The new NAV disc is available for purchase online.

http://www.acuranavi.com

 

$191!! BTW, wasn't able to find what's on the disk, just the maps are updated, or.....??

 

Get used to being on the "upgrade" treadmill. Don't you wish you could somehow include updates like this in the initial price of the car. I wonder if any BMW owner has tried to demand a free NAV upgrade under the free maintenance plan.

 

BMW and MB won't give out upgrades under their maintenance plan. My boss spent $1400 on the full collection of map DVDs for his wife's S500 and they won't send him any updates. I don't know why he bought it to begin with... it's not like he's going to ship his car over to Europe anytime soon. The North America maps should have been sufficient.

 

They're sold out until mid-April.

Santa Rosa Steve

 

I purchased my upgrade disc two days ago and it has arrived. I got the 'sold out' message as well, but perhaps them anticipating a influx?

That said, If you order now, you should get it soon.


Also, information on whats changed.

My previous version was v1.0000 and had a DB from 09/30/2002. This new DISC VERSION is v3.30, with a SOFTWARE version of v1.0900. If your software version is v1.0900 or close to it, you probably dont need this new disc.

Check your DISC version before buying. Eject your Navi disc and look at the bottom of the face.

The changes I notice from v1.0000 to v1.0900:

- Much smoother/rounder looking graphics. Things dont look as 'rough' as they did before.
- Quicker Response Time. I noticed a lot when searching and whatnot that it loads the results a bit quicker.
- Organized. The catagories seem to be a bit more organized now.

Thats about it! Of course, the updated DB is good because it'll have more roads and updated locations! :-D

Hope this helps you all out, so to recap:

- Even though I got the 'Sold Out' message before, I recived my disc within 2 days
- The new SOFTWARE version is v1.0900 and the new DISC version is v3.30
- Not many new FEATURES, but more responsive and updated DB.

Hope this helps.

 

WndrBr3d, what is the date on the DB? Mine is what yours was, software 1.00000 and DB 09/30/2002.....

 

The new DB date is 09/30/2003

Also, while using the navi system today during my lunch hour, a few other small things have changed.

- When giving a voice command, it'll take a second for the the navi to give the 'ready beep', because not only will it mute the radio, but it will also turn down the AC fan to reduce the background noise. Once your command is done, it'll turn back up the AC fan to its previous setting.

- Route calculations are MUUUUCH faster

- The detailed direction window (when turning left, for example, in 100 yards), insted of just showing the intersection and any 'landmarks' (gas stations, resteraunts), now it will highlight your path, show a small red 'triangle' to show where you currently are on the detailed view and also show a progress bar of how close you are to your turn.

- Map scrolling is much faster as well. I haven't had to wait for it to load a portion of the map I've scrolled to.

- Visual Changes to the Audio Menu. Looks cleaner. New icons have been used as well for the CD menu. There's also a 'Stereo' icon that is shown when an FM station is tuned in.

- Oh yeah, and best of all, after you hit OK after the discamer, it goes straight to the map, not menu! YAY!

So far, I'm very pleased with v1.0900 over v1.0000

 

Has anybody ever tried to make a copy of the dvd?

 

You cant copy it to a DVD-R because it has 5.8GB of data.

I suppse you could copy it when the dual layer burners come out.... but until then, no, you can't copy it.

 

Will the new version allow you to use every voice commands on every screens? In version 1.0000, CD commands wont work on Trip Computer screen. I dont care much about other stuffs, I just want all commands work on every screens. Am I asking too much here for $190+.

 

damn. could have sworn that my sales guy told me the updates was going to be about $100. <sigh>

 

I ordered my copy yesterday. I got my email confirmation that it shipped and I should have it in a few days.

This appears to the same DVD that was shipping with the TSX late last year. Here are pics of some of the GUI changes...

http://www.acura-tsx.com/forums/show...5&pagenumber=2

 

My new NAV DVD-ROM showed up today.

Installing it is as easy as ejecting the old disc and putting in the new one.

After you insert the new DVD, it starts to do an upgrade and tells you not to shut off the engine while it is doing it (obviously).

WndrBr3d, mentioned some of the main things that are updated.

The AUDIO (CD PLAYER & RADIO) screens have been updated with a new look and a minor layout change. You can see the new screens in this thread...

http://www.acura-tsx.com/forums/show...5&pagenumber=2

The font seems to be easier to read.

I noticed the turn by turn direction graphics have been enhanced a bit to give more information.

I noticed at least one change to the Trip Computer. The "Previous" button has been renamed to "History".

The Road database has definately been updated. Here in Columbus, Ohio (home of the highway shooter they just thankfully caught) they added the new part of I-670 as well as a few other new areas that weren't shown on the previous DVD version that came with my TSX. As for the points of interest database, I can't speak to that as I haven't time yet to mess with it.

I didn't notice any changes to the hidden diagnostics screens, but I should have taken a picture of the Developer screen that shows the versions of the various apps, like the Trip Computer, Calculator etc... to see if they changed.

I will report back later with any other changes or enhancements I find.

Nice update, but $185 plus shipping is pretty extreme for this. I personally think this first upgrade should have been given to all NAV owners free of charge since we were given the 2002 version with our 2004 model year car.

 

Does the NAVI system (old and/or new) have the "3D" map feature when approaching an intersection? I saw it on the TL's NAVI but didn't know if the TSX had that as well.

 

My idiot dealer won't even admit it exists...let alone give it to me.
I just ordered it.

