You can use the radio, CD, navigation system and phone while driving, but for safety reasons, the computer and Internet access work only while the vehicle is parked. Also, the system does not allow you to stream Internet audio or video, even while stationary. Ford says it's the first vehicle manufacturer in North America to offer an installed Internet device, though there are several in-dash aftermarket devices and, of course, it's long been possible to use an Internet-connected laptop in a car.
It makes a lot of sense for Ford to offer this to its business customers, many of whom spend the better part of their day in and around their vehicles. Before the economy put a damper on construction, it wasn't uncommon to see contractors and construction foremen pull out a laptop to get or send information vital to the job. And having a Web browser makes sense, given the vast amount of resources it makes available. The Ford device also lets users send and receive e-mail and text messages.
A message from the office with an address of a job, for example, can be pasted into the GPS application, making navigation a bit easier.
As someone who doesn't own a truck and probably never will, I'm not a potential customer for this system. But I'm sure Ford and other automakers have considered a consumer version for passenger cars.
If they do offer one - and I'm sure it's inevitable - I hope they include a media player with the ability to stream audio while the car is in motion. Ford teams up with Opera to put a browser in its truck and van computers, but what about passenger cars?
As CNET's Cartech blog reported last week, Ford Motor and Opera Software have announced a collaboration to add Web browsing to the Internet-enabled in-dash computers that Ford is installing in some of its trucks and work vans. Ford says it's the first vehicle manufacturer in North America to offer an installed Internet device, though there are several in-dash aftermarket devices and, of course, it's long been possible to use an Internet-connected laptop in a vehicle. The built-in Ford Work Solutions computer, which is being marketed to contractors, farmers, construction workers and business owners, is equipped with Microsoft Auto , a version of the Windows CE operating system.
In addition to accessing the Web through the Opera browser, the computer can run LogMeIn to enable remote access to office and home PCs. The computer also includes Garmin GPS navigation and is integrated with the vehicle cell phone.
It has a 6. Ford sells an optional wireless Hewlett-Packard printer. You can use the radio, CD, navigation system, and phone while driving, but for safety reasons, the computer and Internet access work only while the vehicle is parked.
Also, the system does not allow you to stream Internet audio or video, even while stationary. It makes a lot of sense for Ford to offer this to its business customers, many of whom spend the better part of their day in and around their vehicles. Before the economy put a damper on construction, it wasn't uncommon to see contractors and construction foremen pull out a laptop to get or send information vital to the job.
And having a Web browser makes sense, given the vast amount of resources it makes available. Start up a truck or van, and a pair of antennas—mounted in protected housings inside the pickup box—use passive RFID tech to scan for items via a pre-programmed inventory list. The data is then transmitted to a reader inside the cab and displayed on screen, alerting the driver if any vital tools are missing.
Tool Link will also save a snapshot of the first list of the day to reference against, making sure everything that was taken to the job site is back on the truck at the end of a workday. Crew Chief, our third favorite element of the Work Solutions suite, provides fleet managers with a telematics and diagnostics system for real-time vehicle location and maintenance tracking. The data links to a Web-based application, but Crew Chief also communicates with the vehicle's electrical architecture and can perform a number of diagnostic functions, from checking tire pressure to deciphering engine warnings.
You can even program the data manager to identify manual alerts, such as unauthorized use of a vehicle or excessive idling. The system will also provide fuel calculations and fuel tax reporting. Finally, Ford developed its Cable Lock security system with the gurus over at MasterLock to take care of items left in the pickup box during park. The 8-ft.
0コメント