rgunther

I'm curious to hear others' feedback on this:

Tonight, I sat in the navi model with my dealer for about 15 minutes. While I was fairly impressed with the overall UI and screen size, the screen image was noticably lacking clarity. Specifically, it looked the way an LCD monitor for a computer looks when you choose a display resolution lower than the monitor's native resolution. I suppose one could argue that this is due to antialiasing, but with an LCD screen running at the correct resoution, there's really no need for antialiasing--you can get close to perfect clarity with crisp lines and details.

Anyone know anything about the monitor's native resolution and/vs. the display resolution?

P.S. Even fuzzy, the navi model console looks so much better than the non-navi console--in fact, seeing this now makes the non-navi console seem more cheap. (IMHO)

Donte99TL

I believe the reason for this is that the old navi screen was 6 inches. At that size everything looks crisp, but they made the screen two inches bigger. I believe all they are doing is stretching the image size (6 inches to 8 inches). It’s like when you take a low-res picture that is 6408x480 and stretching it to 800x600, it’s going to get fuzzy.

moreace

so DVDs would even be fuzzy, y can't we hack and just change the resolution? SUpposed to be a top quality screen

Donte99TL

I think dvd movies will be fine because they have a higher res than what the navi is putting out. The movie isn't being stretched.

Raheel

I am pretty sure if Honda make a bigger LCD, than they can modify the navi to have higher res..

I mean they reinvented the system recently, and its the same thing in the TSX..

rgunther

That's exactly right. If this is true (that is, if the display resolution and the new monitor's native resolution don't match), they're really doing customers a disservice by enlarging the screen. The end result is an image that's arguably harder on the eyes and harder to view and read than a smaller, clearer image.

moreace

fixable?

DMZ

Looked at one a few days ago myself. Have to agree the focus is not that great, but it's still readable. They should have updated the video resolution to go with the 2" larger screen.

moreace

Assuming they fix this in the futre realeases
The hardware is still good, would it just be a software issue?
Would soemthign have to be reprogammed to fix it or would it be on newer released of DVD disc?

rgunther

In all likelihood, this can be corrected with an updated video driver as long as the nav system itself can provide a higher-resolution output. This wouldn't be as simple as a nav-disc update, but it also should be fixable.

I spoke with a sales manager about this today, and he acknowledged the problem, as well as a few other glitches that he expects they'll need to fix.

moreace

Car to comment on additional glitches

Does Acura tend to make fixes for previously sold models as well?

rgunther

He didn't really elaborate. He mentioned he'd raised some items at the recent technical training they had for the vehicle, and he was given some answer like 'the developers of this stuff don't listen to us.'

JonDeutsch

this is really disturbing news. I haven't seen the Nav on the TL yet, but when I did see it on the TSX, I don't recall any aliasing issues.... but then again, I was just looking at the system buttons... not really using the Nav as a nav system.

Which screens are the issue? All of them? Some of them? Does the TSX have the same problem?

This may delay my purchase if they don't commit to retroactively fixing it. I don't want a fuzzy Nav.

A fuzzy navel is OK. But not a fuzzy Navi.

moreace

it is fine
no probs w/ the screen
just a lower resolution

like watching an regular tv and being a little closer than usual vd HD tv we wanna see

no problems, clearly visible

rgunther

I don't honestly recall if the issue is with all screens or just with the navigation. I suspect it's with all, because if it's a display driver resolution issue, it would affect the display output of the entire system.

Let me also qualify that this is NOT really a significant issue. It would not have prevented me from buying a TL (I actually bought a different vehicle, because I wasn't willing to wait for Acura to get its act together on meeting the demand for the navi models). If you don't currently have an LCD monitor for your computer or on another nav system, you might not even notice the problem because you wouldn't necessarily be "used" to the precise clarity an LCD can deliver. However, I would expect better from a vehicle touting its technological breakthroughs.

moreace

What, u confuse me. Of couarse it is all screens and the only cars that have screens are nav so there for it is all nav.s Not one or the other

JonDeutsch

rgunther,

Well, I use a laptop/LCD for most of my computing in native resolution, so I know exactly what you're talking about.

