

For all the complaining, just don't get the 15.5" screen. There are options to get one with buttons.
No one is mandating you buy an 80k truck. You can option a limited up to the gills and then select to keep the 12" screen.
Or if you want all the buttons and really like the "platinum experience" get a base Nav, it's very similar and roughly consistent price point.

You cannot get BlueCruise without a Platinum, and you cannot get a Platinum without Sync4a(15 Inch). So your statement is partially incorrect.

 

[LokiWolf]

Problem is the Sync 4 15" navigation is on another level compared to the Sync 3 12". Using Google maps with Car Play IMO is OK but would rather not have to be tethered to my phone. The sync 4 navigation is better than Google or Apple Maps. Never thought a Car Manufacturer could do this but Ford did.

To be clear on the 22+ all display options are in the Sync4 family. The 12 Inch is Sync4, and the 15 is Sync4a. Both offer Wireless CarPlay and significant improvements over Sync3. The largest Sync3 display that was available in the Expedition was 8 Inch, and available from 2016-2021, across the last 2 years of Gen3, and first 4 years of Gen4.

I also agree 100% on the Connected Nav. I have it in my 21 F150 and use it 80% of the time vs Waze. With the Alexa update, it makes it even easier. Ask Alexa to navigate to "X" and boom it is doing it.

 

[2018ExpyPlatinum]

.........Or just buy something else

 

[Rob6805]

Problem is the Sync 4 15" navigation is on another level compared to the Sync 3 12". Using Google maps with Car Play IMO is OK but would rather not have to be tethered to my phone. The sync 4 navigation is better than Google or Apple Maps. Never thought a Car Manufacturer could do this but Ford did.

Thank a company called Telenav.

 

[nationalgallery]

You cannot get BlueCruise without a Platinum, and you cannot get a Platinum without Sync4a(15 Inch).

I LOVE the BlueCruise (I do a lot of freeway driving) and I love the 15.5 screen (with the dial-controlled functions in the coming update I'll have no complaints whatsoever).

I also agree 100% on the Connected Nav. I have it in my 21 F150 and use it 80% of the time vs Waze.

I've been really happy using Google Maps navigation which is always spot-on accurate on directions, distances, and arrival time (regardless of traffic conditions it is always literally exact or within a couple minutes — it must use some kind of sorcery or black magic). I use the 'satellite' view which shows green/yellow/red/dark-red traffic congestion, and which I think shows more detailed info on the local view of where you are. I haven't used the built-in Sync nav; I was curious what you preferred about it over the other options.

 

[5280tunage]

Just because a human-device interface (e.g., touchscreen) is well-suited or optimal for all functionalities of one device doesn't mean that same interface should, or eventually will, propagate to every functionality of other devices. A smartphone is a completely different use case from a vehicle — especially a 6,000 lb. truck hurtling down the road at 70 mph where driver error can cause the deaths of its occupants as well as those in other vehicles, cyclists, or pedestrians.

I don't foresee a touchscreen ever being used for steering, accelerating, or braking, for example. If Ford had done proper (or any?) UX (User Experience) studies and testing, they would have observed the dangers of a driver's attention diverted trying to hit the tiny 'Off' button on the screen for the fan (the only way to actually turn the fan off), or getting the amount of seat heating or cooling they want. The upcoming Sync4a update allowing the dial to control those functions (and possibly adding them to the voice command menu) should solve that problem.

But for touchscreen + knobs vs. only touchscreen, people have, and are certainly entitled to, different preferences. Especially if you're paying $90K for a car (which is a fair amount more than the cost of the priciest smartphone, last time I checked....).

Not to mention Ford removed something as simple as browsing a folder on a USB drive to find a new track, because that's too dangerous, but somehow taking your eyes off the road to fumble around on a massive touchscreen is less dangerous than that. Seriously, I hate that, when you come to the end of an album in a folder while say on a 2hr drive, the only thing you can do is either replay the whole folder again, or switch to a different source (or pull over and change). At least some of the brands warn you that the passenger should be the only one doing that while in motion.