2/28/13

Ford Extends Commitment to App Developers by Contributing AppLink to Open-Source GENIVI Alliance

    Ford becomes the first American automaker to open-source the software of a product by contributing the AppLink™ code to the GENIVI Alliance

    The AppLink connectivity interface allows drivers to take control of compatible smartphone and tablet apps through dashboard buttons or voice commands

    Contribution builds on Ford’s initial commitment to app developers with the launch of the first open developer program in the auto industry, http://developer.ford.com

SYNC AppLink Fact Sheet

BARCELONA, Spain, Feb. 26, 2013 – Today Ford Motor Company expanded its commitment to help encourage the growing community of automotive app developers by announcing it will contribute the software for AppLink™, the Ford-developed in-car smartphone app interface, to the GENIVI Alliance. Ford becomes the first American automaker to contribute proprietary source code from one of its products to an open-source project.

The AppLink software enables apps from connected smartphones to be controlled using the vehicle interface, including available voice recognition and audio buttons. Along with the announcement of the industry-first open mobile app developer program at the 2013 International CES this past January, Ford announced the intention to take further steps to help developers be successful working with the automotive industry, an emerging growth area for app integration.

“Ford wants to see app developers succeed in their work with the auto industry,” said Doug VanDagens, global director of Connected Services at Ford. “Contributing the AppLink software to GENIVI demonstrates our commitment to be developer-focused which supports our drive for consumer-focused innovation.”

Learning from the lessons of the smartphone market, Ford understands that a vibrant app ecosystem is essential to the success of a platform for both users and developers. Great apps will attract customers to the platform, which in turn draws more developers to expand the boundaries of functionality. By open-sourcing the AppLink platform so that automakers and aftermarket infotainment manufacturers can incorporate it, developers will get a larger potential market and more incentive to create apps that can be used on the go.

Ford will establish a new open-source GENIVI project, with a Ford engineer maintaining the project. The project will contain all of the code and documentation required to implement the AppLink software into the vehicle audio system head unit to enable two-way communications with Google Android and Apple iOS devices. All of the code for what will be known as SmartPhoneLink is being released under the well-established BSD open-source license.

“GENIVI is pleased to host the SmartPhoneLink project as one of its growing number of public open source projects,” said Steve Crumb, executive director, GENIVI Alliance. “Ford’s commitment to contributing its AppLink software technology to a broader base of developers fits perfectly with GENIVI’s commitment to drive adoption of open source software in the automotive community.”

The GENIVI (pronounced gen-ee-vee) Alliance is a non-profit industry alliance committed to driving the broad adoption of an In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI) open-source development platform.

“We looked at a number of different organizations before deciding to establish these open-source projects with GENIVI,” added VanDagens. “We wanted to work with an active organization that already has connections with the automotive ecosystem including both automakers and suppliers.

“Working with GENIVI also demonstrates that the resulting SmartPhoneLink platform will be operating system agnostic so that manufacturers can implement it with any embedded operating system they choose including Linux, QNX and Microsoft Windows Embedded.”

In addition to Ford’s contribution to SmartPhoneLink, navigation services provider Telenav and embedded software development firm Luxoft have committed to contribute supporting code to the new SmartPhoneLink projects. Click here to view the Luxoft announcement.

“We are delighted that Ford has committed to turning its field-proven AppLink technology into an open industry standard,” said Vasiliy Suvorov, vice president of Technology Strategy at Luxoft. “We fully share Ford's vision and will support it by contributing code from our open-source car connectivity platform iviLink to SmartPhoneLink. This will allow us to concentrate on one platform going forward and focus on added value functionality, head unit integration and applications.”

“Mobile app developers want a standard cross-OEM platform on which to write code,” said Sal Dhanani, vice president and general manager of Telenav’s automotive business. “Telenav will help define the communication protocol between smartphones and the vehicle’s head unit to ensure drivers have a high quality and personalized connected navigation experience.”

Ford has more than 1 million cars, trucks and SUVs on the road in North America equipped with AppLink including Fiesta, Focus, Fusion, Mustang, Escape, F-150, Super Duty and E-Series.