You're talking about taking my 1400x1050 LCD screen and displaying it in 1024x768. It's usable, but you can see the anti-aliasing. Is that what you're talking about with the Navi?

Also, may I ask what car was such an easy swap for the TL just because you couldn't find a TL/NAVI model?

Jon

fla-tls

I was riding in one of my vendor's MDX's that have the larger navi screens. They look the same way, the resolution is the same but the screen is stretched. It does look a little odd.

adam209

moreace - "What, u confuse me. Of couarse it is all screens and the only cars that have screens are nav so there for it is all nav.s Not one or the other"


have you ever heard of dvd screens in vehicles? alot of minivans have them dude

moreace

Well obviously we were tlaking about Acuras new 8"

not every screen in the known world in "fuzzy" or we would call it normal

rgunther

Yes, that's exactly what I mean.

rgunther

OK, I know I'm going to take a lot of s**t for this, but I've been heavily researching three very different vehicles for about four months now. I've liked each of them best in their own right for different reasons. They are

• Saab 9-3 - awesome ride, surprising power and pick-up, interestingly unique look, OnStar, but NO NAVIGATION in US models
• VW Toureg - sport ute that drives and feels like a luxury car, available (20MB) phatbox MP3 music jukebox, navigation with awesome English female accent, but NO integrated phone option
• Acura TL - you know the plusses; the only negatives are NO MP3 CAPABILITIES and availability (and I'm not convinced I liked the "new" seats)

The bottom line was I'm coming from a sport utility (Discovery) and I've been without a car for a few months now. The Toureg was the most practical decision and it was available for immediate purchase.

Perhaps my next car...

btk413

Funny, I have been comparing the Toureg to the 04 TL too. I would probably opt for the Toureg if I wasn't so unsure of the reliability and stories of problems on other VW models. I love the Toureg and Passat.

Good luck with your Toureg. Did you get the a CD changer since you have Nav? Have you compared the functionality and usability of the Toureg nav vs the 04 TL nav? If so, please elaborate.

EmuMessenger

I think the 9-3 has a great body style. If it had navigation and was not made by GM, I'd give it serious consideration. Actually, I'd give the 9-5 serious consideration. It was great, ventilated seats.

moreace

FOR EVERYONE CONSIDERING VW

I only know a few people w/ them, 99, 00, and 01 and they each have lots of horror stories. I can't believe some of them. One goes in for oil after 2700 miles and there is no oil in the car! VW claims it is acceptable norms, not for a new car buddy. $300 in replaced sensors, still can't get check engine light off.
Check forums on this site:
www.myvwlemon.com
OI have tried to help and it is a nightmare. Tons of problems both serious and annoyances. I wouldn't touch a VW w/ a 10 foot pole! Feel free to do as you wish, but there are my very serious words of caution.

Raheel

On MY UXGA LCD on my laptop, if I go any where below 1600x1200, the image gets distorted, because the screen is built for 1600x1200, because of its high clarity..

Sherlock

Being the extreme geek that I am, here's your explanation for the fuzziness of the lcd. Touch screen. the circuitry to make it a touch screen blurs it heavily. I read the other day some monitor vendors indicate they have a touch screen but will not take returns for "clarity" concerns because they are blurry.

Sure the resolution is low, or maybe scan doubled, that does add to the blockiness, but the thing rocks for functionality.

rgunther

You're absolutely right--the touch-screen does blur things a bit, but you can also visibly notice unnecessary antialiasing on...well, on everything. That should not be the case.

tlinto

Has anyone with Navi asked the service advisors about this issue?

fsconsult

I think this issue is being blown out of proportion. I had the previous nav on my 1999 TL. Sure had alittle better resolution, but for what it was intended to used for, the new bigger screen, I think looks fine. Not as crisp but fine. You won't miss any details. I think these posts are giving people who have never seen it the wrong impression. It's not that bad.

JonDeutsch

Can someone take a picture with their digital camera???

The screen shots I've seen in the Acura brochure do not show any aliasing issues being discussed here...

Thanks!
Jon