2014 Ford Fiesta gets MyFord Touch and improved Sync voice recognition

Ford's smallest model is also the latest to get the MyFord Touch infotainment system, part of a redesign for the 2014 model year.

The 2014 Ford Fiesta goes on sale next spring with a new front fascia, a longer list of options, and some extra tech. For the first time, Ford’s smallest car gets the MyFord Touch infotainment system, as well as an improved version of the Sync voice recognition control in current models.

MyFord Touch allows the driver to control functions like navigation, audio, climate control, and Bluetooth primarily through a touch screen. In the Fiesta, it’s a 6.5-inch unit mounted prominently in the center stack.

Ford seems determined to put MyFord Touch in all of its vehicles, although the first version of the system was panned for being slow and requiring too much of the driver’s attention. Ford updated the software earlier this year, but MyFord Touch 2.0 still has critics.

Hopefully the Fiesta will strike a better balance between technology and functionality. MyFord Touch-equipped models come with a redesigned center stack with fewer buttons, although some are retained as redundant controls. We’ll have to see if Ford has found the happy medium between too many buttons and too few.

The 2014 Fiesta also gets the newest version of Sync, which streamlines calling and texting with voice recognition. It uses more logical voice commands that, for example, allow drivers to ask for their favorite radio station by name instead of calling up the radio, FM, and the music genre.

Ford’s Sync AppLink, which allows drivers to use Ford-approved apps, returns, as does the Sync Services concierge, which offers things like turn-by-turn directions.

Making the most of Sync and MyFord Touch is an available eight-speaker Sony HD radio with satellite capability.

The 2014 Fiesta also features a new exterior design with a front end that apes the 2013 Fusion’s (definitely not a bad thing), and a new turbocharged 1.0-liter three-cylinder EcoBoost engine with an estimated 40 mpg. Despite its microscopic size, Ford says the 1.0-liter delivers more horsepower per liter than a Lamborghini Aventador.

The 2014 Fiesta’s official U.S. debut will be at the Los Angeles Auto Show later this week.

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Google Voice client MetroTalk on Windows Phone goes free for 48 hours

MetroTalk for Windows Phone v2.5

If you use Google Voice because like us, you have multiple phone numbers or you just like the free data-driven SMS feature, then you should check out MetroTalk for Windows Phone.

The app started off decent enough when it was first launched months ago but it has quickly ramped up to be one of the best, most fully featured Google Talk clients for Windows Phone—that’s specially good since Google doesn’t seem interested in supporting their own services.

Now, the developer has made the normally $1.49 app free for the next 48 hours. That’s a heck of a good deal especially since the app was just updated on October 13th to a version that will work with Windows Phone 8 and will be updated for WP8 features in the coming weeks.

We’ve used MetroTalk for quite some time and we think it’s a solid app with some great developer support behind it. While you could use the free, ad-supported version, why not head to the Store and grab yourself the full paid iteration for $0? The app does have push notifications done through a simple setup procedure on the device to ensure timely updates and the UI is quite sharp. 

Go grab MetroTalk here in the Windows Phone Store before the price goes back up. And if you like it, remember to leave a positive review for it in the Store.

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Viber for Windows Phone: voice calls months away, beta still going strong

Viber beta for Windows Phone has been available over in the Windows Phone Marketplace for some time but with some limitations. We are now getting indications that Viber is still working on the Windows Phone version and a full version is expected in the coming months.

For those not familiar with Viber, it is a cross platform app for messaging and voice calls. It is currently available for iOS and Android systems. The Windows Phone version, in beta, only supports the messaging portion of the equation.

In a Facebook response for when voice calls will become available for the Windows Phone version, Viber responded

"Although there are technical limitations inherent in the Windows Phone 7 architecture that makes it challenging to engineer the deep integration needed for voice, we have been hard at work on it and will release the full version with HD-quality voice support in just a few months."

There was some speculation earlier that the voice feature was already available but such is not the case.

Viber beta comes across as a simple to use, cross platform app that lets you connect with your friends who have opted for a platform other than Windows Phone. Viber beta synchs with your mobile phone number and contact list to instantly show who already has Viber.

Viber beta is a free, ad free app for your Windows Phone that you can grab here. Again, for the time being it is a beta and limited to messaging capabilities. There may be some bugs present and once voice goes online, we'll pass it on.

Thanks, Cyril, for the tip!