                                                                     # # #

About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 171,000 employees and 65 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit http://corporate.ford.com.

About GENIVI Alliance
The GENIVI Alliance is a non-profit industry association whose mission is to drive the broad adoption of an In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI) open source development platform.  GENIVI will accomplish this by aligning requirements, delivering reference implementations, offering certification programs and fostering a vibrant open source IVI community. GENIVI’s work will result in shortened development cycles, quicker time-to-market, and reduced costs for companies developing IVI equipment and software.  Comprised of more than 165 member companies, GENIVI is headquartered in San Ramon, Calif. www.genivi.org.
 

2/26/13

Ward Contracting Gets New Harbor Trademaster Service Body






This nice Harbor TradeMaster Service Body is painted to match the cab on this Ford 4 x 4 Crew Cab. The top cover and the compartment door is open to show the accessibility to the top tray. Notice the nice roll bar with the expanded metal window protector.

Quality is the mantra at Harbor Truck Bodies--Quality Design and Quality Manufacture. Below is a list of standard features in all our TradeMaster bodies:

1) New standard Harbor Lock allows you to see if your doors are locked from a distance of over 50' and you lock them by pushing in the button without a key!

2) Secure 3-Point Locking System with Teflon® rod guides and Automotive Quality water resistant locks with Double-Bit key is standard.

3) Standard One-Hand Latch, Self-Opening Stainless Steel Lids with Two Gas Shocks. Lighter and stronger and rust free! (Aluminum Treadbrite overlay is available as an option). Matching Stainless Steel Gravel Guards are standard. (Closed top models are standard steel and offer Aluminum Treadbrite as an option).

4) Standard Gas Shock Door Stays on all vertical and horizontal upward opening doors.

5) Standard 8" Recessed Step Bumper with True V-Notch for sure footing and wider trailer angles.

6) Standard Armless, Self-Supporting Tailgate for added work space and full 49" floor width to carry all standard materials.

7) Weather Shield protection includes a one-piece neoprene door seal, beveled door edge and self-sealing Stainless Steel rivets help prevent leaks into compartments.

8) Lock-Tight Shelving adjustable shelves lock into place preventing tools from dumping through off-road-like conditions.

9) All Electro-Galvanized Sheet Metal Construction. Stainless Steel piano hinge and pin on Cargo Bed Enclosure door, Conduit Box door and Rear Access doors. All expanded metal parts Hot-Dip Galvanized. Rivets have all Stainless Steel casing and mandrel to prevent corrosion.



Find Harbor Truck Bodies at http://htbi.net and call them at 800-433-9452


2/23/13

The Knapheide Crossmember Dump Body



Knapheide recently redesigned their dump bodies with a cross member understructure. The new cross member dump bodies are available in fixed side applications and are compatible with Class 3-5 chassis including Chevy, Ford, GMC, Ram, International, among others.


Available models include 9’ or 11’ body lengths with either 12” or 16” high sides. Body capacity ranges from 2 yards up to 4 yards. The understructure is a stacked design with 3” structural steel cross sills on 12” centers with 6” structural steel long sills. Self-cleaning sloped top rails and lower rails allow for effortless
dirt-shedding. The tailgate offers both dump-through and drop down applications with a quick release, one-handed lever for convenience. Complete immersion in Knapheide’s exclusive E-Coat system along with undercoating provides superior corrosion resistance.


A variety of options are available including dual-acting hoists, full or quarter cab protectors, storage
packs and underbody toolboxes, metering chutes, tarps, LED lights, and many others. Knapheide cross member dump bodies are now available for order through Knapheide’s extensive nationwide distribution network. To learn more about Knapheide cross member dump bodies, go to www.knapheide.com.






2/21/13

What Truck Bed Covers Are All About

Remember the times when it started to rain hard and you would have run to get your luggage when you are traveling and cram it in the cab. Maybe it was your tools when you were working and then had to pile them in the truck cab along with the passengers you were traveling with. The years of having to travel with a pickup cab full of articles are over. There is no longer a need to pull over and run to save your valuable cargo when the sky opens up. Tonneau covers are constructed to keep your valuable articles safe and dry from those all out down pours. That's what truck bed covers are all about.

