Ford officially revealed its plans for Sync 3, the newest version of its entertainment and connected car system, earlier today. The new version is powered at the core by BlackBerry's QNX software, a change we expected was coming at some point. The car maker says that it will start appearing in its new vehicles sometime in 2015.

Ford said that while Sync 3 has been made mostly for hands-free use, the screen can also be operated much like a touchscreen found on a smartphone or tablet.

Quicker response to touch as well as voice commands and smartphone-like gestures including pinch-to-zoom and swipe are central to SYNC 3, along with crisp, modern graphics. A bright background and large buttons with high-contrast fonts for daytime use help reduce screen washout in the sun. At night, the display automatically switches to a dark background to help reduce eye fatigue and minimize reflections on the windows.

The home screen features three zone choices – Navigation, Audio and Phone. Tile-like icons dominate the screen, with a quick access function tray along the bottom making for a more straightforward user experience.

Sync 3 owners will also be able to connect their smartphone to their car "and control their compatible apps using voice commands or buttons on the vehicle display screen."

Source: Ford

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