Ok, got 2.11 installed and picked it up. According to syncmyride.com's update history it looks like they had to try a few times to get it to take.
Confirmed Installations
SYNC Version
Gen2 - V2.11
BT4T-14D546-AM
SYNC compatible software BT4T-14D546-AP
BT4T-14D546-GA
SYNC compatible software BT4T-14F496-AP
SYNC compatible software BT4T-14F496-AS
SYNC compatible software BT4T-14F497-AM
SYNC compatible software BT4T-14F497-AP
SYNC compatible software BT4T-14F500-AE
SYNC compatible software BT4T-14F500-BE
BT4T-14F603-AM
SYNC compatible software BT4T-14F603-AP
For some background - my experience with MFT v. 2.8 was overall positive. A few minor nagging issues:
1.) phone wouldn't call a number the first time using voice commands - I would push the voice button and say "call X" and it would say "calling X", but nothing would happen until a couple seconds later and a box would popup saying "disconnected". The next time I tried it always worked.
2.) Sirius channel browser doesn't work well at all.
3.) Right cluster when on Audio during startup fails to update to inclue my USB stick and bluetooth audio as the system loads them. you have to go back to the previous screen and then back to the audio screen for it to show up.
4.) general system unstability (i.e. system freezes for up to 10 seconds every once and awhile and at random times - also had an issue where my phone stopped pairing forcing a fuse 29 pull twice).
5.) general system slowness - it was ok in terms of responsiveness, but I felt that it could be a bit better.
6.) When you would say "play song Crazy" - it found both Alanis Morrisette's Crazy and Gnarls Barkley's Crazy and ask you which one. You would say "play all" it would only play one of them.
7.) When presented with a choice of options, saying "1" instead of "Line 1" caused the incorrect option to be chosen.
8.) GPS signal seemed to take a progressively longer time to acquire since I first purchased.
Other minor issues were found and noted, but those were kinda the big ones. I didn't have any major system instability and my phone usually connected and the nav usually was loaded fairly quickly. Less than 30 seconds for sure.
UPDATED to 2.11
Definitely notice that the response time is improved. Not a night and day difference, but response is a bit faster. The system still lags a bit. Where the speed improvement is most noticeable is the ambient lighting selection - which on 2.8 was SLOW. It's much more responsive though.
System stability seems a bit uncertain right now. It took 3 tries to get a vehicle health report sent out and the first time I went to the ambient lighting section it wouldn't change at all (had to powercycle).
Initial phone pairing was MUCH faster. Subsequent connections seem a hair faster than on 2.8.
I have a droid x and was hoping that text messaging would work, but it does not appear that is the case.
phonebook download was quick and painless.
Issue #1 with my phone above was resolved.
SIRIUS CHANNEL BROWSER STILL DOES NOT WORK!!!! - I'm dissapointed in this aspect - I got it to come up once and when it comes up it is quicker, but it still hangs on the loading screen. When it did come up, I noticed a few more categories (e.g. "sports"), but when I tried to expand the list of sports stations, nothing happened.
Issue #3 - Not resolved - Right cluster still fails to update
Sirius weather map came up lightning fast. Gas prices took a bit longer.
Issue #6 is fixed - sort of- it plays the second song in the list and if you press the back button it goes to the first song.
Issue #7 is not fixed.
Issue #8 seems better - but i haven't had the time to fully test it out.
I also use a USB stick for audio as SYnc refused to work with my 3rd gen ipod (the last gen with the wheel). I will try and see if it recognizes the ipod tonight.
I will post more as I find it.
I should add that if anyone with 2.8 wants me to see if something is fixed, I can give it a shot and see - as long as it doesn't require any special hardware (i.e. phones or media players - unless you wanna buy it for me
)
** Update **
The sirius browser is working a bit better now. Still a little spotty, but it does work. I wonder if it has to do with a poor signal on Sirius' part. Parked in my driveway it seems to work fine, but on the road it doesnt.
My older iPod does not connect. "Not supported" is what Sync tells me.
Well, I got my first two black screen of death's today. I tried to connect my wifes video iPod (first gen with video and color screen) with the battery at almost 0 and the iPod tells me "connected accessory not supported" and then I get the Ford logo on the MFT screen and then nothing. I can get it to reset if I shut -er- off and open the door. no ill effects it seems. I then went in and charged said iPod and updated the software from 1.1 to 1.3 and everything worked fine after that - was able to get the ipod to connect, index, and properly play songs.
Indexing time for devices seems to be much better. Around 600 - 700 songs takes approximately 3 - 5 minutes for indexing and another 2-4 minutes to build the media commands.
The climate control system is improved in that it was always a bit difficult to get the cooled seats on - it had that weird zoom function that never seemed to work right. The zoom function seems fixed and one touch zooms the heated/cooled seats and another touch easily turns them on.
-Justin