Will post impressions of changes when I receive it in the mail.

 

I don't believe so. I think everything on the TSX NAV is 2D only. I assumed the TL had the same NAV as the TSX? Anyone have a picture of this?

 

The TSX navigation system should be the same as the TL navigation system. There is no 3D screen when you approach an intersection, but it does show a zoomed in picture of the intersection - 2D, but very effective.

 

The TL's NAV software brings up a 3D image on the right side of the split screen when approaching a turn. It's very cool looking. I'm surprised the TSX NAV doesn't have the same software.

Does the TL also have a better NAV "vocabulary"?

 

The TSX has the same Nav software (and same DVD) as the TL. It also has the same "3D" images on the right side of the split screen, although only some of these images have a 3D look (for example, approaching destination or exiting highway).

As far as commands, the new DVD adds quite a few new voice commands (you can now speak any choice on any menu screen, including all options on the setup screens) but the TL has a bigger vocabulary because it has more additional functions -- for example controlling a bluetooth cellphone, more audio options, etc. The commands are still "modal" meaning that only certain commands work on certain screens. By limiting the commands on a particular screen, it increases the accuracy of speach recognition.

The new DVD adds a fairly large number of small changes (along with the updated Database, of course) -- I got my new disc two days ago and have been noting many little differences. I consider most of them improvements, although some are really a matter of taste.

I'll try to post a list of some of the changes I've noticed in a few days after I have time to try most of the features and note differences...

 

Jim,

Thanks for the confirmation. Funny how no one else believes it has 3D view! Weird.

 

Well, that is because it isn't really 3D.

I assume you are referring to screens like this...





When I think 3D I think of true 3D like in video games like Quake III and the like. I don't believe the hardware in the Acura NAV is capable of rendering 3D images.

Nissan's NAV has what they call a "birds eye view" mode that appears to be 3D...

 

George,

Your pic from the TSX is pretty much what I was talking about. When I was in a TL Navi, we approached an intersection, and the "3D-ish" screen came up on the right and tracked the progress of the car on the "dimentioned" road, and had (/) icons on the one-way roads in the intersection, etc. It did give a kind of "bird's eye" view of the intersection. Graphically, it looked very similar to your screen capture above -- it just had much more info.

 

I just got off the phone with Acura Cust Care... and she told me that the new dvd that was released is only for the non-voice activated tsx!?

Is that true - or is this new dvd at acuranavi.com the one that I need?

It was my understanding that all the TSX with Navi had the voice activation....!??!?!?!?!

Thanks!

 

That customer care person was talking out their ass.

THE NEW NAVI DISC -DOES- WORK WITH VOICE ACTIVATION

 

To be more clear, if you have a TSX with NAV, you have voice activation. It isn't an option.

 

I just got my new Nav DVD and I like the changes, but I can't change the background color - it is always blue no matter what color I select. I called Alpine, they sent me to Acura Cust Care. The lady first didn't think the TSX DVD update was out, then after putting me on hold, she said this is the first problem she's heard of. Duh - if she didn't know the DVD was out I would assume it would be the first problem she heard of. She said someone would contact me in a couple of days. Anyway, has anyone else with the new DVD have problems changing background screen colors?

 

If my car is on a boat from japan as I type, do you know what version of the nav it should have?

 

I have the new DVD; the following is a quote from the mini-manual that comes with the DVD:
I had the same impression -- that it wasn't working -- until I went back and read the manual...

 

I bought my TSX in Jan 2004, and from what I can tell of everyone's description, it has the updated DVD... I suppose I could go outside and check the version for certain, but I'm 99% sure, and 100% lazy... =P

alright, it was bothering me since the car is like 50ft away, so I went to go check the diagnostics screen and here's what it spat out:

 

Yup, that is the latest.

 

Anyone have the new disc + factory MP3 player? Does it add functionality to it? IMO, acura dropped the ball on the screen for the mp3 player. Having seen my friend's XM with Navi makes me pissed off that the MP3 player doesn't read and display ID3 tags, or at least filenames.

 

i belive soundgate is working on a unit that will display XM radio information for the TSX

 

sorry, I missed a word in that last post. I meant to say my friend's TL with the new Navi shows song and channel info for XM radio on the Nav screen. I was wondering if the new Navi DVD added similar functionality to the TSX accessory MP3 player.

 

I installed the new DVD. Now when I press the talk button, my climate control auto light goes out until the command is given. Is this normal?

 

yes if you notice during times when the fan is running faster it actually shuts the A/C system down to make the cabin more quiet so it can hear your voice commands better.

 

So I can assume that the latest that is on the website as of July 1, 2004 which is 3.30G, is in fact the version mentioned below, and is current. This is also what is in mine, which I have had two weeks. Also, since there are now DVD burners that can do the dual-layer technology, I assume is it possible to copy an updated DVD?

 

Well, it is my understanding that Dual Layer media won't be available until Fall. So, I don't believe it has been tried yet. They may have some sort of copy protection on the disc.

 

Oh, they are out, the media's a little bit expensive, but both Sony and Phillips are doing dual-layer burners, for less than $200. See http://www.burnworld.com/howto/artic...al-layer-2.htm
Someone with one needs to try to dupe the existing disk to see if a copy is sucessful.

 

There is actually an NEC burner that can be had for about $80 or so that has a firmware hack to do dual layer burning. I don't know which model offhand but some easy searching on google could turn that info up I'm sure.