Phoenix Android Audio retains Sync 3

[dhmcfadin]

Ok... so I’ve been watching these full screen radios for about a year. Linkswell... Phoenix.... etc... and for many reasons I’ve not pulled the trigger. These things have been glitchy in various reviews and trials.

Fast forward to this platform.... it’s the first one that doesn’t replace sync 3. It’s just a replacement screen that will display the sync 3 GUI. Every feature remains in tact from sync 3 including the Ford Factory Navigation and Apple Play. This is also the first unit that doesn’t create issues with losing features, losing satellite radio, or hardware AC controls. From what I can tell, the head unit remains the factory sync unit.

We will see how it goes. I’ve taken one for the team and ordered it. It installs in under and hour and if it’s crap the worse that happens is I take it out and throw it away. It’s only 699. It’s not a huge gamble. If it works well and is pretty cool... I’ll let you all know.

Definitely looking forward to your feedback!

 

[TXBrian]

That's cool.
Did they give an ETA?

 

[Sick03SVT]

I have an 802 as well.

You’re getting everything you had stock plus an android tablet. You’re eliminating the ugliest part of the interior. You’re gaining features and upgrading the aesthetics.

I don’t own one. I don’t know how well it’ll work with the sync 3 system but this is the first tablet solution I’ve seen that makes sense. Eliminating the sync 3 system has shown to come out as a bad idea with features lost.

Sweet! I may try it out. Like the way it looks for sure

 

[gijosh28]

I don't see where it has RCA output. Am I missing something? What would be the point? What do you gain over just using AA Mirror?

 

[Guy]

A bigger high res screen. An android tablet for your use that is WiFi and Bluetooth capable. Elimination of the circa 2005 keypad below the sync screen. A cleaner aesthetic in the interior.

It has RCA outputs I think, but that doesn’t interest me. I’m satisfied with my DSR1 and level signal. I’m also not sure how the RCA outputs would play with the sync 3 and I suspect it would defeat the purpose.
It has some capability for auxiliary devices like additional cameras, including outputting a dash cam to it.

Further, I’m very intrigued to see if I can figure out how to get it to accept additional parking sensors for the front of the truck. They’re easy enough to buy and install. It’s something I’ve always found lacking on our trucks and I’m sure it was omitted because they probably wouldn’t hold up very well smacking into things off road, but that’s not really a worry of mine.

Let’s all face the facts. Our interior aesthetics aren’t the best. Aside from plasticky materials, the infotainment center looks like it’s something I had 10-15 years ago. If I can modernize that component, I believe it’ll go a long way towards cleaning up where Ford fell short.

All of the above conjecture is predicated upon the device actually performing accurately with reasonable reliability. I’m not entirely convinced that it’s going to operate as well as it looks. I won’t sacrifice form over function and will remove it if it’s not up to par. However, in the off chance it works, I’ll have stumbled onto a really nice, inexpensive interior upgrade.

QUOTE="gijosh28, post: 1315943, member: 25807"]I don't see where it has RCA output. Am I missing something? What would be the point? What do you gain over just using AA Mirror?[/QUOTE]

 

[smurfslayer]

I’ve been reasonably impressed at the number of android devices my shooting buddy has campaigned that had frequent, spontaneous reboots or hangs. it basically just becomes a brick temporarily so I wonder how reliable this interface will be. I know he’s had multiple samsung phones, but not the combusting ones.

I probably shouldn’t do this but... I can’t help it.

I wonder if there’s another manufacturer out there with a larger infotainment screen... ?

 

[Guy]

Smurf

Agree with all of the above. And unfortunately only android has answered the call right now.

I’m always on the up and up. I’ll tell you guys if it’s garbage.

I’ve been reasonably impressed at the number of android devices my shooting buddy has campaigned that had frequent, spontaneous reboots or hangs. it basically just becomes a brick temporarily so I wonder how reliable this interface will be. I know he’s had multiple samsung phones, but not the combusting ones.

I probably shouldn’t do this but... I can’t help it.

I wonder if there’s another manufacturer out there with a larger infotainment screen... ?

 

[EricM]

If you put in a 12.1" screen, what will Jake have left to ******** about in his Doodge?

 

[EricM]

I’ve been reasonably impressed at the number of android devices my shooting buddy has campaigned that had frequent, spontaneous reboots or hangs. it basically just becomes a brick temporarily so I wonder how reliable this interface will be. I know he’s had multiple samsung phones, but not the combusting ones.

Obvious Apple fanboi here ^ Would have bet a left nut on it without that post tho...


I've "managed" 60+ Android devices in the family over the last decade and only one randomly crashed (got wet at one point, so...), and only one outright failed - BSOD. All the rest were replaced due to the desire to get a newer, faster, bigger phone, or ended life with a broken screen. About 50% of the phones have been sub $150 ATT GoPhones, 25% are $250 mid-grade phones, and the other 25% are $500+ flagships. So, mostly mid-low end stuff and pretty much dead nuts reliable. Your buddy has some bad luck, or is rooting them with non carrier software, or something.

 

[smurfslayer]

Obvious Apple fanboi here ^ Would have bet a left nut on it without that post tho...


I've "managed" 60+ Android devices in the family over the last decade and only one randomly crashed (got wet at one point, so...), and only one outright failed - BSOD. All the rest were replaced due to the desire to get a newer, faster, bigger phone, or ended life with a broken screen. About 50% of the phones have been sub $150 ATT GoPhones, 25% are $250 mid-grade phones, and the other 25% are $500+ flagships. So, mostly mid-low end stuff and pretty much dead nuts reliable. Your buddy has some bad luck, or is rooting them with non carrier software, or something.

coming from the Jennifer fanboi poster child, that’s high praise. Your passionate defense of android os and samsung hardware is laudable, if possibly only empirical or circumstantial evidence. I liken this to the Glock fanboi club members who come through my classes. It’s a competent handgun but it ain’t magic and it isn’t perfect by any stretch and when they fail in class it causes a serious depression for the students running them. Seriously, a few people had to console one guy because his “perfection” handgun kept malfunctioning. An extreme case, but some folks just don’t shoot enough to elicit malfunctions. Shoot any handgun enough and it’s going to suffer a malfunction or breakage.

Every computer hardware platform has issues, all OS software has bugs, weird bus level errors, and what have you. And no hardware or software platform survives contact with the customer base unscathed. He was not rooting the phones, as he uses them for business. I’m happy for your 60+ androids, or however many it really is.