Greetings all. I've read a few earlier threads about the Navigation Update teasers we get via email, and I am wondering if anyone with a '12 Max has done it lately. Is there anything different about the screen displays or is it just the maps? IMO, the guidance system in these beauties leave a lot to be desired, so if they've smartened them up a bit I am tempted to drop the coin.

Also, I have the exact same system in my wife's '12 Murano and I was wondering if I could use the same update for both cars or if they are branded to the serial number somehow.

Thanks in advance...

 

It's only Map updates. The graphics and voice audio will stay the same. I have a 2009 and I have purchased the updates twice(every two years). My update can not be done with a DVD. Mine has to be downloaded by the dealer and upgraded using a laptop with their special software. Yes the price is steep (and sometimes there are dealer install fees), but then I don't have to struggle looking at a small iphone screen, and the handsfree is great. Granted, when I get a new car then I will most likely not fork over the price for a Nav system. But usually the Nav packages have the most gadgets like bluetooth streaming or onboard Hard drive music storage, and higher quality audio systems. So being a gadget freak, it will be hard for me to resist getting all the options when we get the wife a Pathfinder next year.

...And yes on my 2009 the activation code emailed to me to give to stealership to enter as they do the software upgrade is tied to VIN.

But it is my understanding that all 2010+ crowd gets a dvd and a code. I say install the dvd/code on one vehicle, then attempt the 2nd vehicle. If it fails then you know you will need to purchase an upgrade for the 2nd vehicle. But at least you tried to save a little money.

 

Thanks for the thorough response Sam.

jasn

 

I just use Google Maps, free updates for life..

 

The Waze app is definitely the way to go and there's no question about it. A colleague of mine put me on to it and apparently Google invested $1.3B (yes, that's a 'B') into the purchase of it from some Israeli company. I have an iPhone 5 and I think it's an app on the Android as well; maybe even more phones, check for yourself.

It's free, the user engagement is second to none and there are over 40 or 50 million users. You'll be driving along with your friends and say, "watch, there's a cop coming up a little bit ahead," and then bam, there's the cop. Or an accident, or roadwork, etc etc. If something is not there that multiple users have reported to be there (say, an accident cleared up and the cars and the cops are gone) then as you approach it, in one or two taps you can say 'not here' and stuff like that. It's amazing and it saves me so much time on my work commutes coming home from the office it's not even funny.

I have a '12 Maxima SV with sport/tech packages and my little tech screen is always off with just the time display in the top right corner at all times.

Try it, or don't. Up to you. Just trying to put y'all on to some of that good information.

 

I second this. The crowdsourcing ability of Waze is incredible and usability is great. I used it on a road trip from Houston to San Antonio, nothing but open highways for hours on end and it was great in reporting police, accidents, hazards on the road, etc. Combine the police reporting with a quality radar detector, and it is one solid combination. Of course, Waze's ability to report is dependent on reports from other users but in a metropolitan city it is wonderful.

I also wanted to comment that with the acquisition of Waze from Google, Google also utilizes the traffic reports and can reroute you if you are still using Google Maps. However, you will not get up-to-date traffic information, hazard reports, and all the other goodies that Waze incorporates. Waze also learns the routes you take over time and will better adjust your routes, and I like how Waze has a default option to avoid tollways or highways. In Google Maps and their Navigation app, you will always have to set it before you start the route.

 

As I see it, new roads construction is practically at a stand still and not many restaurants, gas stations and hotels are being added. It will take many years before I can justify updating my 2 year old map. If costs came down it may change my opinion

 

It's because of Google Maps and Waze that I'm asking these questions. I find them to be far superior to the inboard Nav System and providing much smarter routes and real-time feedback. These past few months I've actually been using both GM and my car Nav because the car Nav gives such silly directions sometimes. Other user features bug me too, like after spending time inputting a destination it cant find it because I spelled the street name wrong like "street" instead of "St". Or it can't find Washington St. in South Boston. (I do love using phone numbers to get a destination though)

I'd much prefer to use the onboard system than a phone in my lap. If the upgrade made the NAV system smarter I wouldn't hesitate to purchase it, even for both cars. But if it's just to add a few roads I already know about then I too will pass on the minimal improvements.

 

I have the factory navigation in my Maxima and a Chevy Avalanche. The large screen on the vehicle is great eye candy. The vehicle navigation systems are pretty worthless compared to Waze or Google Maps. Driving around Charlotte or Pittsburgh, the vehicle nav is way too slow to respond to frequent turns that are closely spaced together. I make the 1st quick turn and then the nav doesn't have the next turn on the screen before I have to make it. Expensive updates, hard to enter destinations while driving, no free traffic updates, no radar trap pings, no free road construction warnings and so on. Google updates occur almost in real time and not just at nav update purchase intervals.

What would be useful is an adapter or wireless interface that would let me put my smart phone display and touch buttons on the vehicle screen! The vehicle screen just becomes a monitor and when i upgrade my smart phone, I get all the new features and the vehicle screen is not obsoleted.

 

You've nailed it Greg. In time, I suppose...

 

I just noticed that Waze, even if just running in the background with NO ROUTE selected, will alert you to traffic cams and radar traps and other such things!

 

Hopefully so. Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and Tesla have began using Google Maps for their navigation systems. As for now, the cleanest and cordless way closest to an "interface" is to just have your phone docked somewhere and connect the audio through a Bluetooth receiver. From there, you can enable hand gestures or voice commands through the navigation app that will allow you complete hands-free control.

Yep! It's great. You can also have the app route or navigate yourself to your preset Home or Work location and just have the alerts on. That way, you can take your normal route home without all the turn-by-turn voice directions, but still be alerted if there is a quicker way around traffic ahead, hazards, police, etc.