GM Navigation....Worst $99 I ever spent.
09-01-2018, 01:38 PM
#41
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St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13, '16-'17-'18
09-01-2018, 01:43 PM
#42
Race Director
The voice recognition works great too, I have never had it mess up on what I was trying to say. I used it this morning to find a new Costco gas station in my area and it clearly understood the word Costco (which could be a tricky word for some voice recognition systems)
Last edited by Patman; 09-01-2018 at 01:45 PM.
09-01-2018, 01:52 PM
#43
Team Owner
Have no idea why you would think a map update would contain any correction to the voice recognition hardware and software. Two different kinds of updates. Because I figured paying $99 for an 'update' just might, maybe, possibly, result in some better voice recognition software. Is that so unreasonable? GM is making big bucks on this...why not fix that VR software while they're at it?
So the question is how is the map update for your area? Do you have new roads in the map and if you don't how long have those roads existed? As I stated in my OP, there are OLD roads here that the 'new, updated' system failed to recognize.
Most voice recognition hardware and software no matter who makes it is pretty bad although it is possible to train some systems to the way you pronounce words. In the Corvette the systems have even more trouble due to the high level of background noise that large sedans/SUVs with lots of sound proofing don't have. I was sitting in a parking lot, doors closed, windows up, engine off, nobody around and it still couldn't recognize much of what I was saying.
Being that other navigation systems are constantly updating map data and have excellent VR to boot for free, I don't think it's unreasonable to expect GM Nav to do better especially after paying $99.
That is all.
So the question is how is the map update for your area? Do you have new roads in the map and if you don't how long have those roads existed? As I stated in my OP, there are OLD roads here that the 'new, updated' system failed to recognize.
Most voice recognition hardware and software no matter who makes it is pretty bad although it is possible to train some systems to the way you pronounce words. In the Corvette the systems have even more trouble due to the high level of background noise that large sedans/SUVs with lots of sound proofing don't have. I was sitting in a parking lot, doors closed, windows up, engine off, nobody around and it still couldn't recognize much of what I was saying.
Being that other navigation systems are constantly updating map data and have excellent VR to boot for free, I don't think it's unreasonable to expect GM Nav to do better especially after paying $99.
That is all.
09-01-2018, 02:08 PM
#44
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St. Jude Donor '15-'16,'18
AA with Google maps is awesome.
09-01-2018, 02:13 PM
#45
Drifting
Yes indeed, this is a problem. If you load your destination before you lose network you are OK, Google will keep that data. Otherwise it's a real pain to prepare ahead of time by downloading offline maps. In car or old school self contained NAV units are the answer in these cases.
I learned a lesson, all the smart phone NAV apps are great until you get in an area with no service, then their useless. Never used the NAV in my 2014 C7, now I have a new respect for it and updated to latest version for $99. It’s not as good as the phone apps, but is great when in no service area.
09-01-2018, 02:26 PM
#46
Melting Slicks
I learned a lesson, all the smart phone NAV apps are great until you get in an area with no service, then their useless. Never used the NAV in my 2014 C7, now I have a new respect for it and updated to latest version for $99. It’s not as good as the phone apps, but is great when in no service area.
09-01-2018, 02:35 PM
#49
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St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13, '16-'17-'18
09-01-2018, 03:06 PM
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St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13, '16-'17-'18
09-01-2018, 03:15 PM
#52
Safety Car
Yes indeed, this is a problem. If you load your destination before you lose network you are OK, Google will keep that data. Otherwise it's a real pain to prepare ahead of time by downloading offline maps. In car or old school self contained NAV units are the answer in these cases.
09-01-2018, 03:33 PM
#53
Safety Car
Seriously, are you that weak that if Google shows you some shiny new product or do dad that you must buy it?!? Really? If so then IMHO you deserve it. Where's your backbone man? Whatever happened to the saying and belief in Buyer Beware?
And as for that link, I challenge you to describe to me how a phone with GPS off and no connection to the internet could possibly know where you have been. What in the phone recorded that? It couldn't possibly do that. Your location information is recorded if you have GPS turned on and you allowed Google to gather that data (IOW you didn't turn it off). If you did turn it off (and turned off location data from web apps and the like - IOW when you start Google Maps and it says "You are here" and needs to go out and get mapping data it needs to know your location or it can't do that) then Google cannot get your location. It can get some reasonable location if you say connect to Mcdonald's WiFi and it could guess if you say search for a local business. But if you don't have wireless nor cellular data - IOW no connection to the internet - then these would be unavailable too.
