Finally Here! The Ford Trail App for Bronco

Just noticed the app is no longer showing in the App Store, anyone heard of its gone for good or are they just fixing it. I posted a video I shot using it today on FB and someone wanted to know how I did the overlay. When I told them they said it wasn’t available so I checked mine and sure enough it’s gone from the store. It’s not great for navigation but I personally think the videos are cool. And the ability to start and stop a recording by touching the bronco screen is nice.

Dang and I haven’t even attempted to use it yet!

I got $5 they stopped development on it and pulled it.

Hopefully that’s not the case and they’re just reworking it. But I imagine the usage analytics were abysmal. They did do several updates throughout the past 8 months but it was all bug fixes—no new features.

I think they put it out there to fill the promise and they are hoping it just goes away.

TK1215

Dang and I haven’t even attempted to use it yet!

I’ve used it, just didn’t like it….
It uses up too much storage on my phone when I record a trail, if they would have found a way to record a trail without the video like OnX and Gaia does, then I would have loved it.
Seems to work fine on my phone, it’s just not in the App Store anymore like @dover157 says…..

It had a lot of potential, but it was far behind every other popular trail app. And buggy as all hell.

Roughstock11

I think they put it out there to fill the promise and they are hoping it just goes away.

Eh... if the utilization numbers were solid they probably would have been more inclined to work on it. But it didn't gain any traction because it just as @TechnicalDisaster said—it was missing key features and rather buggy. Probably got stuck in a negative feedback loop until management decided to pull the plug.

BUT, maybe it's just a temporarily thing and they'll repost it. Or even better... rework the whole thing. Though I suspect if they rework it, it'll be for the newer Android-based infotainment system and us Sync users are going to be left out.

RagnarKon

Eh... if the utilization numbers were solid they probably would have been more inclined to work on it. But it didn't gain any traction because it just as @TechnicalDisaster said—it was missing key features and rather buggy. Probably got stuck in a negative feedback loop until management decided to pull the plug.

BUT, maybe it's just a temporarily thing and they'll repost it. Or even better... rework the whole thing. Though I suspect if they rework it, it'll be for the newer Android-based infotainment system and us Sync users are going to be left out.

What I’m hoping is that they work a deal with OnX to integrate OnX into the Bronco. Boy would that solve the feature issue in a hurry.

JoergH

What I’m hoping is that they work a deal with OnX to integrate OnX into the Bronco. Boy would that solve the feature issue in a hurry.

I agree. They should open an API to pass vehicle information to any app that wants it. Heck, make it wireless to my GoPro, or Sony A7iv. Keep a record of the metadata to play with later.

TechnicalDisaster

I agree. They should open an API to pass vehicle information to any app that wants it. Heck, make it wireless to my GoPro, or Sony A7iv. Keep a record of the metadata to play with later.

Yep this is exactly what I was thinking. Release a ford OBD SDK for each platform that allows onX / gaia / whomever to incorporate vehicle dynamics straight from the sensors, then spend the money they were spending on developing the app on bribing onX to implement it :)

As an engineer it hurts to even suggest they axe their app development, but what's best for the users is always the most important thing.

TechnicalDisaster

I agree. They should open an API to pass vehicle information to any app that wants it. Heck, make it wireless to my GoPro, or Sony A7iv. Keep a record of the metadata to play with later.

The question that pops into my head is, what API are they using now to get the data from the Vehicle into the Bronco Trail app? There has to be a communications mechanism which I suspect is via the same mechanism that other apps "integrate" with the Bronco. That's the reason you have to log into your Bronco via Ford Pass I think for that app to work. It makes me think that it shouldn't be a TON of work to allow other apps like OnX to gain entry in the same way.

JoergH

The question that pops into my head is, what API are they using now to get the data from the Vehicle into the Bronco Trail app? There has to be a communications mechanism which I suspect is via the same mechanism that other apps "integrate" with the Bronco. That's the reason you have to log into your Bronco via Ford Pass I think for that app to work. It makes me think that it shouldn't be a TON of work to allow other apps like OnX to gain entry in the same way.

