Ford starts Beta Testing MFT Upgrade

[drober30]

It's at the bottom of the right hand LED cluster......

No wonder why I could not see it!

Just kidding, I knew that and fixed the many typos in my post...

 

[drober30]

Ford should have given some Beta copies to some of us...everyday users, so we can test and give feedback. We have been using the sysytem for about a year and know what to look for in an update.

Not to mention "enthusiastic" beta testers we would be!

Were employees asked to volunteer or were they chosen? Who at Ford would say no I wont help you test the software but what good is that if they are not an avid user of navigation, voice commands or really put the system to the test.

I think Ford knows whats on the line here, I hope they don't regret not involving some of us enthusiasts or some of those that have been very vocal about their MFT problems here and on FB.

 

[FordIVTteam]

Not to mention "enthusiastic" beta testers we would be!

Were employees asked to volunteer or were they chosen? Who at Ford would say no I wont help you test the software but what good is that if they are not an avid user of navigation, voice commands or really put the system to the test.

I think Ford knows whats on the line here, I hope they don't regret not involving some of us enthusiasts or some of those that have been very vocal about their MFT problems here and on FB.

drober30 -

I answered this question/statement of yours, here:

http://explorerforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2865875&postcount=38

Please take a look when you get a chance!

Rebecca

 

[deerfarm]

feedback from Ford

Hi, deerfarm!

I can submit your feedback to the appropriate people. You can also submit your idea, under YOUR IDEAS, here:

http://social.ford.com/

I can't speculate on if it'll be removed or not, but the outside temp will also be in the right-hand infotainment cluster.

Rebecca

Just to let others know. I entered my input to Ford via "social.ford.com" that I hoped they left the outside temperature on the MFT screen when the big revision comes out. I got feedback saying that even though the videos show no Temperature readout, the software is not finalized. She said that my input would be sent to the appropriate people.

If others of you also want it kept, maybe you could give input at social.ford. It can't hurt.

 

[FordIVTteam]

Just to let others know. I entered my input to Ford via "social.ford.com" that I hoped they left the outside temperature on the MFT screen when the big revision comes out. I got feedback saying that even though the videos show no Temperature readout, the software is not finalized. She said that my input would be sent to the appropriate people.

If others of you also want it kept, maybe you could give input at social.ford. It can't hurt.

Awesome! Did you submit it as an idea? If so, what was the title of it so everyone can vote for it?

Rebecca

 

[HDJulie]

Hmm, I need to make a list of things that I really don't want them to change on MFT & a list of things that I do want them to change & submit them one by one.

 

[deerfarm]

Awesome! Did you submit it as an idea? If so, what was the title of it everyone can vote for it?

Rebecca

Yes, I posted an idea entitled "MFT Outside Temp. Display".

Thanks Rebecca

 

[esandye]

Yes, I posted an idea entitled "MFT Outside Temp. Display".

Thanks Rebecca

I just voted YES! Would love to keep both time and temp for both driver and passenger to view.

 

[drober30]

I had already posted my own idea on the site regarding the same topic. I have five votes so far.

Maybe we should start a separate thread asking for forum members to vote?

 

[FordIVTteam]

Yes, I posted an idea entitled "MFT Outside Temp. Display".

Thanks Rebecca

No problem, deerfarm!

Rebecca

 

[Spengracin]

It would have been nice to beta test the software also

 

[182RG]

It would have been nice to beta test the software also

Letting owners beta test would be a bad idea. Some of the OCD types on here would make a career out of it, testing night and day and reporting every little nit. Unmanageable.

 

[drober30]

Letting owners beta test would be a bad idea. Some of the OCD types on here would make a career out of it, testing night and day and reporting every little nit. Unmanageable.

I have no idea how you can see that as a bad thing?

 

[MikeFreas]

I have no idea how you can see that as a bad thing?

The number of people like that is small. The vast majority are just regular folks who want the thing to work. My wife has quit using the NAV because it's so bad. Her iPhone 4s is much better even with the free map thing it comes with.

Interesting thing is TeleNav (same place who makes the maps for the X) had a iphone app that cost 10 bucks and works very well. Go figure.

 

[182RG]

I have no idea how you can see that as a bad thing?

The old adage..."you can't please all the people all the time". Owners have a higher level of expectation, especially the vocal ones. This update will fix the system to a middle ground...that is manageable in the time frame that they are projecting. Opening up the testing to owners and not meeting the higher expectations would be worse PR that the existing system. Think about it.

I guarantee that post new release, there will continue to be threads that start with "...I can't believe they didn't fix THAT <insert nitpick>".

 

[spitfisher]

I have no idea how you can see that as a bad thing?

in my opinion there is enough product and service testing by the consumer, which is wrong, as consumers our expectations are such that manufacturers and designers should internally test product first before releasing it for general availability. One such example is microsoft, oprerating systems in the past should have never been released with out thorough testing. Besides there is too much risk from negative publicity to a liability stand point to have consumers do R and D for manufacturers. I know it maybe a fun thing to do, but leave it to the experts, creators and focus groups that they employ.

our hope is all manufactures adhere to tightly controlled, acurate and timely testing methods, this is the final step prior to going to market. identifying issues once released is an entirely different conversation.

 

[RTX]

The other thing to consider is that it is easy to dream, and technology seems like it can do everything, but there are serious limitations on the possible when dealing with such a system. I integrate some really wonderful technology for crazy environments, and once you do the impossible people expect everything is possible. Opening this up to folks that don't understand the architecture limitations would only lead to disappointment and bad PR.

I think it's funny that folks are always referring to MFT as "clunky." Though I agree, being steeped in iTea and marveling at apple's interface.... in the absence of iPads we would be shouting from the rooftops how amazing MFT is (minus the lock-ups).

 

[rmp301]

I personally like to glace at my MFT screen for all my info.

My temperature readout is within 1 degree or the same of any outside bank sign or business sign that I see that has the temperature displayed.

I often look at the temperature during the winter to see if it's 32 or below so I can tell if the roads are going to start icing up.

I do not find the right hand LCD cluster to be easy to see with my preferred seating/wheel position.

Honestly, how big does the clock need to be? Did people really have a hard time seeing the current readout for the time?

Ditto on that ........ I like it the way it is. I don't like to scan the entire dash for info.

 

[ExploreThis2012]

The majority of the time, the consumer does not know what they want. No one ever asked for the touch tone phone, in fact, we all still say "Dial"? Focus groups are great PR and help improve existing products, seldom innovate.

 

[harlenm]

The other thing to consider is that it is easy to dream, and technology seems like it can do everything, but there are serious limitations on the possible when dealing with such a system. I integrate some really wonderful technology for crazy environments, and once you do the impossible people expect everything is possible. Opening this up to folks that don't understand the architecture limitations would only lead to disappointment and bad PR.

I think it's funny that folks are always referring to MFT as "clunky." Though I agree, being steeped in iTea and marveling at apple's interface.... in the absence of iPads we would be shouting from the rooftops how amazing MFT is (minus the lock-ups).

That's the problem, though. Everyone has a smartphone, and we are used to the simplicity of using Google maps for getting a location, so anything that requires 75 clicks to type in an address is incredibly frustrating when Google can do it in 1 line in multiple formats.

I almost never use the touch screen to enter an address, it's just too difficult, and too unresponsive, and that's totally not acceptable in the age of android and ios.