catnippants

Does anyone know when Alpine usually releases the fall navi update? I'm starting to wonder if we're going to see a 2009 update this year. From what I can tell, the 2008 update is really the one that was released last fall with some bug fixes (which was why they didn't sell it directly to consumers for most of this past year). If they follow their normal release schedule, we should have seen - or should see soon - a 2009 update.

Any ideas?
Mike

gtrrdx

How do you update the Nav? Navigation is not listed in the owners manual. Does a DVD go in the CD player and download to an onboard hard drive like my other car?

phoward_15

Access to the Navi DVD is located on the passenger side down by the seat on the left hand side (on the side of the center console). You'll notice a square "cut out". I haven't opened it yet but that's where it is.

vrflyer

v4.73 (stamped as 0908) is the latest I've seen on board an '08 RDX.

catnippants

There's a note on www.acuranavi.com that the 2009 update is coming soon - and it will be on special for $149 for a while. I'm planning to upgrade this year, so if I'm the first, I'll let you know what I find.

Mike

catnippants

Ok...so the acuranavi site has been updated. The 2009 update will be available on 12/15, and for a limited time at $149. Turns out it's v4.73.

With that in mind, would someone with 4.73 mind letting us know how many POIs are included? All you have to do is select main menu --> places --> name, then look in the upper right hand corner.

I have 4.55 - and it had 4.9M POIs. 4.62 had 5.5M POIs. Before shelling out $149 for another pointless upgrade, I'd like to know if it's going to buy me anything...

Your help would be greatly appreciated!!
Thanks!
Mike

phoward_15

I have Navi 4.62 so I'm thinking of upgrading. When I went to the acuranavi site to look at the upgrade it listed 4.62 and listed a feature that includes an icon for one-way streets which living in Boston I would love. It says go to Icon Options - Other Icons. I tried looking for that in 4.62 but couldn't find it anywhere. So is this Icon Options - Other Icons only in 4.64 and higher or am I just not looking in the right place?

schen72

Navi 4.62 already includes the one-way street indicators. These indicators are only visible when you zoom the map to 1/20 scale.

catnippants

New version is up - 2009, 4.73. On sale for $149 through March. Wow...what a deal. I could buy a whole portable GPS for that price. Just says updated maps and POIs. For anyone who upgrades, please let us know what you think...

Mike

FijiDeez

Interested in updated maps as well. I hate the fact that you have to pay to upgrade.

chipt911

Customer service told me when I called that 4.73 is not the 2009 update despite the fact that the web site says it is. she told me the new version will be out by the end of January.

phoward_15

Can you let me know how I see them? I see the "do not enter" signs for streets when I'm actually using the GPS to give me directions. But if I'm just driving and looking at the map on any given day the "one way" arrows are not showing on my Nav screen at 1/20 scale.

schen72

I could have sworn there are little blue arrows that indicate one-way streets at the 1/20 zoom level. I will check again tonight.

oblio98

Has anyone ever tried to clone one of these discs. I have two Acura's and would buy one but spending $300 is a bit much for a new map. Are they model specific?

schen72

I just confirmed with navi 4.62 there are little blue arrows on one way streets. You can only see them at the 1/20 zoom level. Obviously, you also have to be viewing streets that are actually designated as one-way.

RDXBOYMA

You have to enable the POI icon option to view the one-way arrows. IIRC, it's in the "Other icon" category and then you'll see the option for the one way.

RDXBOYMA

I tried cloning 4.73 from a 2009 MDX. Figuring that the MDX and RDX uses the white label disks, I thought they're the same disk. Well on my RDX, the 4.73 would go through the process of updating but then it would give an error message about not being to read the disk. The diagnostic screen does show 4.73 in there for version. I've tried two different rips and four types of disks with exactly the same sympton. The only way to restore functionality of my Navi is to do a force download from the old disk. I don't have the original 4.73 disk to analyze so I can't verify the integrity of my rip. But I can verify that my burns are good and the file system on the disk is fine. And unfortunately, I don't know anyone with an MDX that they'd let me test my rip on

phoward_15

Thanks for the update. I will check again. Maybe I don't have v4.62 but could have sworn that's what I saw. I will let you both know what I come up with. I live in Boston so if there's one thing we have plenty of it's one-way streets and I'm always driving at 1/20 view.

catnippants

Fair enough. I also think the price is RIDICULOUS - especially since you can get a whole standalone GPS system with more POIs for less than $150 now. Alpine really needs to get it's head out of it's collective ass. At the very least, they need to provide some additional detail on the changes...but then again, maybe they figure that if they provided details, even fewer people would pull the trigger!

Either way, my conscience just won't let me copy it...

john50

Unless the new upgrade solves some of the major functional problems (my 2008 version still thinks the closest StarBucks is 1400 miles away), there are better alternatives.

I buy map upgrades from my TomTom everyother year, and everytime I connect my TomTom to my computer, to back up new POI's I've saved, it automatically updates any road changes/additions. And I just bought the new TomTom upgrade for about $70.

Acura needs to learn something about how the rest of the world sells and supports their GPS systems.

A friend of mine is in the process of getting a new MDX, and I told him not to waste his time on the $thousand Tech model if all it really included was the GPS.

phoward_15

Correct me if I'm wrong but the Tech Package also includes the upgraded sound system, Bluetooth, Auto/GPS Sensor A/C, and rearview camera. I don't think those are on the standard edition.