Why worry about getting your articles buried in snow when you are either parked or traveling home from work. There's nothing worst then having to dig your valuable cargo out of a truck bed full of snow. That's what tonneau covers were designed for. To make your life easier by protecting the stuff you care about. That's what truck bed covers are all about.

Oh, and those days of shopping and getting groceries. The weather gets bad and you need to put them in your pickup cab and ruin your comfort. Especially around Christmas when the shopping list is quite large.

You may have paid a lot of money on tools and you want to protect them from thieves as well as unexpected weather changes. It's hard to believe that there are some people out there who wouldn't think twice about taking what you have worked your butt off for. Truck bed covers come with locks and some don't have locks but they keep cargo out of sight from those who are determined to take what doesn't belong to them. That's what these covers are all about.

No matter what tonneau cover you are interested in or can afford, these covers transform your truck from just another pickup truck to a great looking truck that other truck owners are envious of. They take that boring look off a truck and give it a whole new exciting look. That's what truck bed covers are all about.





Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Evelyn_Rickert

2/19/13

Harbor Truck Bodies Can Be Fire Trucks!



11 Foot Fire TruckBody

Harbor Truck Bodies built a different kind of fire truck for a local fire department. This is an 11' Highliner Body, which is essentially an 11' service body with boxes added to the top that has doors opening upward to be able to see inside the compartments. In addition, this unique vehicle has an 18" bumper extension with compartments on both sides for small items and a work space and non-slip grip tread, or as some call it, spray on liner. Then, it has a 19" drop in tailgate with a 3-piece cargo bed enclosure that glides on teflon style pads and is so easy to move. The 3-piece enclosure opens up two thirds of the bed area when fully opened. And, of course, it wouldn't be a fire truck if it wasn't heavy duty and pretty too, so it's sitting on a Ford F450-550 uplevel chassis with Alcoa aluminum wheels. Pretty sweet, don't you think?



9 Foot Fire and Rescue Style Body


This custom SuperStructure 9' Service Body was built for Mono County Search and Rescue. This is a great looking, and very functional body with room for lots of things.This body has horizontal compartments on both sides, where the horizontal compartment normally over the wheels only is extended to the end of the body to allow the carrying of longer tools and items that would not normally fit in any of the service body compartments. The good news about that is that it is typically a "no charge" option. Those huge upper compartments can carry some really large items by removing the shelf. Then there are those awesome light to light up the whole area on all three sides of the body. And, last, there is the whole lockable area in the rear which will take care of what won't fit in the compartments. All that mounted on a Ford Crew Cab F450 makes an awesome package.





 56 Inch Tall Fire Truck Body

Here's a bright red beauty was built for the Mountain Gate Fire Department in Northern California.This is a custom body similar to Harbor's 56" tall Service Body and this one has a horizontal series compartment where the compartment over the rear wheel goes all the way to the end of the body. It also has upper doors that open upward allowing access to a huge space for storage.

 See more about Harbor at www.htbi.net

2/17/13

Rugby 2-3 Yard Dump Body With Fold Down Sides









Here is a 2-3 yard capacity Rugby Steel Dump Body with Fold-Down Sides so it can be off loaded from the side, or used as a flatbed from time to time and loaded with a forklift. It has two underbed boxes and side boards and is painted white to match the truck. And, of course it has those custom mounted amber lights help the visibility of a truck at work on the side of the road.


All this mounted on a Ford F350 chassis with 13,500 lb. This unit was built by Harbor Truck Bodies. Visit their website at http://www.htbi.net/.

2/15/13

Desert Proofing the Ford Raptor! - Dirt Every Day Episode 2



On this episode of Dirt Every Day, Fred Williams up fits and outfits one of the coolest 4x4's on the market today, the Ford Raptor. Raptors are high performance desert machines, but we found one that earns its owner a living each week banging around on an obscure desert compound. The owner is hard on his equipment and we took this poor bird of prey under our wing for a week to transform it into a more vicious desert predator.

