I recently moved from an iPhone 4GS to a Motorola Razr Maxx. After months of complaining that something had to be wrong with Sprint’s network, I finally couldn’t take it anymore and I went to Verizon. I had every intention of just buying another iPhone, on a network that actually works – but after spending some time with the salesman, he convinced me to go with the Razr Maxx.
I have to say, I am pretty impressed with this phone. The Google Play Marketplace is actually easier to use than the iPhone App store, and this phone is blazing fast. I was completely shocked when I was driving my car and my Ford Sync told me I had a text message.
I was like, WOW. So I clicked the text message screen, and there was a message. I clicked “play” and it read me the text message. What a cool system. This never worked with the iPhone. So, I clicked reply, and what do I get… A typical “Microsoft” message – “Your text message could not be sent”.
I called Ford. They were of little help. They told me that my phone most likely wasn’t supported. But I thought to myself… If it isn’t supported, then why does it “almost work”.
I did some more googling and I discovered a post on a forum somewhere where someone said you need to enable MAP Access inside of SYNC. Well, I’m going to take a guess and assume that stands for something like “Mobile Access Protocol”, and it has nothing to do with Maps… I enabled it, and DAMN! Now I can receive and send text messages from my car while driving.
I have to say, there is no doubt this is safer. I can’t wait to hear all the proponents come out of the woodwork and say, “This is dangerous”. What’s dangerous is that if I didn’t have this feature, I would continue to text and drive – it doesn’t matter how many signs go up along the interstate telling me not to. At least now I can text and drive in a manner where I don’t have to take my eyes off the road.
BOOOO. BOOOOOOO! I’m as liberal as they come with most stuff, but *nothing* you have to say is nearly as important as the safety of yourself and the others on the road. Just wait until you get to your destination! It is literally worse than drunk driving, see the bullets under Research section here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texting_while_driving
Even with “hands-free” texting (I’ve had Droids since the D1 was released 3 years ago, I’ve been able to do this for years) you are very distracted as you make sure what you said was transcribed properly, and sent properly, and as you try to look at the screen to read what the screen reader couldn’t pronounce properly, etc.
Would you say “I don’t care how many laws are passed or signs are up, I can still drive with a few beers in me?” Because that’s essentially what you’re saying. No matter how you spin it, you’re doing something extremely dangerous and being, well, to be perfectly frank, selfish.
Love you Joe, and love technology, but hate this post 🙂
Oh, and don’t worry, I don’t expect you to agree with me or change your mind based on my post. Just wanted to give you a logical, non-emotional response from the other side by someone you (hopefully) respect. The facts are overwhelming on this issue. I feel very strongly about this issue, and just couldn’t ignore it 🙂 My Droid is docked and visible and used as a GPS every second I’m in the car, but I stopped texting while driving a long time ago (except at red lights that I know the timing of) and my life is no worse for it – but my personal safety is significantly higher.