Recall that I stubbornly refuse to accept the Ford/Microsoft SYNC web site / SYNC services End User License Agreement (EULA) and insisted that Ford provide me a way to download updates for my Ford/Sony navigation system using Microsoft “MS SYNC” software. Well, my persistence resulted in instructions on how to download the update for my vehicle, without having to register (accepting the EULA) at the SYNCMyRide.com web site or log into an active account.
The only thing I need to do is enter my Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) at the web site. No need to provide personal info, which the EULA says they may use “for any purpose.” The place to do this is accessed by clicking the “login” [sic] link on the SYNC home page but, instead of logging in, following a series of links that brings me to a screen asking for my VIN.
After entering the VIN, one selects a country (USA, in my case) and then the type of radio (in my case, a Sony navigation system equipped unit with touch screen). Then one is instructed to insert a USB drive into your computer and you click a “Let’s Start” button.
At that point, either an Active-X control (if you’re using windows and MSIE) or a Java applet runs to prepare the USB drive and download/install the update onto the drive. Apparently, they don’t think the average user bright enough to simply click a link to download a zip file containing the update, then install in onto a USB drive.
Anyway, in the case of Safari, I’m told by Mac OS that a Java applet from syncmyride.com “wants access to your computer” and I’m presented the choices of Allow or Deny. Clicking Allow starts loading some things; Safari reports in the status bar 13 of 16 items downloaded, then the status changes to “page load canceled” or something similar. I suspect that the Java applet makes assumptions about the computer and its USB ports and that my Mac Pro doesn’t appear as expected. So it hiccups and aborts.
Firefox, on the other hand, after I click the Let’s Start button just goes straight to a “You need a compatible browser to download updates” page. At lease Safari tried.
Their tech people tell me that I need Mac OS X 10.4+: Firefox 2.x, Safari 2.0.4+ in order to use their site to download updates. I explained that I has OS X 10.5.8 with Safari 5.0.5 and they said it was not compatible, despite meeting the requirements they stated.
When it didn’t work with Safari (eternal progress indicator while the status bar changed to “page load cancelled” or some such, I tried Firefox 5.0.1 and I’m directed to the “You need a compatible browser to download updates” page. I’m guessing that the web site:
1) doesn’t actually test the browser for functionality but instead checks the browser’s user-agent against a list of “supported” browsers; and
2) the list of supported browsers probably has not been updated in a while. (After all, the specs refer to OS X 10.4+ and Safari 2.0.4+.) FF 5.x is probably too new to be in the list.
I’m thinking they don’t really make much effort to support Mac. About what I have come to expect from things Microsoft.
I called their Help desk and explained the problem to a guy who told me (after being placed on hold multiple times so he could check with others) that the reason the download was failing is that when my VIN is checked against their valid accounts, there is no account with that VIN found, so it bails.
So, while some of the SYNC Help thinks I can download updates without having to register, other Help says it’s not possible.
As a result, the Help guy took my VIN and email address and promised to send me the zipped installer. He says he’ll have to create a temporary account locally in his name so he can get the update to send to me.
Regarding my difficulty getting the download to work, I contacted their help desk via “chat.” Here’s how it went:
Thank you for contacting the Ford & Lincoln-Mercury Sync Support Center.
You are now chatting with ‘Shannon’
How may I assist you?
Shannon: Hello
you: Once I click “Let’s Start” to start downloading a SYNC update, nothing happens except a bar-code-like progress bar that goes on forever.
Shannon: You will have to make sure you are using a supported browser.
Shannon: Windows XP: Internet Explorer 6.x, Internet Explorer 7.x, Internet Explorer 8.x, Firefox 2.x
Windows 2000: Internet Explorer 6.x, Firefox 2.x
Windows Vista: Internet Explorer 6.x, Firefox 2.x
Mac OS 10.3.9: Firefox 2.x
Mac OS X 10.4+: Firefox 2.x, Safari 2.0.4+
you: I’m using OS X 10.5.8 and Safari 5.0.5
Shannon: It is not supported.
you: It meets the requirement of “10.4+: Firefox 2.x, Safari 2.0.4+”
Shannon: If you tried another OS and browser, the download will work.
Shannon: Is there anything else I can assist you with today?
you: My OS and browser meet the specs you stated: 10.4+: Firefox 2.x, Safari 2.0.4+ my 10.5.8 OS is later than 10.4 and my Safari 5.0.5 is way newer than 2.0.4.
Shannon: I understand your concern. I offer support for SYNC the unit and not the Web site. I do apologize for any inconvenience.
you: Well then, buh-bye.
Shannon: Thank you.
Shannon: Thank you for chatting with the SYNC Support Center.