Dirt Every Day appears every other Thursday on the Motor Trend channel. http://www.youtube.com/motortrend

2/13/13

2013 Ford F-150 King Ranch

2013 Ford F-150 King Ranch



The 2013 Ford F-150 King Ranch celebrates Texas as the industry's first luxury pickup truck. A dozen years later, the tradition continues.

2/11/13

Ford F-250 - The Trusted Workhorse For The University of Michigan Rowing Team




Only one truck is the trusted workhorse for the dominant University of Michigan Crew Team: Ford F-250. It's part of the championship team, showing its true strength, power and reliability as it helps transport the team's twenty 60-foot shells toward another victory.

2/09/13

Ford F550 With A Harbor 12' Landscaper - A Serious Workhorse!



This is a Ford F550 Crew Cab diesel with a 12' Harbor Standard Landscaper Dump Body with 56" underbed boxes, and hitch. This workhorse can carry a big load along with the crew! The won't turn on a dime, but it sure will carry the load! Great choice for the heavy duty landscape jobs.

2/07/13

Extang Solid Fold Tonneau Cover


Solid Fold Tonneau Video. Extang Solid Fold Tonneau Video demonstrates the features of the hard lid tonneau cover for pickup truck owners.

2/05/13

The Must-Attend Event for the Work Truck Industry

The Work Truck Show, held in conjunction with the annual NTEA Convention, is the must-attend industry event featuring the newest products, dozens of intensive training programs and technical engineering support from hundreds of exhibitors.



NTEA_WTS12 Show Floor 1As North America’s largest work truck event, it is the ultimate opportunity for attendees to interact with thousands of industry peers; meet with current suppliers; get answers to critical technical questions; experience special events; and visit with hundreds of exhibiting companies. 
Product Launches and Innovations
The show floor showcases approximately 500,000 sq. ft. of Class 1–8 vocational trucks and equipment, featuring dozens of product launches:
  • Truck Chassis
  • Truck Bodies & Equipment
  • Snow & Ice Control Equipment
  • Cranes & Aerial Devices
  • Liftgates & Material Handling Equipment
  • New Product Spotlight




The Green Truck Summit
GTS 2010 LogoHeld in conjunction with The Work Truck Show and produced in partnership with CALSTART, this day-and-a-half intensive program offers valuable insight into real-world deployment and application of green technologies and how they impact commercial trucks:

  • Technology deployment
  • Fuel utilization
  • Fleet and vehicle integration
  • Cost justification


The Latest in Green InitiativesIn addition to the Green Truck Summit, several key event components are tailored to address today’s growing interest and demand for hybrid vehicles and alternative fuel technology, including:

  • The Green Truck Ride-and-Drive
  • CALSTART Clean Technologies and Fuels Pavilion
  • Hybrid & Alternative Fuel Curriculum
  • Green Product Showcase
  • The Work Truck Show Green Award
WTS 11 Recap 6



World-Class Industry TrainingMore than 60 intensive educational programs provide expert knowledge into essential industry topics such as:

  • Truck Specification
  • Truck OEM Update Sessions
  • Industry Trends & Benchmarks
  • Fleet Management
  • Truck Upfitting
  • Regulatory Compliance
www.ntea.com/worktruckshow

2/03/13

FORD SUPER DUTY. WE OWN WORK. FORESTRY


Buzzing saws, falling trees and a work floor that's steep, slick and rugged. Loggers have a dangerous job. They need a truck that's as tough as they are. See why the Ford Super Duty stands high above the rest in the forestry business.

2/01/13

Harbor Trademaster Vented Service Body Hauls Batteries

 
 
 


This Harbor Service body will be used to haul batteries.  It will be used as a roadside auto service truck. Notice that all the compartments are vented above and below the lock which is a must for carrying batteries around in closed compartments. Notice inside the compartment that the compartment floor has been reinforced with treadplate to help with the weight.


This unit is Harbor's standard 41" high TradeMaster Service Body with standard Stainless Steel Lids. It looks like it is a 9' single rear wheel body mounted on a 56" CA chassis based on the way the wheel well looks.

Harbor Truck Bodies is a service/utility body manufacturer able to build about anything you can think of to solve your particular cargo issues--and nice looking too!