09-01-2018, 03:50 PM
#54
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St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13, '16-'17-'18
Storing location data in memory is no big deal either, only to dump it when the phone does once again have a network connection (could even be written to non-volatile memory to survive power cycles). Couple hundred bytes of data is all it takes.
09-01-2018, 04:00 PM
#55
Safety Car
let alone how do you KNOW GPS has been turned off? Because your phone tells you it is?).
Storing location data in memory is no big deal either, only to dump it when the phone does once again have a network connection (could even be written to non-volatile memory to survive power cycles). Couple hundred bytes of data is all it takes.
09-01-2018, 04:04 PM
#56
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St. Jude Donor '13
We've been using GM factory nav for 12 yrs/ ~200k miles over most of the USA and Canada. We also have several Garmins, Google maps and Apple maps, and Waze. Observations:
1. Voice commands are worse than useless and probably always will be.
2. No nav system is perfect. All of them do some things well and other thing poorly or not all at. That's life.
3. We normally use the factory nav because of the convenience and HUD. When not actually navigating on it, I like the moving map display without having to do anything except start the car.
Other people have different preferences and may like different systems. Your choice. Just don't think that your preference is the best choice for everyone else.
1. Voice commands are worse than useless and probably always will be.
2. No nav system is perfect. All of them do some things well and other thing poorly or not all at. That's life.
3. We normally use the factory nav because of the convenience and HUD. When not actually navigating on it, I like the moving map display without having to do anything except start the car.
Other people have different preferences and may like different systems. Your choice. Just don't think that your preference is the best choice for everyone else.
09-01-2018, 04:08 PM
#57
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St. Jude Donor'15
Guys, guys, guys.....let's calm down here. There is a LOT of frustration that doesn't need to be here. Let's talk to each other with MUCH MORE respect. There is absolutely no reason to berate other members.
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Last edited by Steve Garrett; 09-01-2018 at 04:08 PM.
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TyBoo (09-03-2018)
09-01-2018, 04:50 PM
#58
Advanced
This is an interesting thread and I’ve got a related point/question. We’re among those who find the GM Nav system less than desirable and we’re big fans of Android Auto EXCEPT how in hell do you keep Google from altering the route you’ve chosen to a destination (when it’s not necessary because of construction, etc.)? Yes, we know about specifying sufficient intermediate points such that it has to adhere to your intended route, but that’s a PITA. When you send a route link to your phone or tablet, why doesn’t Google have an option to exactly use the route specified as opposed to it deciding what’s best?! Apart from sending a Google Maps destination and selected route from your PC to your Android device, the same problem occurs when you start the process actually in the car: (1) select Google Maps application on your Android telephone, (2) specify and select the destination by choosing one of the possible routes shown, (3) select “Start” on the phone, (4) plug in the USB connector, (5) select Android Auto on the Infotainment screen and away you go. But Android Auto doesn’t seem to give a damn what you specified other than the destination and it sets about choosing and using the fastest route (and at times employing not-so-good secondary roads) – all without giving a clue beforehand that it thinks it’s smarter than you and to hell with what you chose. Am I wrong about this? Is there some secret, easy way to get Android Auto to go exactly the way you’ve chosen (without having to set up intermediate destinations such that it can’t deviate)?
People constantly complain about this Google shortcoming even on the user forum for Google Maps. It mystifies me why they don’t fix this deficiency in the product.
People constantly complain about this Google shortcoming even on the user forum for Google Maps. It mystifies me why they don’t fix this deficiency in the product.
Last edited by ECSIII; 09-01-2018 at 04:51 PM. Reason: formatting
09-01-2018, 05:12 PM
#60
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St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13, '16-'17-'18
https://www.techrepublic.com/article...re-turned-off/
Of course, if you're using Google Maps, you have GPS and Location Services turned on anyway so it's a moot point in this case, no?
Last edited by KenHorse; 09-01-2018 at 05:13 PM.