So from what I gather, until either microsoft or apple puts some deliberate effort into the iphone, using it to play music through SYNC is pretty much a bridge too far, right?

Like all of you, I'm having the same issues with my iphone. However, I did notice one thing on my system (2008 Focus SYNC v2.1, 16g iphone 3G v3.1.2 synced to itunes v9.0.1 on an imac) that was interesting. I'll use the new Wolfmother album "Cosmic Egg" as my example because that's where I first noticed what was really going on. Since iphone v3 was released, my work around was to always manually start then pause the first track of an album or playlist that I wanted to listen to on my commute to and from work. Then wait for SYNC to finish indexing before switching to a different playlist if I decided to listen to something different. Ok, seemed to work. Except SYNC would sometimes take 5-10 minutes or over an hour to finish indexing. Which seems to be a common problem for everyone.

Here's what I noticed the other day. On my way to work I set the iphone to play "Cosmic Egg" using the method I just described. I told SYNC to switch to USB and it started playing the album and showing the track info in the display. On my commute home I was listening to a podcast but decided to give "Cosmic Egg" another listen after SYNC had told me that it had indexed the iphone.

Continued...

Continued...
I told SYNC to play "Cosmic Egg" and SYNC couldn't find it. I did a manual artist search for Wolfmother and SYNC only displayed an older album. So I unplugged SYNC and again set up the iphone manually and plugged back into SYNC. Told SYNC to switch to USB and it started to play "Cosmic Egg" like I was expecting. However, I toggled through the text info. SYNC said the genre was unknown.

When I got home, I plugged my older 5th gen ipod into SYNC and it quickly indexed all 80 gigs. I was able to use the voice command to tell SYNC to play album "Cosmic Egg". Again I toggled through the text info and now Rock was listed as the genre. I tried the same files on a 16g USB stick and it also worked correctly. These are same files used on the iphone.

So even though SYNC says it has indexed the iphone it really hasn't. But it can still show track info on the display even for tracks that it hasn't indexed. Apple has changed something in the way an iphone/touch stores it files. This seems like a simple software solution considering the fact that iphone OS 2 worked. Like all of you, I'm really disappointed that we haven't seen a patch yet.

SYNC is awesome when it works. Along with the great gas mileage of the Focus it was a reason for me to purchase. Please get us a fix.

No solution, but I wouldn't blame this entirely on the iPhone. Yesterday, I was messing around with my iPhone and SYNC for something or other. SYNC had previously indexed my iPhone completely (again, and again, and again...). I turned on the engine, and Bluetooth automatically started playing all in shuffle mode (that has GOT to be fixed!). Then I plugged in my iPhone to the USB, and selected USB source in the menu, and lo-and-behold, no indexing! I was happy.

Today, I went out somewhere, went through the same process, and lo-and-behold! endless indexing was back. :( I'm not sure what the difference was, but for a brief moment, all was almost thinking about considering being right in the SYNC world.  Point being, it's likely not entirely an Apple problem.

Sync is a great tool, but sure would be nice if I could get away from Sync Line In, and back to concentrating on driving...

Didn't Steve and Bill used to be friends, once upon a time?

Thanks

This is not Apple's problem. Apple has NO responsibility to SYNC. Sync is a 3rd party program that should be updating to keep up with Apple. Apple makes no profit from the sales of the SYNC option, so why is everyone surprised when they don't take SYNC into account in their updates? Ford and SYNC were the ones who told us the iPod touch/iPhone were a compatible device when we all added SYNC as a option on our vehicles. Im not gonna listen to Microsoft or Ford try and pass the blame on this issue any more.

Bill is no-longer in the picture and Steve would rather develop an entirely new solution rather than make his phone work with Sync. :o) Speculation, of course... ___ I look forward to the day that my digital life is portable and able to just wirelessly sync. For example, I get in my car and say "Directions to John Smith's work"... and it wirelessly finds John Smith's contact information with the address tagged "Work" and sends that information to the Nav unit. Or better... if I use Google (Earth or Maps) to plan a route to get somewhere... including atypical route choices and waypoints... I can save the route and access it wirelessly when I enter my vehicle. Let's take it one step further... the car's ability to tether to your 3G (or faster) phone and use live map data from google to show "street-view" on the display. Just a few ideas. :o) Until then, I'd settle for the ability to navigate my music wirelessly. :)

I found a very simple solution to the problem of Sync not indexing my iPhone after the iPhone 3.x OS upgrade.  A Master Reset of Sync solved the problem for me.  I plugged the USB back in after reset and it re-indexed my iPhone music.  Had to re-connect to Bluetooth but was worth it to have my voice commands back for music.  I believe I am on Sync version 1.3.

I have the same problem as many others with the USB sometimes not playing music.  Have to unplug USB and re-plug it to make it work properly.  It has something to do with the Bluetooth being on.  It's a pain but it works 100% of the time.  Really wish they would fix that.

Not sure where to hang my laundry list, but as I have an iPhone 3Gs and SYNC in my truck, and seem to have the same or similar issues the rest of you have, I'll start here.

1. There as got to be an on/off switch for the bluetooth autoplay when you get in the car.  I've had to turn off bluetooth so that it doesn't play when my clients and I get in the car.  Then the system is constantly asking if you want to turn it on, very irritating.

2. There should just be a switch to disable bluetooth for the iPod function all together,  just cable up, much more functional.

3. The SYNC phone, everytime I make or receive a call, the phone volume has defaulted back to a point where it can't be heard, iPhone volume is up all the way, needs to be just like the radio...you turn it off at a volume level and when you turn it back on it plays at the same level.  Must be magic.

4. The problem with indexing shouldn't have to be repeated again.

5. Minor irritation, the Navtek software doesn't know the address where I live.  Google does, Microsoft Streets and Trips does.  Maybe we should have the option to purchase the complete database.

6. The phone/SYNC remote mic has been placed in the front of the rearview mirror, not really functional over 45mph.

If anyone has some suggestions, they would be appreciated.

Thx, RB

Any chance the new 3.1 update for Sync corrects the problems mentioned in this thread?  It mentions USB and Bluetooth fixes, but nothing in particular.

Can we get a list of those fixes, or at least confirmation from a dev that these problems were fixed?  Or has anyone that was having problems done the update?

I'm still running on 3.0.1 on the iPhone and other than the rare "Accessory not supported" and a couple other problems, it's been going great.  In the end, rolling back was definitely the best solution for me.

Hi RayBob,

Here are you answers:

1 & 2.  This could be done on either side.  Perhaps someday we could come up with a workaround on the Sync side.  My preference would be a user installable app to set the preference one way or the other.

3. This depends on the radio, not Sync.  The strategy you mention is in fact being implemented in future radios and will appear in different models at different times. 

4.  The indexing problem is a nasty one that has captured some high priority attention.  Stay tuned on that.

5.  That's Navtek, not Sync.  I could pass a comment along to the Nav guys when I see them.

6.  The replacement mic that can be installed at your dealer works much better (especially along with the latest software that has enhanced audio gain and noise cancelling).

Hope that helps.

Mike