The DVD drive assembly in the trunk (or "boot" if you are in the UK) has a slot labelled "PC Card". Does anyone have any information as to how Acura plans to use this in the future?

 

It is used in Japan for the real time linked traffic info. Some people did research in the service menus and it looks like it can be used to load new software as well (some of the OS for the nav lives in a ROM chip somewhere, not all of it is on the DVD). I doubt it will be used in the US in the forseeable future.

 

The U.S. is the technological step child as usual. We never get the good cell phones until 2 years after Asia/Europe. Now we cannot get all the cool NAV features either!

 

I was fortunate enough to be on a business trip to Tokyo in late Sept, and you should see the NAV units being sold there. In Akihabara, tons of stores selling tons of NAV units that have real-time 3D mapping with major buildings in 3-D! All of Tokyo is laid out in 3-D. The graphics were many times better than what we see here. Birds eye view pales in comparison. Of course they didn't have any NA compatible mapping.

 

Navi started in Tokyo many years ago because the city layout is beyond confusing. Many residents and taxi drivers cannot find their way around!

It stands to reason that they will continue to provide the lead for Nav. I hope we get the good stuff soon!