Granted...it's debatebale whether all of that is still worth the ~$4k but just wanted to note it was more than just the GPS.

Rexorg

In the long, or short, run the Tech is going to be worth more at trade-in time than the Base model. When I buy an Acura I want all the goodies they offer. Just my 2 cents.

johnny99

I think bluetooth is in the base model now. I do like the integrated nav system and backup camera from the tech package. Whether or not you think it is worth the price is up to you. Remember that most people do not pay full MSRP when they buy new cars.

STLBill

Hi folks:

I have a 36 month lease and I will be turning it in with the same disc it came with.

I bought a couple of Alpine updates for my Honda Navi before I got the RDX.

After over 30 years in the planning URL="http://modot.mo.gov/stlouis/major_projects/docs/Chronology_1003.pdf"]a new highway[/URL] (PDF Required Acrobat Reader) was added to West Saint Louis in late 2003. It involved two bridges with 5 lanes in each direction. When I-70 Eastbound closed in 2005 this was the official detour for people between Utah and Baltimore.

Guess what?

It wasn't on the "update" I purchased in 2007!!!!

Neither was the change in I-44 in Mid Missouri that happened a few years back.

Now if a several month closing of EB I-70 and a complete detour of I-44 aren't on these discs... do you really think they're going to catch new Starbucks locations?

I would very much more welcome the ability for some place like Acurazine to publish updates between users here. For example, I know the part of I-64 through Saint Louis that is closed right now because I live here. Why can't we keep each other updated with our own maps and POIs???

phoward_15

That's interesting about the lack of updates in St. Louis. I live in Boston and with the Big Dig that's been going on for years I feel like the GPS has done a decent job of keeping up to date. I bought my RDX in 2008 so most of it was over and it looks like the DVD 4.62 kept up to speed. I'm not sure what it could be. Maybe they tier the cities in priority or something. But that doesn't seem to make sense.

Oh the one thing you could do is use the "Avoid Areas" function and just block that bridge off so it knows not to guide you that way. It's a pain in the @$$ but it's one work-around.

cue79

So long and short of it is if you have an 08 and your city/state isn't listed on the updates, don't bother with the update - there's nothing worthwhile..?

snowboard1

anyone know how to open that cut out to access the navi dvd? just pry?

number84

there's a couple of plastic tabs on either side of the cut out. you could pop a flathead in there. but i think i just pried the first time...just be gentle.

snowboard1

great, thanks!

HotFlyer

Just received the new update today, 4.73.

The installation was very simple.
Will let you know about local updates as I use it.(Philadelphia Area)
So far, I see no difference.

Howard

catnippants

Would you mind following the instructions in post #6 above and letting us know how many POIs you see?

Thanks,
Mike

snowboard1

I live in Philly too. I hope it is better in northern VA where they add town centers with 10 resturaunts overnight The last time I was there is showed the mall parking lot I was in as a field

HotFlyer

Per Request:

The new 4.73 Nav Update has 5.9M POI's. (5922017 Names)


Howard

phoward_15

So is there a place you can go to that specifically lists the 400,000+ additional POI from 4.6 to 4.7? I'm just curious if you can tell what major cities have the biggest additions.

catnippants

So we're officially up to ~6 million POIs. Still not great. I was hoping for more. I guess with all the buisnesses going bankrupt this year, next year's update should have less..

Mike

silverrdx07

Does the 2009 Navi update the graphics on the nav system or is it only an update to information (i.e. POIs, etc)? I was in a 2006 Land Rover the other day and the graphics on the map were much smoother/prettier (for lack of a better term) than what is currently in my '07 RDX.

catnippants

As far as I know, there are no aesthetic improvements...

dyoung46

The navi that came c/ my 07 RDX is seriously out of date. Live in Prescott, AZ my housing development is more than 5 years old. It shows only a field. Went to Phoenix last wk end looking for second car, the street where the dealership is located is more than 8 yrs old. Did not have the street. Also, doesn't have the Acura dlr where I service the RDX. Used my 150$ Magellan to navigate Phoenix because of my lack of confidence in the unit. Went ahead and ordered the Alpine disc for an update, but will be very careful not to damage package, so that I may return it if not happy, 30days refundable. Truthfully I am very disappointed that they would put in such an out of date database in a vehicle manufactured in 07 .

Lrpba300

Yea, I ordered mine for my Bday coming up & I wanted to get it on sale, so my wife bought it for me. I should have it Monday or Tuesday. It's suppose to have many POI's & some map updates for Colorado. Go to the Acura site & look at the update. It will at least tell you if your city / area has ANY updates.

catnippants

I bought my RDX in Aug of '06 - and it was so new that it came with the 2006 disk. I convinced my dealer to buy me the 2007 update since I had technically purchased a 2007 car. I just updated to 4.73A - and I don't see much of a difference at all. There are 1M more points of interest, but basic stores like Best Buy that have been in my area for years still aren't there. Don't get your hopes up for anything amazing...

I only caved in because of the price break, and the fact that I was getting sick of manually setting my clock to handle the new DST dates. At least I got SOME new data from it.

Mike