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Martian watch lets you control your iPhone with voice commands and Siri

Martian watch lets you control your iPhone with voice commands and Siri | iMore.com Skip to main content AndroidBlackBerryiPhone / iPadWindows PhonewebOS

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iMore iPhone iPad Forums Apps Accessories Reviews How-To Podcasts Free wallpapers: iPhone & iPad Guides: iOS, iCloud, Siri, photography, jailbreak Free: iPhone apps & games, iPad apps & games Shop Online Cases Chargers Screen protectors Headsets & More Free shipping on orders over $50 Martian watch lets you control your iPhone with voice commands and Siri By Chris Oldroyd, Saturday, Aug 18, 2012 a 8:41 am 5

Since the phenomenal success of the Pebble smart watch on Kickstarter, a few other designers have seen the huge interest it generated and decided to start looking at their own ideas for a smart watch. One of those ideas has now appeared on Kickstarter and instead of a smart watch that is all about the display, this one is all about voice control from your wrist.

The Martian watch has a permanent always visible analogue watch face, directly below that is a small OLED text display panel that will show you caller ID information, calendar reminders and SMS messages. The Martian connects to your iPhone through a Bluetooth connection and is pretty much a Bluetooth headset built into a watch. It has a two way speaker and works with normal voice commands as well as the ability to hook into Siri on an iPhone 4S.

We knew the world didn’t need another Bluetooth headset. Our idea? “Why not a Bluetooth voice command WATCH?” You could actually enjoy wearing it. You wouldn’t have to take it in and out of your ear all day. It would always be there and there’d be even more it could do for you! For example…like other Bluetooth watches we love, it would also give you “info at a glance”notifications. But with a voice watch, if you saw you were getting a call from a friend, you could simply answer it on the watch and leave your phone where it is…pocket, purse, backpack, running armband…wherever.

Connect Martian to your mobile phone just like you would a wireless headset, using an easy no-code pairing system. The top Command Button initiates commands. The bottom Select Button controls volume and feature selections. Notifications come in the form of a vibration, RGB LED light and an OLED text display. The LED light indicator blinks green for an incoming phone call and blue for an incoming SMS/text message or notification.

Smart Watches are definitely beginning to capture everyone’s imagination and this latest Kickstarter project is certainly different to the Pebble watch and any others that we have seen so far. The idea of being able to control your iPhone by talking to your watch sounds amazing. Of course you have to take into account that any phone conversation will be audible to everyone around you and be subject to a lot of background noise; that speaker would need to be very cloud and clear.

If you like the idea of the Martian watch, you can become an early adopter with a pledge of $95 or more to secure one should they make it into production. The Martian watch currently has just under $45,000 of pledges and it needs to hit over $200,000 to gain enough to be funded; it still has 43 days to go. As with all of these Kickstarter projects, just because a particular item reaches its funding total doesn’t guarantee it will go into production.

Can you see a future where you will be talking to your watch to make and receive calls, send text messages and schedule appointments or is this idea one step too far?

Source: Kickstarter

Chris Oldroyd

UK editor at iMore, mobile technology lover and air conditioning design engineer.

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0 21 103 More of: News
More of: Martian, Watch, bluetooth, Siri, Voice, Pebble, Iphone, Kickstarter ? PreviouslyWhat if Google had never made Android: how would iOS 6 be different today, and who would be Apple's biggest competitor? Next up ?Now even chewing gum is magical and revolutionary There are 5 comments. Add yours. howdyhowdy says: Aug 18, 2012 at 8:37 pm - 1 day ago

I've been wanting a watch that connects with Siri for a while, but this is one of the ugliest watches I've ever seen. Who's their target audience? Senior citizens?

Reply lungho says: Aug 18, 2012 at 11:52 pm - 1 day ago

Either that or metro-sexual geeks.

Reply TechBoy1980 says: Aug 19, 2012 at 9:41 pm - 11 hours ago

I guess im a metro geek, cause I think those watches are gorgeous. Watch the video for all the models.

Reply lungho says: Aug 20, 2012 at 7:54 am - 1 hour ago

I did watch all the videos. I really think they are shooting for a uni-sex look, which is cheaper for a 1st production run, but I don't really like it. Perhaps we'll have more choices if their idea is a hit with most people.

Reply fredrik_sweden says: Aug 20, 2012 at 7:59 am - 1 hour ago

nice idea, but why is the watch so ugly? :)

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