There has actually been an SDK available since the SYNC 3 days. I've played with it off & on, but it's not the easiest thing to work with, and even the sample apps that are provided with the SmartDeviceLink SDK don't connect 100% of the time. I also suspect that once CarPlay gets involved, things get a bit more complicated making sure that all of the correct bits are talking to each other. (And let's be honest, the Legal dept. is going to have their say, dictating when certain buttons are available, or what features can be used when, further complicating things. Especially when it's a mix of Ford legal and Apple's CarPlay restrictions.)

But if you're curious:

• https://developer.ford.com/infotainment/in-vehicle-apps
• https://smartdevicelink.com/

Honestly, it's a big UX problem too - even with the app attempting to walk you through the setup, it was never easy. Having to bounce between the SYNC UI to launch the app and then back into CarPlay isn't a great experience. Until they can find a way to just plug in your phone, launch the app once, and go, not many folks are going to want to put up with the app, especially if it often drops the connection to SYNC and needs to be reconnected.

Squash

There has actually been an SDK available since the SYNC 3 days. I've played with it off & on, but it's not the easiest thing to work with, and even the sample apps that are provided with the SmartDeviceLink SDK don't connect 100% of the time. I also suspect that once CarPlay gets involved, things get a bit more complicated making sure that all of the correct bits are talking to each other. (And let's be honest, the Legal dept. is going to have their say, dictating when certain buttons are available, or what features can be used when, further complicating things. Especially when it's a mix of Ford legal and Apple's CarPlay restrictions.)

But if you're curious:

• https://developer.ford.com/infotainment/in-vehicle-apps
• https://smartdevicelink.com/

Honestly, it's a big UX problem too - even with the app attempting to walk you through the setup, it was never easy. Having to bounce between the SYNC UI to launch the app and then back into CarPlay isn't a great experience. Until they can find a way to just plug in your phone, launch the app once, and go, not many folks are going to want to put up with the app, especially if it often drops the connection to SYNC and needs to be reconnected.

Yeah, sounds like all those connectivity issues that we saw with the Bronco Trail app. Maybe this is fords chance to get that all squared away by using the money that were sicking into the development of the app for that.

@Laura : I've sent a few emails to the Trail App support address ([email protected]) without ANY response whatsoever. Can you see if Ford will address its future in an upcoming BroncoNation podcast? The app has SO much promise and there are some potential directions they can go if they want to reduce investment in it. At a minimum can you find out if anyone even looks at the support emails any more? Its really disappointing that they made such a big deal of it, obviously had issues getting it to market, only to just drop into a black hole of response instead of improving it.

TK1215

Dang and I haven’t even attempted to use it yet!

When you do, I hope you do better than me. Got 8 people lost on a loop trail that I haven't done in years. But I did it many times.
Finally made it through the whole loop, backwards. But man the views were astounding in the opposite direction.

dover157

Just noticed the app is no longer showing in the App Store, anyone heard of its gone for good or are they just fixing it. I posted a video I shot using it today on FB and someone wanted to know how I did the overlay. When I told them they said it wasn’t available so I checked mine and sure enough it’s gone from the store. It’s not great for navigation but I personally think the videos are cool. And the ability to start and stop a recording by touching the bronco screen is nice.

Badland-Mansquatch-ATX

@Laura : I've sent a few emails to the Trail App support address ([email protected]) without ANY response whatsoever. Can you see if Ford will address its future in an upcoming BroncoNation podcast? The app has SO much promise and there are some potential directions they can go if they want to reduce investment in it. At a minimum can you find out if anyone even looks at the support emails any more? Its really disappointing that they made such a big deal of it, obviously had issues getting it to market, only to just drop into a black hole of response instead of improving it.

I'm pretty sure the app was canceled or put on pause indefinitely. Haven't heard updates since 2023.

jparker

I'm pretty sure the app was canceled or put on pause indefinitely. Haven't heard updates since 2023.

Since the bronco trail app is dead, has Bronco Nation considered a partnership with OnX, Gaia or any other trail mapping company as a perk of membership?

broncorob3

Since the bronco trail app is dead, has Bronco Nation considered a partnership with OnX, Gaia or any other trail mapping company as a perk of membership?

If you’re interested in OnX they are running specials right now. Personally I think they the the best option.

JoergH

If you’re interested in OnX they are running specials right now. Personally I think they the the best option.

I actually already have premium with OnX and Gaia, just thought a partnership with one would be a nice perk.